This bronze lamp was discovered in 1956 in the “salle de la Rotonde” of the Azé Prehistoric cave (Mâconnais region, South Burgundy, France). R. Morel led the excavations. The lamp has certainly been fabricated between the 1st century BCE and the 1st century CE. The first studies tend to show that it came from Campania. The lamp has two opposite nozzles and two hanging rings representing bird heads. According to the archaeological context, the lamp may have been used for ceremonies. The accumulation of bat guano in the cave for many years triggered a chemical reaction which exceptionally preserved the contents of the lamp. During its restauration in 2018, organic residues and linen impregnated of flammable substance have been discovered. Through this restauration, the entire way to use the lamp has been found out: as much the flammable (linen) as the cleanser (vinegar) used during the Antiquity. Old linen was reused as a wick for the lamp: recycling is an old idea ! 8.66x2.75x3.14 in. 3D modeling : H. Schomas
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