The ´Atrium House´ of Aguntum

The Atrium House in Aguntum is of archaeological uniqueness inside the alpine territory. The extreme size of approximate 6000 m2 and the Hellenistic-roman shape of its manorial residential part turn it into an outstanding urban building of habitation and representation. In the course of this research project the archaeological evidence and the finds of the now finished excavations of the Institute for Archaeologies , Department for Classical and Roman Provincial Archaeology from the University of Innsbruck on the Atrium House of Aguntum (1994-2006) will be compared to the older results of F. Miltner (1953-54) and W. Alzinger (1955-58). In this research project the results from 1953 to 2006 shall be valuated methodical homogenous. The presentation of the finds, which will be analyzed archaeologically and archaeometrically, together with the archaeological evidence of the Atrium House, which was used from the first to the sixth century A.D., shall make it possible to come to new understandings referring to the economic and social history of the roman province Noricum and the local chronology for this province typical ceramics. In addition to the chronology of the different utilization-phases of the Atrium House, the questions on the origin and the social rank of the owner of this representative habitation will become the focus of attention. This is connected with the question of the owner`s motivation to build a clearly roman-hellenistic residential building into the alpine region, where this kind of architecture, which was created for the warm southern climate, is not really suitable. In this case the economic function of the Atrium House is the focus of attention, and shall be examined through archaeometric analysis of ceramics, slag and remains of domestic animals. The economic orientation of the Atrium House (and as a result of the whole Municipium Aguntum) will be investigated through the analysis of the imported ceramics, which were found in the Atrium House. Beside these questions on the provincial history, the architecture of the Atrium House will also be an essential part of this research project. This type of architecture is very popular in the southern regions of the Roman Empire, but in the northern parts of the Empire it is rarely used. The Atrium House in Aguntum is a very canonical building in its first phase, but in the course of time it has been adapted to the local (above all climatic) conditions by annexes and alteration. Therefore the Atrium House in Aguntum is a classic example in architectural history of the adaptation of Mediterranean-roman-hellenistic architecture to the rawer climate of the northern Empire.

The Atrium House in Aguntum is of archaeological uniqueness inside the alpine territory. The extreme size of approximate 6000 m2 and the Hellenistic-roman shape of its manorial residential part turn it into an outstanding urban building of habitation and representation. In the course of this research project the archaeological evidence and the finds of the excavations of the Institute for Archaeologies, Department for Classical and Roman Provincial Archaeology from the University of Innsbruck on the Atrium House of Aguntum (1994-2006) have been compared to the older results of F. Miltner (1953-54) and W. Alzinger (1955-58). Through the analysis of all finds from the modern excavations it was possible to gather data on the dating of the different parts of the building and also on the material culture of the inhabitants of the Atrium House.Beside the results referring directly to the inhabitants of the Atrium House another aim of this project was to answer the question which kind of pottery has been regionally produced. Archaeometrical analysis allowed to define a local group of pottery, which is correlating with so called typical norischer Keramik in morphology and decoration. Whether these products have been exported and which distance they covered is not clear up to now. For an answer to this question new analysis of material from other find spots is needed. The main aim of the project was to collect information on the social historical background of the Atrium House owners. The material culture shows a very clear connection to the Italian-Mediterranean region. Up to the mid of the second century A.D. the imported materials are mainly imported from the south. This is true for food and beverage (indicated through amphorae) and also for table- and cooking ware. The menu of the Atrium House inhabitants included calf, pork, chicken and various wild animals. Also imported mussels and slugs have been found. During the second and third century A.D. the menu simplifies and mainly local products are eaten. It is notable, that in the fourth century A.D. animal bone remains again point to wealthy residents in the Atrium House.The Architecture as well as imported goods and meat consumption suggest that the raiser of the Atrium House belonged to the Italian upper class. It is very likely that these people held political or economic functions in the Roman Province Noricum.