Magnetic Investigation of the Iron Age Iron-Smelting Complex at Cvinger near Meniška vas

Abstract

Geophysical prospecting methods were carried out at Cvinger near Meniška vas to determine the archaeological potential of the Iron Age iron-smelting centre. The type of archaeological remains and the area of metallurgic activity were defined and delimited upon the surface. An empirical approach was applied for the interpretation of the measured magnetic anomalies. The intensity and the shape of the magnetic anomalies above the slag block from the iron-smelting furnace, whose location was known already from previous archaeological excavations, were considered. We thus indirectly confirmed the existence of objects with similar magnetic characteristics within the area that Borut Križ had already delimited on the basis of the distribution of surface finds of metallurgic waste products. Magnetometric analyses detected the remains of iron-smelting furnaces in a somewhat wider area (approximately 100 x 50 m) than was estimated during field surveillance. Slag blocks in pits under the iron-smelting furnaces that were discovered during archaeological excavations substantiate the existence of an iron-smelting complex with iron-smelting furnaces, or rather simple iron-smelting furnaces that were used for extensive metallurgic processes. Particular metallurgic waste products that were collected during the field walking also justify this assertion. Macroscopic descriptions discussing the samples have been presented in the article. The magnetometry results also provide indirect proof for this type of iron-smelting complex. A large number of strong magnetic anomalies were detected within a relatively small surface. Such a large concentration of iron-smelting furnaces is characteristic only of a metallurgic plant carrying out extensive metallurgic processes where furnaces were built for a single application. Three-dimensional magnetic modelling was applied for the interpretation of the magnetometry and for an estimate of the physical parameters of archaeological objects, such as the apparent magnetic susceptibility, and the form, size and depth at which they are situated.