Historical Reconstruction of the Scarcely Recognized Metallurgical Activity in Poland

Abstract

Ironworks were located in the river valley floors as the water was the source of energy for the metallurgical technology. Trees growing in river valleys were a source of wood for charcoal production. Over the past centuries, ferrous metallurgy contributed to the transformation of the valley floor relief. Also the structure of the sediments was transformed. The subject of historical water-powered metallurgy in Poland is a poorly researched area from the perspective of natural sciences. The main research aim of this project, is a historical reconstruction of the scarcely recognized metallurgical activity, based on geomorphological, sedimentological and palaeobotnical changes in the environment. The project has two components complementary to each other. First part involves desk-based research during which digital data from air laser scanning is processed to determine the occurrence and distribution of potential forms related to the historical metallurgy, and an analysis of historical sources will be undertaken. In the next step, first fieldwork, and then the preparation of samples for radiocarbon and anthracological analysis will follow. During the fieldwork part, research will be carried out on an area of chosen river basins of the southern and central Poland. The research will be based on the geomorphological analysis in the places where potential or identified metallurgical centers were placed, along with the excavation of deposits and sampling for further analysis, both in the charcoal kilns and the former smelter ponds. If it proves possible, it is planned to expose the deposits in the weirs. Preliminary research contradicts the low invasiveness of historical metallurgy in the environment. According to the preliminary studies of the authors, it is known that in studied river valleys and adjacent areas, traces of former charcoal kilns have been found at a large scale (tens of thousands of forms). DEM images generated from airborne LiDAR data allow simple and relatively quick identification and inventory of the remnants past charcoal production. The large number of charcoal kilns, and the vast area they cover, indicate that the past charcoal production has had a significant impact on the environment of studied area. Analysis of the species composition of charcoals collected from kilns has shown the presence of pine wood mainly. Also the unexpected results of the first radioisotopic charcoals dating from the charcoal kilns, with dates of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, provide a particularly strong motivation for examining more forms in order to find equally spectacular results and to confirm a new perception of the beginning of water-powered metallurgy in Poland.