Which risk was prevalent when casting large bronze statues in ancient Mesopotamia using the lost-wax process?

💡 Explanation

Uneven cooling occurs in lost-wax casting because thinner sections cool faster than thicker parts, leading to differential shrinkage and tensile stresses that cause cracks. Therefore, shrinkage cracks result, rather than oxidation (which is minimized in the mold), deformation (typically handled by mold support), or contamination (controlled by material sourcing).

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