engleski

The smelting of iron ore throughout different historical periods – Virje: a case study

Archaeological research in the vicinity of Virje yielded interesting data related to the primary processing of iron ore. The site is located in the lowland area on the right bank of the Drava River in the Republic of Croatia. The remains of smelting workshops with bloomery furnaces dating to the early Middle Ages were explored on one position (Volarski Breg), while on the elevation Sušine parts of a workshop with several furnaces from the late Roman period (4th and 5th century) were explored, as well as the remains from the early Iron Age. Previous studies have shown that on the site Virje there are at least two types of furnaces. Besides their different shapes, C14 analysis showed that they were in function during different time periods. Flat-hearth tapped furnaces are with certainty dated since the late 8th and in the 9th century. That the primary processing of iron was conducted on this site throughout several periods is indicated by the findings of semi- finished products - ingots of iron, which originate from a La Tène structure. Since the manufacturing process of smelting of iron ore took place repeatedly on the same location, the question arises whether the choice of the location was conditioned by natural resources or was there a sort of a reminiscence of this location being suitable for the primary processing of iron, as well as the question weather the change in form of furnaces found on the same location is related with some changes in the processing technology.

Virje; Volarski breg; Sušine; archaeological research

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