Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft für Landeskunde und Denkmalpflege Oberösterreich 168, 2023
Im Hausruckwald südlich von Eberschwang fanden sich bislang drei Schlackenhalden der Eisengewinnu... more Im Hausruckwald südlich von Eberschwang fanden sich bislang drei Schlackenhalden der Eisengewinnung. Auf Grund von C14-Analysen von Holzkohlenproben können diese in das 5./6. Jh. n. Chr. datiert werden. Als Erzgrundlage für die Eisenverhüttung wurden lokal anstehende eisenreiche Limonit-Geoden bzw.-Nieren verwendet, wie sie im Nahebereich der Schlackenfundstellen vorkommen. Am Urhamerberg, wo sich in den Schotterablagerungen ebensolche Erze befinden, konnten im Gelände Pingenfelder ausgemacht werden. Diese unterscheiden sich klar von jenen des jüngeren Braunkohlebergbaues und könnten die Überreste frühgeschichtlichter Erzabbauschächte darstellen. Aus den Schlackenhügeln geborgene Schlackenfunde und Ofenüberreste lassen darauf schließen, dass zur Eisenverhüttung Rennöfen mit Schlackenabstich genutzt wurden. Die konischen Ofenschächte wurden aus einem mit Sand und Steinen gemagerten Lehm aufgebaut und hatten einen Innendurchmesser von rund 40 cm. Die künstliche Luftzufuhr erfolgte über zumindest eine in den jeweiligen Ofenschacht eingebaute Keramikdüse. Während des im Hauruckwald relativ effizient betriebenen Verhüttungsprozesses wurde die Schlacke nach außen in eine dem Ofen vorgelagerte Mulde abgestochen. Nachdem die Rennöfen unterhalb der Schmelztemperatur des Eisens betrieben wurden, sammelte sich im Ofengestell im Laufe jeder Verhüttungstätigkeit ein Eisenschwamm, die sogenannte Luppe, welche am Ende einer jeden Ofenreise aus dem Ofen geborgen wurde. Die in den Rennöfen hergestellten Eisenluppen bestanden den Analysen zur Folge sowohl aus weichem Eisen als auch aus härtbarem Stahl. Ebenso in den Schlackenhalden deponierte Schmiedeschlacken lassen darauf schließen, dass zumindest ein Teil der im Hausruckwald erzeugten Eisenluppen zu gebrauchsfertigem Schmiedeeisen ausgeheizt, also gereinigt und homogenisiert, wurde.
Aus dem Fundmaterial der untersuchten Burgenanlagen konnten diverse Einrichtungen und Prozesse zu... more Aus dem Fundmaterial der untersuchten Burgenanlagen konnten diverse Einrichtungen und Prozesse zur Metallverarbeitung abgeleitet werden. Bei den Schmiedeherden konnten verschiedene Bauformen voneinander unterschieden werden. Neben jenen, bei denen der Essestein zur Abgrenzung des Feuerraumes zu den Blasebälgen lediglich durchlocht war, standen zumindest auf der Burg Feinfeld auch Schmiedeherde in Gebrauch, bei denen durch den Einsatz von Keramikdüsen ein zusätzlicher Abstand zur Herdwandung geschaffen wurde. Die Schmiedeschlacken im Fundmaterial geben Aufschluss über die verschiedenen schmiedetechnischen Arbeitsprozesse, die an den Burgen stattgefunden haben. So kann für die Burg Feinfeld angenommen werden, dass die in den Rennofen produzierten Eisenschwamme zumindest zum Teil vor Ort zu gebrauchsfertigen Schmiedeeisen weiterverarbeitet wurden. Neben Feuerschweiß- und Faltprozessen können auch fortgeschrittene Schmiedeprozesse zur Herstellung von Fertigprodukten aus den Schlacken abgeleitet werden. Auf der Retzer Stadtburg konnte neben der Eisenverarbeitung auch der Buntmetallguss nachgewiesen werden. Im Schmelzofen mit Lochtennenkonstruktion wurde dort antimonhaltige Bronze für den Guss erhitzt.
Studia archaeologica Brunensia. 2022, vol. 27, iss. 1, pp. 119-141, 2022
Pellet bells forged from metal sheets were common during the Avar period. Their investigation is ... more Pellet bells forged from metal sheets were common during the Avar period. Their investigation is part of the research project "Metallic Idiophones between 800 BC and 800 AD in Central Europe". A large amount of the pellet bells were forged from sheet iron, and the rest from copper and various copper alloy sheets. To find out the reason why sheet iron was preferred, different materials were used in forging experiments. While sheet copper and bronze were quite easily shaped, sheet iron needed much more force to be shaped into the swage block. Listening to the sounds of the three comparably-shaped pellet bells, they differ substantially in timbre and loudness. The analyses of the sound recordings showed no significant correlations between any of the calculated psychoacoustic parameters. The copper bell showed the lowest values, the bronze bell the middle and the iron bell the highest values. A possible explanation for the use of iron pellet bells could be found in magical-religious imagination and psychological warfare.
The economic importance of iron smelting and blacksmithing at the medieval castles of Feinfeld an... more The economic importance of iron smelting and blacksmithing at the medieval castles of Feinfeld and Sachsendorf, Lower Austria. Finds and features related to bloomery smelting and blacksmithing have been excavated at the castles of Feinfeld and Sachsendorf (Horn district, Lower Austria). The archaeological evidence in both castles consists of roasting hearths and finds of iron ore, slag and parts of ovens and hearths, while in Sachsendorf there are also some iron objects which could be related to blacksmithing. Archaeological and metallurgical research allows us to draw conclusions about the metallurgical working processes. Model calculations show the importance of bloomery smelting and blacksmithing at these medieval castles, but in both cases there was no evidence of excess production to prove trading intention.
Silvija Pisk/Stela Kos (eds.), Castle and Economy. Book of Abstracts and Fieldtrip Guides, Castrum Bene 16. The 16th International Castellological Conference. Kutina - Sisak, Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia, May 21st - 25th 2019, 2019
Jahreshefte des Österreichischen Archäologischen Institutes in Wien 88, 2020
The Eastern Town of Velia. Insights into the Development of the South-Eastern Terrace from the 3r... more The Eastern Town of Velia. Insights into the Development of the South-Eastern Terrace from the 3rd Century B.C. until the 3rd Century A.D. The Eastern quarter represents a hitherto widely neglected quarter of the town of Velia. This paper presents the first results of a project conducted in the peripheral area of the large south-eastern terrace in the years 2015-2019. Starting with a campaign of geophysical prospection, followed by four campaigns of excavations, we obtained new insights into the urbanistic organization of the area and its chronological development from the 3rd century B.C. to the late antique period. A summary of the finds of African Sigillata provides new information regarding the presence of this ware in Velia and allows greater precision of the chronological data. Most surprising was the discovery of activities not only of working but also producing iron in the late Republican period; a first overview of the slags is presented.
EXPERIMENTELLE ARCHÄOLOGIE. Eine Ausstellung des MAMUZ in Zusammenarbeit mit EXARC = EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY. An exhibition by MAMUZ in cooperation with EXARC, 2021
Jahreshefte des Österreichischen Archäologischen Institutes in Wien 88 (2019), 2020
The Eastern Town of Velia. Insights into the Development of the South-Eastern Terrace from the 3r... more The Eastern Town of Velia. Insights into the Development of the South-Eastern Terrace from the 3rd Century B.C. until the 3rd Century A.D. The Eastern quarter represents a hitherto widely neglected quarter of the town of Velia. This paper presents the first results of a project conducted in the peripheral area of the large south-eastern terrace in the years 2015-2019. Starting with a campaign of geophysical prospection, followed by four campaigns of excavations, we obtained new insights into the urbanistic organization of the area and its chronological development from the 3rd century B.C. to the late antique period. A summary of the finds of African Sigillata provides new information regarding the presence of this ware in Velia and allows greater precision of the chronological data. Most surprising was the discovery of activities not only of working but also producing iron in the late Republican period; a first overview of the slags is presented.
Beiträge zur Mittelalterarchäologie in Österreich, 2019
Finds and features related to bloomery smelting and blacksmithing have been excavated at the cast... more Finds and features related to bloomery smelting and blacksmithing have been excavated at the castles of Feinfeld and Sachsendorf (Horn district, Lower Austria). The archaeological evidence in both castles consists of roasting hearths and finds of iron ore, slag, and parts of ovens and hearths, while in Sachsendorf there are also some iron objects which could be related to blacksmithing. Archaeological and metallurgical research allows us to draw conclusions about the metallurgical working processes. Model calculations Show the importance of bloomery smelting and blacksmithing at these medieval castles.
Beiträge zur Mittelalterarchäologie in Österreich, 2013
An iron-smelting site in Dörfl (Burgenland, Austria) produced
approximately 175 tuyères. The tuy... more An iron-smelting site in Dörfl (Burgenland, Austria) produced
approximately 175 tuyères. The tuyères from slag heap
Nr. 1 are all nearly identically shaped, and have reduced
wall thickness and almost no defects in their workmanship.
The tuyères are smooth inside, round, and were made by
an experienced hand. The smelting site was used in several
phases. At first, there was intensive production by an experienced
group that was later replaced by people, who, it
seems, acquired their knowledge by watching the experienced
group and then continued the iron production in a
less experienced way. Our experiments show furthermore
that a total of 1.7 tons of wrought iron was produced and
that the use of the technique of blowing through the oven
breast is likely. The similarity with the furnace in Nemeskér
(Hungary), as well as dating by thermoluminescence, places
the smelting site in a direct Avar-Slavic cultural tradition
and dates it to the mid-9th century.
Die Stadt Retz wurde bereits um 1279 gegründet und wuchs im Lauf der Zeit mit der älteren Siedlun... more Die Stadt Retz wurde bereits um 1279 gegründet und wuchs im Lauf der Zeit mit der älteren Siedlung „Altstadt“ zusammen. Ihre architektonischen Besonderheiten und ihr intensiver Bezug zum Wein prägten seit jeher das Stadtbild. Der Band beschäftigt sich mit der jüngeren Geschichte der Stadt und ihrer Katastralgemeinden Obernalb, Unternalb, Kleinhöflein, Kleinriedenthal und Hofern ab der 2. Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts. Die Autoren haben aus Stadtarchiv, Museum Retz und von privaten Sammlern „neue“ alte Ansichten zusammengetragen. Nicht nur historische Abbildungen der Stadtbefestigung, des Rathauses und der Windmühle, sondern auch zahlreicher anderer markanter Orte dürfen dabei nicht fehlen. Viele Ansichten lassen das lokale Wirtschafts- und Arbeitsleben, das vielfältige Vereinswesen und natürlich das Leben von und mit dem Wein wieder aufleben.
Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft für Landeskunde und Denkmalpflege Oberösterreich 168, 2023
Im Hausruckwald südlich von Eberschwang fanden sich bislang drei Schlackenhalden der Eisengewinnu... more Im Hausruckwald südlich von Eberschwang fanden sich bislang drei Schlackenhalden der Eisengewinnung. Auf Grund von C14-Analysen von Holzkohlenproben können diese in das 5./6. Jh. n. Chr. datiert werden. Als Erzgrundlage für die Eisenverhüttung wurden lokal anstehende eisenreiche Limonit-Geoden bzw.-Nieren verwendet, wie sie im Nahebereich der Schlackenfundstellen vorkommen. Am Urhamerberg, wo sich in den Schotterablagerungen ebensolche Erze befinden, konnten im Gelände Pingenfelder ausgemacht werden. Diese unterscheiden sich klar von jenen des jüngeren Braunkohlebergbaues und könnten die Überreste frühgeschichtlichter Erzabbauschächte darstellen. Aus den Schlackenhügeln geborgene Schlackenfunde und Ofenüberreste lassen darauf schließen, dass zur Eisenverhüttung Rennöfen mit Schlackenabstich genutzt wurden. Die konischen Ofenschächte wurden aus einem mit Sand und Steinen gemagerten Lehm aufgebaut und hatten einen Innendurchmesser von rund 40 cm. Die künstliche Luftzufuhr erfolgte über zumindest eine in den jeweiligen Ofenschacht eingebaute Keramikdüse. Während des im Hauruckwald relativ effizient betriebenen Verhüttungsprozesses wurde die Schlacke nach außen in eine dem Ofen vorgelagerte Mulde abgestochen. Nachdem die Rennöfen unterhalb der Schmelztemperatur des Eisens betrieben wurden, sammelte sich im Ofengestell im Laufe jeder Verhüttungstätigkeit ein Eisenschwamm, die sogenannte Luppe, welche am Ende einer jeden Ofenreise aus dem Ofen geborgen wurde. Die in den Rennöfen hergestellten Eisenluppen bestanden den Analysen zur Folge sowohl aus weichem Eisen als auch aus härtbarem Stahl. Ebenso in den Schlackenhalden deponierte Schmiedeschlacken lassen darauf schließen, dass zumindest ein Teil der im Hausruckwald erzeugten Eisenluppen zu gebrauchsfertigem Schmiedeeisen ausgeheizt, also gereinigt und homogenisiert, wurde.
Aus dem Fundmaterial der untersuchten Burgenanlagen konnten diverse Einrichtungen und Prozesse zu... more Aus dem Fundmaterial der untersuchten Burgenanlagen konnten diverse Einrichtungen und Prozesse zur Metallverarbeitung abgeleitet werden. Bei den Schmiedeherden konnten verschiedene Bauformen voneinander unterschieden werden. Neben jenen, bei denen der Essestein zur Abgrenzung des Feuerraumes zu den Blasebälgen lediglich durchlocht war, standen zumindest auf der Burg Feinfeld auch Schmiedeherde in Gebrauch, bei denen durch den Einsatz von Keramikdüsen ein zusätzlicher Abstand zur Herdwandung geschaffen wurde. Die Schmiedeschlacken im Fundmaterial geben Aufschluss über die verschiedenen schmiedetechnischen Arbeitsprozesse, die an den Burgen stattgefunden haben. So kann für die Burg Feinfeld angenommen werden, dass die in den Rennofen produzierten Eisenschwamme zumindest zum Teil vor Ort zu gebrauchsfertigen Schmiedeeisen weiterverarbeitet wurden. Neben Feuerschweiß- und Faltprozessen können auch fortgeschrittene Schmiedeprozesse zur Herstellung von Fertigprodukten aus den Schlacken abgeleitet werden. Auf der Retzer Stadtburg konnte neben der Eisenverarbeitung auch der Buntmetallguss nachgewiesen werden. Im Schmelzofen mit Lochtennenkonstruktion wurde dort antimonhaltige Bronze für den Guss erhitzt.
Studia archaeologica Brunensia. 2022, vol. 27, iss. 1, pp. 119-141, 2022
Pellet bells forged from metal sheets were common during the Avar period. Their investigation is ... more Pellet bells forged from metal sheets were common during the Avar period. Their investigation is part of the research project "Metallic Idiophones between 800 BC and 800 AD in Central Europe". A large amount of the pellet bells were forged from sheet iron, and the rest from copper and various copper alloy sheets. To find out the reason why sheet iron was preferred, different materials were used in forging experiments. While sheet copper and bronze were quite easily shaped, sheet iron needed much more force to be shaped into the swage block. Listening to the sounds of the three comparably-shaped pellet bells, they differ substantially in timbre and loudness. The analyses of the sound recordings showed no significant correlations between any of the calculated psychoacoustic parameters. The copper bell showed the lowest values, the bronze bell the middle and the iron bell the highest values. A possible explanation for the use of iron pellet bells could be found in magical-religious imagination and psychological warfare.
The economic importance of iron smelting and blacksmithing at the medieval castles of Feinfeld an... more The economic importance of iron smelting and blacksmithing at the medieval castles of Feinfeld and Sachsendorf, Lower Austria. Finds and features related to bloomery smelting and blacksmithing have been excavated at the castles of Feinfeld and Sachsendorf (Horn district, Lower Austria). The archaeological evidence in both castles consists of roasting hearths and finds of iron ore, slag and parts of ovens and hearths, while in Sachsendorf there are also some iron objects which could be related to blacksmithing. Archaeological and metallurgical research allows us to draw conclusions about the metallurgical working processes. Model calculations show the importance of bloomery smelting and blacksmithing at these medieval castles, but in both cases there was no evidence of excess production to prove trading intention.
Silvija Pisk/Stela Kos (eds.), Castle and Economy. Book of Abstracts and Fieldtrip Guides, Castrum Bene 16. The 16th International Castellological Conference. Kutina - Sisak, Sisak-Moslavina County, Croatia, May 21st - 25th 2019, 2019
Jahreshefte des Österreichischen Archäologischen Institutes in Wien 88, 2020
The Eastern Town of Velia. Insights into the Development of the South-Eastern Terrace from the 3r... more The Eastern Town of Velia. Insights into the Development of the South-Eastern Terrace from the 3rd Century B.C. until the 3rd Century A.D. The Eastern quarter represents a hitherto widely neglected quarter of the town of Velia. This paper presents the first results of a project conducted in the peripheral area of the large south-eastern terrace in the years 2015-2019. Starting with a campaign of geophysical prospection, followed by four campaigns of excavations, we obtained new insights into the urbanistic organization of the area and its chronological development from the 3rd century B.C. to the late antique period. A summary of the finds of African Sigillata provides new information regarding the presence of this ware in Velia and allows greater precision of the chronological data. Most surprising was the discovery of activities not only of working but also producing iron in the late Republican period; a first overview of the slags is presented.
EXPERIMENTELLE ARCHÄOLOGIE. Eine Ausstellung des MAMUZ in Zusammenarbeit mit EXARC = EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY. An exhibition by MAMUZ in cooperation with EXARC, 2021
Jahreshefte des Österreichischen Archäologischen Institutes in Wien 88 (2019), 2020
The Eastern Town of Velia. Insights into the Development of the South-Eastern Terrace from the 3r... more The Eastern Town of Velia. Insights into the Development of the South-Eastern Terrace from the 3rd Century B.C. until the 3rd Century A.D. The Eastern quarter represents a hitherto widely neglected quarter of the town of Velia. This paper presents the first results of a project conducted in the peripheral area of the large south-eastern terrace in the years 2015-2019. Starting with a campaign of geophysical prospection, followed by four campaigns of excavations, we obtained new insights into the urbanistic organization of the area and its chronological development from the 3rd century B.C. to the late antique period. A summary of the finds of African Sigillata provides new information regarding the presence of this ware in Velia and allows greater precision of the chronological data. Most surprising was the discovery of activities not only of working but also producing iron in the late Republican period; a first overview of the slags is presented.
Beiträge zur Mittelalterarchäologie in Österreich, 2019
Finds and features related to bloomery smelting and blacksmithing have been excavated at the cast... more Finds and features related to bloomery smelting and blacksmithing have been excavated at the castles of Feinfeld and Sachsendorf (Horn district, Lower Austria). The archaeological evidence in both castles consists of roasting hearths and finds of iron ore, slag, and parts of ovens and hearths, while in Sachsendorf there are also some iron objects which could be related to blacksmithing. Archaeological and metallurgical research allows us to draw conclusions about the metallurgical working processes. Model calculations Show the importance of bloomery smelting and blacksmithing at these medieval castles.
Beiträge zur Mittelalterarchäologie in Österreich, 2013
An iron-smelting site in Dörfl (Burgenland, Austria) produced
approximately 175 tuyères. The tuy... more An iron-smelting site in Dörfl (Burgenland, Austria) produced
approximately 175 tuyères. The tuyères from slag heap
Nr. 1 are all nearly identically shaped, and have reduced
wall thickness and almost no defects in their workmanship.
The tuyères are smooth inside, round, and were made by
an experienced hand. The smelting site was used in several
phases. At first, there was intensive production by an experienced
group that was later replaced by people, who, it
seems, acquired their knowledge by watching the experienced
group and then continued the iron production in a
less experienced way. Our experiments show furthermore
that a total of 1.7 tons of wrought iron was produced and
that the use of the technique of blowing through the oven
breast is likely. The similarity with the furnace in Nemeskér
(Hungary), as well as dating by thermoluminescence, places
the smelting site in a direct Avar-Slavic cultural tradition
and dates it to the mid-9th century.
Die Stadt Retz wurde bereits um 1279 gegründet und wuchs im Lauf der Zeit mit der älteren Siedlun... more Die Stadt Retz wurde bereits um 1279 gegründet und wuchs im Lauf der Zeit mit der älteren Siedlung „Altstadt“ zusammen. Ihre architektonischen Besonderheiten und ihr intensiver Bezug zum Wein prägten seit jeher das Stadtbild. Der Band beschäftigt sich mit der jüngeren Geschichte der Stadt und ihrer Katastralgemeinden Obernalb, Unternalb, Kleinhöflein, Kleinriedenthal und Hofern ab der 2. Hälfte des 19. Jahrhunderts. Die Autoren haben aus Stadtarchiv, Museum Retz und von privaten Sammlern „neue“ alte Ansichten zusammengetragen. Nicht nur historische Abbildungen der Stadtbefestigung, des Rathauses und der Windmühle, sondern auch zahlreicher anderer markanter Orte dürfen dabei nicht fehlen. Viele Ansichten lassen das lokale Wirtschafts- und Arbeitsleben, das vielfältige Vereinswesen und natürlich das Leben von und mit dem Wein wieder aufleben.
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Papers by Lukas Kerbler
Finds and features related to bloomery smelting and blacksmithing have been excavated at the castles of Feinfeld and Sachsendorf (Horn district, Lower Austria). The archaeological evidence in both castles consists of roasting hearths and finds of iron ore, slag and parts of ovens and hearths, while in Sachsendorf there are also some iron objects which could be related to blacksmithing. Archaeological and metallurgical research allows us to draw conclusions about the metallurgical working processes. Model calculations show the importance of bloomery smelting and blacksmithing at these medieval castles, but in both cases there was no evidence of excess production to prove trading intention.
The Eastern quarter represents a hitherto widely neglected quarter of the town of Velia. This paper presents the first results of a project conducted in the peripheral area of the large south-eastern terrace in the years 2015-2019. Starting with a campaign of geophysical prospection, followed by four campaigns of excavations, we obtained new insights into the urbanistic organization of the area and its chronological development from the 3rd century B.C. to the late antique period. A summary of the finds of African Sigillata provides new information regarding the presence of this ware in Velia and allows greater precision of the chronological data. Most surprising was the discovery of activities not only of working but also producing iron in the late Republican period; a first overview of the slags is presented.
The Eastern quarter represents a hitherto widely neglected quarter of the town of Velia. This paper presents the first results of a project conducted in the peripheral area of the large south-eastern terrace in the years 2015-2019. Starting with a campaign of geophysical prospection, followed by four campaigns of excavations, we obtained new insights into the urbanistic organization of the area and its chronological development from the 3rd century B.C. to the late antique period. A summary of the finds of African Sigillata provides new information regarding the presence of this ware in Velia and allows greater precision of the chronological data. Most surprising was the discovery of activities not only of working but also producing iron in the late Republican period; a first overview of the slags is presented.
approximately 175 tuyères. The tuyères from slag heap
Nr. 1 are all nearly identically shaped, and have reduced
wall thickness and almost no defects in their workmanship.
The tuyères are smooth inside, round, and were made by
an experienced hand. The smelting site was used in several
phases. At first, there was intensive production by an experienced
group that was later replaced by people, who, it
seems, acquired their knowledge by watching the experienced
group and then continued the iron production in a
less experienced way. Our experiments show furthermore
that a total of 1.7 tons of wrought iron was produced and
that the use of the technique of blowing through the oven
breast is likely. The similarity with the furnace in Nemeskér
(Hungary), as well as dating by thermoluminescence, places
the smelting site in a direct Avar-Slavic cultural tradition
and dates it to the mid-9th century.
Books by Lukas Kerbler
Finds and features related to bloomery smelting and blacksmithing have been excavated at the castles of Feinfeld and Sachsendorf (Horn district, Lower Austria). The archaeological evidence in both castles consists of roasting hearths and finds of iron ore, slag and parts of ovens and hearths, while in Sachsendorf there are also some iron objects which could be related to blacksmithing. Archaeological and metallurgical research allows us to draw conclusions about the metallurgical working processes. Model calculations show the importance of bloomery smelting and blacksmithing at these medieval castles, but in both cases there was no evidence of excess production to prove trading intention.
The Eastern quarter represents a hitherto widely neglected quarter of the town of Velia. This paper presents the first results of a project conducted in the peripheral area of the large south-eastern terrace in the years 2015-2019. Starting with a campaign of geophysical prospection, followed by four campaigns of excavations, we obtained new insights into the urbanistic organization of the area and its chronological development from the 3rd century B.C. to the late antique period. A summary of the finds of African Sigillata provides new information regarding the presence of this ware in Velia and allows greater precision of the chronological data. Most surprising was the discovery of activities not only of working but also producing iron in the late Republican period; a first overview of the slags is presented.
The Eastern quarter represents a hitherto widely neglected quarter of the town of Velia. This paper presents the first results of a project conducted in the peripheral area of the large south-eastern terrace in the years 2015-2019. Starting with a campaign of geophysical prospection, followed by four campaigns of excavations, we obtained new insights into the urbanistic organization of the area and its chronological development from the 3rd century B.C. to the late antique period. A summary of the finds of African Sigillata provides new information regarding the presence of this ware in Velia and allows greater precision of the chronological data. Most surprising was the discovery of activities not only of working but also producing iron in the late Republican period; a first overview of the slags is presented.
approximately 175 tuyères. The tuyères from slag heap
Nr. 1 are all nearly identically shaped, and have reduced
wall thickness and almost no defects in their workmanship.
The tuyères are smooth inside, round, and were made by
an experienced hand. The smelting site was used in several
phases. At first, there was intensive production by an experienced
group that was later replaced by people, who, it
seems, acquired their knowledge by watching the experienced
group and then continued the iron production in a
less experienced way. Our experiments show furthermore
that a total of 1.7 tons of wrought iron was produced and
that the use of the technique of blowing through the oven
breast is likely. The similarity with the furnace in Nemeskér
(Hungary), as well as dating by thermoluminescence, places
the smelting site in a direct Avar-Slavic cultural tradition
and dates it to the mid-9th century.