posted April 18, 2010 05:15 PM
Its purpose is hardly known and its functionality is still not clear. A 2000 year-old jar was found just outside Baghdad. The ancient battery is made of a clay jar with stopper made of asphalt. An iron rod covered in a copper cylinder is piercing through the asphalt. When the jar is filled with vinegar or any other electrolytic solution, it produces between 1.1 and 2 volts.
Excavations in the ancient village of Khujut Rabu, near Baghdad conducted by a German scientist have unearthed a rather odd artifact among others. The diggings were led by Wilhelm Konig in 1936 but the discovery was presented only in 1938. Konig unveiled a 6 inch high pot of yellow clay which contained a cylinder of sheet-copper 5 inches by 1.5 inches, said to date from Parthian (250BC – AD 224) or Sassanid (AD 224 – 600) periods.
The German archaeologists thought the jar looks like a battery and wrote an article on this subject in 1940. As far as we know today, he was not entirely mistaken. Still the clear functionality of the object is unknown, but scientists have put out a few more or less convincing theories.
One widely accepted theory is that it was used for electroplating, like putting a layer of gold over a silver piece, as a number of batteries can be linked together thus achieving enough power to perform this action. One battery could produce up to 2 volts and if a link between two or more such batteries is established the total electric power produced could actually facilitate electroplating. Experiments done with a number of Baghdad batteries have given scientists serious motives to accept this possibility.
Another very interesting theory is that the device was used in medical treatments. The Greeks and Romans used some species of electric fish to calm down pay so it may be possible that the Baghdad Battery was used in a similar way.
Whatever the usage of the battery, one thing may show up: Alessandro Volta was not the first one to create an electric battery.
http://www.astigan.com/2008/09/06/the-2000-year-old-fully-functioning-electric-battery/