Abstract
The aim of the comparison of punchmarks is the identification of one and the same workshop for objects from different find spots. Terms are explained, the method described taking silicon rubber moulds, and a review of earlier assessments is given. Especially the vessels from the Hildesheim Roman silver treasure and the three large gold ornaments from the Scythian Vettersfelde find were investigated which are both on display in the Collection of Classical Greek and Roman Antiquities of the National Museums in Berlin. Punches with palmettes seem to be specifically used in the Vesuvius region. Drop-shaped punches are concentrated in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD whereas egg-and-dart punches were used at least since the 6th century BC. Circle and semi-circle punches are the simplest forms and appear in a vast amount of variants. In all periods, a certain selection of differently formed punches has been part of a metal smiths’ toolbox.