06 December 2007

Built to last...

German archaeologists claim to have found traces of a glue made by the Romans about 2,000 years ago. Researchers at the Rhineland historical museum in Bonn have found remnants of the glue on a legionnaire's helmet – it had been used to mount silver laurel leaves on the helmet.

Frank Willer, the museum's chief restorer, said researchers came across the glue while removing a tiny sample of metal from the helmet with a fine saw. The heat from the tool caused silver laurel leaves decorating the helmet to peel off leaving thread-like traces of the glue behind.


Analysis shows that it was made of bitumen, beef tallow and pitch. However, researchers have failed so far to recreate the adhesive. It is believed that sawdust, soot or sand might have to be added to complete the process. "When we finally manage to remake the superglue, it will easily compete with its modern equivalents," Mr Willer said. "After all, which of today's glues stick for 2,000 years?"


I know this news is not exactly a burning issue but it does add another thing to the "What the Romans did for us" sketch...


3 comments:

Richard Havers said...

It's fascinating that even after so long little things emerge to amaze us.

JRD168 said...

Another one for my lessons at school. I love playing that Monty Python sketch to the kids, I do have to be very careful to avoid other, more sweary, sections of the film though!

jams o donnell said...

Absolutely Richard!

I take it that you won't be doing the Albatross sketch with them (or how runny the brie is, let alone a sing a long of Sit on my Face!)