2000 years of iron production in Hüttenberg - archaeology

Research carried out in the course of previous projects (project of the Austrian Science Foundation 2003-2006 (last year extension without costs) and EU-project "Iron Route" 2006 and 2007) has shown that the site Semlach/Eisner in Hüttenberg, Carinthia, Southern Austria, was the main center of production of Ferrum Noricum. As is currently known iron production started in the 2nd half of the 1st century BC and lasted until the middle of the 4th century AD. The site has an extension of around 50.000m and contains not only iron smelting furnaces but also living quarters and administrative buildings. The publication of the results of the research of 2003 - 2005 is in preparation. The aims of this new project are: 1. Surveying the site Semlach/Eisner and mapping traces of human activities (slag deposits, artficial terraces etc) with the intent to determine the extension of the site and to better understand its internal structure. 2. Archaeological excavations at the site Semlach/Eisner will be carried out with the aim of studying the infrastructure of a Roman industrial complex, its spatial organization, for example locations of furnaces and smithing hearths in realtion to living quarters and adminstrative buildings, and its changes over the centuries of the site`s duration. The study of the material finds (metall finds, ceramics, glass and animal bones) will help to understand the working and living conditions of the personnel working at an industrial complex in a relatively remote area. 3. Publication of the results of the excavations of 2006 and 2007 as well as preparing the publication of the results of the excavations carried out in the course of the new project. 4. A general survey of other Roman and medieval smelting sites on the Hüttenberger Erzberg will be carried out. Mapping these sites will provide an overall view of the iron production done at the Hüttenberger Ezberg from the earliest times to the Middle Ages. 5. Archaeometallurgical studies of iron objects found at the site, as well as slags, remains of smelts, furnace lining etc. will be carried out as a PhD at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. 6. Compliling and interpreting the literary and epigraphic sources on Ferrum Noricum in their historical context. These studies will be carried out in cooperation with colleagues from the University of Leoben (geophysical survey and palaeomagnetic dating of furnaces) and from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna (species of trees used for charcoal production, and denrdochronology) and the Institute of Archaeology, University College London (metallurgy).

Research carried out in the course of previous projects (project of the Austrian Science Foundation 2003-2006 (last year extension without costs) and EU-project "Iron Route" 2006 and 2007) has shown that the site Semlach/Eisner in Hüttenberg, Carinthia, Southern Austria, was the main center of production of Ferrum Noricum. As is currently known iron production started in the 2nd half of the 1st century BC and lasted until the middle of the 4th century AD. The site has an extension of around 50.000m and contains not only iron smelting furnaces but also living quarters and administrative buildings. The publication of the results of the research of 2003 - 2005 is in preparation. The aims of this new project are: 1. Surveying the site Semlach/Eisner and mapping traces of human activities (slag deposits, artficial terraces etc) with the intent to determine the extension of the site and to better understand its internal structure. 2. Archaeological excavations at the site Semlach/Eisner will be carried out with the aim of studying the infrastructure of a Roman industrial complex, its spatial organization, for example locations of furnaces and smithing hearths in realtion to living quarters and adminstrative buildings, and its changes over the centuries of the site`s duration. The study of the material finds (metall finds, ceramics, glass and animal bones) will help to understand the working and living conditions of the personnel working at an industrial complex in a relatively remote area. 3. Publication of the results of the excavations of 2006 and 2007 as well as preparing the publication of the results of the excavations carried out in the course of the new project. 4. A general survey of other Roman and medieval smelting sites on the Hüttenberger Erzberg will be carried out. Mapping these sites will provide an overall view of the iron production done at the Hüttenberger Ezberg from the earliest times to the Middle Ages. 5. Archaeometallurgical studies of iron objects found at the site, as well as slags, remains of smelts, furnace lining etc. will be carried out as a PhD at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. 6. Compliling and interpreting the literary and epigraphic sources on Ferrum Noricum in their historical context. These studies will be carried out in cooperation with colleagues from the University of Leoben (geophysical survey and palaeomagnetic dating of furnaces) and from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna (species of trees used for charcoal production, and denrdochronology) and the Institute of Archaeology, University College London (metallurgy).