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#0074
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heterogeneous material with some blocks measuring more than a meter across.
These smelter sites can often be dated from historical records.
Summary
The initial expectations with regard to density, degree of preservation and
archaeological value of the smelter sites have been surpassed by far during the six
years of activity of the Centre for Mining Archaeology in the Harz region.
Extrapolating from the 800 sites, which have been prospected so far to the whole
of the Harz in Lower Saxony, we can expect approximately 2000 smelter relics.
They provide us with an archaeological record of the developments of the
smelting processes for iron and non-ferrous metals for the time from 700 AD, as
has been established so far, up to the 16th century when processes began to be
documented. Many of these are extraordinarily well preserved. The traces of
these activities, which often lie close to the surface, have remained undisturbed
due to the almost complete absence of agriculture in the Harz Mountains. Even
small deformations are recognisable even after the passing of centuries because
no levelling has taken place. In addition, the preservation of organic materials due
to the heavy metal contamination of soils turns smelter sites and their
surroundings into unique records of human activity. They document not only the
degree of mastery of high temperature technology during each period but also
related ecological and environmental changes.
This allows the archaeologist to supplement historical sources and to explore
developments in times for which all written sources remain silent.
Zusammenfassung
In der nunmehr sechsjährigen Tätigkeit der Arbeitsstelle für Montanarchäo-
logie im Harz konnten die anfänglichen Erwartungen hinsichtlich der Dichte, der
Erhaltung und der archäologischen Aussagekraft der Schmelz- und Hüttenplätze
weit übertroffen werden. Rechnet man die bisher prospektierten ca. 800
Fundstellen auf den gesamten niedersächsischen Harz hoch, so ergibt sich eine
Zahl von etwa 2000 Verhüttungsrelikten. In ihnen ist die pyrotechnische
Entwicklung der Buntmetall- und Eisenverhüttung der Zeit - so bisher nach-
weisbar - von 700 n. Chr. bis zum Einsetzen der schriftlichen Überlieferung von
Prozeßabläufen, also dem 16. Jahrhundert auf uns archäologisch lesbar
überkommen. Dabei sind die Erhaltungsbedingungen außerordentlich. Durch die
nahezu fehlende landwirtschaftliche Nutzung des Harzer Berglandes konnten sich
die meist oberflächennahen diffizilen Spuren des Montanwesens erhalten,
heterogeneous material with some blocks measuring more than a meter across.
These smelter sites can often be dated from historical records.
Summary
The initial expectations with regard to density, degree of preservation and
archaeological value of the smelter sites have been surpassed by far during the six
years of activity of the Centre for Mining Archaeology in the Harz region.
Extrapolating from the 800 sites, which have been prospected so far to the whole
of the Harz in Lower Saxony, we can expect approximately 2000 smelter relics.
They provide us with an archaeological record of the developments of the
smelting processes for iron and non-ferrous metals for the time from 700 AD, as
has been established so far, up to the 16th century when processes began to be
documented. Many of these are extraordinarily well preserved. The traces of
these activities, which often lie close to the surface, have remained undisturbed
due to the almost complete absence of agriculture in the Harz Mountains. Even
small deformations are recognisable even after the passing of centuries because
no levelling has taken place. In addition, the preservation of organic materials due
to the heavy metal contamination of soils turns smelter sites and their
surroundings into unique records of human activity. They document not only the
degree of mastery of high temperature technology during each period but also
related ecological and environmental changes.
This allows the archaeologist to supplement historical sources and to explore
developments in times for which all written sources remain silent.
Zusammenfassung
In der nunmehr sechsjährigen Tätigkeit der Arbeitsstelle für Montanarchäo-
logie im Harz konnten die anfänglichen Erwartungen hinsichtlich der Dichte, der
Erhaltung und der archäologischen Aussagekraft der Schmelz- und Hüttenplätze
weit übertroffen werden. Rechnet man die bisher prospektierten ca. 800
Fundstellen auf den gesamten niedersächsischen Harz hoch, so ergibt sich eine
Zahl von etwa 2000 Verhüttungsrelikten. In ihnen ist die pyrotechnische
Entwicklung der Buntmetall- und Eisenverhüttung der Zeit - so bisher nach-
weisbar - von 700 n. Chr. bis zum Einsetzen der schriftlichen Überlieferung von
Prozeßabläufen, also dem 16. Jahrhundert auf uns archäologisch lesbar
überkommen. Dabei sind die Erhaltungsbedingungen außerordentlich. Durch die
nahezu fehlende landwirtschaftliche Nutzung des Harzer Berglandes konnten sich
die meist oberflächennahen diffizilen Spuren des Montanwesens erhalten,