Papers by Monika Oberhänsli
Der Anschnitt, Beihefte
The exploitation of copper deposits in the mountainous areas of the Alps gained enormous economic... more The exploitation of copper deposits in the mountainous areas of the Alps gained enormous economic importance particularly in the 2nd and 1st millennium B.C., as Alpine copper began to play a central role in the metal supply of Europe. This volume summarises the current state of research on prehistoric Alpine copper exploitation from the western and southern Alps to the gates of Vienna in the eastern Alps. The 23 papers were originally presented as contributions to a conference held in September 2016 at the University of Innsbruck, which covered topics such as mountain landscapes, mining, beneficiation, smelting and the metal trade in the Bronze and Early Iron Ages. A particular focus of the present volume is the D-A-CH-funded project on ‘Prehistoric copper production in the Eastern and Central Alps: technical, social and economic dynamics in space and time’, a research collaboration between partners in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The various contributions provide new perspecti...
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Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022
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Archaeologia Austriaca, 2020
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From 2013 to 2019, the prehistoric copper mining region of Oberhalbstein was in the focus of arch... more From 2013 to 2019, the prehistoric copper mining region of Oberhalbstein was in the focus of archaeological research carried out by the Department of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Zurich in cooperation with the Archaeological Service of the Canton of Grisons. The surveys and excavations of mining and smelting structures unexpectedly yielded numerous large, well-preserved charcoal fragments from conifers (Picea abies/Larix decidua, Pinus cembra, Pinus mugo/sylvestris). A total of 534 charcoal fragments and 7 wooden objects were retrieved from the 23 sites studied. Most of the sites are located between 1695 m and 2450 m a.s.l. The larger charcoal fragments bore up to 200 tree rings, and even fairly small fragments had a considerable number of rings. Dendrochronological analysis allowed us to construct two conifer chronologies that correlated with those from the central and eastern Alps and covered the period between the 12th and the 7th centuries BC. These made it possible to establish accurate calendar dates even for the period of the Hallstatt 14C plateau, which often limits precise radiocarbon dating for that time period. The absolute chronological framework showed that, up to the present state of research, prehistoric copper mining and production in this part of the central Alps took place within two major events: one in the 11th century BC, the other in the 7th or 6th century BC.
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Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022
Identifying wood species in archaeological specimens is important for the evaluation of timber st... more Identifying wood species in archaeological specimens is important for the evaluation of timber structures and the conservation of historic buildings. Microscopic wood anatomy is the most commonly used technique for species identification. However, its application is problematic for the analysis of deteriorated wood. In addition, a particular challenge is the distinction of Picea from Larix due to their similar microscopic features. Recently, an analysis of stable isotopes of cellulose has shown that Larix is characterized by significantly more depleted deuterium values compared to Picea as well as other conifers from the Alpine region. To verify if this fact can be used in archaeological studies, we obtained 36 specimens, most of which were not clearly identified as larch or spruce. The cellulose could be extracted from 20 of them. We identified Larix and non-Larix species (Picea) without ambiguity from the deuterium content, except for one sample with an intermediate value. In conclusion, the evaluation of deuterium content is a valuable tool for the study of archaeologic wood.
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Archaeologia Austriaca
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In: R. Turck, Th. Stöllner, G. Goldenberg (eds): Alpine Copper II. New Results and Perspectives on Prehistoric Copper Production. Der Anschnitt Beiheft 42, Bochum 2019, 245-260.
From 2013 to 2019, the prehistoric copper mining region of Oberhalbstein was in the focus of arch... more From 2013 to 2019, the prehistoric copper mining region of Oberhalbstein was in the focus of archaeological
research carried out by the Department of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Zurich in cooperation with
the Archaeological Service of the Canton of Grisons. The surveys and excavations of mining and smelting structures
unexpectedly yielded numerous large, well-preserved charcoal fragments from conifers (Picea abies/Larix decidua,
Pinus cembra, Pinus mugo/sylvestris). A total of 534 charcoal fragments and 7 wooden objects were retrieved from the
23 sites studied. Most of the sites are located between 1695 m and 2450 m a.s.l. The larger charcoal fragments bore
up to 200 tree rings, and even fairly small fragments had a considerable number of rings. Dendrochronological analysis
allowed us to construct two conifer chronologies that correlated with those from the central and eastern Alps and
covered the period between the 12th and the 7th centuries BC. These made it possible to establish accurate calendar
dates even for the period of the Hallstatt 14C plateau, which often limits precise radiocarbon dating for that time period.
The absolute chronological framework showed that, up to the present state of research, prehistoric copper mining and
production in this part of the central Alps took place within two major events: one in the 11th century BC, the other in
the 7th or 6th century BC.
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Archaeologia Austriaca, 2020
Mining at the Fringes. High-Altitude Prehistoric
Copper Mining in the Oberhalbstein Valley
(Griso... more Mining at the Fringes. High-Altitude Prehistoric
Copper Mining in the Oberhalbstein Valley
(Grisons, Switzerland)
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Scuol, Ftan, Bonifaciusquelle. Fundbericht. Archäologie Graubünden 3, 2018
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Jahrbuch Archäologie Schweiz 100, 2017, 218-219, 2017
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Bronzezeitliche Quellfassung von St. Moritz
(mit einem Beitrag von Mathias Seifert und Trivun Sor... more Bronzezeitliche Quellfassung von St. Moritz
(mit einem Beitrag von Mathias Seifert und Trivun Sormaz)
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Books by Monika Oberhänsli
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St. Moritz, Mauritiusquelle. Die bronzezeitliche Quellfassung. Archäologie Graubünden, Sonderheft 6, Glarus/Chur 2017., 2017
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Papers by Monika Oberhänsli
research carried out by the Department of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Zurich in cooperation with
the Archaeological Service of the Canton of Grisons. The surveys and excavations of mining and smelting structures
unexpectedly yielded numerous large, well-preserved charcoal fragments from conifers (Picea abies/Larix decidua,
Pinus cembra, Pinus mugo/sylvestris). A total of 534 charcoal fragments and 7 wooden objects were retrieved from the
23 sites studied. Most of the sites are located between 1695 m and 2450 m a.s.l. The larger charcoal fragments bore
up to 200 tree rings, and even fairly small fragments had a considerable number of rings. Dendrochronological analysis
allowed us to construct two conifer chronologies that correlated with those from the central and eastern Alps and
covered the period between the 12th and the 7th centuries BC. These made it possible to establish accurate calendar
dates even for the period of the Hallstatt 14C plateau, which often limits precise radiocarbon dating for that time period.
The absolute chronological framework showed that, up to the present state of research, prehistoric copper mining and
production in this part of the central Alps took place within two major events: one in the 11th century BC, the other in
the 7th or 6th century BC.
Copper Mining in the Oberhalbstein Valley
(Grisons, Switzerland)
(mit einem Beitrag von Mathias Seifert und Trivun Sormaz)
Books by Monika Oberhänsli
research carried out by the Department of Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Zurich in cooperation with
the Archaeological Service of the Canton of Grisons. The surveys and excavations of mining and smelting structures
unexpectedly yielded numerous large, well-preserved charcoal fragments from conifers (Picea abies/Larix decidua,
Pinus cembra, Pinus mugo/sylvestris). A total of 534 charcoal fragments and 7 wooden objects were retrieved from the
23 sites studied. Most of the sites are located between 1695 m and 2450 m a.s.l. The larger charcoal fragments bore
up to 200 tree rings, and even fairly small fragments had a considerable number of rings. Dendrochronological analysis
allowed us to construct two conifer chronologies that correlated with those from the central and eastern Alps and
covered the period between the 12th and the 7th centuries BC. These made it possible to establish accurate calendar
dates even for the period of the Hallstatt 14C plateau, which often limits precise radiocarbon dating for that time period.
The absolute chronological framework showed that, up to the present state of research, prehistoric copper mining and
production in this part of the central Alps took place within two major events: one in the 11th century BC, the other in
the 7th or 6th century BC.
Copper Mining in the Oberhalbstein Valley
(Grisons, Switzerland)
(mit einem Beitrag von Mathias Seifert und Trivun Sormaz)