Ric,
Are ingots (wootz or not) polygonal like this, at least sometimes? I recall seeing a couple facetted ones on Artzi's table at the Timonium show a few years back. Such a polygon would not, I think, work very well as a mill ball as it would have a reduced area of contact with the ore, and would not roll around as well. Whatever it is, I expect that the shape allows them to be packed more tightly, and/or stacked more stably.
|