DOI article:
Linke, Friedrich-Albert: Archaeological survey of monuments of early mining and smelting in the Harz Mountains
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.56859#0073
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visible vegetation anomalies and more or less distinct heaps, which consist
exclusively of tapped slags.
Excavations around such sites reveal a systematic site structure. An indented
and partly timber clad trench leads to a stream nearby. Three furnaces are posi-
tioned relative to this trench whose preserved substructures show, in contrast to
the sites described above, a stone plate placed over a hollow, a so-called crucible
stone. However, details of smelter sites may vary considerably despite these
common features. A structure that may be interpreted as a wind tunnel as well one
resembling a bar mould complete the inventory of such a site.
Analyses confirm also in these cases the smelting of ore from Rammelsberg
for copper winning. The process was carried out at 1300-1400 °C in small shaft
furnaces. The dating of these sites is based on ceramics and l4C-analyses.
d. Medieval smelters of the 13th—14th century -
situated along larger streams
The slagheaps, consisting of tapped slags (Fließschlacken), are often quite
large with conspicuous vegetation anomalies. The terrain around these smelters is
structured. Upstream of these sites plateaus and remains of ponds and dams may
be discernible. Water for the wheels was directed by ditches to a place a little
uphill of the smelter. In some cases, the remains of the structures supporting the
waterwheels may be found. Blast furnaces whose bellows were driven by water
wheels were employed used in the smelting process. Smelters of this type pro-
cessed copper and lead ores from Rammelsberg and the Upper Harz, some of
them may also have produced iron.
They can be dated using ceramics and 14C-dated, and some of them have
already been mentioned in historical records. These sites have often been
assimilated in the following category.
e. Modern smelters, from the 16th century onward
The smelters originated from politically driven processes of concentration.
Their slagheaps, measuring several hundred meters, have been in most cases
removed. They were situated in wide river meads or at the foot of a valley. Many
of these sites have been built over, or have fallen victim to modem traffic
infrastructure. These works had industrial dimensions. The copper, lead (silver)
and also iron ores were reduced in blast furnaces driven by bellows. In this way,
all ores of the Harz were utilised. Correspondingly, the slagheaps contain quite
visible vegetation anomalies and more or less distinct heaps, which consist
exclusively of tapped slags.
Excavations around such sites reveal a systematic site structure. An indented
and partly timber clad trench leads to a stream nearby. Three furnaces are posi-
tioned relative to this trench whose preserved substructures show, in contrast to
the sites described above, a stone plate placed over a hollow, a so-called crucible
stone. However, details of smelter sites may vary considerably despite these
common features. A structure that may be interpreted as a wind tunnel as well one
resembling a bar mould complete the inventory of such a site.
Analyses confirm also in these cases the smelting of ore from Rammelsberg
for copper winning. The process was carried out at 1300-1400 °C in small shaft
furnaces. The dating of these sites is based on ceramics and l4C-analyses.
d. Medieval smelters of the 13th—14th century -
situated along larger streams
The slagheaps, consisting of tapped slags (Fließschlacken), are often quite
large with conspicuous vegetation anomalies. The terrain around these smelters is
structured. Upstream of these sites plateaus and remains of ponds and dams may
be discernible. Water for the wheels was directed by ditches to a place a little
uphill of the smelter. In some cases, the remains of the structures supporting the
waterwheels may be found. Blast furnaces whose bellows were driven by water
wheels were employed used in the smelting process. Smelters of this type pro-
cessed copper and lead ores from Rammelsberg and the Upper Harz, some of
them may also have produced iron.
They can be dated using ceramics and 14C-dated, and some of them have
already been mentioned in historical records. These sites have often been
assimilated in the following category.
e. Modern smelters, from the 16th century onward
The smelters originated from politically driven processes of concentration.
Their slagheaps, measuring several hundred meters, have been in most cases
removed. They were situated in wide river meads or at the foot of a valley. Many
of these sites have been built over, or have fallen victim to modem traffic
infrastructure. These works had industrial dimensions. The copper, lead (silver)
and also iron ores were reduced in blast furnaces driven by bellows. In this way,
all ores of the Harz were utilised. Correspondingly, the slagheaps contain quite