Information Integration for Prehistoric Mining Archaeology

The research center HiMAT (History of Mining Activities in Tyrol and adjacent areas - impact on environment and human societies), which was established at the University of Innsbruck, investigates the mining history of Tyrol and its neighboring areas on an interdisciplinary level. In this project, which is realized in the framework of the FZ HiMAT, an innovative attempt is made to combine archaeological field research with remote sensing data and technologies of the Semantic Web in order to achieve the following goals: 1. A method for integration of semantic and spatial data 2. New insights into the spatial structure of Bronze Age mining landscapes 3. The localization of research gaps as well as archaeological suspected areas in the form of copper ore mining and production sites (beneficiation and smelting sites) 4. The development of a tool that allows to apply this approach to other areas of archaeological (and related) research disciplines The methodology organizes existing research data according to ontological principles and builds a semantic network with spatial information through the integration of different information sources. In this semantic network information (e.g. objects or sites) is displayed in a web of data, which allows to display relationships and spatial context. The additional use of high resolution digital terrain models allows to examine the data in its geographical context using geographic information systems. This provides geomorphological and proximity indicators for the discovery of previously unknown or forgotten sites of Bronze Age copper production. The reliability of the methodology will be tested in the field through archaeological and geophysical (mainly geomagnetic) surveys. For this purpose, copper ore deposits near the prehistoric mining district of the Kelchalm (Aurach near Kitzbühel), in the area of the Brixental and in the district of Zell am See (Salzburg) were selected as Key-Areas. Localized archaeological sites are going to be investigated through the different disciplines involved in the research centre HiMAT. All the results as well as the developed applications will be made available to the research community open access. The principal investigator Gerald Hiebel has been involved in the research centre HiMAT for more than 10 years and can point to a wealth of knowledge in relation to semantic technologies and geographic information systems. The cooperation within the research center, in particular with the renowned mining archaeologist and archaeometallurgist Gert Goldenberg, promises new insights into the prehistoric mining and processing of copper ores in this area of the Eastern Alps.

The project set out to achieve two major goals: first, to identify previously unknown prehistoric mining sites in the Eastern Alps using advanced digital elevation models and archaeological research; and second, to develop an innovative approach for representing archaeological information in a structured knowledge graph. The project has successfully contributed to filling key knowledge gaps in the history of prehistoric mining while advancing digital methodologies for documenting and analyzing archaeological data. Discovering Prehistoric Mining Sites: The project focused on the regions of Pinzgau and Brixental, which had remained under-researched in terms of prehistoric mining. By integrating high-resolution digital elevation models with existing archaeological data, the team was able to locate new prehistoric mining sites and date their activities, revealing a more comprehensive history of copper mining in the Eastern Alps. The Pinzgau is well known for its Bronze Age copper mines, particularly near Viehhofen and Weikersbach. Through a comparative analysis of newly rediscovered and previously known sites, the project provided a deeper understanding of the area's mining history. Smelting sites in these areas were dated using radiocarbon (14C) and dendrochronology methods, confirming their activity between the 14th and 12th centuries BC. The Brixental serves as a key corridor between major Bronze and Iron Age mining centers, this area had not been extensively studied for prehistoric mining. Through literature reviews, geospatial data analysis, and on-site surveys conducted in 2023, six key locations were identified and examined. Evidence of prehistoric mining was confirmed at three sites through artifact analysis (stone tools, pottery, slag), with radiocarbon dating pinpointing mining activities as early as the Bronze Age. Additionally, geophysical surveys at Grattenbergl uncovered signs of metallurgical activity from the Hallstatt period, further strengthening the evidence of continuous mining in the region. Advancing Digital Archaeology: The project also aimed to improve how archaeological data is structured and represented digitally. The team developed a conceptual modeling approach based on the CIDOC CRM standard, ensuring that excavation and survey data could be effectively organized and linked within a knowledge graph. The methodologies are applied in various ongoing projects. One key challenge was ensuring that this structured archaeological data could be easily accessed and queried through a user-friendly interface. We choose a solution to export essential information from the knowledge graph to a relational database and develop a web interface for the database. Conclusion: The InfInt project has successfully expanded knowledge of prehistoric mining in the Eastern Alps while also contributing to the development of digital tools for archaeological research. By bridging gaps in historical understanding and improving data representation techniques, the project paves the way for future research into the region's rich mining history and its broader significance in European prehistory.