Experimental Lime Burning Based on the Findings from the Roman Empire Period

Abstract

In 2006 the remains of two lime kilns from the Roman Empire period were discovered in Tuněchody near Chrudim in the Czech Republic. These finds became the object of a detailed multidisciplinary research project resulting in hypotheses on the use of the kilns. Based on these hypotheses experimental research was designed (Thér et al. 2010). The detailed results of these experiments will be published elsewhere. The aim of this article is to share the experience with basic technologies of lime burning that we can assume to have been used within the context of the Roman Empire period and that can be theoretically used in pyrotechnical structures from the Roman Empire period known in our region.

Keywords

• limestone
• furnace
• kiln or oven
• roman era
• czech republic