A bronze foundry of Classical times in the sanctuary at Kalapodi

Abstract During the archaeological investigation of the ancient sanctuary located northeast of the village of Kalapodi, which can probably be identified with the oracular sanctuary of Apollo at Abae, a number of (casting-) pits and other installations as well as fragments of technical ceramics (moulds and crucibles), and large amounts of bronze slags and bronze droplets have been excavated. Together, they point to the former existence of a foundry engaged in the indirect lost-wax casting of large-scale bronze statuary. According to preliminary results, the workshop west of the Archaic South Temple was operational at the end of the 5^th century B.C.

Keywords bronze foundry, metallurgical ceramics, Kalapodi, Greek sanctuary, workshop