Rezensionen In early 2021, the Federal Monuments Authority Austria (Bundesdenkmalamt) published a monograph on the Roman marble quarry at Spitzelofen in the Lavant valley (Lavanttal) as the first volume of the new “Beihefte” series of “Fundberichte aus Österreich”. The book, written by Stephan Karl from the Institute of Classics, University of Graz, Austria (Institut für Antike, Karl-Franzens Universität, Graz), is also the first monograph entirely dedicated to one of the marble quarries in the eastern Alps, the production of which not only marked a specific appearance of towns and cemeteries in Noricum, but also significantly contributed to shaping the monuments and architecture of towns in Pannonia and partly Upper Moesia. In this sense, the book marks an important turning point in the traditional discussions on quarries in Central Europe, on two important counts. Firstly, it discusses a single quarry complex/landscape (Steinbruchrevier), which ranks it among the rare such monographs on Mediterranean or Stephan Karl, DAS RÖMERZEITLICHE MARMORSTEIN- other ancient quarries such as Selinunte,1 Mons Claudi- BRUCHREVIER SPITZELOFEN IN KÄRNTEN. MONTAN- anus,2 Mons Porphyrites,3 Karystos,4 Bois de Lens,5 Hohe ARCHÄOLOGISCHE FORSCHUNGEN. Mit Beiträgen Buche bei Andernach.6 Secondly, the book focuses on von Paul Bayer, Michael Grabner, Manfred Hainzmann, the archaeological and geological collection and inter- Roland Haubner, Christoph A. Hauzenberger, Andreas pretation of data on the quarry complex perceived as a G. Heiss, Kathrin Layr, Daniel Modl, Walter Prochaska, production complex with a specific internal organisation. Susanne Strobl, Borut Toškan, Elisabeth Wächter, In contrast to the paucity of monographic publications, Michael Weißl und Silvia Wiesinger, Fundberichte aus short or lengthier articles on this topic abound, from the Österreich, Beiheft 1, Verlag Ferdinand Berger & Söhne pioneering papers by Josef Röder7 to publications by GmbH, Wien 2021, 240 pp., ISBN 978-3-85028-951-1. authors such as Jean-Claude Bessac,8 Anna Gutierrez 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Anneliese Peschlow-Bindokat, Die Steinbrüche von Selinunt. Die Cave di Cusa und die Cave di Barone, Mainz am Rhein 1990. David Peacock / Valerie Maxfield, Mons Claudianus Survey and Excavation 1987–1993. Vol. I. Topography and Quarries, Cairo 1997. Valerie Maxfield / David Peacock, The Roman Imperial Quarries Survey and Excavation at Mons Porphyrites 1994–1998, Vol. I, Topography and Quarries, London 2001. – David Peacock / Valerie Maxfield, The Roman Imperial quarries: survey and excavation at Mons Porphyrites 1994–1998, Volume 2, The excavations, London 2007. Doris Vanhove, Roman Marble Quarries in Southern Euboea and the Associated Road Networks, Leiden 1996. Jean-Claude Bessac, La pierre en Gaule narbonnaise et les carrières du Bois des Lens (Nîmes): histoire, archéologie, ethnographie et technique, Ann Arbor (Michigan) 1996 (Journal of Roman Archæology, suppl. 16). Fritz Mangartz, Die antiken Steinbrüche der Hohen Buche bei Andernach. Topographie, Technologie und Chronologie, Mainz am Rhein 1998. E.g. Joseph Röder, Die antiken Tuffsteinbrüche der Pellenz, Bonner Jahrbücher 157, Bonn 1957, 213–271; Joseph Röder, Marmor Phrygium. Die antiken Marmorbrüche von İscehisar in Westanatolien, Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts 86, Berlin 1971, 253–312. Jean-Claude Bessac, La carrière romaine de L‘Estel près du Pont du Gard, Gallia 59, Paris 2002, 11–28. 114 Rezensionen Garcia-Moreno9 and others. In recent decades, authors field surveying and recording of the vast quarry land- have increasingly focused on the technical and logistical scapes performed in the last decades. In addition to aspects of quarrying, also in connection with questions the classic surveying and recording methods, these also pertaining to the supply of individual towns and to the employ newly developed techniques of gathering and trading in products. The growing interest brought about organising spatial data (aerial photography, satellite a proliferation of known ancient quarries,10 but also imagery, use of GPS, GIS, recently also LiDAR), which numerous new lines of their research. In the early days, are indispensable for a rapid and accurate recording of research concentrated on historical11 and epigraphic12 vast landscapes.15 The largest, methodologically most aspects that were and still are important in quarry systematic and innovative, as well as most prolific in studies.13 Recent decades, however, have witnessed a terms of results is the QuarryScapes research project,16 wealth of contributions focusing on correlating products conducted between 2005 and 2008. Its aim was to record with their production sources, on characterising stones, vast quarry landscapes, but even more so to evaluate and studying their use and distribution across the markets of protect such remains, as well as to recognise quarries as the ancient world, as well as attempts to understand and cultural heritage.17 An important end result of the project interpret the economic dimension of stone productions.14 is the ‘QuarryScapes guide to ancient stone quarry land- Particularly significant in studying the organisation and scapes’ published in 2008,18 which presents the model operation of Roman quarry complexes is the extensive of a systematic approach to quarry landscapes, from 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Anna Gutierrez Garcia-Moreno / Jordi López Vilar, La cantera de El Mèdol (Tarragona): técnicas, organización y propuesta de evolución de la extracción del material lapídeo, in: Lapidum natura restat: canteras antiguas de la península ibérica en su contexto (cronología, técnicas y organización de la explotación), Tarragona, Madrid 2018, 67–79. For a comprehensive list up to 2013, see Ben Russel, Gazetteer of Stone Quarries in the Roman World. Version 1.0, Oxford 2013 (oxrep.classics.ox.ac.uk/databases/stone_quarries_database/). Charles Dubois, Etudes sur l’administration et l’exploitation des carrières (marbre, porphyre, granit, etc.) dans le monde romain, Paris 1908. Luigi Bruzza, Iscrizioni dei marmi grezzi, Bullettino dell‘Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica 1870, 106–204. E.g. Angelina Dworakowska, Quarries in Roman provinces, Warsaw 1983.– Robert Bedon, Les carrières et les carriers de la Gaule romaine, Paris 1984.– François Braemer, Les marbres des Alpes occidentales dans l’Antiquité, in: Actes du 96e Congrès national des Sociétés savantes, Toulouse 1971, section d’archéologie et d’histoire de l’art, Paris 1976, 273–286.– John Clayton Fant, “Cavum Antrum Phrygiæ”: The organization and operations of the Roman imperial marble quarries en Phrygia, Oxford 1989.– Michael A. Hirt, Imperial mines and quarries in the Roman world, Oxford 2010. For a brief overview of the interest in quarry research, see Jean-Claude Bessac, L’extraction des pierres de taille et des roches marbrières dans l’Antiquité: les principales stratégies d’exploitation, in: Marbres en Franche-Comté, Actes des Journées d’études, Besançon 1999, Besançon 2003, 21–34. A good insight into the diverse topics and the development of stone studies can be gained from the proceedings of the triennial ASMOSIA meetings (http://asmosia.willamette.edu) – Proceedings 1 (1988) – 11 (2018). For a brief overview of the development of the quarry studies, see Anna Gutierrez Garcia-Moreno, Roman quarries in the north-east of Hispania (modern Catalonia), Tarragona 2009; for the economic dimension of Roman stone trading, see Ben Russell, The economics of the Roman stone trade, Oxford 2013. E.g. Leah E. Long, Marble at Aphrodisias: The Regional Marble Quarries, in: Christopher Ratté, Peter D. De Staebler (eds.), Aphrodisias Regional Survey: Special Studies, Aphrodisias Final Reports, Darmstadt 2012, 165–201; Patrick Degryse / Tom Heldal / Elisabeth Bloxam / Per Storemyr / Marc Waelkens / Philippe Muchez, The Sagalassos quarry landscape: bringing quarries in context, in: Sagalassos VI, Geo- and Bio-Archaeology at Sagalassos and its Territory, Leuven 2008, 261–290. The QuarryScapes Project: conservation of ancient stone quarry landscapes in the Eastern Mediterranean, http://www. quarryscapes.no. The project produced ten final reports: Deliverables 1–10. E.g. Per Storemyr, Reflections on Conservation and Promotion of Ancient Quarries and Quarry Landscapes, in: Conservation of Ancient Stone Quarry Landscapes in the Eastern Mediterranean, QuarryScapes First Symposium, 15–17 October 2006, Antalya 2006, 31–35.– Elisabeth Bloxam / Tom Heldal, Identifying heritage values and character-defining elements of ancient quarry landscapes in the Eastern Mediterranean: an integrated Analysis, QuarryScapes deliverable 10, 2008.– Elisabeth Bloxam, Ancient quarries in mind: pathways to a more accessible significance, World Archaeology 43.2, New Approaches to Stone Mines and Quarries: Materials and Materiality, London 2011, 149–166. Tom Heldal / Elisabeth Bloxam, QuarryScapes guide to ancient Stone quarry landscapes: documentation, interpretation, and statement of significance, Work Package 9, Deliverable No. 11, 2008 (www.quarryscapes.no/guide_content_text.php). Rezensionen 115 empirical characterisation, explanation on a micro level to important contribution to systematising the different assessment of their historical significance.19 In this model, quarry types in spite of the difficulties associated with characterisation and microanalysis are directly and closely generalising formal features of quarry sites closely linked linked, and include the resource(s), production, logistics to the geometry of the production strata. The typology of and social infrastructure that make up a quarry complex. quarries was later adapted and schematically presented These are the traits that the monograph on Spitzelofen in the QuarryScapes guide.21 shares as well. The heaps of spoil material at Spitzelofen, important for The aim of the brief introduction above, by no means understanding the different steps of quarry activities (ex- intended to be a comprehensive history of research, was traction, block reduction, core reduction, finishing) through to provide a proper backdrop for reviewing the monograph the shape and size of the debitage, have been carefully on the Spitzelofen quarry complex. The starting point of and precisely recorded, and interpreted in relative chron- the monograph is the rescue investigations that followed ological terms. Their scarcity in the north quarry complex the machine damage at Kalkkogel caused by earthworks is certainly the result of the extremely steep terrain that to widen the forest road there in 2011. The investiga- caused the debris to slide deep down the slope. Old pho- tions involved very meticulous topographic mapping, as tographs (Abb. 15) show that the only well-preserved spoil well as archaeological and geological recording of an heap was located in the area of the GO 38 quarry site, 11.5 ha large area (Chapter 3, Topographie, 39–65, Taf. but was almost completely removed during excavations in 11–23) that comprises two independent quarry complexes the 1920s and in 1930. The reason for the creation of this (Bruchgebiete) – Kalkkogel and Spitzelofen. These two extensive heap on a terrace measuring some 400 m2 is complexes differ in geomorphology, directly linked to thus unclear. Its interpretation is certainly a desideratum, the differences in the marble strata cropping out from as it may provide crucial data on the activities taking place under the strata of other metamorphic rocks (gneiss, there and as such on the spatial distribution and chrono- mica schist, amphibolite; Taf. 60), to the degree that logical sequence of individual activities. It would appear required different techniques for extracting large marble that the non-invasive recording processes in this phase blocks. At Kalkkogel, there is a series of quarry sites on of research did not allow the spoil heaps to be analysed the same plane at altitudes between 1060 m in 1070 m as to the size of the marble debris, though the recorded (Taf. 14–15), while Spitzelofen boasts the well-known, ca. data give the impression that all the production phases 12 m high quarry face, bearing an inscription of Saxanus, of blocks ready for transport took place within individual with individual quarry sites vertically succeeding each quarry sites rather than in one or several places within other at four altitudes between 1030 m in 1060 m (Taf. the quarry complex. This hypothesis is supported by the 16–17). Forty-seven terrain features (Geländeobjekt, GO) recorded internal quarry paths (Taf. 13) and the results of were identified within the quarry complex that include the small-scale excavations of the spoil heap associated 18 (6 Kalkkogel + 12 Spitzelofen) quarry sites of different with the GO 3 quarry site (Fundstelle H-10) as visible on shapes and sizes, some cut into the slope (Lehnenbruch), photographs (Abb. 82). A final confirmation, however, must some in form of niches (Nischenbruch) and others in pits await further analyses. (Grubenbruch). In the typology of individual quarry sites, This small-scale excavation also revealed that blacksmiths Karl leaned on the work by J.-C. Bessac,20 who made an were present on site to repair tools. The remains of 19 Tom Heldal / Elisabeth Bloxam, QuarryScapes guide to ancient Stone quarry landscapes: documentation, interpretation, and statement of significance, Work Package 9, Deliverable No. 11, 2008, 3, Figure 1. 20 Jean-Claude Bessac, L’extraction des pierres de taille et des roches marbrières dans l’Antiquité: les principales stratégies d’exploitation, in: Marbres en Franche-Comté, Actes des Journées d’études, Besançon 1999, Besançon 2003, 21–34. 21 Tom Heldal / Elisabeth Bloxam, QuarryScapes guide to ancient Stone quarry landscapes: documentation, interpretation, and statement of significance, Work Package 9, Deliverable No. 11, 2008 (www.quarryscapes.no/guide_content_text.php). 116 Rezensionen forging in the shape of hammer scale22 and fragments of intact stratigraphic context. There are as many as ten ceramic containers23 that could be interpreted as slack heavy double-pointed picks (weighing roughly 3–4.5 kg), tubs, represent characteristic remains of on site smithies fifteen iron wedges, two single-pointed picks, one heavy in quarries.24 According to Karl, the charcoal needed for hammer, two iron crowbars and two flat chisels. One of this activity was produced in immediate proximity to the the double-pointed picks was also subjected to metal- quarry, possibly in charcoal piles hypothetically identified lographic analyses,25 which examined the possibility of in some of the terrain features (Grubenmeiler, 58–60). using several pieces of iron bloom to attain the desired The rock extracted at the quarry sites of the Spitzelofen weight of the product, but also examined the presence complex was marble with the interesting exception of of martensite at both points of the pick as evidence of chronologically undetermined GO5 where platy gneiss quenching; the analyses did not provide unambiguous was extracted. As in all Roman quarries with thick rock results in either case. strata, the extraction techniques involved cutting narrow The Spitzelofen quarry complex has been attracting and deep channels and horizontally splitting the rock with people’s attention since the early 19th century, mainly with the use of iron wedges to free individual blocks. All these its high quarry face bearing the inscription of Saxanus. In procedures left behind characteristic tool marks on the the monograph, Manfred Heinzmann wrote a contribution surviving surfaces of the quarry – particularly the marks on this inscription (Die “Steinbruchgottheit” Sax(et)anus of heavy picks and iron wedges. Only the GO 39 quarry im Ostalpenraum, 129–140), in which he studies all the site revealed traces of levering, i. e. extraction of blocks inscriptions mentioning the divinity known across the involving the expansion of natural cracks or other planes Roman Empire. The quarry face was long interpreted as of weakness, which leaves no tool marks on the rock faces. the sanctuary of Silvanus. The mining activities by Anton Considerable attention and even an entire chapter of the Deutschmann in the area of this ‘sanctuary’, which left monograph (Schrämspuren, 67–75) is dedicated to the tool behind a tunnel dug into the face in its lower part, led marks observed on the faces and in one case (GO 38) the the k. k. Bezirkshauptmannschaft Wolfsberg26 to declare floor of the quarry. The publication brings the results of a protected historical monument area in 1890. The min- this most precise 3D recording of such evidence in any utes of the monument visit even establish, for the first known ancient quarry (Taf. 24–34), with several important time, that the area holds the remains of a Roman quarry observations. One of these is a great uniformity of tool rather than a sanctuary. An echo of this erroneous, albeit marks, which suggests the use of the same approach to attractive interpretation is the possibility of a small shrine extracting blocks throughout the time the quarry was ac- in the small side niche of GO 45. Karl concludes that this tive. The observed tool marks also indicate the size of the hypothesis cannot be confirmed without archaeological extracted blocks, which measured 15–69 cm in thickness excavations; the round horizontal niche or hole there (Taf. and 82–440 cm in length; the long blocks were certainly 39) could also be interpreted as a feature associated with intended for architectural members. It is possible that a machine used in quarry work. acquiring monolithic blocks of this great size is among the After protecting the area as a historical monument, the main reasons for opening quarries at such high altitudes, owner of the land, Ludwig Theodor Schütte, constructed far above the lowland settlements. a path (Promenadenweg) that led visitors to the rock face In addition to tool marks, Spitzelofen also revealed with the inscription, which is indirect evidence of the early surprisingly numerous tools, though not always in an interest that the general public had for the monument. 22 Chapter 6.1.4, author D. Modl. More extensive contribution in Stephan Karl / Daniel Modl / Susanne Strobl / Roland Haubner, Untersuchungen von Hammerschlag aus einer Schmiedeesse im römerzeitlichen Marmorsteinbruchrevier Spitzelofen in Kärnten, Österreich, Berg und Hüttenmännische Monatshefte 166, 2021, 370–378. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00501-021-01123-0). 23 Chapter 6.1.3, author Christoph A. Hauzenberger. Pottery dated to the first half of the 1st century. 24 See Chapter 6.1.9, Schmiedeesse und Ambossplatz, 92–94. 25 Roland Haubner / Susanne Strobl, Metallurgische Untersuchungen eines Doppelspitzschlägels, 109–113. 26 See Anhang 13.3, 169 f. Rezensionen 117 The first archaeological excavations at the quarry were to the first half of the 1st century AD, parallels across conducted between 1909 and 1930, when the next land- the south-eastern Alpine area suggest that the decline owner, Gudmund Schütte, investigated the platform below of activities after the peak in the 2nd and possibly early the inscribed rock face (GO 38). Franz Jantsch was the 3rd century (dating based on products) can be placed to last to excavate here, in 1930. The history of interest and the 4th century. Only targeted archaeological excavations research at Spitzelofen is certainly exhaustively presented can provide a reliable answer to the latter question. The in the monograph and accompanied with relevant docu- small-scale excavations conducted at the edge of the GO ments published in the appendices to the second chapter 38 quarry site have revealed how important such data (“Forschungsgeschichte und Erschließung”). can be for understanding the activities in the quarry as The introductory chapter of the book is dedicated to the they revealed, surprisingly, a brief resumption of quarry archaeological and geological context of the Spitzelofen activities in the 8th –9th centuries presumably linked to quarry complex. It also brings a very useful and up-to-date furnishing the interiors of local churches. list of all known marble quarries in the south-eastern Alps, Analyses could not provide conclusive answers concerning a description of the Roman settlements in the Lavant valley, the internal organisation of the quarry complex and its as well as an excellent and newly drawn map of the marble management, hence hypotheses can only be based on deposits in this part of Carinthia (Taf. 2, by Kathrin Layr) comparable data from other quarries in the Mediterranean. that also shows the distribution of known marble products. This involves questions regarding the seasonal accommo- The map raises at least two issues. One is the possibility of dation of the quarry masters and other workers, which other, as yet unknown ancient quarries existing in the area, could not be positively established, regarding the extent which the author also raises. The other pertains to the rea- of simultaneous quarry activities in individual work steps sons behind opening the Spitzelofen quarry so high in the related to the type of orders, and others. mountains. The locations of numerous historical quarries, Another important and as yet unresolved question is that also marked on the map, are particularly exciting in this of the products coming out of Spitzelofen. The few extant respect. Having said that, the possibility of associating the analyses of products involving material characterisation Spitzelofen quarry complex with the owners of the Roman (analyses by late Harald W. Müller) have revealed Spit- villa at Allersdorf, as Karl suggested in one of his public zelofen as a quarry of regional importance. It should be lectures,27 can as yet not be proven. noted, however, that the sample of analysed monuments At the other end of the book, the final eleventh chapter was small and biased in favour of funerary monuments. (“Diskussion und Fazit”, 141–147) brings a summary and Only a comprehensive analysis and characterisations of interpretation of the results of individual analyses. In it, the marbles used in Noricum will give a clear answer to Karl raises several crucial and in many respects still open the key question of production centres (quarries) and questions. He emphasises the advantages of this quarry their markets for different orders in different periods of complex that was left almost undisturbed after the end of time from the beginning of the 1st to and including the 4th Roman activities, which is an exception among the known century. The analyses that Walter Prochaska and Kathrin ancient quarries in the Alps. The only post-medieval ac- Layr (“Analysen des Spitzelofener Marmors”, 123–128) tivity mentioned here is lime production, with associated performed for Spitzelofen marble have provided results lime pits, which probably gave the name (Kalkkogel) to that offer hope in the possibility of distinguishing be- the elevation. tween marbles from different Norican quarries. The 18O, One of the basic questions with regards to any quarry 16 is its chronological attribution. While the beginnings of the analyses of trace elements and fluid inclusions have marble extraction at Spitzelofen can be reliably dated enabled a fairly clear-cut distinction between some of O, 13C and 12C stable isotope analyses combined with 27 Stephan Karl / Meinhard Ranzinger / Kristian Bredies, Das römerzeitliche Marmorsteinbruchrevier Spitzelofen. Mathematisch gestützte Wegfindung des Steintransportes in das Lavanttal, Archäologie im 21. Jahrhundert – Fragen und Methoden einer modernen Geisteswissenschaft, Graz, Hauskolloquium am Institut für Archäologie, 22. Juni 2018, Graz 2018. 118 Rezensionen the most important marbles of Noricum, i. e. those from Gummern, Spitzelofen, Salla and Pohorje. Particularly exciting is the clear differentiation between Gummern and Pohorje marbles, while the distinction between Gummern and Spitzelofen marbles is less clear. From this point on, the attribution of sources or production centres must apply a formal analysis of the products as an additional analytical tool. The book subtitle is “Montanarchäologische Forschungen”, which continues the long tradition of naming this particular field of study in German-speaking countries. In recent years, researchers and Thomas R. Stölner in particular28 wish to extend the term Montanarchäologie (mining archaeology), derived from Latin res montanorum, to encompass the whole chaîne opératoire of extracting and working natural resources, i. e. to all the analyses and procedures necessary for a comprehensive understanding of this field of archaeology. Researchers in other countries use different terms to refer to more or less the same field – industrial archaeology or, to our preference, archaeology of production. Stephan Karl prepared an excellent, meticulous and Ortwin Hesch / Heinz Kranzelbinder, ARCHÄOLOGI- consistent publication presenting all possible aspects of SCHE STREIFZÜGE DURCH DAS STEIRISCHE VULKAN- the data gathered almost entirely non-invasively across LAND KULTURGESCHICHTLICHE ERKUNDUNGEN IN the vast quarry complex at Spitzelofen, which are dis- DER SÜDOSTSTEIERMARK MIT DEM BESUCH EINIGER cussed against the backdrop of the current knowledge AUSGEWÄHLTER FUNDPLÄTZE UND MUSEEN IM BE- of the quarries across the Roman Empire. The published NACHBARTEN SLOWENISCHEN GRENZMURGEBIET, results offer, for the first time, a penetrating insight into Eigenverlag des Vereins zur Förderung des Steirischen a typical Alpine quarry complex. In view of this, we can Vulkanlandes und der Regionalmanagement Südost- expect similar analyses to be performed for other quarry steiermark, Steirisches Vulkanland GmbH, Graz-Gnie- complexes across Noricum that are more prominent in bing-Bad Radkersburg 2021, 202 Seiten, Abbildungen. terms of their output. It is our hope that these analyses be accompanied by an extensive characterisation of their Heinrich Kranzelbinder als Herausgeber und Fotograf products that include architectural members, which have und Ortwin Hesch als Archäologe und Kunsthistoriker been largely neglected in the studies published thus far. bieten in dem das A4-Format elegant überschreitenden 200-seitigen Band einen Überblick über die Archäologie Bojan Djuric der Südoststeiermark und im benachbarten Slowenien: 28 Thomas R. Stölner, Montan-Archaeology and Research on Old Mining: Just a Contribution to Economic History?, in: Ünsal Yalçın (ed.), Anatolian Metal IV. Der Anschnitt, Beiheft 21, Bochum 2008, 149–178.– Thomas R. Stölner, Methods of Mining Archaeology (Montanarchäologie), in: Benjamin W. Roberts, Christopher P. Thornton (eds.), Archaeometallurgy in Global Perspective. Methods and Syntheses, New York 2014, 133–159.