Was There an Independent Iron Production in Early Medieval Moravia?
Abstract
Presentation at the 31st EAA 2025 Annual Meeting in session #233 Iron, Pottery, Quernstones: The Political Economy of Production and Trade in the European Middle Ages.
Full text
Was there an independent iron production in early medieval Moravia? Author: Roman Mikulec
Boskovice Furrow Early Middle Ages (c. 6th to 13th century AD) peripheral area fertile, densely populated local sources of iron ore many iron production sites small number of finds without chronological changes? production for the needs of local communities?
Author: (Kalhous 2020, Fig.1) Great Moravia Boskovice Furrow Early Middle Ages (c. 6th to 13th century AD) peripheral area fertile, densely populated local sources of iron ore many iron production sites small number of finds without chronological changes? production for the needs of local communities? Period Dating Early Slavic Period 550–680 AD Early Hillfort Period 680–800 AD Middle Hillfort Period 800–950 AD Great Moravian Period 833–907 AD Late Hillfort Period 950–1200 AD
Boskovice Furrow Early Middle Ages (c. 6th to 13th century AD) peripheral area fertile, densely populated local sources of iron ore many iron production sites small number of finds without chronological changes? production for the needs of local communities? Number Localities Region Dating 1 Blansko BF Early medieval? 2Bořitov BF Early Hillfort Period – Late Hillfort Period 3 Boskovice BF Early medieval? 4 Cetkovice BF Middle Hillfort Period –Late Hillfort Period 5Černá Hora BF Early medieval? 6 Doubravice nad Svitavou BF Early medieval? 7 Drnovice BF Early medieval? 8 Drválovice/Vanovice BF Middle Hillfort Period/Late Hillfort Period 9Habrůvecká bučina MK Late Hillfort Period 10 Jabloňany/Obora BF Middle Hillfort Period, Late Hillfort Period 11 Jeřmaň BF Hillfort Period 12 Jevíčko BF Late Hillfort Period 13 Kladoruby BF Early medieval? 14 Knínice? BF Late Hillfort Period 15 Kunštátsko BF Middle Hillfort Period or Late Hillfort Period 16 Kuřim BF Middle Hillfort Period or Late Hillfort Period 17 Lažánky u Veverské Bítýšky BF Early Hillfort Period/Middle Hillfort Period 18 Lipůvka BF Late Hillfort Period 19 Lomnice/Brusná BF Late Hillfort Period 20 Míchov BF Early medieval? 21 Moravská Třebová BF Middle Hillfort Period? 22 Neslovice BF Late Hillfort Period? 23 Rozseč nad Kunštátem BF Early medieval? 24 Sebranice BF Early Hillfort Period – Late Hillfort Period 25 Skalička/Újezd BF Early medieval? 26 Sudice BF Early medieval? 27 Šebetov BF Late Hillfort Period 28 Tišnovsko BF Early medieval? 29 Třebětín BF Early medieval? 30 Uhřice BF Late Hillfort Period 31 Vážany BF Early Hillfort Period – Late Hillfort Period? 32 Velké Opatovice BF Late Hillfort Period 33 Voděrady BF Early medieval? 34 Vratíkov BF Early medieval?
Boskovice Furrow Early Middle Ages (c. 6th to 13th century AD) peripheral area fertile, densely populated local sources of iron ore many iron production sites small number of finds without chronological changes? production for the needs of local communities? Localities Iron slag Iron ore Tuyeres Furnace linings Number (pcs.) Weight (g) Number (pcs.) Weight (g) Number (pcs.) Number (pcs.) Weight (g) Blansko 12 1366 Bořitov 276 35371 28 3119 23 18 1635 Boskovice 100 3209 3159 Cetkovice 12 456 Černá Hora 19 1430 Doubravice nad Svitavou 3 170 Drnovice 11 1778 Drválovice/Vanovice 102 3942 10 5095 Habrůvecká bučina 140 29976 15 2053 483 64 10212 Jabloňany/Obora 425 9031 98 4897 3 7 146 Jeřmaň 21058 Jevíčko Kladoruby 2 2255 Knínice? 3 1 133 Kunštátsko 35 3400 2331 89 16 4894 Kuřim 4 2 Lažánky u Veverské Bítýšky 18 914 4500 76 6874 Lipůvka x250 Lomnice/Brusná 1 10 Míchov 3 48 Moravská Třebová 1411 Neslovice 1 237 Rozseč nad Kunštátem 57 1741 Sebranice 5 2120 Skalička/Újezd 21167 1200 Sudice 12 1007 1 Šebetov 7860 Tišnovsko x Třebětín 1479 Uhřice 1149 Vážany 34 5091 Velké Opatovice 1 88 Voděrady 283 Vratíkov 4 411 1 Neuvedeno 2 1313
Moravian Karst peripheral, infertile, forested area no permanent settlements large number of finds (c. 900 kg of slag just in waste heap under furnace n. IX) chronological development massive production of supraregional importance Period Dating Early Slavic Period 550–680 AD Early Hillfort Period 680–800 AD Middle Hillfort Period 800–950 AD Great Moravian Period 833–907 AD Late Hillfort Period 950–1200 AD
Moravian Karst peripheral, infertile, forested area no permanent settlements large number of finds (c. 900 kg of slag just in waste heap under furnace n. IX) chronological development massive production of supraregional importance Localities Dating Adamov Late Hillfort Period Babice nad Svitavou Late Hillfort Period Habrůvecká bučina Late Hillfort Period Habrůvka Early medieval? Olomučany, plot No. 171 Late Hillfort Period Olomučany - Růžová Street, plots Nos. 951/2 and 951/3 Late Hillfort Period Padouchov (Forest District Habrůvka) Late Hillfort Period Forest District Olomučany, forest units Nos. 86/1 and 86/2 Middle Hillfort Period, Late Hillfort Period Forest District Olomučany, forest unit No. 98/1 Middle Hillfort Period Forest District Olomučany, forest unit No. 98/3 Early Hillfort Period Forest District Olomučany, forest unit No. 100 Late Hillfort Period Forest District Olomučany, forest unit No. 107 Early medieval? Forest District Olomučany, forest unit No. 38 A Middle Hillfort Period Forest District Olomučany, forest unit No. 84 Late Hillfort Period Forest District Olomučany, forest unit No. 89 Late Hillfort Period Forest District Olomučany, forest unit No. 98/2 Early Hillfort Period Forest District Olomučany, forest unit No. 98/4 Late Hillfort Period Forest unit No. 53 south of Rudice Late Hillfort Period Rudice Early medieval?
Author: (Merta 2007, Fig.4) Moravian Karst Early Hillfort Period (from the late 8th/early 9th century) furnace type Želechovice no tuyeres Middle Hillfort Period embanked furnaces with a thin front wall (type Imola); free-standing shaft furnaces with a shallow hearth (type Nemeskér) thin-walled tuyeres abandoned (early 10th century)
Moravian Karst Early Hillfort Period (from the late 8th/early 9th century) furnace type Želechovice no tuyeres Middle Hillfort Period embanked furnaces with a thin front wall (type Imola); free-standing shaft furnaces with a shallow hearth (type Nemeskér) thin-walled tuyeres abandoned (early 10th century) Olomučany Olomučany Author: (Souchopová–Stránský 2008, Fig. 74) Early Hillfort Period
Organization in the Boskovice Furrow? chronological development ? (development of metallurgical facilities…) smelting (tapping) slag furnace lining – standardization? Localities with metallurgical facilities Number (pcs.) Type Bořitov 2 furnace; reheating hearth Drválovice/Vanovice 2 to 3 furnace (2x); reheating hearth? Kuřim 2 embanked furnaces with a thin front wall? Lažánky 1 reheating hearth In total 7 embanked furnaces with a thin front wall? Author: (Procházka 1992, Fig.10)
Organization in the Boskovice Furrow? chronological development ? (development of metallurgical facilities…) smelting (tapping) slag furnace lining – standardization? Weight (g) Localities Smelting slag Smithing slag Ceramic slag Blansko 1075 132 159 Bořitov 2609 4669 27176 917 Boskovice 1189 553 1467 Cetkovice 122 311 23 Černá Hora 486 582 362 Doubravice nad Svitavou 117 53 Drnovice 211 1567 Drválovice/Vanovice 3566 342 34 Jabloňany 1480 6124 1427 Jeřmaň 1058 Kladoruby 735 1520 Knínice x Kunštátsko 654 2746 Lažánky u Veverské Bítýšky 74 822 18 Lomnice/Brusná 10 Míchov 33 15 Moravská Třebová 411 Neslovice 237 Neuvedeno 871 442 Rozseč 1115 51 575 Sebranice 1084 1006 30 Sudice 917 90 Šebetov 780 66 14 Třebětín 479 Uhřice 149 Vážany 1988 1089 1564 450 Velké Opatovice 88 Voděrady 83 Vratíkov 189 222 Újezd/Skalička 1167 In total 20089 22443 32121 4942 Habrůvecká bučina 6228 11224 12500 24
Organization in the Boskovice Furrow? chronological development ? (development of metallurgical facilities…) smelting (tapping) slag furnace lining – standardization? Furnace lining Localities Number (pcs.) Weight (g) Bořitov 18 1635 Jabloňany/Obora 7146 Knínice 1 133 Lažánky u Veverské Bítýšky 6874 Rudka u Kunštátu 16 4894 In total 48 7682 Habrůvecká bučina 64 10212
Organization in the Boskovice Furrow? chronological development ? (development of metallurgical facilities…) smelting (tapping) slag furnace lining – standardization?
Organization in the Boskovice Furrow? chronological development ? (development of metallurgical facilities…) smelting (tapping) slag furnace lining – standardization? Habrůvecká bučina
Tuyeres no clear division? thin vs thick-walled tuyeres (Middle vs Late Hillfort period) 3 categories (up to 0.6; 0.6–0.9; above 1 cm) variability need for a bigger dataset
Tuyeres no clear division? thin vs thick-walled tuyeres (Middle vs Late Hillfort period) 3 categories (up to 0.6; 0.6–0.9; above 1 cm) variability need for a bigger dataset
Tuyeres no clear division? thin vs thick-walled tuyeres (Middle vs Late Hillfort period) 3 categories (up to 0.6; 0.6–0.9; above 1 cm) variability need for a bigger dataset
Tuyeres no clear division? thin vs thick-walled tuyeres (Middle vs Late Hillfort period) 3 categories (up to 0.6; 0.6–0.9; above 1 cm) variability need for a bigger dataset Localities Tuyeres (pcs .) Fragments Lenght (cm) Max. lenght (cm) Wall thickness (cm) Wall thickness most often (cm) Inner diameter (mm) Inner diameter most often (mm) Outer diameter (mm) Outer diameter most often (mm) Clogged Slag accretions Thin - walled Thin-walled T2 Thick-walled Dating Bořitov 22 13 pcs.; 59% up to 7 (16 pcs.; 73%) 18 0.4–1.4 1–1.2 (59%) 15–27 20–24 (11ks; 65%) 22–44 40–42 (7 ks; 54%) 3 pcs., 14% 5 pcs., 23% 2 pcs.; 9% 5 pcs.; 23% 15 pcs.; 68% Early Hillfort Period/Middle Hillfort Period, Middle Hillfort Period Jabloňany 3 1 pcs.; 33% 6.3; 10.9 0.9–1.9; 0.5–0.7 above 1 (100%; 66%) 18–19; 24 18 (1 ks; 100%; 50%) 44–52; 31–34 50 (1 ks; 100%; 50%) 1 pcs., 33% 2 pcs., 66% 1 pcs.; 100%; 33% 2 pcs.; 100%; 66% Middle Hillfort Period; Late Hillfort Period Kunštátsko 85 29 pcs.; 33% 6 – 10 (40 pcs.; 56%) 13.5 0.3–1.6 0.6–0.8 (62%) 16–28 22–24 (48 ks; 80%) 28–48 32–38 (49 ks; 82%) 38 pcs., 43% 58 pcs., 65% 45 pcs.; 51% 38 pcs.; 43% 6 pcs., 7% Middle Hillfort Period or Late Hillfort Period Kuřim 2 0 pcs.; 0% 5–8 (2 pcs.; 100%) 8 0.9–1.5 above 1 (100%) 18–20 18-20 (2 ks; 100%) 45–50 45–50 (2 ks; 100%) x x 2 pcs.; 100% Middle Hillfort Period or Late Hillfort Period Lažánky 76 60 pcs.; 79% 4–6 (23 pcs.; 68%) 12.5 0.3–1.3 0.5–0.8 (70%) 20–38 22–24 (17 ks; 52%) 30–55 30–38 (17 ks; 61%) 18 pcs., 24% 23 pcs., 30% 31 pcs.; 41% 34 pcs.; 45% 11 pcs.; 14% Early Hillfort Period/Middle Hillfort Period, Middle Hillfort Period Sudice 1 0 pcs.; 0% 5.5 1.3–1.8 above 1 (100%) 18 18 (1 ks; 100%) 46 46 (1 ks; 100%) 1 pcs., 100% 1 pcs., 100% 1 pcs.; 100% Early medieval? Vratíkov 1 0 pcs.; 0% 5.8 0.7 0.7 (100%) 20 20 (1 ks; 100%) 42–51 42 (1ks; 100%) 1 pcs., 100% 1 pcs., 100% 1 pcs.; 100% Early medieval? Celkem 190 54% up to 10 (83%) 18 0.4–1.9 0.5–0.8 (66%) 15–38 22–24 (1 ks; 73%) 22–55 30–38 (78 ks; 70%) 37% 44% 78 pcs.; 40% 79 pcs.; 41% 37 pcs.; 19% Habrůvecká bučina 473 334 pcs.; 71% up to 8 (83%) 13.6 0.4–2.2 1.5–2 (70%) 16–48 18–20 (74%) 30–75 44–50 (80%) 11% 16 pcs., 3% 2 pcs ., 0,4% 14 pcs., 3% 468 pcs., 97% Late Hillfort Period Bojná-Valy I 2 1 pcs.; 50% 1,5 – 4 (2 pcs.; 100%) 4 0,5 0.5 (100%) 7 7 (1 ks; 100%) 18 18 (1 ks; 100%) 0 pcs.; 0% 1 pcs.; 50% 2 pcs.; 100% Middle Hillfort Period Bojná-Železná dolina 17 13 pcs.; 76% up to 3 (13 pcs.; 76%) 16.1 0.6–1.4 0.8–1 (76%) 18–25 18–22 (6 ks; 100%) 36–39 36–39 (4 ks; 100%) 5 pcs.; 29% 8 pcs.; 47% 1 pcs.; 6% 8 pcs.; 47% 8 pcs.; 47% Middle Hillfort Period
Tuyeres no clear division? thin vs thick-walled tuyeres (Middle vs Late Hillfort period) 3 categories (up to 0.6; 0.6–0.9; above 1 cm) variability need for a bigger dataset Middle Hillfort Period Late Hillfort Period
Bořitov surface surveys combined with geophysics intensity of iron production? localization of old research Middle Hillfort Period more detailed understanding of the site Representation of individual types of finds Polygon Iron slag (pcs.) Iron slag (g) Pottery (pcs.) Pottery (g) Iron ore (pcs.) Iron ore (g) Iron item (pcs.) Iron item (g) Whetstone (pcs.) Whetstone (g) Lithic industry (pcs.) Lithic industry (g) Zadvori_P1 5153 117 2380 331 Zadvori_P2 32 295 984 344 685 Zadvori_P3 121 110 Zadvori_P4 Zadvori_P5 146 3674 22 236 2221 154 421 Zadvori_P6 Badalek_P7 453 422 4357 136 2 9 In total 188 4196 37 369 11 1002 136 154 15 146
Bořitov surface surveys combined with geophysics intensity of iron production? localization of old research Middle Hillfort Period more detailed understanding of the site
Bořitov surface surveys combined with geophysics intensity of iron production? localization of old research Middle Hillfort Period more detailed understanding of the site Representation of individual types of finds Polygon Iron slag (pcs.) Iron slag (g) Pottery (pcs.) Pottery (g) Iron ore (pcs.) Iron ore (g) Iron item (pcs.) Iron item (g) Whetstone (pcs.) Whetstone (g) Lithic industry (pcs.) Lithic industry (g) Zadvori_P1 5153 117 2380 331 Zadvori_P2 32 295 984 344 685 Zadvori_P3 121 110 Zadvori_P4 Zadvori_P5 146 3674 22 236 2221 154 421 Zadvori_P6 Badalek_P7 453 422 4357 136 2 9 In total 188 4196 37 369 11 1002 136 154 15 146
Bořitov surface surveys combined with geophysics intensity of iron production? localization of old research Middle Hillfort Period more detailed understanding of the site
Bořitov surface surveys combined with geophysics intensity of iron production? localization of old research Middle Hillfort Period more detailed understanding of the site
Bořitov surface surveys combined with geophysics intensity of iron production? localization of old research Middle Hillfort Period more detailed understanding of the site Author of geophysics: D. Cibulka
Bořitov surface surveys combined with geophysics intensity of iron production? localization of old research Middle Hillfort Period more detailed understanding of the site Author of geophysics: D. Cibulka
Jabloňany/Obora Late Hillfort period 397 pcs of ironworking slag (5.3 kg) iron (smelting) production 87 pcs of iron ore (4.4 kg) 2 ceramic tuyères intensive/organized production? Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS (C14 dating) Author: K. Augustínová
Jabloňany/Obora Late Hillfort period 397 pcs of ironworking slag (5.3 kg) iron (smelting) production 87 pcs of iron ore (4.4 kg) 2 ceramic tuyères intensive/organized production? Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS (C14 dating) Author: Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS
Jabloňany/Obora Late Hillfort period 397 pcs of ironworking slag (5.3 kg) iron (smelting) production 87 pcs of iron ore (4.4 kg) 2 ceramic tuyères intensive/organized production? Nuclear Physics Institute of the CAS (C14 dating) Author of geophysics: J. Havelka
(In)dependent iron production centers of power market exchange Trstenice route no chronological development? no standardization? suitable source of knowledge? Isochrons according to M. Hlavica Only iron bloom from hillfort Svitávka
(In)dependent iron production centers of power market exchange Trstenice route no chronological development? no standardization? suitable source of knowledge?
(In)dependent iron production centers of power market exchange Trstenice route no chronological development? no standardization? suitable source of knowledge?
(In)dependent iron production centers of power market exchange Trstenice route no chronological development? no standardization? suitable source of knowledge?
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