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International audienceVal Camonica is well known for its large and exceptional quantity of rock carvings, but it is also an area rich in metallic ores. Two groups of mining works have been explored and are the subject of this paper. The... more
International audienceVal Camonica is well known for its large and exceptional quantity of rock carvings, but it is also an area rich in metallic ores. Two groups of mining works have been explored and are the subject of this paper. The mining areas of Silter di Campolungo and of Baita Cludona are in Val Grigna, a small valley of glacial origin. These two copper mines have been dated to the Early Iron Age. Their study has shown mining techniques previously unknown for that age. The mining activity at Campolungo begun as an opencast mine with the excavation of deep trenches. These works begin at 1535 m above sea level and reach an attitude of 1635 m. In order to reach the deepest copper lodes of Campolungo the miners dug an adit about 120 m long. In this way they were able to connect the deepest excavations of the mine and to create a permanent drainage system. The rock was dug by fire setting and by using heavy spherical lumps of quartz and sandstone picks. To carry the ore out of t...
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Site occupe au Chalcolithique (cimetiere a inhumation des cultures de Civate et de Remedello), au Bronze ancien (Polada), au Bronze final et au Fer ancien (Protogolasecca et Golasecca)
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The spread of the blast furnace in some parts of Europe was connected to the migration of miners, iron masters, charcoal burners and entrepreneurs from the Alpine valleys of the Lombard Iron Basin, from what are now the provinces of... more
The spread of the blast furnace in some parts of Europe
was connected to the migration of miners, iron masters, charcoal burners and entrepreneurs from the Alpine valleys of the Lombard Iron Basin, from what are
now the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia (Italy). The
authors have gathered all the published evidence from
many different sources and arranged it in geographical
and chronological order. The preliminary results of the
study show that masters provided what we may call an
integrated approach to iron production: from the mine
to the forge with the optional support of charcoal burners. It seems that they tried to keep their technological
knowledge as a trade secret. They were hired trough
middlemen, of whom we only know that they acted as
intermediaries between the masters and the private entrepreneurs or the rulers. One important reason for the
spread of blast furnaces can be seen in the increase in
conflicts at the end of the 15th century. These led to a
need for blast furnaces in areas of Europe where they had not previously existed
was connected to the migration of miners, iron masters, charcoal burners and entrepreneurs from the Alpine valleys of the Lombard Iron Basin, from what are
now the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia (Italy). The
authors have gathered all the published evidence from
many different sources and arranged it in geographical
and chronological order. The preliminary results of the
study show that masters provided what we may call an
integrated approach to iron production: from the mine
to the forge with the optional support of charcoal burners. It seems that they tried to keep their technological
knowledge as a trade secret. They were hired trough
middlemen, of whom we only know that they acted as
intermediaries between the masters and the private entrepreneurs or the rulers. One important reason for the
spread of blast furnaces can be seen in the increase in
conflicts at the end of the 15th century. These led to a
need for blast furnaces in areas of Europe where they had not previously existed
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Changes to the publication of Historical Metallurgy will mean that your paper will be available online in the near future. You will be supplied further details of how to link to your online article at that time. This copy of your paper is... more
Changes to the publication of Historical Metallurgy will mean that your paper will be available online in the near future. You will be supplied further details of how to link to your online article at that time. This copy of your paper is provided as a means for you to produce 'hard copy' printed reprints for circulation to colleagues. Please do not circulate this eprint electronically or post it to social media of any type. Please feel free, however, to post copies of your 'authors' original manuscript' (AOM) or 'accepted manuscript '(AM) to such sites and media, just please do not post this published version, the 'version of record' (VOR), with its final layout.
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Val Camonica is well known for its large and exceptional quantity of rock carvings, but it is also an area rich in metallic ores. Two groups of mining works have been explored and are the subject of this paper. The mining areas of Silter... more
Val Camonica is well known for its large and exceptional quantity of rock carvings, but it is also an area rich in metallic ores. Two groups of mining works have been explored and are the subject of this paper. The mining areas of Silter di Campolungo and of Baita Cludona di Fondo are in Val Grigna, a small hanging valley of glacial origin. It lies in the territories of the communities of Bienno and Collio. The mining area of Val Trompia to the east of Val Camonica can be reached through Val Grigna and the Goletto di Cluodona pass. The distance between the two groups of mines of Silter di Campolungo to the north and Baita Cludona di Fondo to the south is 2 km as the crow flies. The bedrock in the area is formed by a sequence of siliceous sediments belonging to the Collio formation, lower Permian in age. They are layers of massive sandstones and conglomerates with a sandstone matrix of various thicknesses (from decimetres to metres). This formation is crossed by faults which are mine...
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About ancient copper sources in the Southern Central Alps.
About copper deposits in Lombardy (Northern Italy)
About copper deposits in Lombardy (Northern Italy)
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Información del artículo Lo scavo del Castellaro di Zignago (La Spezia).
About ancient copper sources in the Southern Central Alps
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Medieval silver mines in Lombardy (Italy): their distribution and mining technique. During some archaeological surveys in the Lombard Alps it was possible to locate a certain amount of silver bearing lead mines. Here silver can be found... more
Medieval silver mines in Lombardy (Italy): their distribution and mining technique.
During some archaeological surveys in the Lombard Alps it was possible to locate a certain amount of silver bearing lead mines. Here silver can be found as an impurity in the galene and in the rarer tetrahedrite. It was possible to open again one of these mines, its calibrated radiocarbon date is between the end of the 12th - 13th century. This mine ave information not only about the mining technique and the water drainage system, but also about the tools and the lightening system employed.
During some archaeological surveys in the Lombard Alps it was possible to locate a certain amount of silver bearing lead mines. Here silver can be found as an impurity in the galene and in the rarer tetrahedrite. It was possible to open again one of these mines, its calibrated radiocarbon date is between the end of the 12th - 13th century. This mine ave information not only about the mining technique and the water drainage system, but also about the tools and the lightening system employed.
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Via Moneta: cultural analysis of the pre-Roman levels. Via Moneta is the key site for our understanding of the origin and development of Milan between the middle of the 5th and the 1st century BC. After a brief analysis of the old finds... more
Via Moneta: cultural analysis of the pre-Roman levels. Via Moneta is the key site for our understanding
of the origin and development of Milan between the middle of the 5th and the 1st century BC. After a brief
analysis of the old finds belonging to the Golasecca culture from the city, the Authors offer the r esults of their
study of the stratigraphies and of the finds from the site.
The Golasecca layers belong to the phases G. III A2 and A3; the finds from the earliest levels can be
compared to those from the Golasecca settlements of Como, Bergamo and Castaneda (TI), but in the second
half of the 5th century Ligurian type pottery appears in Milan, there is very scant evidence for contacts with
transalpine Europe. Instead in G. III A3 there ar e contacts with the area of Marne, perhaps via the Ligurians.
Most probably the Attic pottery found in Milan arrived here thanks to the Genoese emporium.
During the period LT B1 there were rectangular wooden buildings in this area of the settlement. The pottery
shows continuity with the Golasecca tradition. Trumpet shaped bases and piriform vases show contacts with
Eastern France. Ligurian type pottery becomes more common suggesting the movement and settlement in the
oppidum of small groups of Ligurians, while we have no evidence for contacts with the Cenomanes and with the
cultural area of the Veneti. In the following LT B2 there are still Ligurian type pottery and Golasecca type pottery
which will disappear utter ly at the end of the following LT C1 phase. Pre-top shaped pots appear.
The LT C1 phase has given us a large amount of finds. Imported pottery show contacts with Southern
France and the area of Marseille while some bowls of Gaulish tradition point to the arrival of small groups of
Celts from transalpine Europe. During LT C2 there are the last examples of Ligurian type pottery and there are
imports from Mediterranean Spain and Provence. After the Romans defeated the Insubres in 222 BC, new trade
routes were opened, as shown by the finds of black-glazed pottery from Volterra and Arezzo and by the
amphorae probably belonging to Rhodian and Greco-Italic types.
During the LT D period the Roman cultural influx became even stronger and monuments were b uilt in
the oppidum thanks to workers from the cultural area of the Veneti, where the Roman colony of Aquileia had
been founded at the end of the 2nd century BC. Locally made black-glazed pottery appears with the imported
one. The pottery types decrease in their number and now there are belly-shaped decorated cooking pots
for estalling the Roman ones. Painted potter y gradually disappears and the onl y surviving painted decoration
can be found on the pseudo-kalathos whic h will spread also in the area of the Veneti giving further evidence f or
the opening of a trade route toward the Adriatic sea.
of the origin and development of Milan between the middle of the 5th and the 1st century BC. After a brief
analysis of the old finds belonging to the Golasecca culture from the city, the Authors offer the r esults of their
study of the stratigraphies and of the finds from the site.
The Golasecca layers belong to the phases G. III A2 and A3; the finds from the earliest levels can be
compared to those from the Golasecca settlements of Como, Bergamo and Castaneda (TI), but in the second
half of the 5th century Ligurian type pottery appears in Milan, there is very scant evidence for contacts with
transalpine Europe. Instead in G. III A3 there ar e contacts with the area of Marne, perhaps via the Ligurians.
Most probably the Attic pottery found in Milan arrived here thanks to the Genoese emporium.
During the period LT B1 there were rectangular wooden buildings in this area of the settlement. The pottery
shows continuity with the Golasecca tradition. Trumpet shaped bases and piriform vases show contacts with
Eastern France. Ligurian type pottery becomes more common suggesting the movement and settlement in the
oppidum of small groups of Ligurians, while we have no evidence for contacts with the Cenomanes and with the
cultural area of the Veneti. In the following LT B2 there are still Ligurian type pottery and Golasecca type pottery
which will disappear utter ly at the end of the following LT C1 phase. Pre-top shaped pots appear.
The LT C1 phase has given us a large amount of finds. Imported pottery show contacts with Southern
France and the area of Marseille while some bowls of Gaulish tradition point to the arrival of small groups of
Celts from transalpine Europe. During LT C2 there are the last examples of Ligurian type pottery and there are
imports from Mediterranean Spain and Provence. After the Romans defeated the Insubres in 222 BC, new trade
routes were opened, as shown by the finds of black-glazed pottery from Volterra and Arezzo and by the
amphorae probably belonging to Rhodian and Greco-Italic types.
During the LT D period the Roman cultural influx became even stronger and monuments were b uilt in
the oppidum thanks to workers from the cultural area of the Veneti, where the Roman colony of Aquileia had
been founded at the end of the 2nd century BC. Locally made black-glazed pottery appears with the imported
one. The pottery types decrease in their number and now there are belly-shaped decorated cooking pots
for estalling the Roman ones. Painted potter y gradually disappears and the onl y surviving painted decoration
can be found on the pseudo-kalathos whic h will spread also in the area of the Veneti giving further evidence f or
the opening of a trade route toward the Adriatic sea.
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The adventures of two international scammers, the French Charles Hyppolite Le Mancel de Secqueville and the Polish Augustus Kantorowicz, specialized in mining frauds in Northern Italy during the second half of the 19th century.
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The paper deals with the mining and metallurgical activities of the Manzoni family in Valsassina (Lecco, Lombardy)
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A study of the metallurgical slags from the archaeological excavations in Milan (Italy)
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The earliest documents about the gold and silver mines of Alagna (Piedmont, Italy)
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The 17th and 18th cent. maps of the iron and gold mines belonging to the d'Adda family in Valsesia (Piedmont, Italy).
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The gold mines of Alagna in Piedmont from the XVI till the XVIII cent.
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Mining archaeology in the Southern Central Alps
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Medieval lead and silver mines near Trento (Northern Italy)
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The Mining History of Valsassina (Lecco, Lombardy, Italy)
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The 2000 campaign in the early Iron Age copper mine of Campolungo in the mountains of the Brescia province
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Slag recycling in pre-industrial blast furnaces
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The Etruscan tin mine of Mt. Valerio in Tuscany reconsidered.
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Iberian Kalathoi in Celtic Mediolanum. The archaeological excavations in via Moneta in Milan city centre have delivered a great deal of finds from the early Iron Age onwards. A small amount of Iberian pottery was found among the late... more
Iberian Kalathoi in Celtic Mediolanum. The archaeological excavations in via Moneta in Milan city centre have
delivered a great deal of finds from the early Iron Age onwards. A small amount of Iberian pottery was found among
the late Iron Age finds. In the present paper only the Iberian kalathoi (sombrero de copa) are discussed. These finds show
that Milan was reached by a long distance Mediterranean trade via the Ligurian oppidum of Genoa. The beginning of
this connection in the early Iron Age is thus outlined. This trade did not stop with the Celtic invasion at the beginning
of the IV century BC. Possibly during the late Iron Age these goods were traded by Latin merchants/entrepreneurs.
Some of them were able to reach a remarkable degree of wealth and status as shown by some finds such as the
“treasure” from Arcisate (Varese), which belonged to members of the Utii family, which was involved in a long
distance trade with the Iberian peninsula. Finally the relationship between the Iberian kalathos and the Eggers 16 situla
is discussed, focusing the possibility that the bronze vessel could be the imitation of the ceramic one, at the opposite
of what usually happens.
delivered a great deal of finds from the early Iron Age onwards. A small amount of Iberian pottery was found among
the late Iron Age finds. In the present paper only the Iberian kalathoi (sombrero de copa) are discussed. These finds show
that Milan was reached by a long distance Mediterranean trade via the Ligurian oppidum of Genoa. The beginning of
this connection in the early Iron Age is thus outlined. This trade did not stop with the Celtic invasion at the beginning
of the IV century BC. Possibly during the late Iron Age these goods were traded by Latin merchants/entrepreneurs.
Some of them were able to reach a remarkable degree of wealth and status as shown by some finds such as the
“treasure” from Arcisate (Varese), which belonged to members of the Utii family, which was involved in a long
distance trade with the Iberian peninsula. Finally the relationship between the Iberian kalathos and the Eggers 16 situla
is discussed, focusing the possibility that the bronze vessel could be the imitation of the ceramic one, at the opposite
of what usually happens.
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During recent archaeological excavations in the city of Milan some thick sherds of a coarse ware were found in a I century AD dump. Their peculiar shapes show that they were used for some special purpose and exposed to rather high... more
During recent archaeological excavations in the city of Milan some thick sherds of a coarse ware were found
in a I century AD dump.
Their peculiar shapes show that they were used for some special purpose and exposed to rather high temperatures.
Patches of tiny dark crystal covered the inside of some of these sherds. The microprobe analyses of some of these crystals have shown that their main component is zinc.
After a review of the archaeological literature and of the ancient sources dealing wifh zinc and brass, the author
suggests that these sherds may belong to condensers for the production of zinc oxide from the ore coming
from the rich deposits in the nearby Bergamo province.
in a I century AD dump.
Their peculiar shapes show that they were used for some special purpose and exposed to rather high temperatures.
Patches of tiny dark crystal covered the inside of some of these sherds. The microprobe analyses of some of these crystals have shown that their main component is zinc.
After a review of the archaeological literature and of the ancient sources dealing wifh zinc and brass, the author
suggests that these sherds may belong to condensers for the production of zinc oxide from the ore coming
from the rich deposits in the nearby Bergamo province.
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The mining and metallurgical history of Vasassina (Lecco, Lombardy, Northern Italy) from about 1400 till the end of the 17th century. Introduction and summary of the archive documents.
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The mining and metallurgical district of the valleys Brembana, Torta and Averara from the 15th till the 17th cent. Part 8
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The mining and metallurgical district of the valleys Brembana, Torta and Averara (Lombardy, Northern Italy) from the 15th till the 17th cent. Part 7
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The mining and metallurgical district of the valleys Brembana, Torta and Averara (Lombardy, Northern Italy) from the 15th till the 17 cent. Part 6
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The mining and metallurgical district of the valleys Brembana, Torta and Averara (Lombardy, Northern Italy) from the 15th till the 17th cent. Part 5
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The mining and metallurgical district of the valleys Brembana, Torta and Averara from the 15th till the 17th century, Part 4
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The mining and metallurgical district of the valleys Brembana, Torta and Averara (Lombardy, Northern Italy) from the 15th till the 17th cent.
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The mining and metallurgical district of the valleys Brembana, Torta and Averara (Lombardy, Northher Italy) from the 15th till the 17cent. Part 2
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The mining and metallurgical district of the valleys Brembana, Torta and Averara (Lombardy, Northern Italy) from the 15th till the 17th cent. Part1