Pliny the Elder, in the first century AD, wrote about reuse of scrap copper in Roman foundries. He listed that the copper was remade into armor, weapons, and articles for personal use (ex. mirror). The melting and recasting foundries were located at an Italian port city called Brindisi. This city sat on the Adriatic coast, and was the end of the Appian way (See "Appian Way" post), the Roman road constructed to facilitate easy trade and military access. Later, scientists found actual proof of this recycling along the Adriatic coast in ancient times.
"Brindisi Bronzes"; National Geographic; Vol 187 No. 4; April
1995; P. 88-101.
1995; P. 88-101.
Photograph. Scrapcopperprices.net. Scrap Copper Prices. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. .
