During excavations near the ancient city of Motya, researchers have identified a specialized industrial sector dedicated to the production of Carthaginian siege weaponry. The foundry contains specialized high-heat furnaces and a remarkable collection of stone molds used to cast lead slingshot bullets. Many of the molds are still filled with cooled lead, suggesting the workshop was abandoned in haste during a Greek offensive.
The slingshot ammunition found at the site is inscribed with Punic symbols for 'thunder' and 'victory,' intended to strike fear into the enemy. The discovery of large-scale bronze-casting pits also indicates that this facility was capable of repairing the metal components of ballistae and rams. This site provides a rare archaeological glimpse into the military-industrial complex of the Carthaginian Empire during its long struggle for control of the Mediterranean.