DOI article:
Witthöft, Harald: Early Medieval mining and smelting in the Harz Mountains - historical perspectives
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.56859#0137
105
1 libra (Au) = 1/12 libra (Au + Ag) ä 1 088.640 g = 90.720 g
2 083 1/3 librae (Au) in gold =188.999 kg gold
or
1 libra (Au + Ag) = 20 solidi (Au + Ag) ä 54.432 g =1 088.640 g
2 083 1/3 librae (Au + Ag) in silver =2 267.999 kg silver,
or any proportion of both precious metals - in a bi-metallic system.
The denarii and solidi mentioned in the Saxonian capitulary from 797 were of
a dual character - they mean a specific coin and an identical weight at the same
time. Thus, in a static early economy like the Carolingian one, precious metals
from the Harz Mountains may have been part of a monetary system without
actually having been minted.
In the light of these facts and under such conditions even our fragmentary
knowledge about early mining activities supports the conclusion that they existed
at the foot of the Harz Mountains before 800. Whether it may be regarded an
„industry“ remains to be discussed further. These activities or this industry was
integrated into a contemporary static agrarian society of a nevertheless alternative
order. But there is on the other hand no indication, whether before the reign of
Charlemagne and before the economic changes of the 9th/!0th centuries silver
from the Harz Mountains did in any noticeable quantity contribute to the early
monetary stock of precious metals.
Medieval mining and smelting in a framework of dynamic economic, social,
and cultural changes
It is only in those two centuries after Charlemagne had placed the monetary
system on a new footing in 793/94 that characteristically new economic activities
become more and more apparent - especially from the 10th century onwards. That
is the period out of which archaeological research has brought to light smelting
sites and other relics of a remarkable and increasingly diversified mining industry
high up into the Harz Mountains - and when silver began to be used for coinage
in newly established mints in their vicinity such as Gittelde (965).19
Legal documents prove that in Cologne still between 1172 and 1178 alter-
native payment in either specie (Mark Cologne) or un-coined bullion (Mark
Rammelsberg/Goslar) was agreed upon in private transactions:20
19 Vid. e. g. L. Klappauf and A. Bingener in this volume. Also Bingener 1998.
Regarding Gittelde vid. also Klappauf 1995, 405 sqq.
20 Hoeniger 1884-1888, 125. Witthöft 1989, 56 sqq. - For a brieve summary on the
mining of silver and the oldest informations about Goslar vid. e. g. Zorz 1993.
1 libra (Au) = 1/12 libra (Au + Ag) ä 1 088.640 g = 90.720 g
2 083 1/3 librae (Au) in gold =188.999 kg gold
or
1 libra (Au + Ag) = 20 solidi (Au + Ag) ä 54.432 g =1 088.640 g
2 083 1/3 librae (Au + Ag) in silver =2 267.999 kg silver,
or any proportion of both precious metals - in a bi-metallic system.
The denarii and solidi mentioned in the Saxonian capitulary from 797 were of
a dual character - they mean a specific coin and an identical weight at the same
time. Thus, in a static early economy like the Carolingian one, precious metals
from the Harz Mountains may have been part of a monetary system without
actually having been minted.
In the light of these facts and under such conditions even our fragmentary
knowledge about early mining activities supports the conclusion that they existed
at the foot of the Harz Mountains before 800. Whether it may be regarded an
„industry“ remains to be discussed further. These activities or this industry was
integrated into a contemporary static agrarian society of a nevertheless alternative
order. But there is on the other hand no indication, whether before the reign of
Charlemagne and before the economic changes of the 9th/!0th centuries silver
from the Harz Mountains did in any noticeable quantity contribute to the early
monetary stock of precious metals.
Medieval mining and smelting in a framework of dynamic economic, social,
and cultural changes
It is only in those two centuries after Charlemagne had placed the monetary
system on a new footing in 793/94 that characteristically new economic activities
become more and more apparent - especially from the 10th century onwards. That
is the period out of which archaeological research has brought to light smelting
sites and other relics of a remarkable and increasingly diversified mining industry
high up into the Harz Mountains - and when silver began to be used for coinage
in newly established mints in their vicinity such as Gittelde (965).19
Legal documents prove that in Cologne still between 1172 and 1178 alter-
native payment in either specie (Mark Cologne) or un-coined bullion (Mark
Rammelsberg/Goslar) was agreed upon in private transactions:20
19 Vid. e. g. L. Klappauf and A. Bingener in this volume. Also Bingener 1998.
Regarding Gittelde vid. also Klappauf 1995, 405 sqq.
20 Hoeniger 1884-1888, 125. Witthöft 1989, 56 sqq. - For a brieve summary on the
mining of silver and the oldest informations about Goslar vid. e. g. Zorz 1993.