A rare Roman calibration plate was unearthed in Nezamyslis and Kojetin during extensive rescue excavation work associated with the construction of the high-speed railway line. The Archaeological Center of Olomouc (ACO) is carrying out rescue excavations for the project. This exceptionally well-preserved artifact is believed to have been used to make wire through the wire-drawing technique. All excavation sites yielded over 1,000 archaeological features ranging from the Early Bronze Age to the Roman Imperial period. Experts predict that this unique tool will provide important insights into ancient manufacturing methods, as well as possibly explaining how Roman legionnaires made their famous chainmail. Current research is being conducted on the artefact at ACO to determine its metallurgical composition and learn about its connection to trade networks in areas outside the formal northern borders of the Roman Empire.

A rare 2,000-year-old Roman metallurgical tool uncovered that shows advanced technology

As for the local manufacture or repair of advanced military equipment such as chainmail in the area occupied by Germanic tribes, the important discovery of a special metal calibration plate from the dig site is of great importance in providing evidence of advanced Roman metalworking technology being transmitted or put into use outside the Empire, as noted. Archaeological Center Olomouc (ACO).

A multi-millennium record of the Hana River valley

ACO carried out rescue excavation of the area, which extended by more than 1.2 kilometers in length as a result of the construction upgrade of the Brno–Přerov railway line, especially the section of the high-speed railway line from Nezamyslice to Kojetin. In addition to Roman period tools, the site contained a large number of remains that demonstrated the history of human occupation in the Hana River valley for thousands of years, and evidence of the Vetsov and Urnfield cultures was discovered at the site. Archaeologists have also recorded a variety of historical features, including the remains of later houses, lime kilns, and several ritual sites.

Mapping economic networks through Bronze Age evidence

The Archaeological Center of Olomouc is now home to all the artefacts that have been recovered, including calibration plates, stone casting molds and crucibles. Due to the large number of objects, they are now being prepared for conservation and study. Experts are performing spectrometric analysis on calibration plates to look for traces of materials produced by the objects, which could help show that the object was used to make the wire. The researchers are also examining stone molds collected during this project and correlating them with local workshops to understand whether they were production centers for specialized bronze objects, thus creating a better understanding of how ancient communities engaged in larger economic and technological systems.