Address: Universität Innsbruck Institut für Archäologien FB Aguntum Langer Weg 11 A-6020 Innsbruck https://www.uibk.ac.at/archaeologien/institut/mitarbeiter/auer-martin/aguntum/index.html.en
In diesem Band der Reihe Ager Aguntinus werden die Nutzung alpiner Landschaft und ihrer Ressource... more In diesem Band der Reihe Ager Aguntinus werden die Nutzung alpiner Landschaft und ihrer Ressourcen thematisiert. Dabei rückt der von der Vorgeschichte bis in die Neuzeit belegte Bergbau in der Gebirgsregion besonders in den Vordergrund. Aber nicht nur die Bodenressourcen wurden durch alle Zeiten hindurch genutzt: Funde von Almen, Siedlungsstellen und Opferplätze zeugen auch von der intensiven Nutzung der Landschaft in hochalpiner Tälern.
This volume, edited by Martin Auer and Christoph Hinker, unites 13 papers presented at the 4th Ag... more This volume, edited by Martin Auer and Christoph Hinker, unites 13 papers presented at the 4th Aguntum Workshop. This international conference was dedicated to the discussion of the so-called crisis the Roman empire experienced during the 3rd century AD. The aim of the workshop was to bring together archaeological data from different parts of the Imperium pertinent to the 3rd century. In some areas, severe changes occurred during the 3rd century, which is linked to a loss of influence of the Imperial administrative structures. This is the case in the municipium Aguntum, where we were able to discover that a destructive fire raged in the area of the town center. Although we do now know why the fire broke out, it is a fact that the area was not renovated afterwards. This neglect can be seen as an indicator of the town’s decreasing economic power. The diverse examples of archaeological traces of this “crisis”, which are presented in this volume, show that the 3rd century AD was a time of severe transformation with different impact on and consequences for various regions of the Roman Empire. However, change does not automatically mean crisis and for some settlements (e.g. some people) the 3rd century was a time of great prosperity. Nevertheless, there seems to be a tendency towards the reduction of towns and decrease of centralized administration in favor of a range of smaller centers like rural and hilltop settlements or villae.
The second Aguntum workshop focused on the location of the Municipium Claudium Aguntum on the upp... more The second Aguntum workshop focused on the location of the Municipium Claudium Aguntum on the upper reaches of the Drava. The contributions published in volume 3 of the series Ager Aguntinus investigate to what extent the Roman settlements along the river route were in contact with each other – from the source of the Drava to its confluence with the Danube. Archaeological findings from Austria, Slovenia and Croatia suggest possible connection points. The importance of river routes as trade routes in Roman times is indicated by the research presented on the traffic routes along the Po in northern Italy and the Ljubljanica in Slovenia. Not least on the basis of corresponding findings from Aguntum and Aquileia, it becomes clear that river ports are to be expected in Roman cities. In this way, the volume offers not only a compilation of Roman findings from these very settlements but also a discussion of the significance of river trade, even beyond the Drava River.
Gefäßkeramik wurde in vormodernen Gesellschaften in hoher Menge gebraucht und produziert. Die jew... more Gefäßkeramik wurde in vormodernen Gesellschaften in hoher Menge gebraucht und produziert. Die jeweiligen Produkte weisen verschiedene Verbreitungsgebiete auf, die als Keramikregionen bezeichnet werden. Innerhalb solcher Regionen ist ein in weiten Teilen vergleichbares Repertoire an Gefäßformen und Verzierungen vorhanden. Ausgehend vom Fundmaterial aus dem römischen Municipium Claudium Aguntum bei Lienz in Osttirol untersucht Martin Auer in Band 2 der neuen Reihe Ager Aguntinus die Keramikherstellung und Verbreitung in der antiken Provinz Noricum. Dabei sind regional divergierende Herstellungstechniken ebenso wie unterschiedliche Vorlieben bezüglich der Form und Verzierung von Keramik festzustellen. Es stellt sich die Frage, auf welche Weise eine Keramikregion eigentlich entsteht. Primär kann von Kontakten zwischen den Töpferinnen und Töpfern ausgegangen werden, die sich schließlich in den Produkten widerspiegeln. Diese anhand der Keramik nachweisbaren Kontaktzonen sind jedoch keineswegs statisch, sondern weisen während der fünfhundertjährigen Geschichte der römischen Provinz deutliche Verschiebungen auf, die sich wiederum mit politischen Ereignissen und damit einhergehenden sozialen Veränderungen verbinden lassen. Auf diese Weise wird die lokal und regional hergestellte Keramik zum Spiegel sozialer Interaktion.
Die von Martin Auer und Harald Stadler gegründete neue Reihe Ager Aguntinus präsentiert die archä... more Die von Martin Auer und Harald Stadler gegründete neue Reihe Ager Aguntinus präsentiert die archäologisch-historischen Forschungen zum Municipium Claudium Aguntum und dessen Umland. Sowohl die Agentum-Workshops als auch weitere wissenschaftliche Arbeiten zu Archäologie und Geschichte der Region erhalten nun ein Publikationsforum und erfüllen damit ein sowohl von Fachkolleginnen und -kollegen als auch von der an Archäologie interessierten Öffentlichkeit erkanntes Desiderat. Band 1 veröffentlicht die Ergebnisse des ersten Aguntum-Workshops und bietet eine Zusammenstellung der archäologischen Unternehmungen im Umland des römischen Municipium Claudium Aguntum der letzten Jahrzehnte. Neben den Ergebnissen zum Municipium selbst – von dessen Gründung bis in die Spätantike – werden weitere Siedlungen und Opferplätze sowie Bau- und Grabbefunde bis hin zur Hochgebirgsnutzung vorgestellt, die von der almwirtschaftlichen Urbarmachung bis zum gezielten Abbau von Bergkristall im Gebiet der Hohen Tauern reichte. Damit entsteht eine umfassende Synthese der bisherigen Forschungen zum Municipium.
Aspects of 2nd to 5th centuries AD Roman production technology and knowledge transfer in southern... more Aspects of 2nd to 5th centuries AD Roman production technology and knowledge transfer in southern Austria (known as Noricum) were examined. With no evidence for workshops identified in the study area, 44 grey ware bowls from two sites at Aguntum and Lavant were studied macroscopically, and combined with optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, prompt gamma activation, neutron activation and scanning electron microscopy, in order to understand whether one (large) workshop supplied these bowls, or whether the bowls were produced by several (small) workshops nearby. Combined with information from the geological background, the results were used to tentatively indicate the production location. The results indicate that the grey ware bowls from Aguntum and Lavant were produced by local workshops nearby. The bowls were manufactured with similar clay sources, tempered with crushed calcite-marble rocks from the Tauern Window, their surface smoothed and burnished, and fired between 800-850 °C in a reducing atmosphere of an open fire. This is taken to suggest that Roman potters, who were located at Aguntum and Lavant, shared strategies of raw materials selection, paste preparation, finishing and firing, and transferred technological knowledge through time.
In den Jahren 2006 und 2007 wurde das Macellum des Municipium Claudium Aguntum in Sudwestnoricum ... more In den Jahren 2006 und 2007 wurde das Macellum des Municipium Claudium Aguntum in Sudwestnoricum freigelegt. Dabei fanden sich in spatantiken Nutzungsschichten des Gebaudes zwei Gefase der Formgruppe Niederbieber 89/ Alzey 27. Das bislang singulare Auftreten dieser Topfform sudlich der Alpen lasst vermuten, dass es sich hierbei um personliche Gegenstande von Einwanderern spatantiker Zeit handelt.
UPIKU:TAUKE. Festschrift für Gerhard Tomedi zum 65. Geburtstag, 2019
Die laufende Auswertung des Fundmaterials aus dem Municipium Claudium Aguntum zeigt die Einbindun... more Die laufende Auswertung des Fundmaterials aus dem Municipium Claudium Aguntum zeigt die Einbindung der Stadt im mediterranen Handel auf. Insbesondere das Vorhandensein der vorwiegend im Hinterland der adriatischen Hafenstädte verbreiteten, ostmediterranen Keramik weist auf enge Kontakte Aguntums zu den Handelszentren der oberen Adria hin.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 12/85, 2020
read the paper here: https://rdcu.be/b2KGx
When analysing past excavations, the possible lack... more read the paper here: https://rdcu.be/b2KGx
When analysing past excavations, the possible lack of information on stratigraphy of small finds can lead to difficulties in dating features of settlements such as building periods or destruction layers. While there can be many factors, the most common reasons are outdated excavation methods, lost written documentation or problems in storage. Studying the material from excavations at the so-called ›Gmeinerwiese‹ in Brigantium/Bregenz, Austria undertaken in 1974 suffered from a combination of these causes, which led to a lack of sound stratigraphical information. However, adapting techniques commonly used for numismatic analyses enabled the gathering of sufficient information to gain a better understanding of the sites’ building periods. Furthermore, an approximate date of the buildings’ destruction by fire could be obtained. Additionally, a second case study was undertaken using stratified and already analysed findings from Aguntum in Eastern Tyrol, Austria to verify the proposed methodology. The results are consistent with the stratigraphic evaluation, which indicates the functionality of this method.
In this paper the pottery production in Noricum is examined based on the data about pottery regio... more In this paper the pottery production in Noricum is examined based on the data about pottery regions in this area created during the author’s PhD work. Using different attributes of the vessels, the paper aims to explain intraregional equality and variability within different communities of potters. This approach is suggested by the occurrence of morphologically and stylistically equal vessels in different regions, which show distinct differences regarding the technology used to create them. The processes of knowledge transfer which can be traced through the spatial analysis of certain pottery attributes are compared with ethnoarchaeological data to gain new insights into the manufacturing process and its social embedment.
Roman Pottery and Glass Manufactures. Production and Trade in the Adriatic Region, 2017
This paper presents the first results of studies on local pottery production in Aguntum, in the R... more This paper presents the first results of studies on local pottery production in Aguntum, in the Roman Province of Noricum, modern Eastern Tyrol, Austria. Archaeometric analyses involved MGR-analysis (Matrix Group by Refiring), chemical analysis by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) and thin-section studies using a polarising microscope. The use of these three methods enabled the ceramics recovered from Aguntum to be defined in terms of their matrix type and the chemical composition of whole sherds as well as their non-plastic inclusions. Prior to the archaeometric analysis the material was classified archaeologically. In some cases, the archaeological groupings were borne out by archaeometric analysis. On the other hand, the interpretation of some vessels would have been incomplete or even wrong without archaeometric data. Morphological features as well as an optical fabric description using a microscope with 20x magnification under these circumstances are not always sufficient to differentiate between imported and locally / regionally produced pottery.
G. Nutu, S.-C. Ailincai, C. Micu, The man, the river and the sea, 2017
The Atrium House of Aguntum resembles an Italian House Type, which is – with its open roof – not ... more The Atrium House of Aguntum resembles an Italian House Type, which is – with its open roof – not very suitable for the alpine region. Several adaptations of the building can be recognized, including the creation of a heating system. During these building activities, a former cellar (room 216) was filled with kitchen residues and demolition waste. The pottery assemblage, as well as the animal bones found in this cellar point to kitchen residues, which allow a partial reconstruction of cooking and eating habits in the Atrium House during the period around 100 A.D. While the animal bones and most of the vessels for on-site storage and food preparation, are of local / regional origin, cooking vessels – together with amphorae – are imported from the Mediterranean. Therefore, the kitchen residues do not allow an assignment to local Norican or Italian-Mediterranean cooking and eating habits, but are rather reflecting a mélange of both.
New discoveries between the Alps and the Black Sea. Results from the Roman Sites in the Period between 2005 and 2015 , 2018
The excavations in the Roman Municipium Claudium Aguntum (conducted by the Institut für Archäolog... more The excavations in the Roman Municipium Claudium Aguntum (conducted by the Institut für Archäologien, Universität Innsbruck; head of excavations: Prof. Dr. Michael Tschurtschenthaler) concentrated on the centre of the city in recent years. After some preliminary work in the 1990s a large-area excavation started in 2006 with the unearthing of the Macellum. The geometrically accurate shape of this building is unique in the northwestern Empire. The best parallels for it can be found in Italy and Northern Africa. Excavations in the area east of the Macellum started in 2008 and by 2010 it became clear that the Forum was located in this area. The stratigraphy and associated small finds point to a Claudian date for the construction of the Forum. However the Macellum was built almost 100 years later during the 2nd century. Both buildings were in use at least until the mid of the 3rd century, when the greater part of the Forum was destroyed by fire and as was presumably the Macellum. After some attempts at reconstruction and a partial reuse of the Forum area in the 3rd century, private buildings and work spaces occupied the city center during the 4th century. The last occupation phase continued until the 5th century at least; the ruins of the city centre later being used as a cemetery.
Zusammenfassung Die Größe und die hellenistisch-römische Form seines Herrschaftstraktes machen da... more Zusammenfassung Die Größe und die hellenistisch-römische Form seines Herrschaftstraktes machen das Atrium-haus von Aguntum zu einem im gesamten Alpenraum herausragenden innerstädtischen Wohn-und Repräsentationskomplex. Die archäologischen und archäozoologischen Untersuchungs-ergebnisse spiegeln nicht nur den hohen sozialen Status der Bewohner wider, sondern zeigen auch das sich im Laufe der Zeit verändernde Verhältnis zur römischen Kultur auf. Abstract The so-called " Atrium House " in Aguntum represents an outstanding intra-urban building. Because of its Hellenistic-Roman construction type this housing complex is unique within the alpine region during the Roman Period. The results of archaeological and archaeozoological analysesdonotonlyreflectthehighsocialstatusoftheinhabitantsofthisbuilding,butdoalso point to diachronic changes in their relationship to Roman Culture.
Keramikproduktion in römischer Zeit wird meist mit Drehscheibe und Töpferofen in Verbindung gebra... more Keramikproduktion in römischer Zeit wird meist mit Drehscheibe und Töpferofen in Verbindung gebracht. Die Analyse von während der Kaiserzeit in der Provinz Noricum verwendeter Keramik zeigt jedoch, dass für die Herstellung der, oftmals als typisch für Noricum angesehenen nicht zur Gänze oxidierend gebrannten Keramik weder das eine noch das andere vorauszusetzen ist. Auf Grundlage der archäologischen und archäometrischen Daten zur in Noricum hergestellten Keramik wird, gestützt auf ethnoarchäologische Analogien, ein Bild eines möglichen Produktionsumfeldes entworfen. Dabei weisen Unterschiede in Gefäßform, -verzierung und -technologie auf das Vorhandensein unterschiedlicher Töpfergruppen hin. Innerhalb dieser wird Knowhow tradiert, womit Lernnetzwerke entstehen, die sich im archäologischen Material als Keramikregionen widerspiegeln. Die Veränderung des Repertoires eines Lernnetzwerkes wird meist durch reziproke Beeinflussung der Töpfergruppen initiiert. So lässt sich ein interregionaler Austausch bezüglich einiger stilistischer und morphologischer Keramikeigenschaften festmachen. Die Töpferwerkstätten selbst sind in Noricum archäologisch unzureichend erforscht. Bislang beschränken sich die Befunde auf Töpferöfen, ohne dass zugehörigeWerkstattbefunde bekannt sind. Diese Situation lässt auch keine Aussagen zu den in den Öfen hergestellten Produkten zu. Es ist allerdings festzuhalten, dass bislang keinerlei Ausschussware der nicht zur Gänze oxidierend gebrannten Keramik mit diesen in Verbindung gebracht werden kann. Damit bleibt eine Charakterisierung des Töpferhandwerks in Noricum auf die Keramik selbst angewiesen. Diese lässt im ethnoarchäologischen Vergleich darauf schließen, dass die nicht zur Gänze oxidierend gebrannte Keramik in Noricum in Betrieben hergestellt wurde, die nicht als Großbetriebe zu charakterisieren sind, sondern sich im Umfeld von household production/industry bis zur workshop industry, in Ausnahmefällen und zeitlich begrenzt auch village industry bewegen. Schlüsselwörter: Noricum, Keramikproduktion, Handwerk, Töpfer, Lernnetzwerk, Herstellungstechnik
Roman pottery production is very often automatically connected with throwing wheels and kilns. In contrast, the analysis of pottery used during Roman Times in the Province Noricum shows, that for the production of not fully oxidised wares (which are often considered to be typical for Noricum) neither kilns nor throwing wheels are necessary. In this paper the production environment of pottery in Noricum is investigated on the basis of archaeological and archaeometric data gathered from the pottery and ethnoarchaeological studies related to pottery productions in different societies. Differences in vessel morphology, decoration and technology allow presuming different groups of potters in Noricum. Knowhow is imparted within these groups, which leads to the formation of learning networks. These networks are recognised in the archaeological material as pottery regions. Alteration of the repertoire within a learning network is mostly caused by the interaction of potter’s groups. It is evident, that an exchange of certain stylistic and morphological pottery attributes took place on an interregional level. The specific research on potter’s workshops in Noricum is insufficient at the moment. Most studies are restricted to kilns, without recognising other parts of the presumed workshops. This situation makes it also impossible to characterize the pottery produced in these kilns, but it should be considered that not a single piece of not fully oxidised ware can be reliably connected with one of the kilns. The study of the pottery production in Noricum is therefore restricted to the vessels themselves. Together with ethnoarchaeological analogies these allow presuming, that not fully oxidised wares were not produced in big workshops (large scale industry) but in the environment of household production/industry up to workshop (in exceptional cases and restricted to a short time period) even village industry. Keywords: Noricum, Pottery Production, Handicraft, Potter, Community of Practice, Manufacturing Technique
Stamped names on Firmalampen are often seen as randomly distributed. This opinion originates in t... more Stamped names on Firmalampen are often seen as randomly distributed. This opinion originates in the assumption that Firmalampen are easy to copy and therefore it should not matter which name we read on the lamp. But is this really true? In this paper I would like to discuss quantities of “Firma-names”, which will result in the assumption that they are significant for certain regions (Auer 2012). Thus, the distribution of names is not that much a random product but seems to have nameable reasons, which reminds very much of the ideas of Harris (Harris 1980; 1993). Harris saw Firmalampen-production as possibly connected with branch workshops of producers who started their business in Northern Italy. Recent research on the distribution of EVCARPVS-lamps seems to support this interpretation (Auer, Sitz 2014).
In diesem Band der Reihe Ager Aguntinus werden die Nutzung alpiner Landschaft und ihrer Ressource... more In diesem Band der Reihe Ager Aguntinus werden die Nutzung alpiner Landschaft und ihrer Ressourcen thematisiert. Dabei rückt der von der Vorgeschichte bis in die Neuzeit belegte Bergbau in der Gebirgsregion besonders in den Vordergrund. Aber nicht nur die Bodenressourcen wurden durch alle Zeiten hindurch genutzt: Funde von Almen, Siedlungsstellen und Opferplätze zeugen auch von der intensiven Nutzung der Landschaft in hochalpiner Tälern.
This volume, edited by Martin Auer and Christoph Hinker, unites 13 papers presented at the 4th Ag... more This volume, edited by Martin Auer and Christoph Hinker, unites 13 papers presented at the 4th Aguntum Workshop. This international conference was dedicated to the discussion of the so-called crisis the Roman empire experienced during the 3rd century AD. The aim of the workshop was to bring together archaeological data from different parts of the Imperium pertinent to the 3rd century. In some areas, severe changes occurred during the 3rd century, which is linked to a loss of influence of the Imperial administrative structures. This is the case in the municipium Aguntum, where we were able to discover that a destructive fire raged in the area of the town center. Although we do now know why the fire broke out, it is a fact that the area was not renovated afterwards. This neglect can be seen as an indicator of the town’s decreasing economic power. The diverse examples of archaeological traces of this “crisis”, which are presented in this volume, show that the 3rd century AD was a time of severe transformation with different impact on and consequences for various regions of the Roman Empire. However, change does not automatically mean crisis and for some settlements (e.g. some people) the 3rd century was a time of great prosperity. Nevertheless, there seems to be a tendency towards the reduction of towns and decrease of centralized administration in favor of a range of smaller centers like rural and hilltop settlements or villae.
The second Aguntum workshop focused on the location of the Municipium Claudium Aguntum on the upp... more The second Aguntum workshop focused on the location of the Municipium Claudium Aguntum on the upper reaches of the Drava. The contributions published in volume 3 of the series Ager Aguntinus investigate to what extent the Roman settlements along the river route were in contact with each other – from the source of the Drava to its confluence with the Danube. Archaeological findings from Austria, Slovenia and Croatia suggest possible connection points. The importance of river routes as trade routes in Roman times is indicated by the research presented on the traffic routes along the Po in northern Italy and the Ljubljanica in Slovenia. Not least on the basis of corresponding findings from Aguntum and Aquileia, it becomes clear that river ports are to be expected in Roman cities. In this way, the volume offers not only a compilation of Roman findings from these very settlements but also a discussion of the significance of river trade, even beyond the Drava River.
Gefäßkeramik wurde in vormodernen Gesellschaften in hoher Menge gebraucht und produziert. Die jew... more Gefäßkeramik wurde in vormodernen Gesellschaften in hoher Menge gebraucht und produziert. Die jeweiligen Produkte weisen verschiedene Verbreitungsgebiete auf, die als Keramikregionen bezeichnet werden. Innerhalb solcher Regionen ist ein in weiten Teilen vergleichbares Repertoire an Gefäßformen und Verzierungen vorhanden. Ausgehend vom Fundmaterial aus dem römischen Municipium Claudium Aguntum bei Lienz in Osttirol untersucht Martin Auer in Band 2 der neuen Reihe Ager Aguntinus die Keramikherstellung und Verbreitung in der antiken Provinz Noricum. Dabei sind regional divergierende Herstellungstechniken ebenso wie unterschiedliche Vorlieben bezüglich der Form und Verzierung von Keramik festzustellen. Es stellt sich die Frage, auf welche Weise eine Keramikregion eigentlich entsteht. Primär kann von Kontakten zwischen den Töpferinnen und Töpfern ausgegangen werden, die sich schließlich in den Produkten widerspiegeln. Diese anhand der Keramik nachweisbaren Kontaktzonen sind jedoch keineswegs statisch, sondern weisen während der fünfhundertjährigen Geschichte der römischen Provinz deutliche Verschiebungen auf, die sich wiederum mit politischen Ereignissen und damit einhergehenden sozialen Veränderungen verbinden lassen. Auf diese Weise wird die lokal und regional hergestellte Keramik zum Spiegel sozialer Interaktion.
Die von Martin Auer und Harald Stadler gegründete neue Reihe Ager Aguntinus präsentiert die archä... more Die von Martin Auer und Harald Stadler gegründete neue Reihe Ager Aguntinus präsentiert die archäologisch-historischen Forschungen zum Municipium Claudium Aguntum und dessen Umland. Sowohl die Agentum-Workshops als auch weitere wissenschaftliche Arbeiten zu Archäologie und Geschichte der Region erhalten nun ein Publikationsforum und erfüllen damit ein sowohl von Fachkolleginnen und -kollegen als auch von der an Archäologie interessierten Öffentlichkeit erkanntes Desiderat. Band 1 veröffentlicht die Ergebnisse des ersten Aguntum-Workshops und bietet eine Zusammenstellung der archäologischen Unternehmungen im Umland des römischen Municipium Claudium Aguntum der letzten Jahrzehnte. Neben den Ergebnissen zum Municipium selbst – von dessen Gründung bis in die Spätantike – werden weitere Siedlungen und Opferplätze sowie Bau- und Grabbefunde bis hin zur Hochgebirgsnutzung vorgestellt, die von der almwirtschaftlichen Urbarmachung bis zum gezielten Abbau von Bergkristall im Gebiet der Hohen Tauern reichte. Damit entsteht eine umfassende Synthese der bisherigen Forschungen zum Municipium.
Aspects of 2nd to 5th centuries AD Roman production technology and knowledge transfer in southern... more Aspects of 2nd to 5th centuries AD Roman production technology and knowledge transfer in southern Austria (known as Noricum) were examined. With no evidence for workshops identified in the study area, 44 grey ware bowls from two sites at Aguntum and Lavant were studied macroscopically, and combined with optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, prompt gamma activation, neutron activation and scanning electron microscopy, in order to understand whether one (large) workshop supplied these bowls, or whether the bowls were produced by several (small) workshops nearby. Combined with information from the geological background, the results were used to tentatively indicate the production location. The results indicate that the grey ware bowls from Aguntum and Lavant were produced by local workshops nearby. The bowls were manufactured with similar clay sources, tempered with crushed calcite-marble rocks from the Tauern Window, their surface smoothed and burnished, and fired between 800-850 °C in a reducing atmosphere of an open fire. This is taken to suggest that Roman potters, who were located at Aguntum and Lavant, shared strategies of raw materials selection, paste preparation, finishing and firing, and transferred technological knowledge through time.
In den Jahren 2006 und 2007 wurde das Macellum des Municipium Claudium Aguntum in Sudwestnoricum ... more In den Jahren 2006 und 2007 wurde das Macellum des Municipium Claudium Aguntum in Sudwestnoricum freigelegt. Dabei fanden sich in spatantiken Nutzungsschichten des Gebaudes zwei Gefase der Formgruppe Niederbieber 89/ Alzey 27. Das bislang singulare Auftreten dieser Topfform sudlich der Alpen lasst vermuten, dass es sich hierbei um personliche Gegenstande von Einwanderern spatantiker Zeit handelt.
UPIKU:TAUKE. Festschrift für Gerhard Tomedi zum 65. Geburtstag, 2019
Die laufende Auswertung des Fundmaterials aus dem Municipium Claudium Aguntum zeigt die Einbindun... more Die laufende Auswertung des Fundmaterials aus dem Municipium Claudium Aguntum zeigt die Einbindung der Stadt im mediterranen Handel auf. Insbesondere das Vorhandensein der vorwiegend im Hinterland der adriatischen Hafenstädte verbreiteten, ostmediterranen Keramik weist auf enge Kontakte Aguntums zu den Handelszentren der oberen Adria hin.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences 12/85, 2020
read the paper here: https://rdcu.be/b2KGx
When analysing past excavations, the possible lack... more read the paper here: https://rdcu.be/b2KGx
When analysing past excavations, the possible lack of information on stratigraphy of small finds can lead to difficulties in dating features of settlements such as building periods or destruction layers. While there can be many factors, the most common reasons are outdated excavation methods, lost written documentation or problems in storage. Studying the material from excavations at the so-called ›Gmeinerwiese‹ in Brigantium/Bregenz, Austria undertaken in 1974 suffered from a combination of these causes, which led to a lack of sound stratigraphical information. However, adapting techniques commonly used for numismatic analyses enabled the gathering of sufficient information to gain a better understanding of the sites’ building periods. Furthermore, an approximate date of the buildings’ destruction by fire could be obtained. Additionally, a second case study was undertaken using stratified and already analysed findings from Aguntum in Eastern Tyrol, Austria to verify the proposed methodology. The results are consistent with the stratigraphic evaluation, which indicates the functionality of this method.
In this paper the pottery production in Noricum is examined based on the data about pottery regio... more In this paper the pottery production in Noricum is examined based on the data about pottery regions in this area created during the author’s PhD work. Using different attributes of the vessels, the paper aims to explain intraregional equality and variability within different communities of potters. This approach is suggested by the occurrence of morphologically and stylistically equal vessels in different regions, which show distinct differences regarding the technology used to create them. The processes of knowledge transfer which can be traced through the spatial analysis of certain pottery attributes are compared with ethnoarchaeological data to gain new insights into the manufacturing process and its social embedment.
Roman Pottery and Glass Manufactures. Production and Trade in the Adriatic Region, 2017
This paper presents the first results of studies on local pottery production in Aguntum, in the R... more This paper presents the first results of studies on local pottery production in Aguntum, in the Roman Province of Noricum, modern Eastern Tyrol, Austria. Archaeometric analyses involved MGR-analysis (Matrix Group by Refiring), chemical analysis by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) and thin-section studies using a polarising microscope. The use of these three methods enabled the ceramics recovered from Aguntum to be defined in terms of their matrix type and the chemical composition of whole sherds as well as their non-plastic inclusions. Prior to the archaeometric analysis the material was classified archaeologically. In some cases, the archaeological groupings were borne out by archaeometric analysis. On the other hand, the interpretation of some vessels would have been incomplete or even wrong without archaeometric data. Morphological features as well as an optical fabric description using a microscope with 20x magnification under these circumstances are not always sufficient to differentiate between imported and locally / regionally produced pottery.
G. Nutu, S.-C. Ailincai, C. Micu, The man, the river and the sea, 2017
The Atrium House of Aguntum resembles an Italian House Type, which is – with its open roof – not ... more The Atrium House of Aguntum resembles an Italian House Type, which is – with its open roof – not very suitable for the alpine region. Several adaptations of the building can be recognized, including the creation of a heating system. During these building activities, a former cellar (room 216) was filled with kitchen residues and demolition waste. The pottery assemblage, as well as the animal bones found in this cellar point to kitchen residues, which allow a partial reconstruction of cooking and eating habits in the Atrium House during the period around 100 A.D. While the animal bones and most of the vessels for on-site storage and food preparation, are of local / regional origin, cooking vessels – together with amphorae – are imported from the Mediterranean. Therefore, the kitchen residues do not allow an assignment to local Norican or Italian-Mediterranean cooking and eating habits, but are rather reflecting a mélange of both.
New discoveries between the Alps and the Black Sea. Results from the Roman Sites in the Period between 2005 and 2015 , 2018
The excavations in the Roman Municipium Claudium Aguntum (conducted by the Institut für Archäolog... more The excavations in the Roman Municipium Claudium Aguntum (conducted by the Institut für Archäologien, Universität Innsbruck; head of excavations: Prof. Dr. Michael Tschurtschenthaler) concentrated on the centre of the city in recent years. After some preliminary work in the 1990s a large-area excavation started in 2006 with the unearthing of the Macellum. The geometrically accurate shape of this building is unique in the northwestern Empire. The best parallels for it can be found in Italy and Northern Africa. Excavations in the area east of the Macellum started in 2008 and by 2010 it became clear that the Forum was located in this area. The stratigraphy and associated small finds point to a Claudian date for the construction of the Forum. However the Macellum was built almost 100 years later during the 2nd century. Both buildings were in use at least until the mid of the 3rd century, when the greater part of the Forum was destroyed by fire and as was presumably the Macellum. After some attempts at reconstruction and a partial reuse of the Forum area in the 3rd century, private buildings and work spaces occupied the city center during the 4th century. The last occupation phase continued until the 5th century at least; the ruins of the city centre later being used as a cemetery.
Zusammenfassung Die Größe und die hellenistisch-römische Form seines Herrschaftstraktes machen da... more Zusammenfassung Die Größe und die hellenistisch-römische Form seines Herrschaftstraktes machen das Atrium-haus von Aguntum zu einem im gesamten Alpenraum herausragenden innerstädtischen Wohn-und Repräsentationskomplex. Die archäologischen und archäozoologischen Untersuchungs-ergebnisse spiegeln nicht nur den hohen sozialen Status der Bewohner wider, sondern zeigen auch das sich im Laufe der Zeit verändernde Verhältnis zur römischen Kultur auf. Abstract The so-called " Atrium House " in Aguntum represents an outstanding intra-urban building. Because of its Hellenistic-Roman construction type this housing complex is unique within the alpine region during the Roman Period. The results of archaeological and archaeozoological analysesdonotonlyreflectthehighsocialstatusoftheinhabitantsofthisbuilding,butdoalso point to diachronic changes in their relationship to Roman Culture.
Keramikproduktion in römischer Zeit wird meist mit Drehscheibe und Töpferofen in Verbindung gebra... more Keramikproduktion in römischer Zeit wird meist mit Drehscheibe und Töpferofen in Verbindung gebracht. Die Analyse von während der Kaiserzeit in der Provinz Noricum verwendeter Keramik zeigt jedoch, dass für die Herstellung der, oftmals als typisch für Noricum angesehenen nicht zur Gänze oxidierend gebrannten Keramik weder das eine noch das andere vorauszusetzen ist. Auf Grundlage der archäologischen und archäometrischen Daten zur in Noricum hergestellten Keramik wird, gestützt auf ethnoarchäologische Analogien, ein Bild eines möglichen Produktionsumfeldes entworfen. Dabei weisen Unterschiede in Gefäßform, -verzierung und -technologie auf das Vorhandensein unterschiedlicher Töpfergruppen hin. Innerhalb dieser wird Knowhow tradiert, womit Lernnetzwerke entstehen, die sich im archäologischen Material als Keramikregionen widerspiegeln. Die Veränderung des Repertoires eines Lernnetzwerkes wird meist durch reziproke Beeinflussung der Töpfergruppen initiiert. So lässt sich ein interregionaler Austausch bezüglich einiger stilistischer und morphologischer Keramikeigenschaften festmachen. Die Töpferwerkstätten selbst sind in Noricum archäologisch unzureichend erforscht. Bislang beschränken sich die Befunde auf Töpferöfen, ohne dass zugehörigeWerkstattbefunde bekannt sind. Diese Situation lässt auch keine Aussagen zu den in den Öfen hergestellten Produkten zu. Es ist allerdings festzuhalten, dass bislang keinerlei Ausschussware der nicht zur Gänze oxidierend gebrannten Keramik mit diesen in Verbindung gebracht werden kann. Damit bleibt eine Charakterisierung des Töpferhandwerks in Noricum auf die Keramik selbst angewiesen. Diese lässt im ethnoarchäologischen Vergleich darauf schließen, dass die nicht zur Gänze oxidierend gebrannte Keramik in Noricum in Betrieben hergestellt wurde, die nicht als Großbetriebe zu charakterisieren sind, sondern sich im Umfeld von household production/industry bis zur workshop industry, in Ausnahmefällen und zeitlich begrenzt auch village industry bewegen. Schlüsselwörter: Noricum, Keramikproduktion, Handwerk, Töpfer, Lernnetzwerk, Herstellungstechnik
Roman pottery production is very often automatically connected with throwing wheels and kilns. In contrast, the analysis of pottery used during Roman Times in the Province Noricum shows, that for the production of not fully oxidised wares (which are often considered to be typical for Noricum) neither kilns nor throwing wheels are necessary. In this paper the production environment of pottery in Noricum is investigated on the basis of archaeological and archaeometric data gathered from the pottery and ethnoarchaeological studies related to pottery productions in different societies. Differences in vessel morphology, decoration and technology allow presuming different groups of potters in Noricum. Knowhow is imparted within these groups, which leads to the formation of learning networks. These networks are recognised in the archaeological material as pottery regions. Alteration of the repertoire within a learning network is mostly caused by the interaction of potter’s groups. It is evident, that an exchange of certain stylistic and morphological pottery attributes took place on an interregional level. The specific research on potter’s workshops in Noricum is insufficient at the moment. Most studies are restricted to kilns, without recognising other parts of the presumed workshops. This situation makes it also impossible to characterize the pottery produced in these kilns, but it should be considered that not a single piece of not fully oxidised ware can be reliably connected with one of the kilns. The study of the pottery production in Noricum is therefore restricted to the vessels themselves. Together with ethnoarchaeological analogies these allow presuming, that not fully oxidised wares were not produced in big workshops (large scale industry) but in the environment of household production/industry up to workshop (in exceptional cases and restricted to a short time period) even village industry. Keywords: Noricum, Pottery Production, Handicraft, Potter, Community of Practice, Manufacturing Technique
Stamped names on Firmalampen are often seen as randomly distributed. This opinion originates in t... more Stamped names on Firmalampen are often seen as randomly distributed. This opinion originates in the assumption that Firmalampen are easy to copy and therefore it should not matter which name we read on the lamp. But is this really true? In this paper I would like to discuss quantities of “Firma-names”, which will result in the assumption that they are significant for certain regions (Auer 2012). Thus, the distribution of names is not that much a random product but seems to have nameable reasons, which reminds very much of the ideas of Harris (Harris 1980; 1993). Harris saw Firmalampen-production as possibly connected with branch workshops of producers who started their business in Northern Italy. Recent research on the distribution of EVCARPVS-lamps seems to support this interpretation (Auer, Sitz 2014).
Beigleitheft für eine im Mai 2016 eröffnete Vitrine zu den aktuellen Grabungsergebnissen in Agunt... more Beigleitheft für eine im Mai 2016 eröffnete Vitrine zu den aktuellen Grabungsergebnissen in Aguntum, 72 S, 17 Tafeln. Erhältlich im Museum Aguntum (www.aguntum.info).
Am 5. November 2015 findet im Grabungshaus Aguntum ein Workshop zur römischen Geschichte des Umla... more Am 5. November 2015 findet im Grabungshaus Aguntum ein Workshop zur römischen Geschichte des Umlandes von Aguntum statt. Dabei stehen Befunde im Vordergrund, die eine römische Landnutzung von der Talebene bis in das Hochgebirge nachweisen.
Aguntum as a trading center for rock crystals During the excavation of the Forum of the Roman Mun... more Aguntum as a trading center for rock crystals During the excavation of the Forum of the Roman Municipium Aguntum big amounts of Rock Crystal (Bergkristall) have been found. Of special interest are two deposits, which contained about 200 fragmented crystals. However no traces of processing can be recognized. Therefore at the moment it seems most probable, that the raw material was traded. As Rock Crystals are not easy to find in publications, I would like to ask around on Academia, whether anyone has excavated or knows about Crystals in Roman settlements in and around Noricum. Especially raw material would be very helpful, because it can be assigned to certain sources. Once the Crystals are processed, the allocation is not possible anymore… So if anyone knows anything about raw material fragments in and around Noricum, I would be grateful for further information.
Where: Congress hall of the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia
When: 22nd - 26th October... more Where: Congress hall of the National Archaeological Museum of Aquileia
When: 22nd - 26th October 2018
Number of places available: max 20 Students
Application fee: 100 € (incl. teaching materials, bibliography, books, coffee breaks, guided tours. Students of the University of Verona are exempt from the application fee.
How to apply: Send a CV to summerschoolaquileia@gmail.com no
later than 30th September 2018
Credits and information: 3 ECTS; summerschoolaquileia@gmail.com
General information
Periods in the Summer School’s focus: Late Republican to Late Roman (2nd BC - 6th
century AD)
Major workshop activities: The main goal of the course is to provide theoretical and
practical training experience on Roman pottery. The students will evaluate and appreciate similarities and differences in typological problems, approaches, methods, technique, design and material choice applied on different pottery classes. The participants will work with authentic pottery from the ancient city of Aquileia. Practical excercises in dfferent techniques of pottery production will also be performed by the partecipants through the use of potter’s wheel and kiln especially arranged for the Summer School.
Scientific coordination: Diana DOBREVA (Dipartimento di Culture e Civiltà, Università di Verona), Martin AUER (Institut für Archäologien, Universität Innsbruck), Florian SCHIMMER (Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz).
Main organising institutions: Università di Verona (Italy), Polo Museale del Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy), Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Aquileia (Italy), Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio del Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy), Fondazione Aquileia (Italy), Universität Innsbruck (Austria), Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz (Germany).
Zbornik je obsežna publikacija o novih dognanjih z različnih področij rimske provincialne arheolo... more Zbornik je obsežna publikacija o novih dognanjih z različnih področij rimske provincialne arheologije in vsebuje prispevke, predstavljene na 1. mednarodnem arheološkem simpoziju z naslovom Nova odkritja med Alpami in Črnim morjem. Rezultati raziskav rimskodobnih najdišč v obdobju med leti 2005 in 2015. In memoriam Iva Mikl Curk. Simpozij je potekal na Ptujskem gradu oktobra 2015. Simpozij sta organizirala Zavod za varstvo kulturne dediščine, Center za preventivno arheologijo in Pokrajinski muzej Ptuj-Ormož. Zbornik vsebuje 25 prispevkov avtorjev iz Slovenije, Hrvaške, Avstrije in Italije. Vsebina prispevkov zajema aktualne rezultate raziskav rimskih najdišč na širšem območju rimskega cesarstva ter njihovo vključitev v širši kontekst ekonomskega, socialnega in družbenega dogajanja v rimskem obdobju.
Open Access Journal of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2023
Greyware tripod-bowls are common on 1st to 3rd centuries AD sites in present-day Austria, known a... more Greyware tripod-bowls are common on 1st to 3rd centuries AD sites in present-day Austria, known as Noricum. They measure between 18 and 22 cm in diameter and were used for cooking practices. Due to their abundance and macroscopic homogeneity, tripod-bowls hold important potential to study the technology and infer aspects of the production organisation and trade between the communities that manufactured and used them. To answer these questions, 23 samples were selected from six settlement sites in Noricum, and their mineralogical composition was examined in thin section petrography. The results indicate that Roman potters shared technological practices of paste preparation, forming, and firing tripod-bowls. However, the mineralogical examination allowed the identification of several distinct petrographic groups. Most compositional groups are restricted to a single site. Comparison of the petrographic groups with the geological setting of Noricum allows to suggest that potters’ communities were active at each of the six sites studied; they produced tripod-bowls and distributed them on the local market. Only one compositional group occurs at several sites; despite its pending provenance, it is assumed that this workshop successfully produced and traded tripod-bowls within the wider region of Noricum.
Aspects of 2nd to 5th centuries AD Roman production technology and knowledge transfer in southern... more Aspects of 2nd to 5th centuries AD Roman production technology and knowledge transfer in southern Austria (known as Noricum) were examined. With no evidence for workshops identified in the study area, 44 grey ware bowls from two sites at Aguntum and Lavant were studied macroscopically, and combined with optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, prompt gamma activation, neutron activation and scanning electron microscopy, in order to understand whether one (large) workshop supplied these bowls, or whether the bowls were produced by several (small) workshops nearby. Combined with information from the geological background, the results were used to tentatively indicate the production location.
The results indicate that the grey ware bowls from Aguntum and Lavant were produced by local workshops nearby. The bowls were manufactured with similar clay sources, tempered with crushed calcite-marble rocks from the Tauern Window, their surface smoothed and burnished, and fired between 800-850 °C in a reducing atmosphere of an open fire. This is taken to suggest that Roman potters, who were located at Aguntum and Lavant, shared strategies of raw materials selection, paste preparation, finishing and firing, and transferred technological knowledge through time.
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The diverse examples of archaeological traces of this “crisis”, which are presented in this volume, show that the 3rd century AD was a time of severe transformation with different impact on and consequences for various regions of the Roman Empire. However, change does not automatically mean crisis and for some settlements (e.g. some people) the 3rd century was a time of great prosperity. Nevertheless, there seems to be a tendency towards the reduction of towns and decrease of centralized administration in favor of a range of smaller centers like rural and hilltop settlements or villae.
https://www.harrassowitz-verlag.de/Roman_Settlements_and_the_%26Crisis%26_of_the_3rd_Century_AD/titel_6754.ahtml
The importance of river routes as trade routes in Roman times is indicated by the research presented on the traffic routes along the Po in northern Italy and the Ljubljanica in Slovenia. Not least on the basis of corresponding findings from Aguntum and Aquileia, it becomes clear that river ports are to be expected in Roman cities. In this way, the volume offers not only a compilation of Roman findings from these very settlements but also a discussion of the significance of river trade, even beyond the Drava River.
Ausgehend vom Fundmaterial aus dem römischen Municipium Claudium Aguntum bei Lienz in Osttirol untersucht Martin Auer in Band 2 der neuen Reihe Ager Aguntinus die Keramikherstellung und Verbreitung in der antiken Provinz Noricum. Dabei sind regional divergierende Herstellungstechniken ebenso wie unterschiedliche Vorlieben bezüglich der Form und Verzierung von Keramik festzustellen. Es stellt sich die Frage, auf welche Weise eine Keramikregion eigentlich entsteht. Primär kann von Kontakten zwischen den Töpferinnen und Töpfern ausgegangen werden, die sich schließlich in den Produkten widerspiegeln. Diese anhand der Keramik nachweisbaren Kontaktzonen sind jedoch keineswegs statisch, sondern weisen während der fünfhundertjährigen Geschichte der römischen Provinz deutliche Verschiebungen auf, die sich wiederum mit politischen Ereignissen und damit einhergehenden sozialen Veränderungen verbinden lassen. Auf diese Weise wird die lokal und regional hergestellte Keramik zum Spiegel sozialer Interaktion.
Band 1 veröffentlicht die Ergebnisse des ersten Aguntum-Workshops und bietet eine Zusammenstellung der archäologischen Unternehmungen im Umland des römischen Municipium Claudium Aguntum der letzten Jahrzehnte. Neben den Ergebnissen zum Municipium selbst – von dessen Gründung bis in die Spätantike – werden weitere Siedlungen und Opferplätze sowie Bau- und Grabbefunde bis hin zur Hochgebirgsnutzung vorgestellt, die von der almwirtschaftlichen Urbarmachung bis zum gezielten Abbau von Bergkristall im Gebiet der Hohen Tauern reichte. Damit entsteht eine umfassende Synthese der bisherigen Forschungen zum Municipium.
mediterranen Handel auf. Insbesondere das Vorhandensein der vorwiegend im Hinterland der adriatischen Hafenstädte
verbreiteten, ostmediterranen Keramik weist auf enge Kontakte Aguntums zu den Handelszentren der oberen Adria hin.
When analysing past excavations, the possible lack of information on stratigraphy of small finds can lead to difficulties in dating features of settlements such as building periods or destruction layers. While there can be many factors, the most common reasons are outdated excavation methods, lost written documentation or problems in storage. Studying the material from excavations at the so-called ›Gmeinerwiese‹ in Brigantium/Bregenz, Austria undertaken in 1974 suffered from a combination of these causes, which led to a lack of sound stratigraphical information. However, adapting techniques commonly used for numismatic analyses enabled the gathering of sufficient information to gain a better understanding of the sites’ building periods. Furthermore, an approximate date of the buildings’ destruction by fire could be obtained. Additionally, a second case study was undertaken using stratified and already analysed findings from Aguntum in Eastern Tyrol, Austria to verify the proposed methodology. The results are consistent with the stratigraphic evaluation, which indicates the functionality of this method.
recovered from Aguntum to be defined in terms of their matrix type and the chemical composition of whole sherds as well as their non-plastic inclusions. Prior to the archaeometric analysis the material was classified archaeologically. In some cases, the archaeological groupings were borne out by archaeometric analysis. On the other hand,
the interpretation of some vessels would have been incomplete or even wrong without archaeometric data. Morphological features as well as an optical fabric description using a microscope with 20x magnification under these circumstances are not always sufficient to differentiate between imported and locally / regionally produced pottery.
Innsbruck; head of excavations: Prof. Dr. Michael Tschurtschenthaler) concentrated on the centre of the city in
recent years. After some preliminary work in the 1990s a large-area excavation started in 2006 with the unearthing of the
Macellum. The geometrically accurate shape of this building is unique in the northwestern Empire. The best parallels for
it can be found in Italy and Northern Africa. Excavations in the area east of the Macellum started in 2008 and by 2010 it
became clear that the Forum was located in this area. The stratigraphy and associated small finds point to a Claudian date
for the construction of the Forum. However the Macellum was built almost 100 years later during the 2nd century. Both
buildings were in use at least until the mid of the 3rd century, when the greater part of the Forum was destroyed by fire
and as was presumably the Macellum. After some attempts at reconstruction and a partial reuse of the Forum area in the
3rd century, private buildings and work spaces occupied the city center during the 4th century. The last occupation phase
continued until the 5th century at least; the ruins of the city centre later being used as a cemetery.
Schlüsselwörter: Noricum, Keramikproduktion, Handwerk, Töpfer, Lernnetzwerk, Herstellungstechnik
Roman pottery production is very often automatically connected with throwing wheels and kilns. In contrast, the analysis of pottery used during Roman Times in the Province Noricum shows, that for the production of not fully oxidised wares (which are often considered to be typical for Noricum) neither kilns nor throwing wheels are necessary. In this paper the production environment of pottery in Noricum is investigated on the basis of archaeological and archaeometric data gathered from the pottery and ethnoarchaeological studies related to pottery productions in different societies. Differences in vessel morphology, decoration and technology allow presuming different groups of potters in Noricum. Knowhow is imparted within these groups, which leads to the formation of learning networks. These networks are recognised in the archaeological material as pottery regions. Alteration of the repertoire within a learning network is mostly caused by the interaction of potter’s groups. It is evident, that an exchange of certain stylistic and morphological pottery attributes took place on an interregional level. The specific research on potter’s workshops in Noricum is insufficient at the moment. Most studies are restricted to kilns, without recognising other parts of the presumed workshops. This situation makes it also impossible to characterize the pottery produced in these kilns, but it should be considered that not a single piece of not fully oxidised ware can be reliably connected with one of the kilns. The study of the pottery production in Noricum is therefore restricted to the vessels themselves. Together with ethnoarchaeological analogies these allow presuming, that not fully oxidised wares were not produced in big workshops (large scale industry) but in the environment of household production/industry up to workshop (in exceptional cases and restricted to a short time period) even village industry.
Keywords: Noricum, Pottery Production, Handicraft, Potter, Community of Practice, Manufacturing Technique
The diverse examples of archaeological traces of this “crisis”, which are presented in this volume, show that the 3rd century AD was a time of severe transformation with different impact on and consequences for various regions of the Roman Empire. However, change does not automatically mean crisis and for some settlements (e.g. some people) the 3rd century was a time of great prosperity. Nevertheless, there seems to be a tendency towards the reduction of towns and decrease of centralized administration in favor of a range of smaller centers like rural and hilltop settlements or villae.
https://www.harrassowitz-verlag.de/Roman_Settlements_and_the_%26Crisis%26_of_the_3rd_Century_AD/titel_6754.ahtml
The importance of river routes as trade routes in Roman times is indicated by the research presented on the traffic routes along the Po in northern Italy and the Ljubljanica in Slovenia. Not least on the basis of corresponding findings from Aguntum and Aquileia, it becomes clear that river ports are to be expected in Roman cities. In this way, the volume offers not only a compilation of Roman findings from these very settlements but also a discussion of the significance of river trade, even beyond the Drava River.
Ausgehend vom Fundmaterial aus dem römischen Municipium Claudium Aguntum bei Lienz in Osttirol untersucht Martin Auer in Band 2 der neuen Reihe Ager Aguntinus die Keramikherstellung und Verbreitung in der antiken Provinz Noricum. Dabei sind regional divergierende Herstellungstechniken ebenso wie unterschiedliche Vorlieben bezüglich der Form und Verzierung von Keramik festzustellen. Es stellt sich die Frage, auf welche Weise eine Keramikregion eigentlich entsteht. Primär kann von Kontakten zwischen den Töpferinnen und Töpfern ausgegangen werden, die sich schließlich in den Produkten widerspiegeln. Diese anhand der Keramik nachweisbaren Kontaktzonen sind jedoch keineswegs statisch, sondern weisen während der fünfhundertjährigen Geschichte der römischen Provinz deutliche Verschiebungen auf, die sich wiederum mit politischen Ereignissen und damit einhergehenden sozialen Veränderungen verbinden lassen. Auf diese Weise wird die lokal und regional hergestellte Keramik zum Spiegel sozialer Interaktion.
Band 1 veröffentlicht die Ergebnisse des ersten Aguntum-Workshops und bietet eine Zusammenstellung der archäologischen Unternehmungen im Umland des römischen Municipium Claudium Aguntum der letzten Jahrzehnte. Neben den Ergebnissen zum Municipium selbst – von dessen Gründung bis in die Spätantike – werden weitere Siedlungen und Opferplätze sowie Bau- und Grabbefunde bis hin zur Hochgebirgsnutzung vorgestellt, die von der almwirtschaftlichen Urbarmachung bis zum gezielten Abbau von Bergkristall im Gebiet der Hohen Tauern reichte. Damit entsteht eine umfassende Synthese der bisherigen Forschungen zum Municipium.
mediterranen Handel auf. Insbesondere das Vorhandensein der vorwiegend im Hinterland der adriatischen Hafenstädte
verbreiteten, ostmediterranen Keramik weist auf enge Kontakte Aguntums zu den Handelszentren der oberen Adria hin.
When analysing past excavations, the possible lack of information on stratigraphy of small finds can lead to difficulties in dating features of settlements such as building periods or destruction layers. While there can be many factors, the most common reasons are outdated excavation methods, lost written documentation or problems in storage. Studying the material from excavations at the so-called ›Gmeinerwiese‹ in Brigantium/Bregenz, Austria undertaken in 1974 suffered from a combination of these causes, which led to a lack of sound stratigraphical information. However, adapting techniques commonly used for numismatic analyses enabled the gathering of sufficient information to gain a better understanding of the sites’ building periods. Furthermore, an approximate date of the buildings’ destruction by fire could be obtained. Additionally, a second case study was undertaken using stratified and already analysed findings from Aguntum in Eastern Tyrol, Austria to verify the proposed methodology. The results are consistent with the stratigraphic evaluation, which indicates the functionality of this method.
recovered from Aguntum to be defined in terms of their matrix type and the chemical composition of whole sherds as well as their non-plastic inclusions. Prior to the archaeometric analysis the material was classified archaeologically. In some cases, the archaeological groupings were borne out by archaeometric analysis. On the other hand,
the interpretation of some vessels would have been incomplete or even wrong without archaeometric data. Morphological features as well as an optical fabric description using a microscope with 20x magnification under these circumstances are not always sufficient to differentiate between imported and locally / regionally produced pottery.
Innsbruck; head of excavations: Prof. Dr. Michael Tschurtschenthaler) concentrated on the centre of the city in
recent years. After some preliminary work in the 1990s a large-area excavation started in 2006 with the unearthing of the
Macellum. The geometrically accurate shape of this building is unique in the northwestern Empire. The best parallels for
it can be found in Italy and Northern Africa. Excavations in the area east of the Macellum started in 2008 and by 2010 it
became clear that the Forum was located in this area. The stratigraphy and associated small finds point to a Claudian date
for the construction of the Forum. However the Macellum was built almost 100 years later during the 2nd century. Both
buildings were in use at least until the mid of the 3rd century, when the greater part of the Forum was destroyed by fire
and as was presumably the Macellum. After some attempts at reconstruction and a partial reuse of the Forum area in the
3rd century, private buildings and work spaces occupied the city center during the 4th century. The last occupation phase
continued until the 5th century at least; the ruins of the city centre later being used as a cemetery.
Schlüsselwörter: Noricum, Keramikproduktion, Handwerk, Töpfer, Lernnetzwerk, Herstellungstechnik
Roman pottery production is very often automatically connected with throwing wheels and kilns. In contrast, the analysis of pottery used during Roman Times in the Province Noricum shows, that for the production of not fully oxidised wares (which are often considered to be typical for Noricum) neither kilns nor throwing wheels are necessary. In this paper the production environment of pottery in Noricum is investigated on the basis of archaeological and archaeometric data gathered from the pottery and ethnoarchaeological studies related to pottery productions in different societies. Differences in vessel morphology, decoration and technology allow presuming different groups of potters in Noricum. Knowhow is imparted within these groups, which leads to the formation of learning networks. These networks are recognised in the archaeological material as pottery regions. Alteration of the repertoire within a learning network is mostly caused by the interaction of potter’s groups. It is evident, that an exchange of certain stylistic and morphological pottery attributes took place on an interregional level. The specific research on potter’s workshops in Noricum is insufficient at the moment. Most studies are restricted to kilns, without recognising other parts of the presumed workshops. This situation makes it also impossible to characterize the pottery produced in these kilns, but it should be considered that not a single piece of not fully oxidised ware can be reliably connected with one of the kilns. The study of the pottery production in Noricum is therefore restricted to the vessels themselves. Together with ethnoarchaeological analogies these allow presuming, that not fully oxidised wares were not produced in big workshops (large scale industry) but in the environment of household production/industry up to workshop (in exceptional cases and restricted to a short time period) even village industry.
Keywords: Noricum, Pottery Production, Handicraft, Potter, Community of Practice, Manufacturing Technique
Erhältlich im Museum Aguntum (www.aguntum.info).
When: 22nd - 26th October 2018
Number of places available: max 20 Students
Application fee: 100 € (incl. teaching materials, bibliography, books, coffee breaks, guided tours. Students of the University of Verona are exempt from the application fee.
How to apply: Send a CV to summerschoolaquileia@gmail.com no
later than 30th September 2018
Credits and information: 3 ECTS; summerschoolaquileia@gmail.com
General information
Periods in the Summer School’s focus: Late Republican to Late Roman (2nd BC - 6th
century AD)
Major workshop activities: The main goal of the course is to provide theoretical and
practical training experience on Roman pottery. The students will evaluate and appreciate similarities and differences in typological problems, approaches, methods, technique, design and material choice applied on different pottery classes. The participants will work with authentic pottery from the ancient city of Aquileia. Practical excercises in dfferent techniques of pottery production will also be performed by the partecipants through the use of potter’s wheel and kiln especially arranged for the Summer School.
Scientific coordination: Diana DOBREVA (Dipartimento di Culture e Civiltà, Università di Verona), Martin AUER (Institut für Archäologien, Universität Innsbruck), Florian SCHIMMER (Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz).
Main organising institutions: Università di Verona (Italy), Polo Museale del Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy), Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Aquileia (Italy), Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio del Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy), Fondazione Aquileia (Italy), Universität Innsbruck (Austria), Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum Mainz (Germany).
Zbornik vsebuje 25 prispevkov avtorjev iz Slovenije, Hrvaške, Avstrije in Italije. Vsebina prispevkov zajema aktualne rezultate raziskav rimskih najdišč na širšem območju rimskega cesarstva ter njihovo vključitev v širši kontekst ekonomskega, socialnega in družbenega dogajanja v rimskem obdobju.
The results indicate that Roman potters shared technological practices of paste preparation, forming, and firing tripod-bowls. However, the mineralogical examination allowed the identification of several distinct petrographic groups. Most compositional groups are restricted to a single site. Comparison of the petrographic groups with the geological setting of Noricum allows to suggest that potters’ communities were active at each of the six sites studied; they produced tripod-bowls and distributed them on the local market. Only one compositional group occurs at several sites; despite its pending provenance, it is assumed that this workshop successfully produced and traded tripod-bowls within the wider region of Noricum.
The results indicate that the grey ware bowls from Aguntum and Lavant were produced by local workshops nearby. The bowls were manufactured with similar clay sources, tempered with crushed calcite-marble rocks from the Tauern Window, their surface smoothed and burnished, and fired between 800-850 °C in a reducing atmosphere of an open fire. This is taken to suggest that Roman potters, who were located at Aguntum and Lavant, shared strategies of raw materials selection, paste preparation, finishing and firing, and transferred technological knowledge through time.