The traces of roman metallurgy in Eastern Serbia

Abstract

The archaeological traces of the Roman mining and metallurgy in eastern Serbia are rather frequent but insufficiently studied and published. Three mining-metallurgical regions abounding in gold, silver, copper, iron and lead could be distinguished there: 1. the upper course of the Pek river, metalla Pincensia, 2. the area between Bor, Zlot, Crna Reka and Rgotina and 3. the area in the river basin of Beli Timok, two latter ones had been organized as territoria metallorum. The archeometallurgical sites confirmed by investigations are: Kraku lu Jordan at the confluence of the Brodica river and the Pek river, Rudna Glava, Tilva Roš in Bor, Gamzigrad - Romuliana, Rgotina near Zaječar and Timacum Minus in the village Ravna near Knjaževac. Roman mining-metallurgical activities in eastern Serbia flourished from the end of the 3rd century, were interrupted by the invasion of Huns in AD 441. and restored in the time of emperors Anastasius and Justin I, in the end of the 5th - beginning of the 6th centuries. The Roman mining-metallurgical centers functioned in the 6th century until the Slav invasion in the beginning of the 7th century.

Full text

THE TRACES OF ROMAN METALLURGY IN EASTERN SERBIA
S. Petković
#
Institute of Archaeology, Belgrade, Serbia
(Received 09 January 2009; accepted 28 February 2009)
Abstract
The archaeological traces of the Roman mining and metallurgy in eastern Serbia are rather frequent but
insufficiently studied and published. Three mining-metallurgical regions abounding in gold, silver, copper, iron
and lead could be distinguished there: 1. the upper course of the Pek river, metalla Pincensia, 2. the area
between Bor, Zlot, Crna Reka and Rgotina and 3. the area in the river basin of Beli Timok, two latter ones had
been organized as territoria metallorum.
The archeometallurgical sites confirmed by investigations are: Kraku lu Jordan at the confluence of the
Brodica river and the Pek river, Rudna Glava, Tilva Roš in Bor, Gamzigrad – Romuliana, Rgotina near
Zaječar and Timacum Minus in the village Ravna near Knjaževac.
Roman mining-metallurgical activities in eastern Serbia flourished from the end of the 3
rd
century, were
interrupted by the invasion of Huns in AD 441. and restored in the time of emperors Anastasius and Justin I,
in the end of the 5
th
– beginning of the 6
th
centuries. The Roman mining-metallurgical centers functioned in
the 6th century until the Slav invasion in the beginning of the 7
th
century.
Keywords: Roman period; Metallurgy; Eastern Serbia; Dacia Ripensis; Romuliana; Timacum Minus
#
Corresponding author: spetkovi@ai.sanu.ac.rs
DOI:10.2298/JMMB0902187P
Journal of
Mining and
Metallurgy
Journal of Mining and Metallurgy 45 (2) B (2009) 187 - 196
1. Introduction
The archaeological traces of the Roman
mining and metallurgy in eastern Serbia are
rather frequent but insufficiently and often
summary studied and published. The finds of
metal slag and dross, metallurgical furnaces,
casting moulds, casting vessels, semi-
finished objects, castings and the like have
been recorded at almost every Roman site in
this region. This relates particularly to the
fortifications and settlements established in
the end of the 3
rd
century, after abandoning
of the Roman Dacia in the time of emperor
Aurelian (AD 272) and when mining-
metallurgical activities in that province came
to an end.
The region of eastern Serbia including the

border regions of the Carpathian and the
Balkan Massif is characterized by the
complex geological structure with mass of
eruptive rocks in the center (Fig. 1) [1,2].
Therefore, various magmatic, sediment and
metamorphic rocks in this region originated
in different geological periods from
Proterozoic to Quaternary resulting thus in
diversity of geomorphologic phenomena. In
the north are limestone ridges of the
Carpathians: Veliki Greben, Liškovac and
the Homolje Mountains and in the west the
limestone ridge Veliki Krš about 50
kilometers long with all characteristics of the
karst, Kučaj and Veliki Maljenik between
which is the conical Crni Vrh of volcanic
origin. In contrast to the limestone zone of
eastern Serbia, there are in the southwest and
south the volcanic massifs of Rtanj and
Tupižnica consisting mainly of andesite, in
the southeast is Stara Planina of granite
consistency and in the northeast is Deli
Jovan Mountain with the zones of gabbro
rocks (Fig. 2).
We will mention just the most important
metallogenetic zones in eastern Serbia rich in
gold, silver, copper, iron and lead ores, which
are still being exploited today[3]: first of all
there is the Bor zone with deposits of copper
and polymetals with high percentage of gold,
then there is Poreč-Stara Planina zone with
deposits of magnetite (Rudna Glava) and
gold bearing quartz veins and finally the
Homolje-Beljanica zone with quartz veins
containing gold and wolfram. There are also
secondary gold deposits in the valleys of the
Pek river and Crni and Beli Timok with their
tributaries.
Three mining-metallurgical regions,
which almost completely correspond with
the mentioned metallogenetic zones, could
be distinguished in eastern Serbia in the
Roman times: 1. valley of the Pek river,
metalla Aeliana Pincensia with the center in
S. Petković / JMM 45 (2) B (2009) 187 - 196
Fig. 1. Geographic map of eastern Serbia
Fig. 2. Geological map of eastern Serbia
188

present-day Veliko Gradište (Pincum), 2.
area between Bor, Zlot and Rgotina with the
valleys of the tributaries of Crni Timok and
Timok and 3. area of the river basin of the
rivers Svrljiški, Trgoviški and Beli Timok.
Two latter areas were organized in territoria
metallorum, which belonged to the metalli
Aureliani, the hypothetical imperial mining
region most probably with the center in
present-day Ravna (Timacum Minus). The
mining regions were independent, i.e.
exterritorial although the metalla Aeliana
Pincensia was within the borders of the
Moesia Prima province and metalli Aureliani
within the borders of Dacia Ripensis [4-6].
Besides, the smaller units of mining regions,
territoriae metallorum, had each one its own
center for processing and distribution [4]
(Fig.3).
Although there are some indications for
the beginnings in the 2
nd
century AD, the
intensive mining-metallurgical activities in
the eastern Serbia in the antique period
commenced in the end of the 3
rd
century and
flourished during the 4
th
century and in the
first half of the 5
th
century.
After abandoning rich gold and silver
mines in Roman Dacia in AD 272, the focus
of exploitation of the ore resources was
transferred to the provinces on the right bank
of the Danube, to Moesia Prima and Dacia
Ripensis and farther into the hinterland of the
Balkan Peninsula, in Dacia Mediterranea
and Dardania.
The first to register the traces of the
Roman mining and metallurgy in eastern
Serbia were the mining-geological experts
who had been invited by prince Miloš and
prince Mihailo Obrenović in the middle of
the 19
th
century, to study and record the ore
resources of the newly-established
principality of Serbia [7].
The Austro-Hungarian scientist and
traveler Felix Kanitz discovered the traces of
the Roman mining-metallurgical activities in
the eastern Serbia in the end of the 19th
century [8,9].
Also, Jovan Žujović and Dimitrije Antula,
the pioneers of the Serbian geology, paid
attention to the archeometallurgical traces in
the eastern Serbia [7].
The founders of the Serbian archaeology,
Miloje M. Vasić and Nikola Vulić published
the data about the Roman mining-
metallurgical complex at the site Tilva Roš
near Bor in the beginning of the 20
th
century[7].
The establishing of the National Museum
in Bor, i.e. the Museum of Mining and
Metallurgy marked the beginning of
systematic archaeological investigations in
eastern Serbia, that were crowned in 1968
with the project ‘Investigation of Ancient
S. Petković / JMM 45 (2) B (2009) 187 - 196
Fig. 3. Roman provinces in eastern Serbia
189

Mining and Metallurgy in the Wider Zone of
the Timok Eruptive Basin’ and the Institute
of Archaeology in Belgrade, Institute for
Copper and Technical Faculty in Bor also
took part in that project [10].
In addition to many sites with
archeometallurgical remains of the Roman
works, particularly important are the sites
confirmed by archaeological investigations
as mining-metallurgical centers (Fig. 4).
At Rudna Glava has been investigated the
Late Roman gallery of the Roman mine
dating from the 4
th
-5
th
centuries [11].
At the site Kraku lu Jordan, at the
confluence of the rivers Brodica and Pek, the
fortified metallurgical complex for
production of gold that was active from the
end of 3
rd
to the end of 4
th
– beginning of
the 5
th
century has been systematically
investigated [12] (Figs.5-6).
At the site Bukova Glava near Majdanpek
has been investigated rather small smelting
complex with many furnaces for smelting
iron ore scattered over rather large area. The
entire complex was located on the hill
surrounded by streams while its accessible
side was protected by the small fortification
(speculum), 8 x 8 m in size, at the site
Ćetaće. The abundance of water and timber
as most probably the proximity of ore
deposits made possible smelting of iron ore
and casting iron. On the basis of the
archaeological finds these metallurgical
structures could be dated with certainty in
the 4
th
century [1,10].
At the site Tilva Roš in Bor was
encountered the fortification of rectangular
plan and judging by the analyses of slag it
was the center of ferrous metallurgy while
S. Petković / JMM 45 (2) B (2009) 187 - 196
Fig. 4. Mapped traces of Roman mining and
metallurgy in eastern Serbia
Fig. 5. Kraku lu Jordan, panoramic view from
the southeast
Fig. 6. Kraku lu Jordan, plan of the fortification
at the confluence of Brodica and Pek
190

the settlement and necropolis from the end of
the 3
rd
– beginning of the 4
th
century have
been discovered at the base of the site. In the
immediate vicinity were recorded the traces
of exploitation of gold, the diggings in the
banks of the Bor river and Popov potok. The
site is destroyed by modern mining and from
this site comes the exceptional tombstone of
the Roman dignitaries from the end of 3
rd
–
beginning of the 4
th
century [10] (Fig. 7).
It is worth mentioning that at the site
Markov Kamen in Donja Bela Reka near Bor
has been investigated the ferrous metallurgy
center from the 4
th
century.[7]
At Rgotski Kamen was situated the
fortified artisan-commercial center, which
had been established in the end of the 3
rd
century and existed according to the
investigated segment of the necropolis in
Rgotina until the end of the 4
th
century but
most probably at least until the mid 5
th
century, i.e. the invasion of the Huns in AD
441. This fortification controlled the
intersection of important roads connecting
the Danube basin, Timok valley, the mines in
the Bor basin and the Morava valley. From
this point the castings, ingots and finished
products of bronze, silver, gold and iron had
been distributed for further processing and
this indicates the existence of primary
metallurgy at this location and in the vicinity.
In favor of this conclusion speaks the
fortification at the nearby site Straže, which
is of hexagonal ground plan with 5
semicircular towers at the corners and the
gateway in the east side. The fortification
was built in the 4
th
century and was restored
in the time of emperor Justinian I in the 6
th
century (Fig. 8) [10].
At the base of the site Rgotski Kamen was
S. Petković / JMM 45 (2) B (2009) 187 - 196
Fig. 7. Roman tombstone from the necropolis of
the settlement at the base of Tilva Roš in Bor
Fig. 8. Rgotski Kamen, segments of the
fortification walls.
191

a civil settlement, the town (civitas) or the
village (vicus metalla), which was the center
of mining-metallurgical territory and there
was also the necropolis dated from the end of
3
rd
to the middle of the 5
th
century. There
have been found besides the 4
th
century
masonry tombs also the stone tombstones
and altars dedicated to the Roman gods
(Hecate) (Fig. 9).
The Roman settlement at Rgotina is
because of the modern toponym associated
with Roman Argentares. There is also the
opinion that Argentares is located in the
valley of the Crni Timok river, in the area
between Lukovo and Valakonje because of
the alleged proximity of the silver mines.[4]
New archaeological investigations at
Gamzigrad revealed in the horizons of the
Late Roman Romuliana dating from the end
of 4
th
to the middle of the 6
th
century, the
traces of metallurgical activities including
the fascinating smelting furnace and
workshop of ferrous metallurgy from the end
of 5
th
– the beginning of the 6
th
century
[13,14] (Fig. 10).
However, the most recent results of the
geophysical prospection of this site outside
the walls of the fortified palace as well as the
investigations in the southeast section of the
fortification have been confirmed the
remains of rather large urban settlement,
probably a town (civitas) from the 2
nd
-3
rd
centuries and this revives the hypothesis that
municipium Aureliani or Aureliana, [16] the
center of the metallurgical region metalli
Aureliani [4,6,17] existed at the site of Late
Roman Romuliana (Figs.11,12). If this
hypothesis is correct Gamzigrad could have
been perhaps the earliest Roman mining-
metallurgical center in eastern Serbia,
established already in the 2
nd
century, i.e. in
S. Petković / JMM 45 (2) B (2009) 187 - 196
Fig. 9. Stone monuments from Rgotina
(Argentares)
Fig. 10. Felix Romuliana, aerial view of the
fortified palace from the east
192

the time of the Antonines, most probably the
emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180).
The remains of mining-metallurgical
settlements, which gravitated towards the
assumed center at Gamzigrad, could be
identified in the neighboring settlements:
Lubnica (Lupinitia), Metovnica (Mutatio ...),
Osnić (Ossinissa), Savinac, Valakonje (Valla
cunei, Vulcanei), Boljevac, Lukovo (Locui,
Lucui). Also, an earlier assumption that
municipium Aureliani is located in Kostol
near Zaječar has been refuted by the
discovery of large fortified villa rustica at
that site [6].
Finally, the center for processing non-
ferrous metals including silver, copper and
lead existed in the fortification Timacum
Minus (Figs.13,14), today in the village
Ravna near Knjaževac, where a circular
structure for ore separation has been
investigated in the northeastern corner of the
fortification (Figs. 15,16). Petar Petrović was
of the opinion that this fortified town was the
center of the metallurgical region metalli
Aureliani [2]. In any case, the fortification
Timacum Minus defended the metallurgical-
artisan center while large settlement with
S. Petković / JMM 45 (2) B (2009) 187 - 196
Fig. 11. Geophysical recording of Felix
Romuliana palace at Gamzigrad with
surrounding earlier settlement (Aureliana,
municipium Aureliani)
Fig. 12. Aerial photo of Felix Romuliana palace
at Gamzigrad with the area of surrounding
earlier settlement (Aureliana, municipium
Aureliani)
Fig. 13. Aerial photo of Timacum Minus
fortification, orthogonally
193

baths, temples and other public buildings
developed in the course of time to the south
of the fortification. The prosperity of this
settlement is also confirmed by large
necropolis with many stone funerary stelae.
Timacum Minus was most probably the
center of one of territoria metallorum from
the end of 3
rd
to the middle of the 5
th
century.
The invasion of the Attila’s Huns and the
fall of the Danube frontier in AD 441
brought to an end mining-metallurgical
activities organized and controlled by the
imperial administration. However, the
restoration of mining and metallurgy took
place in Dacia Ripensis already in the final
quarter of the 5
th
and the beginning of the
6
th
century, in the time of emperors
Anastasius and Justin I as a result of
reconstruction of towns and fortifications on
the Danube frontier. The Roman mines and
metallurgical centers in eastern Serbia were
restored during the 6
th
century and they were
active until the invasion of the Avars and the
Slavs in the end of 6
th
– beginning of the 7
th
century.
Preliminary archeometallurgical analyses
performed on the samples of by-products of
metallurgical production from the mentioned
sites confirmed the archaeological finds
concerning the traces of the Roman
metallurgy. The ferrous metallurgy in the
second and third stage, i.e. smelting with
S. Petković / JMM 45 (2) B (2009) 187 - 196
Fig. 14. Ground plan of Timacum Minus
fortification with circular metallurgical structure
‘for ore separation’ in northeastern corner
Fig. 16. Circular structure ‘for ore separation’ in
northeastern corner of Timacum Minus
fortification, from the east
Fig. 15. Ground plan of circular structure ‘for
ore separation’ in northeastern corner of
Timacum Minus fortification
194

casting and forging has been confirmed in
the horizons from the end of 4
th
to the
middle of the 6
th
century at Romuliana [18].
I think that further archeometallurgical
analyses could provide information about
exploitation and metallurgy of the non-
ferrous metals like gold, silver and copper
that was, according to the archaeologists’
opinion, highly developed in the Roman
times in the discussed region.
Gamzigrad – Romuliana, August 2008.
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