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Roots marks are one fairly reliable way to determine aunthenticity, or more accurately, that an object  has been buried for some time.

 

Michel van Rjn has said that root marks can be  faked. I've forgotten exactly where on his website I read that; if anyone has this information , do please let me know.

 

From David

 

Root marks do differ a great deal according to regional and local conditions.

 

On objects from dryer climates, they tend to be shallow - like those on this lamp found in Israel

http://www.romulus2.com/lamps/database/lamp.php?20

David's other website

 

 

On objects found in extremely dry regions like Egypt or Tunisia root marks rarely exist at all.

 

But on objects found in wetter climates, the root marks, if present, are often more pronounced and sometimes quite raised, like those on these lamps from the Balkans:"

 




From Andrea

Some close up pics of root marks on a lamp found in the Balkans.