Malyková, D. – Bursák, D. – Pecinovská, M. 2011: Nové sídlištní nálezy z doby římské v Praze-Kbelích. In: E. Droberjar (ed.) Archeologie Barbarů 2010: Hroby a pohřebiště Germánů mezi Labem a Dunajem. Studia Archaeologica Suebica I. Olomouc 2011, 397–413., 2011
Presented rescue excavations (D. Malyková, Archaeological Institute Prague) took place in north-e... more Presented rescue excavations (D. Malyková, Archaeological Institute Prague) took place in north-eastern part of Prague
in the year 2007 within the parish of Prague-Kbely. Most of the features and artifacts belong to the Bronze age and the
late Iron age (La-Tène culture). In this contribution authors focus only on the part of archaeological record that brought
some evidence on settlement activities datable to the Roman Period. Approximately a half of the artifacts come from
eight sunken features (each of other type), the other part was found widespread in the wide unstratified layer, so any
house or farmstead layout is hardly recognizable. Among the common pottery sherds that belong typologically to the end
of 2nd–4th Century AD and bear typical signs of Germanic pottery were found also some finds of roman-provincial provenience
(fig. 7:1; fig. 8). Due to the small dimensions and absence of more detailed typological traces is hard to say something
more concrete about these in Bohemia rarely found artifacts. Important finds also present the metallic artifacts,
mostly from 2nd and 3rd Century AD.
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Roman Period in Bohemia
collections, revealed that standard copper alloys, typical for the given periods or individual chronological phases
and particular categories of finds, had been used in most cases. The most common alloy of which the artefacts
were made is tin bronze, which occurred up to the Ř B1 period. An important task of the study was to answer the
question of distribution of a Roman material – brass – in addition to a few sites from which brass had already been
known. It is worth mentioning that brass without significant admixtures of other elements, such as tin or lead,
has only been convincingly detected in four objects. In fifteen more objects, the presence of zinc in the alloys
was clearly demonstrated. However, these conclusions should be considered preliminary, as the chosen method
(XRF) tends to give inaccurate values for zinc, lead and tin concentrations when surface layers of alloys are
analyzed, i.e. the real values for the metal core and the alloy itself may be different. It is reasonable to assume,
for example, that the high representation of tin brass could in some cases decrease in favour of brass without
a significant tin admixture if other analytical methods were applied.
Interesting questions arise when we try to compare the material and typological classifications of the objects.
In the case of inhumation graves II and III, even the typologically distinct objects have very close material
compositions. Moreover, tin brass with a low zinc content is a rather uncommon material during this period, and
in the environment of rich graves, to which it is usually attributed, we would rather expect high quality brass
which was back then used for the manufacture of many similar objects, or possibly for the production of brass
coins of the early Roman Empire.
Several important findings emerged from the study of small fragments and semi-finished products made
of copper alloys. This is, for example, the evidence for the presence of brass in a semi-finished fibula dating
back to the early Roman period which adds to our knowledge of the early processing of this important material
outside the Roman Empire and, moreover, in the context of a settlement showing various traces of production.
In addition to brass, bronze was also processed in the Bubeneč agglomeration at around the same time. Small
fragments of metal strips and metal bars might be indicative of recycling (?) of tin bronze during the Ř B1 period.
188 Daniel Bursák – František Míček: Není všechno zlato, co se třpytí …
In the Ř C1 period, a period trend in this category became apparent in the form of heterogeneous alloys of copper
with lead, tin and zinc.
In the future, it will be useful to compare the findings with data from other sites and, especially for some objects,
to verify the composition of the alloys by more precise analytical procedures (SEM-EDS, NAA, ICP-MS).
In the cases of the semi-finished fibula, the ingot and other indicators of non-ferrous metal processing, a possibility
presents itself that analytical procedures enabling the determination of the provenance of copper or other
components of the alloy could also be applied. The degree of success achieved while determining the provenance
of the tin bronze or other alloys used during the early Roman period will particularly be important for
further research.
ABSTRACT: In 1897 J. A. Jíra’s collection was enriched with an assemblage of objects from Lipany (Fig. 2). The site was defined as Lipany, Kolín District, Central Bohemian region (Fig. 1). In particular, an A 18 type fibula (inventory number P 1059), probably of the A 18a variant according to T. Völling (1994, 180–183, Abb. 14), stands out among the finds. The fibula was analysed using the XRF method, the results are summed up in Table 1. Due to its zinc content of 11% and admixtures of lead and tin, the material can be identified as lead-tin brass. At present, this is one of the most ancient brass objects known and published from the territory of the Czech Republic (cf. Droberjar – Frána 2004). It was probably linked to the early phase of occurrence of brass in Europe (Istenič – Šmit 2007; Istenič 2009). In the Czech Republic, A 18 type fibulae are found both in graves of the Großromstedt culture and in settlement sites (Fig. 3). In the case of settlement contexts, the level of certainty of their association with the Großromstedt culture is lower, as late La Tène finds are also known from some of the settlements. Anyway, this type of fibula is still not known from any oppidum in the Czech Republic. The other finds include part of a bottle from the late La Tène period (P 1057) and a ceramic fragment from
the early Roman period (P 1056b). An iron object made from twisted wire could not be identified more closely (P 1058). The finds come from a site with proven La Tène and Roman period occupation, however, more precise contexts are unfortunately not known – the objects were recovered through fieldwalking.
The first one is a metallurgy workshop with three furnaces with a sunken bottom, belonging to the so-called Tuklaty type (I2 027 = I3 035, Fig. 3a–4b). In addition to furnace 3 with an unusually narrow shaft of square section (8–9 cm, Fig. 4b), these devices had no special features. Air was blown into them through holes in nozzle bricks, found directly in the fill of the metallurgy workshop (Fig. 10:5,7). The existence of other possible holes may be indicated by the discovered daub elements shaped as hole fillings, however, these were not identified in the surviving parts of the furnaces (Fig. 10:6,8).
Slag found in the workshop was interpreted as metallurgical without exception. Apart from the usual types of slag, we can mention the recurring finds of ‘light’ slags (silicate foam and drop ingot categories) crushed to the fraction of 4–6 cm. A cobblestone crusher from the fill of furnace 2 could have been used for this purpose (Fig. 8:1). Analysis of part of the surface in places where the cobblestone was secondarily reddish-brown coloured confirmed high concentrations of iron oxides (Fig. 13, Table 9). Similarly crushed slags could have served as ingredients for further iron ore smelting. Such a practice is also indicated by sample A 551 717 consisting of slags of several different types that originated under various conditions, but they were smelted together and caked into uniform material afterwards (Fig. 29). The metallurgy workflow in the workshop is further illustrated by the discovery of tapping slag A 553 431 (Fig. 22). It comes from a slightly later context, still within the Early Roman period, from layer J1. The dating of the feature is not completely clear, it is possible to consider the interval of phases A and B1 of the Roman period. The remaining two features or two phases of the feature, whose shape approximately resembles a tub, are more difficult to interpret. The earlier phase of the feature has not been reliably determined yet; the best possible explanation is a storage or waste deposit function. The later phase with burnt up walls from the Late Roman period then evokes deep heating furnaces known both from the respective period and, e.g., the Middle Ages. The analysed finds of ores include both samples excluded during the selection of raw materials for iron metallurgy due to high proportion of dirt and samples with metal content in the range of 42–60% (W/W). Ore sample A 554 171 from layer J3 shows signs of slight melting and charcoal impressions, indicating the process of roasting before the smelting itself took place. The iron content in certain parts of the crude ore debris from the so-called pooled samples was up to over 65% (W/W), However, the material was already roasted and partially melted. Still, it provides us unique evidence of high-quality raw material originating from the furnace charge. The same group of samples also included fragments of limonite ore, substantially similar to the so-called bog iron ores of Quaternary origin. The immediate vicinity of the location among the maze of dead channels of the Vltava floodplain represented favourable conditions for their formation.
The more precisely identified ores include mainly the so-called lateritic iron crusts (fericrusts), the accumulation of which has no significant importance from the present point of view. However, as the Papírenská Street example shows, these deposits could be exploited and used in prehistory. Although the exact location of the exploitation of these iron ores is not yet possible, the most likely deposites seems to be the outcrops on rough terrain elevations more distant from the river (e.g., the edge of the Hanspaulka top, Červený vrch, Troja). Collecting fragments of iron ores from the hillside sediments and Pleistocene fluvial deposits of the Dejvický Brook is also relevant, especially in the places of its driftage cone, situated very close to the Papírenská Street site. An important level of studying the iron metallurgy waste consists of the differentiation between the bloomery and smithing slags or, possibly, the so-called post-reduction waste. In our case, we based the classification on the morphological characteristics of finds (such as sample A 552 791a, Fig. 34), magnetic properties, mineral analysis, and also the combination of the aforementioned procedures. From the point of view of different chemical composition, in our case, the content of Fe2O3 and MnO proved to be an applicable descriptor (Chart 3; see Dunster – Dungworth 2012). Isolated scales were also identified in the slag (A 552 791b, Fig. 37). The finds of smithing slag chronologically closest to the metallurgical workshop come from layer F (samples A 552 496a, A 552 496b), more numerous finds of smithing slags were recorded in layer J1 (A 552 791a+b; A 553 824). Although none of the exposed features can be clearly associated with the blacksmith’s activity, it seems that this activity was also commonly performed in the settlement alongside metallurgy. Even though we have no clear evidence of metallurgy, such as reduction furnaces, from the period following the existence of the sunken metallurgical workshop and the spatial distribution of slag in the excavation area (Fig. 2) also indicated no similar finding, there is still evidence of the continuity of iron smelting provided by the finds of slags belonging to the category of larger hearth blocks from layer J1 (Table 4). The processing of the products of reduction smelting is also referenced by the proposed interpretation of feature I2 018 = I3 003 as a heating furnace (Fig. 7). The analysed osteological material from the metallurgical workshop and the later phase of feature I2 018 = I3 003 has the nature of so-called kitchen waste, with minimum representation of whole anatomical elements, and is limited to small finds – teeth or phalanges. From the general point of view, the documented section of the area excavated in Papírenská Street in 2011 is also remarkable for the considerable increase in terrain recorded in the stratigraphic sequence belonging to the Roman period, which suggests intensive use of the area. Dating to the given chronological interval was also supported by the results of radiocarbon dating (Fig. 12, Table 8).
Bursák, D. – Kacl, P. – Trojánková, O. – Zavřel, J. 2018: Hutnictví železa v industriální osadě v Praze-Bubenči. Příklad dílny z doby římské z Papírenské ulice / Iron metallurgy in an industrial settlement in Prague-Bubeneč. An example of a Roman period workshop from Papírenská Street. Archaeologica Pragensia 24, 363-408.
Presented paper summarizes La Tène and Roman period finds originating from the archaeological excavations led by J. A. Jíra in 1897–1898 which were conducted on the northwest edge of Prague, in today’s neighbourhoods of Bubeneč and Dejvice (Jíra 1910; 1911a; 1911b). In the introductory chapters, there is outlined the importanceof this archaeologically very rich part of Prague and details concerning the archival material and field activities themselves are also listed there. Due to several factors, the surviving finds only represent a fraction of the material recovered in the 19th century. Despite this sad fact, the collection represents one of the most numerous assemblages of settlement finds from this period of archaeological research. The field documentation was kept very well and it is therefore possible to create an approximate general plan of the excavation site (Fig. 1, yellow hatched areas and red line). The documentation is visually very attractive and therefore often used as an example of archaeological fieldwork of that period (Fig. 3–4; 9–12). In several places, the excavation revealed thick settlement strata which are archaeologically mainly datable to the La Tène period, the Roman period (especially its early phase) and partly also to the Migration period. Thus we get the image of an intensely populated area with evidence of iron smelting activities. Unfortunately, only a few of the recorded features can be dated with more precision – the finds are usually only attributable to the individual excavation areas (Table 2). The discovered metallurgical furnaces, numerous hearths and heat-up facilities can only be dated with great uncertainty. Judging from the technological properties of the smelting furnaces, they seem to belong to the Roman period. The range of surviving metal and bone finds is more or less typical of their find contexts (Fig. 18), and the same is valid for pottery. An exception is represented by two fragments of the so-called Roman-provincial utility ware and two fragments of relief terra sigilata (Fig. 25:2–3; Fig. 26). Along with finds characteristic of the Przeworsk culture (Fig. 21:1–2), they point to a wider range of contacts of the settlement’s inhabitants during the Roman period, especially during the 2nd–3rd century AD. Actually, there are more such finds of exogenous nature known from these parts of Prague. The theory that the whole area was an important and favourably located centre on the Vltava River has several times appeared in archaeological literature. This hypothesis is also supported by the diversity of production facilities, the aforementioned unusual finds and a great deal of evidence for the presence of social elites represented by richly furnished „princely“ graves in the Early Iron Age and especially at the beginning of the Roman period. J. A. Jíra’s excavation of 1897–1898 has always representedan important stage in discovering this important site and now, thanks to the submitted study, its artefactual part is being scholarly published for the first time.
Abstrakt
Předkládaný diskusní příspěvek zvažuje možnosti identifikace sídlištní hierarchie ve starší době římské v Čechách. Pojednány jsou tradiční ukazatele centrality, jako je výskyt bohatých hrobů v regionálním kontextu. Blíže je popsán stav bádání o výrobě železa, jelikož se jedná o další často diskutovaný aspekt vzájemné odlišnosti sídlišť prvních dvou staletí našeho letopočtu. Autor poukazuje na metody, které mají potenciál některé diskutované otázky řešit. V závěru též upozorňuje na některé lokality, které jsou z různých důvodů označovány za mimořádné a jejichž vyhodnocení slibuje odpovědět na celou řadu otázek, se kterými současná archeologie doby římské zachází.
Abstract
The presented contribution considers the possibilities of identification settlement hierarchy in the Early Roman period in Bohemia. Traditional indicators of centrality, such as the presence of rich graves in their regional context are discussed. Main focus is given to the direct production of iron, as an important and often discussed aspect of the economical dissimilarities in the first two centuries AD. The author points out methods that have the potential to solve usually discussed issues. Of uttermost importance are also some mentioned archaeological sites, which are often highlighted as extraordinary in many ways. Their possible elaboration promises to answer numerous questions of the contemporary archaeology of the Roman period.
The article concentrates on a presentation of the collection of ceramics obtained from 1966 to 1968 and 2013 to 2014 in the settlement from the Early Roman Imperial period near Tuchlovice, district of Kladno. The ceramic collection is assessed mainly from the chronological point of view. The period of existence of the settlement in the meadow of the Tuchlovický stream, layered with strong flood and meadow sediments, can be defined as between A and B2 (at the latest) of the Roman Imperial period. A short aside also deals with an analysis of the meander motifs found on one of the terrines.
Bursák, D. 2014: Keramický soubor ze sídliště starší doby římské u Tuchlovic, okr. Kladno, Zborník slovenského Národného múzea CVI II – 2014 Archeológia 24, 295-302.
and another five features into the early Roman Period. Remaining two features did not offer any dating material. This limited campaign has started the excavation of one of the most important iron making areas of
the early Roman Period in Bohemia, which, however, remains unpublished. During the excavation a probable remains of the hut type Droberjar B2 were excavated, as well as, sunken iron smelting workshop with four furnaces (Tuklaty type) and a smaller feature with one furnace each and another two features of unknown function. The majority of finds from these features are possible to date into the relative chronological phase R B2. Amongst the finds of the early La-Tène a very distinctive find is a bowl with step meander strip filled in with strokes, which is through its decoration related to the area of Przewor Culture. This important find was probably a post-depositional intrusion into the La-Tène feature. Similar situations were observed in
the case of the Roman Period features, where some intruded early La-Tène and other prehistoric pottery fragments were also found."
in the year 2007 within the parish of Prague-Kbely. Most of the features and artifacts belong to the Bronze age and the
late Iron age (La-Tène culture). In this contribution authors focus only on the part of archaeological record that brought
some evidence on settlement activities datable to the Roman Period. Approximately a half of the artifacts come from
eight sunken features (each of other type), the other part was found widespread in the wide unstratified layer, so any
house or farmstead layout is hardly recognizable. Among the common pottery sherds that belong typologically to the end
of 2nd–4th Century AD and bear typical signs of Germanic pottery were found also some finds of roman-provincial provenience
(fig. 7:1; fig. 8). Due to the small dimensions and absence of more detailed typological traces is hard to say something
more concrete about these in Bohemia rarely found artifacts. Important finds also present the metallic artifacts,
mostly from 2nd and 3rd Century AD.
Bursák, D. 2009: Pozoruhodný nález ze starší doby římské z Prahy-Dolních Počernic. In: Karwowski, M. – Droberjar, E.: Archeologia Barbarzyńców 2008. Collectio Archaeologica Ressoviensis, Tomus XIII. Rzeszów, 453 – 460.
La Tène Period
Wenn sich die Vermutung einer möglichen mehrfachen latènezeitlichen Anlage bestätigen würde, hätten wir neben Mšecké Žehrovice ein weiteres mehrteiliges Objekt dieses Typs vor uns und in der Region Příbram den vierten Nachweis einer Viereckschanze (vgl. Korený et al. 2017). Die Datierung der Fundstelle basiert auf einer Reihe außergewöhnlicher Funde, darunter fünf Münzen aus dem Zeitraum LT B2b–C1a bis LT D. Die Fibeln verweisen hauptsächlich in die Stufe LT C2. Die Entdeckung eines Sporns, der außerhalb der Oppida immer noch selten ist, deutet auf einen höheren sozialen Status der Bewohner. Wenn wir noch zwei Speerspitzen hinzufügen, erhalten wir ein Bild von einer einzigartigen Fundstelle. Selbst im weiteren Bereich Mitteleuropas ist das Auftreten von Militaria in einer latènezeitlichen Flachlandsiedlung ein ungewöhnliches Phänomen und ordnet die Fundstelle einer führenden Position der Siedlungshierarchie zu (siehe Zusammenfassung aus Frankreich: Malrain 2011, 112, 113). Wenn es sich tatsächlich um eine Viereckschanze handelt, ist die Anzahl der gefundenen Silbermünzen ungewöhnlich, da in Hunderten von Objekten dieses Typs in Süddeutschland sowie der Tschechischen Republik nur wenige Einzelexemplare keltischer Münzen gefunden wurden.
Die latènezeitliche Besiedlung der Gebiete an der Grenze zwischen Mittel- und Südböhmen, bzw. in Südböhmen, wird traditionell mit Kolonisierung in Verbindung gebracht, unterstützt durch den Mineralreichtum von Gold, Blei, Silber, Kupfer, Eisen und Graphit (Michálek 1999, 57–60). Die Fundstelle in Podmoky liegt in einem Gebiet mit Gold- und Antimonmineralisierung (Abb. 7; Morávek et al. 1992; Morávek 2015; Němec – Zachariáš 2018), eine bemerkenswerte Verbindung. Nach unserem bisherigen Kenntnisstand wurde dieses Metall auch in der Latènezeit verwendet, wie Beispiele aus dem benachbarten Bayern belegen (Schwab 2014a; 2014b). So wiederholt sich hier das Bild, das wir aus den Gebieten von Příbram, Blatná und anderen in Südböhmen kennen (Waldhauser – Smejtek – Nováček 1989; Waldhauser – Fröhlich 1992, 637–645; Michálek 1999, 57–60; Korený et al. 2017; Smola 2017).
Die Untersuchung der Fundstelle wird fortgesetzt.
collections, revealed that standard copper alloys, typical for the given periods or individual chronological phases
and particular categories of finds, had been used in most cases. The most common alloy of which the artefacts
were made is tin bronze, which occurred up to the Ř B1 period. An important task of the study was to answer the
question of distribution of a Roman material – brass – in addition to a few sites from which brass had already been
known. It is worth mentioning that brass without significant admixtures of other elements, such as tin or lead,
has only been convincingly detected in four objects. In fifteen more objects, the presence of zinc in the alloys
was clearly demonstrated. However, these conclusions should be considered preliminary, as the chosen method
(XRF) tends to give inaccurate values for zinc, lead and tin concentrations when surface layers of alloys are
analyzed, i.e. the real values for the metal core and the alloy itself may be different. It is reasonable to assume,
for example, that the high representation of tin brass could in some cases decrease in favour of brass without
a significant tin admixture if other analytical methods were applied.
Interesting questions arise when we try to compare the material and typological classifications of the objects.
In the case of inhumation graves II and III, even the typologically distinct objects have very close material
compositions. Moreover, tin brass with a low zinc content is a rather uncommon material during this period, and
in the environment of rich graves, to which it is usually attributed, we would rather expect high quality brass
which was back then used for the manufacture of many similar objects, or possibly for the production of brass
coins of the early Roman Empire.
Several important findings emerged from the study of small fragments and semi-finished products made
of copper alloys. This is, for example, the evidence for the presence of brass in a semi-finished fibula dating
back to the early Roman period which adds to our knowledge of the early processing of this important material
outside the Roman Empire and, moreover, in the context of a settlement showing various traces of production.
In addition to brass, bronze was also processed in the Bubeneč agglomeration at around the same time. Small
fragments of metal strips and metal bars might be indicative of recycling (?) of tin bronze during the Ř B1 period.
188 Daniel Bursák – František Míček: Není všechno zlato, co se třpytí …
In the Ř C1 period, a period trend in this category became apparent in the form of heterogeneous alloys of copper
with lead, tin and zinc.
In the future, it will be useful to compare the findings with data from other sites and, especially for some objects,
to verify the composition of the alloys by more precise analytical procedures (SEM-EDS, NAA, ICP-MS).
In the cases of the semi-finished fibula, the ingot and other indicators of non-ferrous metal processing, a possibility
presents itself that analytical procedures enabling the determination of the provenance of copper or other
components of the alloy could also be applied. The degree of success achieved while determining the provenance
of the tin bronze or other alloys used during the early Roman period will particularly be important for
further research.
ABSTRACT: In 1897 J. A. Jíra’s collection was enriched with an assemblage of objects from Lipany (Fig. 2). The site was defined as Lipany, Kolín District, Central Bohemian region (Fig. 1). In particular, an A 18 type fibula (inventory number P 1059), probably of the A 18a variant according to T. Völling (1994, 180–183, Abb. 14), stands out among the finds. The fibula was analysed using the XRF method, the results are summed up in Table 1. Due to its zinc content of 11% and admixtures of lead and tin, the material can be identified as lead-tin brass. At present, this is one of the most ancient brass objects known and published from the territory of the Czech Republic (cf. Droberjar – Frána 2004). It was probably linked to the early phase of occurrence of brass in Europe (Istenič – Šmit 2007; Istenič 2009). In the Czech Republic, A 18 type fibulae are found both in graves of the Großromstedt culture and in settlement sites (Fig. 3). In the case of settlement contexts, the level of certainty of their association with the Großromstedt culture is lower, as late La Tène finds are also known from some of the settlements. Anyway, this type of fibula is still not known from any oppidum in the Czech Republic. The other finds include part of a bottle from the late La Tène period (P 1057) and a ceramic fragment from
the early Roman period (P 1056b). An iron object made from twisted wire could not be identified more closely (P 1058). The finds come from a site with proven La Tène and Roman period occupation, however, more precise contexts are unfortunately not known – the objects were recovered through fieldwalking.
The first one is a metallurgy workshop with three furnaces with a sunken bottom, belonging to the so-called Tuklaty type (I2 027 = I3 035, Fig. 3a–4b). In addition to furnace 3 with an unusually narrow shaft of square section (8–9 cm, Fig. 4b), these devices had no special features. Air was blown into them through holes in nozzle bricks, found directly in the fill of the metallurgy workshop (Fig. 10:5,7). The existence of other possible holes may be indicated by the discovered daub elements shaped as hole fillings, however, these were not identified in the surviving parts of the furnaces (Fig. 10:6,8).
Slag found in the workshop was interpreted as metallurgical without exception. Apart from the usual types of slag, we can mention the recurring finds of ‘light’ slags (silicate foam and drop ingot categories) crushed to the fraction of 4–6 cm. A cobblestone crusher from the fill of furnace 2 could have been used for this purpose (Fig. 8:1). Analysis of part of the surface in places where the cobblestone was secondarily reddish-brown coloured confirmed high concentrations of iron oxides (Fig. 13, Table 9). Similarly crushed slags could have served as ingredients for further iron ore smelting. Such a practice is also indicated by sample A 551 717 consisting of slags of several different types that originated under various conditions, but they were smelted together and caked into uniform material afterwards (Fig. 29). The metallurgy workflow in the workshop is further illustrated by the discovery of tapping slag A 553 431 (Fig. 22). It comes from a slightly later context, still within the Early Roman period, from layer J1. The dating of the feature is not completely clear, it is possible to consider the interval of phases A and B1 of the Roman period. The remaining two features or two phases of the feature, whose shape approximately resembles a tub, are more difficult to interpret. The earlier phase of the feature has not been reliably determined yet; the best possible explanation is a storage or waste deposit function. The later phase with burnt up walls from the Late Roman period then evokes deep heating furnaces known both from the respective period and, e.g., the Middle Ages. The analysed finds of ores include both samples excluded during the selection of raw materials for iron metallurgy due to high proportion of dirt and samples with metal content in the range of 42–60% (W/W). Ore sample A 554 171 from layer J3 shows signs of slight melting and charcoal impressions, indicating the process of roasting before the smelting itself took place. The iron content in certain parts of the crude ore debris from the so-called pooled samples was up to over 65% (W/W), However, the material was already roasted and partially melted. Still, it provides us unique evidence of high-quality raw material originating from the furnace charge. The same group of samples also included fragments of limonite ore, substantially similar to the so-called bog iron ores of Quaternary origin. The immediate vicinity of the location among the maze of dead channels of the Vltava floodplain represented favourable conditions for their formation.
The more precisely identified ores include mainly the so-called lateritic iron crusts (fericrusts), the accumulation of which has no significant importance from the present point of view. However, as the Papírenská Street example shows, these deposits could be exploited and used in prehistory. Although the exact location of the exploitation of these iron ores is not yet possible, the most likely deposites seems to be the outcrops on rough terrain elevations more distant from the river (e.g., the edge of the Hanspaulka top, Červený vrch, Troja). Collecting fragments of iron ores from the hillside sediments and Pleistocene fluvial deposits of the Dejvický Brook is also relevant, especially in the places of its driftage cone, situated very close to the Papírenská Street site. An important level of studying the iron metallurgy waste consists of the differentiation between the bloomery and smithing slags or, possibly, the so-called post-reduction waste. In our case, we based the classification on the morphological characteristics of finds (such as sample A 552 791a, Fig. 34), magnetic properties, mineral analysis, and also the combination of the aforementioned procedures. From the point of view of different chemical composition, in our case, the content of Fe2O3 and MnO proved to be an applicable descriptor (Chart 3; see Dunster – Dungworth 2012). Isolated scales were also identified in the slag (A 552 791b, Fig. 37). The finds of smithing slag chronologically closest to the metallurgical workshop come from layer F (samples A 552 496a, A 552 496b), more numerous finds of smithing slags were recorded in layer J1 (A 552 791a+b; A 553 824). Although none of the exposed features can be clearly associated with the blacksmith’s activity, it seems that this activity was also commonly performed in the settlement alongside metallurgy. Even though we have no clear evidence of metallurgy, such as reduction furnaces, from the period following the existence of the sunken metallurgical workshop and the spatial distribution of slag in the excavation area (Fig. 2) also indicated no similar finding, there is still evidence of the continuity of iron smelting provided by the finds of slags belonging to the category of larger hearth blocks from layer J1 (Table 4). The processing of the products of reduction smelting is also referenced by the proposed interpretation of feature I2 018 = I3 003 as a heating furnace (Fig. 7). The analysed osteological material from the metallurgical workshop and the later phase of feature I2 018 = I3 003 has the nature of so-called kitchen waste, with minimum representation of whole anatomical elements, and is limited to small finds – teeth or phalanges. From the general point of view, the documented section of the area excavated in Papírenská Street in 2011 is also remarkable for the considerable increase in terrain recorded in the stratigraphic sequence belonging to the Roman period, which suggests intensive use of the area. Dating to the given chronological interval was also supported by the results of radiocarbon dating (Fig. 12, Table 8).
Bursák, D. – Kacl, P. – Trojánková, O. – Zavřel, J. 2018: Hutnictví železa v industriální osadě v Praze-Bubenči. Příklad dílny z doby římské z Papírenské ulice / Iron metallurgy in an industrial settlement in Prague-Bubeneč. An example of a Roman period workshop from Papírenská Street. Archaeologica Pragensia 24, 363-408.
Presented paper summarizes La Tène and Roman period finds originating from the archaeological excavations led by J. A. Jíra in 1897–1898 which were conducted on the northwest edge of Prague, in today’s neighbourhoods of Bubeneč and Dejvice (Jíra 1910; 1911a; 1911b). In the introductory chapters, there is outlined the importanceof this archaeologically very rich part of Prague and details concerning the archival material and field activities themselves are also listed there. Due to several factors, the surviving finds only represent a fraction of the material recovered in the 19th century. Despite this sad fact, the collection represents one of the most numerous assemblages of settlement finds from this period of archaeological research. The field documentation was kept very well and it is therefore possible to create an approximate general plan of the excavation site (Fig. 1, yellow hatched areas and red line). The documentation is visually very attractive and therefore often used as an example of archaeological fieldwork of that period (Fig. 3–4; 9–12). In several places, the excavation revealed thick settlement strata which are archaeologically mainly datable to the La Tène period, the Roman period (especially its early phase) and partly also to the Migration period. Thus we get the image of an intensely populated area with evidence of iron smelting activities. Unfortunately, only a few of the recorded features can be dated with more precision – the finds are usually only attributable to the individual excavation areas (Table 2). The discovered metallurgical furnaces, numerous hearths and heat-up facilities can only be dated with great uncertainty. Judging from the technological properties of the smelting furnaces, they seem to belong to the Roman period. The range of surviving metal and bone finds is more or less typical of their find contexts (Fig. 18), and the same is valid for pottery. An exception is represented by two fragments of the so-called Roman-provincial utility ware and two fragments of relief terra sigilata (Fig. 25:2–3; Fig. 26). Along with finds characteristic of the Przeworsk culture (Fig. 21:1–2), they point to a wider range of contacts of the settlement’s inhabitants during the Roman period, especially during the 2nd–3rd century AD. Actually, there are more such finds of exogenous nature known from these parts of Prague. The theory that the whole area was an important and favourably located centre on the Vltava River has several times appeared in archaeological literature. This hypothesis is also supported by the diversity of production facilities, the aforementioned unusual finds and a great deal of evidence for the presence of social elites represented by richly furnished „princely“ graves in the Early Iron Age and especially at the beginning of the Roman period. J. A. Jíra’s excavation of 1897–1898 has always representedan important stage in discovering this important site and now, thanks to the submitted study, its artefactual part is being scholarly published for the first time.
Abstrakt
Předkládaný diskusní příspěvek zvažuje možnosti identifikace sídlištní hierarchie ve starší době římské v Čechách. Pojednány jsou tradiční ukazatele centrality, jako je výskyt bohatých hrobů v regionálním kontextu. Blíže je popsán stav bádání o výrobě železa, jelikož se jedná o další často diskutovaný aspekt vzájemné odlišnosti sídlišť prvních dvou staletí našeho letopočtu. Autor poukazuje na metody, které mají potenciál některé diskutované otázky řešit. V závěru též upozorňuje na některé lokality, které jsou z různých důvodů označovány za mimořádné a jejichž vyhodnocení slibuje odpovědět na celou řadu otázek, se kterými současná archeologie doby římské zachází.
Abstract
The presented contribution considers the possibilities of identification settlement hierarchy in the Early Roman period in Bohemia. Traditional indicators of centrality, such as the presence of rich graves in their regional context are discussed. Main focus is given to the direct production of iron, as an important and often discussed aspect of the economical dissimilarities in the first two centuries AD. The author points out methods that have the potential to solve usually discussed issues. Of uttermost importance are also some mentioned archaeological sites, which are often highlighted as extraordinary in many ways. Their possible elaboration promises to answer numerous questions of the contemporary archaeology of the Roman period.
The article concentrates on a presentation of the collection of ceramics obtained from 1966 to 1968 and 2013 to 2014 in the settlement from the Early Roman Imperial period near Tuchlovice, district of Kladno. The ceramic collection is assessed mainly from the chronological point of view. The period of existence of the settlement in the meadow of the Tuchlovický stream, layered with strong flood and meadow sediments, can be defined as between A and B2 (at the latest) of the Roman Imperial period. A short aside also deals with an analysis of the meander motifs found on one of the terrines.
Bursák, D. 2014: Keramický soubor ze sídliště starší doby římské u Tuchlovic, okr. Kladno, Zborník slovenského Národného múzea CVI II – 2014 Archeológia 24, 295-302.
and another five features into the early Roman Period. Remaining two features did not offer any dating material. This limited campaign has started the excavation of one of the most important iron making areas of
the early Roman Period in Bohemia, which, however, remains unpublished. During the excavation a probable remains of the hut type Droberjar B2 were excavated, as well as, sunken iron smelting workshop with four furnaces (Tuklaty type) and a smaller feature with one furnace each and another two features of unknown function. The majority of finds from these features are possible to date into the relative chronological phase R B2. Amongst the finds of the early La-Tène a very distinctive find is a bowl with step meander strip filled in with strokes, which is through its decoration related to the area of Przewor Culture. This important find was probably a post-depositional intrusion into the La-Tène feature. Similar situations were observed in
the case of the Roman Period features, where some intruded early La-Tène and other prehistoric pottery fragments were also found."
in the year 2007 within the parish of Prague-Kbely. Most of the features and artifacts belong to the Bronze age and the
late Iron age (La-Tène culture). In this contribution authors focus only on the part of archaeological record that brought
some evidence on settlement activities datable to the Roman Period. Approximately a half of the artifacts come from
eight sunken features (each of other type), the other part was found widespread in the wide unstratified layer, so any
house or farmstead layout is hardly recognizable. Among the common pottery sherds that belong typologically to the end
of 2nd–4th Century AD and bear typical signs of Germanic pottery were found also some finds of roman-provincial provenience
(fig. 7:1; fig. 8). Due to the small dimensions and absence of more detailed typological traces is hard to say something
more concrete about these in Bohemia rarely found artifacts. Important finds also present the metallic artifacts,
mostly from 2nd and 3rd Century AD.
Bursák, D. 2009: Pozoruhodný nález ze starší doby římské z Prahy-Dolních Počernic. In: Karwowski, M. – Droberjar, E.: Archeologia Barbarzyńców 2008. Collectio Archaeologica Ressoviensis, Tomus XIII. Rzeszów, 453 – 460.
Wenn sich die Vermutung einer möglichen mehrfachen latènezeitlichen Anlage bestätigen würde, hätten wir neben Mšecké Žehrovice ein weiteres mehrteiliges Objekt dieses Typs vor uns und in der Region Příbram den vierten Nachweis einer Viereckschanze (vgl. Korený et al. 2017). Die Datierung der Fundstelle basiert auf einer Reihe außergewöhnlicher Funde, darunter fünf Münzen aus dem Zeitraum LT B2b–C1a bis LT D. Die Fibeln verweisen hauptsächlich in die Stufe LT C2. Die Entdeckung eines Sporns, der außerhalb der Oppida immer noch selten ist, deutet auf einen höheren sozialen Status der Bewohner. Wenn wir noch zwei Speerspitzen hinzufügen, erhalten wir ein Bild von einer einzigartigen Fundstelle. Selbst im weiteren Bereich Mitteleuropas ist das Auftreten von Militaria in einer latènezeitlichen Flachlandsiedlung ein ungewöhnliches Phänomen und ordnet die Fundstelle einer führenden Position der Siedlungshierarchie zu (siehe Zusammenfassung aus Frankreich: Malrain 2011, 112, 113). Wenn es sich tatsächlich um eine Viereckschanze handelt, ist die Anzahl der gefundenen Silbermünzen ungewöhnlich, da in Hunderten von Objekten dieses Typs in Süddeutschland sowie der Tschechischen Republik nur wenige Einzelexemplare keltischer Münzen gefunden wurden.
Die latènezeitliche Besiedlung der Gebiete an der Grenze zwischen Mittel- und Südböhmen, bzw. in Südböhmen, wird traditionell mit Kolonisierung in Verbindung gebracht, unterstützt durch den Mineralreichtum von Gold, Blei, Silber, Kupfer, Eisen und Graphit (Michálek 1999, 57–60). Die Fundstelle in Podmoky liegt in einem Gebiet mit Gold- und Antimonmineralisierung (Abb. 7; Morávek et al. 1992; Morávek 2015; Němec – Zachariáš 2018), eine bemerkenswerte Verbindung. Nach unserem bisherigen Kenntnisstand wurde dieses Metall auch in der Latènezeit verwendet, wie Beispiele aus dem benachbarten Bayern belegen (Schwab 2014a; 2014b). So wiederholt sich hier das Bild, das wir aus den Gebieten von Příbram, Blatná und anderen in Südböhmen kennen (Waldhauser – Smejtek – Nováček 1989; Waldhauser – Fröhlich 1992, 637–645; Michálek 1999, 57–60; Korený et al. 2017; Smola 2017).
Die Untersuchung der Fundstelle wird fortgesetzt.
Key words: La Tène Period – archaeological prospection – metal artefacts – coins – magnetometry – XRF – antimony
Bursák, D. – John, J. – Korený, R. –Míček, F. 2020: Podmoky (okr. Příbram) – nová laténská Viereckschanze?, Archeologické výzkumy v jižních Čechách 33, 153–177.
Abstract: The lowland concentration of La Tène settlement in the region of Prague-Bubeneč on the north-western border of present-day Prague is presented through the evidence of finds made in the 19th–21st centuries AD. A deeper understanding of this continually inhabited area along the Vltava river is supplied through a presentation of recent excavations in Papírenská street. Rich evidence from this project has led to the discovery of an enclosed homestead offering valuable additional data for evaluating the site as a whole. In conclusion the position of the site within the hierarchy of Iron Age settlements is discussed.
Citation: Bursák, D. – Kacl, P. 2017: The La Tène lowland agglomeration in Prague-Bubeneč in perspective of latest research. In: J. Kysela – A. Danielisová – J. Militký (eds.), Stories that tade the Iron Age. Studies in Iron Age Archaeology dedicated to Natalie Venclová. Prague, 475–503.
Formerly, the Boian gold 1/3-stater was reported as having been found in Prague-Podbaba. The coin was discovered in a precisely unspecified place before 1908. Recently, it is preserved in the Römisch-germanischen Zentralmuseum in Mainz (inv. no. O.27573). The location covers a large area belonging to the cadastral territory of Prague-Dejvice and Prague-Bubeneč, where a La Tène settlement agglomeration was documented. The mentioned coin from Prague-Podbaba can be attributed very precisely – it is the Boian 1/3-stater of the mussel series, variety no. E/VI:01a (Militký 2015, 66, Tab. 4). These coins were very likely struck on the Bohemian territory in the Late Oppidum Period, between the LT D1b horizon and the beginning of the LT D2 horizon.
CITATION:
Bursák, D. – Militký, J. 2017: K nálezu keltské třetiny statéru z Prahy 6-Bubenče / Dejvic. Numismatický sborník 30/2, 267-272.
Kysela, J. – Bursák, D. – Houfková, P. – Šálková, T. 2017: Stebno-Nouze: pozoruhodný laténský depot z Podbořanska. Archeologické rozhledy 69, 74-108.
Key words: Bohemia – Late Hallstatt period – Minice hillfort – alloy composition – Fusszierfibel – leaded bronze
Bursák, D. – Daněček, D. – Smíšek, K. 2016: Nové kovové nálezy z doby halštatské z hradiště u Minic, okr. Mělník. In: Popelka, M. – Šmidtová, R. – Burgert, P. – Jílek, J. (ed.): … tenkrát na východě … Sborník k 80. narozeninám Víta Vokolka. Praehistorica XXXIII/1-2, 117-129.
Recently we have started to relate the mobility of objects to mobility of people, applying the analyses of the isotopes of Sr and Pb to La Tene graves from the 4th to 2nd centuries BC.
Aims:
By archaeometry of non-ferrous metals and glass we aim to reveal trends in socio-economic development of the La Tène and Early Roman period: sourcing of materials, spread of innovations, mobility, distribution patterns, life cycles and the question of so called production crisis in the 1st cent. BC.
late Iron Age (3rd to 1st century BC). The type with eight spokes, which most resembles a real chariot
wheel, was discovered to be made of a specific alloy containing a large amount of lead and a significant
amount of antimony, plus traces of silver and arsenic. This combination of elements signifies the use
of a copper known as fahlore (tetrahedrite). Its use in Bohemia after the early Bronze Age is rarely
observed, if at all. These amulets are therefore a conspicuous exception. Research in Bavaria has
revealed other objects made from fahlore copper. Another connection to Bavaria may be indicated by
coin hoards accompanied by bronze closure rings of a similar alloy design. Other cases may suggest
that antimony was added as a separate component. Here we discuss the composition and provenance of
these objects from the perspective of compositional and lead isotope analysis.
With “Oppidum Závist in the 21st Century – New questions and methods for research and education”, its prehistoric occupation has become focus of a comprehensive surveying campaign, by combining remote sensing and geophysical mapping techniques with minimally invasive test coring and small excavations. The Bavarian Czech Higher Education Agency (BTHA)-funded project investigates the multi-walled enclosure extending 150ha over two hills for its use of space through time. GPR surveys revealed on “Balda”, another extensive man-made platform south of the acropolis, massive structural support and potential building foundations, most recently verified by excavation. At the baily on the foot of the eastern slope, magnetic surveys had previously revealed pits and linear features. Here, GPR results provide additional insights and a depth component. At the slopes, erosion has left culturally rich deposits for soil coring. Uncovered material is being 14C and OSL dated, as well as geochemically and micromorphologically analysed to differentiate the areas by their time of use. Systematic metal detector surveys display a spatial distribution of artefacts.
The aerial remote sensing focus lies on the less forested space within the outer walls of Závist, which was identified by magnetometry as a living and farming space. In consequence, any woodless area within the enclosure was covered by a DJI Mavic 3M multispectral drone survey to analyse potential cultural features through vegetation growth differences. Previous flights at other locations in Europe have shown great potential but also the limits of this method, as its success is very dependent on preceding weather conditions, similar to traditional aerial photography. Pre-flight area coverage planning and rapid and fully autonomous, GPS-guided data recording have simplified data collection and processing immensely. Using Structure from Motion (SfM), digital surface models of 10 cm and orthophotos of 3 cm resolution were created for the complete areas. If available on site, the usage of drones allows regular systematic coverage of a predefined area. Due to different tasks to be completed, flights at Závist were currently limited to one full area coverage in May 2024. Bohemia had suffered a dry spring, which prevented crops to grow and prevented better survey results in some areas. Image enhancements and vegetation indices have improved the visualisation of results. For comparison purposes, aerial data was also collected at Stradonice, another large oppidum to the south-west of Prague. This location is mostly covered by agricultural fields, theoretically better supporting multispectral remote sensing for archaeological purposes.