Inter Alpes Noricas – Roman resource development

Roman land occupation and provincial establishment is primarily to be seen in the context of strategic-military aspects and the exploitation of deposits. The exploration of the Alpine Arc in the area of the later Roman province of Noricum which began with Caesar before the middle of the 1st century BC is closely related to infrastructural measures such as the expansion of the road network and the implementation of trade emporia as well as military posts. The project investigates Roman resource development and infrastructure in the alpine region of the province of Noricum. The research area covers the Salzkammergut, a microregion rich in salt, iron and non-ferrous metal deposits. The focus of the project lies on the analysis of the transportation network. The core question aims at evaluating the settlement characteristics in relation to the supra- regional road network and local roads. The dependence on transport capacities as well as infrastructural facilities will be investigated by means of time-distance analyses. By examining the complete archaeological find inventory information about the people involved in these processes can be expected. The main goal is the implementation of dynamic simulation models for a Roman settlement and economic area. A second focal point is the analysis of all ancient coin finds from the region, which include 1400 single finds and two coin hoards from the 3rd century AD. They are not only important for the study of the region itself, but also for the assessment of the economic structures of the province of Noricum as well as the historical-political conditions in the middle of the 3rd century (the so-called 3rd century crisis) within a wider geographical context. In addition, due to the unique find situation of the two coin hoards far-reaching historical results can be expected. The circumstances of their recovery in particular will contribute to the current discussion on the methods of analysing coin hoards in their landscape settings. The precise examination of the associated finds (e. g. cut-off finger, finger ring), namely non-numismatic objects, is also included, the informative value of which has so far been underestimated. In the course of the project, archaeometallurgical investigations of local iron deposits will also be carried out and the processing of the metal for the purpose of equipment and transportation will be examined. These analyses will particularly address the technological and metallurgical aspects of the production of hipposandals. More than 800 hipposandals come from the study area, which is unique for a Roman alpine region. The results of the project will provide new insights into Roman resource development in an alpine region as well as into the associated transport infrastructure and supply logistics over a longer period of time.