Evidence of Medieval Iron Production From Lažánky Near Veverská Bítýška

Ondřej Merta, Michal Hlavica

Archeologia technica, vol. 33 (2022)
Pages: 21–32
Language: Czech
Type of article: scientific article
DOI: n/a

Abstract:
Lažánky village is better known for its limestone burning history, represented by preserved shaft kilns. In the area „between Velká Bíteš and Veverská Bítýška“, however, there is evidence of old iron ore processing using local ore deposits mined mostly during the 19th century. The oldest known ironworking feature is a relic of pyrotechnological device discovered in 1984 during the expansion of the mining area of the Lažánky stone quarry. The feature was described as an early medieval reheating hearth filled with the remains of iron production – slag, tuyere liners, a few fragments of furnace walls, and an innumerable but relatively homogeneous ceramic set and tuyeres of two types. The aim of this paper is to present this material acquired in 1984 to the collections of the Technical Museum in Brno.