UDC 904:622.342 »652« (497.11)904:669 »652« (497.11)

MIODRAG TOMOVIC

Archaeological Istitute, Belgrade

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MININGAND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY

155

K raku Lu Jordan is the first archaeometallurgicalcomplex of Antiquity in Serbia I that has come

under systematic investigation (intermittently between1971 and 1991).2 It has been defined as a mining andmetallurgical complex, and in addition to gold relatedto the mining of ores from which, in the furnacesdiscovered within the fortification, iron and copperwere extracted (and even a variety of brass producedj.'However, recent excavations" and a comparison to thedata obtained previously do not give grounds for suchan interpretation of the function and character of thiscomplex. On the other hand, the assumptions wepropose do not downplay but underscore the fact thatit was a multipart and multipurpose centre engaged ingold mining and metallurgy, for the time being uniquein the territory of the Roman Empire.

Mines - metalla, i.e. mining - res metallica wasthe backbone of the Roman economy in the territory ofpresent-day Serbia, and that is what made the regionimportant to the Empire. Between the 1st and 4thcenturies, the metalla Moesiae Superioris grew intoone of the main suppliers of the Empire with metals(principally silver, lead, gold, iron and copper). Themines in the Pek Valley, where Kraku Lu Jordan issituated, along with those in the Mlava Valley belongedto a special mining district known as metalla Pincensia'The key role was played by the Pek Valley, where themajor mines of the district were concentrated: Majdan­pek (copper, iron, gold), Vitovnica (lead, silver, iron),Kucajna (gold, copper, silver), and Brodica (gold, cop­per, iron). What classified the Pek Valley among theregions of vital importance to the Roman Empire wasgold. The Roman res metallica was from the veryoutset in the service of an expanding monetary andeconomic system demanding a steady and ever­increasing metal supply intended primarily for goldand silver coinage. After the loss of Dacia, whosefamous gold resources were the probable reason for its

STARINAR L, 2000.

I Earlier large-scale excavation of two major complexes and,probably, the centres of two mining regions rich in argentiferous lead:the settlement at Socanica (Municipium Dardanorum ?) and Stojnik(presumed Roman Demessus or Demessum ?) focused on fortificati­ons, necropolises, sacral and secular structures, whereas their indus­trial (mining and smelting) zones have remained unexplored.

2 Archaeological activity had two phases: at first between1971 and 1979, and then in 1986-87 and in 1991. (Between 1973 and1976, it was part of a joint Yugoslav and American project carriedout by the National Museum, Belgrade, and San Diego State Uni­versity, Department of Anthropology, San Diego, California.) Onlya few preliminary reports have been published: B. Bartel, V. Kondic,M. R. Werner, Excavations at Kraku lu Jordan, Preliminary Report,1973-76 Seasons, Journal ofField Archaeology VI, 1979, 127--49;P. R. Bugarski, S. V. Janjic, D. F. Bogosavljevic, Prilog boljem po­znavanju metalurske prerade nasih ruda gvozdja u vreme Rimljana(Summary: Contribution to Better Understanding of our Iron OreProduction in the Roman Age), Zhornik radova Muzeja rudarstva imetalurgije II, Bor, 1982, 57-67; B. KOHAHh, PHMJbaHH na nOA­

py'-ljy Bopa H y lberoBoM cycencray, Sop u OKO/lUIW. Ilpoucnoctu u

tupaquuuouanua KY/llllypa I, Bop 1973, 49-52; Idem, Poznorimskagalerija u Rudnoj Glavi (Summary: Late Roman Gallery at RudnaGlava), in: B. Jovanovic, Rudna Clava. Najstarije rudarstvo hakra

na centralnom Balkanu (Rudna Clava. Das iilteste Kupferherghauim Zentralbalkan), Bor-Beograd 1982, 107-8; M. Tomovic, Krakulu Jordan. Late Roman Fortified Metallurgic-Smelting Complex,Archaeological Reports 27 (1986), Ljubljana 1987, 121-2; M. R.Werner, The Archaeological Evidence for Gold Smelting at Krakulu Jordan, Yugoslavia, in the Late Roman Period, Furnaces andSmelting Technology in Antiquity (ed. P. T. Craddock and M. J.Hughes), Occasional Paper 48, London 1985,219-27; Idem, TheMoesian Limes and the Imperial Mining Districts, Studien zu denMilitargrenren Roms, Stuttgart 1986, 561--4.

3 B. Bartel, V. Kondic, M. R. Werner, op. cit., 1979, 127--49;P. R. Bugarski, S. V. Janjic, D. F. Bogosavljevic, op. cit., 1982, 60;V. Kondic, op. cit., 1973, 50; Idem, op. cit., 1982, 107; M. R.Werner, op. cit., 1985, 219, 223.

4 In 1986-87 and in 1991, in which the writer of this text tookpart.

S On the division of Upper Moesian mining districts, theirorganization and administration, see the works by S. Dusanic (withearlier bibliography): Aspects of Roman Mining in Noricum,Pannonia, Dalmatia and Moesia Superior, Aufstieg und Niedergang

der romischen Welt 1I/6, Berlin-New York 1977,52-94; Organiza­cija rimskog rudarstva u Noriku, Panoniji, Dalmaciji i GornjojMeziji, Istorijski glasnik 1-2, Beograd 1980, 7-55; The Roman

156 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

Fig. 1. The Pek Valley with its tributaries,

eastern Serbia (drawing: A. Kapuran)

conquest, the Pek Valley with its rich and accessiblegold deposits, along with the valleys of the Mlava, theTimok and numerous other rivers and streams on theslopes of Mt Deli Jovan, became a precious substitutefor the lost Dacic aurariaeP As a result, towards theend of the 3rd century the northeast of Upper Moesiadeveloped a busy mining activity that carried on untilthe end of the 4th century.

The river Pek with its tributaries (fig. 1) is ourrichest auriferous region with copious remains ofancient gold works. The Pek yields gold (fig. 2) fromits source to its confluence with the Danube (120 km),while its basin is 1236 sq m in area. Besides washingout gold from the auriferous sand in the Pek, Brodica,Komsa, Glozane, Zeleznik and Crna Reka valleys,Roman technology included the recovery of nativegold from placer deposits, notably the alluvia of thePek and Brodica rivers where gold had deposited forthousands of years and also, though on a much smallerscale, the winning of this metal from primary deposits,

mainly the auriferous quartz veins in the Pek Valley.Kraku Lu Jordan is practically in the middle of thoseriches (fig. 3).

The site is adjacent to the village of Brodica (fig. 3),15 km east of Kucevo (eastern Serbia), at the confluenceof the Brodicka Reka and the Pek, quite far from theDanubian limes (eea 70 km to the south). The buildingsite in the narrow valley traversing Severni Kucaj (abranch of the Carpathians) was very carefully chosen.It is an elongated, narrow elevation (eea 80 m wide by160 m long) with three steep and almost inaccessiblesides (fig. 4). Being bounded by the Pek and BrodickaReka rivers on three sides (north, east and south), itgives the impression of an island," and was quiteunsuitable for building defences and structures. Evenso, the fortification was erected on the south sidesloping at an angle of about 20° (hence its division intoseveral sections) between the north rampart on thehilltop and the south rampart, and from the latter to thebottom at an angle of 45°. The entire elevation beingstony, even formed of massive blocks of rock, the areawas first turned into a quarry. Two problems were thussolved: by shattering rock and digging out stone theterrain was gradually levelled and rooms could besunken into the ground and, at the same time, the stonefor building ramparts and walls was obtained. Therewere two kinds of rock, but only slate was cut and usedfor building purposes. Being of poor quality, however,it was combined with pebbles from the Pek andBrodicka Reka riverbeds. Hard and large eruptiverocks were simply circumvented, which left theeastern part of the plateau void of buildings. Forexample, the uncovered part of room 9 (north of thewall supporting room 8) indicates that it was only inthat part of the plateau that the sinking of similar

Mines of IIlyricum: Organization and Impact on Provincial Life,Mineria y Metalurgia en las Antiguas Civilizaciones Mediterraneasy Europeas, vol. II, Madrid 1989, 148-56.

6 Interesting is an information provided by V. Simic (ITpHJIOrsa rtosuaaan.e Harne crapnje TeXHOJIOrHje y pynapcrny, 360pilUK

paqoea XVI, Bor 1974, 149) that in the Pek area the word aurari isstill used for the Gypsies, and in Romania for the gold panners ofGypsy origin. T. 'Bophesah (0 IJ,l1raHI1Ma yonurre H 0 fhHXOBOMnocersanan.y aa DaJIKaHCKO rronyocrpso, CpUCKU KH,UJICe811U

lJWCIIUK, Beotpaq 1904) says Walach Gypsies call themselvesminers and aurari. According to F. Miklosic, »miner and aurar is aterm for gold prospectors in Transylvania« (in: B. CHMHfi, op. cit.,1974, 149).

7 The original course of the Brodicka Reka, bounding theelevation on the east and north sides, was displaced in 1947 for thepurpose of laying down the Kucevo-Brodica railway line; today, itruns west of the elevation and flows into the Pek to the southwestof it.

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 157

Fig. 2. The Pek Valley with major Roman archaeometallurgical sites registered between Majdanpek and Sena(drawing: A. Kapuran)

rooms, parallel with those within the defences, couldbe resumed. As the rooms were cut into the stonyslope, in order to secure them against possible falls ofrocks their north side was supported by a robustretention, itself reinforced on the inside with a wallalongside which communication between the furnacerooms was possible.

Strategic reasons were not the only motive forbuilding the complex on this particular elevation.Apparently, a fortification had to be built at the heartof mine works or in their immediate vicinity. Gold beingat issue, it was crucial to put the obtained amount in asafe place and work it into ingots without delay.

STARINAR L, 2000.

It is clear, however, that the complex is notaltogether typical of Roman fortifications and that itsground-plan and general conception do not conformstrictly to military purposes (figs. 4 and 5). Its divisioninto three sectors was apparently determined by therelief and its multipurpose function (fig. 5). Sector Ioccupies the area between the north rampart and thetowered south one; sector II, some 10m wide - betweenthe towered south rampart and a parallel partitionoutside the rampart; sector III - between the partitionand the presumed south rampart at the hill bottom. Thefunction of sector II is still obscure due to a poordegree of investigation. In trenches 1-2/91, expected

158 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

Fig. 3. Position of the site ofKraku lu Jordan (photo: M. Tomovic)

to yield some tangible results, excavation has barelybegun. Under the humus layer mixed with demolitiondebris there is a stratum containing shattered furnaces.In sector III residential and ancillary buildings havebeen presumed but the 1991 excavation (fig. 5, trenches3-10) has revealed neither such structures nor any traceof the south rampart. Nor have such structures beenfound between the hill bottom and the Pek: a layer ofhumus overlies a layer of uncontaminated river sand,an indication that the riverbed moved towards theelevation.

Notwithstanding the uniformity of buildingtechniques and materials, the architecture providesevidence that not everything was built at the sametime, and several building phases are distinguishable.However, they did not result from demolition orrenovation, but from the need to boost the compound'sdefensive and productive capacities. A distinct craftand metallurgical area made up of a row of sevenrooms explored so far (fig. 5, rooms 1-8) is situated inthe east part of sector II, along the inner side of southrampart between the central (2) and east (3) towers.Virtually the same in size, all were sunken into theslope and built in the same way. The rampart

functioned as their south wall. They were separated bypartitions about 0.70 m thick, while a wall of the samethickness propped up the vertically cut slope on thenorth side. The rooms were accessed by a few steps inthe northeast comer. The rooms have walls of the sameheight (cca 1.40 m) and nearly identical floor levels.As there is no evidence for brick-built roof systems, ithas been presumed that they were not covered at all.s

However, regardless of the function of either therooms or furnaces (for smelting ores or for a craft), thisis hardly plausible, and for one reason: how can onethink of any worker performing whatever task exposedto a heavy fall of snow or rain? We are more inclinedto assume timber roofs resting on the upper, wooden,wall zones. The builders had another importantproblem to solve, namely to ensure proper ventilation,a requisite for the burning of fuel, for driving awaygases, and for reducing high temperatures around thefurnaces thereby enabling the workmen to perform. Asthe fortification suffered a great fire, their remnantshave been difficult to register among the collapsedfurnaces and burnt wooden walls. The complex was

8 M. R. Werner, op. cit., 1985,221.

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 159

t.21e.,80

2_ 21~5

"'l. 22CI"

5.222,78

6.272,7"

9.221p3

10. "",70

. '.• 2'2,."J':'

- 2. 22::46'1

'3. ~9/5

14. 2~~~3

";3. 12"l,42

-e . 2~:1~',7,27',,-'00

.--:::.----.:::-::::: -,-:..------- .:« <, .......

<, -~- - ...................., "-'- '­

'- "--, ",

-, \,\

\ \IIII1\I'II,I(I, I

I!II II (

I ///II'I"/ ,

/ ,I I, \

I \

~

Fig. 4. The site of Kraku lu Jordan in relation to the Pek and Brodicka Reka Rivers

(plans matched up and drawn by A. Kapuran)

.... ... -­.... --Fig. 5. Kraku lu Jordan. Site plan showing uncovered parts of the fortified complex,

sectors, craft and metallurgical workshops, and trenches on completion of the last campaign in 1991

(plans matched up and drawn by A. Kapuran)

STARINAR L, 2000.

160 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

Fig. 6. Layout ofKraku lu Jordan showing: externalquadrilateral tower (no. 3) at east end of south rampart;

surviving floors of the old and young furnaces insideof it; part of south defences; room 8 with surviving kiln

floor south of the partition wall; a space adjoiningeast wall of room 8 with finds ofcomplete ceramic

vessels; and uncovered part of room 9(plans matched up and drawn by A. Kapuran)

not only composed of the rooms in its larger, east, part.In the west part, where administrative buildings arepresumed, all the available space also was fully usedfor working processes, especially as the miningactivity grew busier. Illustrative are towers 2 and 3 theground floors of which (above ground level) alsocontained furnaces. In the east tower (3), remains oftwo furnaces have been discovered on top of eachother (fig. 6). Of the top and younger one part (1.60 by

0.72 m) ofthe floor system (identical to that in room 8)has been discovered in situ consisting of a smoothedplastered finish 2-3 em thick and a subflooring ofsmaller flat stones laid over the levelled older furnacewhose floor was packed, red-fired earth mixed withgravels. Naturally, a furnace for smelting iron andcopper ores is impossible to install in the ground floorof a tower less than 10 sq m in area and enclosed withstrong and tall walls. These furnaces are likely to havebeen employed in a craft, but for the lack of evidenceit cannot be specified in which (they may have servedfor smelting gold or simply for cooking, as suggestedby the material from tower 3 consisting mostly ofpottery shards).

In the context of our assumptions about this site,we shall dwell only on the data obtained from theexcavation of rooms 2 and 8 (figs. 5-6). The remainsof furnaces and the moveable material offer thepossibility of forming some general hypotheses aboutthe function and character of not only these rooms butof the fortified complex at large. As the key proof ofthe view that the layout of the complex was completelydetermined by its basic purpose - smelting of ores,primarily iron and copper - results of the investigationof room 2 have been put forward. Placed in a widercontext, however, they do not give grounds for such ahypothesis. Neither economic interests (to obtain asmuch metal as possible at lowest cost) nor technological,practical and security reasons could have justified thesmelting of iron or copper ores within the fortification.This is corroborated by the very opening informationabout a completely destroyed timber-built, clay-linedfurnace. Furnaces for smelting iron or copper ores weremuch stronger in structure (fig. 43) because they had toaccommodate big charges, withstand high temperatu­res (about 1,500° C) and allow an easy discharge afterthe smelting phase." Their existence in the fortificationwould have involved laborious and costly transportationof ores from more or less distant mines (or the so­called ferruginous gossans, chapeaux de ferw) usuallylocated in almost inaccessible areas. Excavations inthe territory of the Empire clearly show that the pro-

9 Remains of furnaces registered in the territory of the RomanEmpire show that both their floors and walls had a footing of large­sized stones. In the territory of Serbia remains of furnaces for smeltingiron and copper ores have been found at the site of Zajacak, Kremici,western Kopaonik: M. TOMoBl1n, B. EOrOCaBJbeBl1n, 3ajaQaK-Kpe­Ml1nl1. KaCHOaHTI1QKI1 apxeOMeTaJIyplIIKI1 KOMllJIeKC (Zajacak­-Kremici, Late Classical Mining-Metallurgy Complex), TJlaCHUK

eM 12, Beorpan 1996, 108-12, figs. 3-4.10 Outcrops or surface deposits of iron ore.

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 161

Fig. 7. Reamins o]Antique slag in close proximity to the

fortification at the site of »Grad«(Roman Demessus or Demessum ?) on Mt Kosmaj

(photo: M. Tomovic)

Fig. 9. Kraku lu Jordan.

One ofcomplete vessels from room 8

(photo: M. Tomovic)

cesses of roasting, enriching and smelting iron, copperor silver-bearing lead ores were carried out in closeproximity to mines, on elevated plateaux or gentleslopes (as evidenced by the Kosmaj mines, whereargentiferous lead ores were smelted on a few nearbyplateaux covering an area of about 5 sq m round thecastrum of Stojnik; fig. 7).11 Technological reasonswere also involved. Such places provided an adequatecirculation of air for tending fires in ore roasting andsmelting (figs. 7 and 43), and for solving the problemof noxious fumes. The issue of cost-effectivenessincluded the availability and short-distance transportof large amounts of fuel. Since probably charcoal wasused, charcoal burners were also built on the site (or inits immediate vicinity). A relatively small amount ofash registered in the furnaces suggests the use of hard

STARINAR L, 2000.

Fig. 8. Kraku lu Jordan. Interior of room 8 with

shattered pottery kiln before it was cleared out

(photo M. Tomovic}

Fig. /0. Kraku lu Jordan. Variedly shaped pieces of

plaster bearing imprints of the timber kiln structure in

room 8 (photo: M. Tomovic)

wood such as oak. 12 Cost-effectiveness imposed twobasic tasks. The first one - to mine as much ore aspossible - was fulfilled by employing ample labourforce. The second one - to smelt the ore as fast aspossible - entailed the building of numerous furnaces, asbig as the current technological development allowed.A furnace could be fed once or, at most, two or threetimes. At any rate, as its upper part had to be tom downafter each smelting in order to remove slag, cinder and

11 About 160 sizeable slag heaps have been registered there,their mass being estimated at about 1,500,000 tonnes: M. Tomovic,Roman Mines and Mining in the Mountain of Kosmaj, AncientMining and Metallurgy in Southeast Europe, Belgrade-Bar 1995,203-12, with bibliography.

12 Il. P. Byrapcxn, C. B. Jalhlfh,,Il,. <D. Borocaaneaah, op. cit.,1982,66.

162 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

Fig. 11. Kraku lu Jordan. Fragment ofplaster

and pottery shard from kiln in room 8(photo: M. Tomovic)

13

15

Fig. 12. Kraku lu Jordan.

An intact ceramic vessel from kiln in room 8

16

Figs. 13-16. Kraku lu Jordan. Vitrified pottery shards fused with nonmetallic slag from kiln in room 8

(photo: M. Tomovic)

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 163

a

d

\

c

f

Cf..

..."'-..=. - ( ;

'. . -t ..

)~;..

~ " f ....; Fig. 17a-f Kraku lu Jordan.

Vitrified fragments ofpots and pithoi withremains ofnonmetallic slag from kiln in room

8 (drawing: A. Kapuran)

STARINAR L, 2000.

164 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

a

Fig. 19. Kraku lu Jordan. Early Bronze Age finds:

a) stone mallet; b) pottery shards; c) scraper

13 IT.P. EyrapCKI1, C. B. Jalbl1n,,II,. <D. EOrOCaBJbeBl1n, op. cit.,1982,57-67.

14 B. KOH~l1n, op. cit., 1973,50; Idem, op. cit., 1982, 107.15 IT.P. EyrapCKI1, C. B. Jalbl1n,,II,. <D. EOrOCaBJbeBl1n, op. cit.,

1982,60.

found by the north wall of the room have been relatedto the possible roasting of pyrite). 14 In our opinion, theslag did not result from ore smelting but from metal­working. Two iron ingots found on the remains of thefurnace are not the end product of ore smelting carriedout in room 2,15 but were brought from another smelting

c

b

Fig. 18. Kraku lu Jordan. Complete or fragmented

ceramic vessels from a space adjoining east wall

of the kiln from room 8 (examination (~f this room is in

its early stage, cf. fig. 6)

other non-ore residues, such sites had the advantage ofan easy waste disposal (slag heaps were formed on thenearest slopes). After all, even if we disregard all thesefactors, a series of practical questions arise. How can theoperations of building furnaces and of storing ores andfuel be carried out in a confined space about 20 sq m inarea? Moreover, at temperatures of about 1,5000 C, asrequired for smelting iron and copper ores? Consideringthe rooms were within tall ramparts (as many as two onthe south side) and the fortification had a single gate,not too large and with a stairway, the list of questionsgoes on: the problem of noxious gases; of the stream ofair necessary for tending fires; or the problem of firehazard within the fortification; or of clearing furnacesand of disposing of huge amounts of slag and cinder. Notrace of slag dumps has been registered within the ram­parts, on the slopes or at the bottom of the elevation, oranywhere around it. There is no evidence either that aslag heap was wiped out by some subsequent humanactivity (the use of slag in building or as a fluxingagent). Regrettably, no physicochemical analyses havebeen performed of the slag diagnostic of origin - thatfrom the furnace rooms. As a proof that the furnacesserved for smelting iron and copper ores the resultshave been offered of a test (X-ray diffraction, thermic,DTA-T6 and chemical methods) conducted by theInstitute for Copper, Bor, on four slag samples (but thereport does not specify where the samples come from;we can only assume it is room 2 - fig. 21).13 Namely,from these results (fig. 42 a-e) it has been inferred thatthe ore came from ferruginous outcrops, that quartz andlarge amounts of feldspar were used for ore enrichment,and that the iron was of remarkable quality (three pithoi

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 165

~~- -'..~ -- -.·-..-.•r-.--=-=-:=--=-,- ---- -- ',- .- /" -. ~

~~-==::::~

~.... ~~~~

~~

~

~.: __ .....

~

a b

\I r

F·.···~.f· · ·· -~--··1-·-

------- -------_. -

d

Fig. 20. Kraku lu Jordan. Part of typology o] Roman pottery shapes

STARINAR L, 2000.

166 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

Fig. 21. Kraku lu Jordan.Remains ofshattered furnace in room 2

(after B. Bartel, V. Kondic, M. R. Werner, 1979,fig. 19)

Fig. 22. Kraku lu Jordan. Fragment ofa ceramic vesselfused with nonmetallic slag from furnace in room 2

Fig. 23. Placer mining locationin the Pek Valley exploited until mid-20th century

(after B. CUMun, 1951, jig. 120)

centre. That room 2 was an artisan's workshop isadditionally suggested by the abundant and variedmaterial discovered in it. The latter shows it was asmithy manufacturing tools, mostly from iron, neededby the miners working nearby: pickaxes, shovels, wed­ges, mattocks, chisels, nails, clamps, and an elaborateand ornate piece of metalwork - a powerful iron bracket(although its function is not clear, it may be seen as asupport for a vessel, such as the one above the black­smith's hearth, rather than related to an ore furnace;).The identical deduction has been applied to copperdespite the fact that no ingots have been found. Theinformation, however, that several locations at the sitehave yielded numerous pieces of sheet copper suggeststhese were metalwork refuse. Considering the scope ofmining activity and the resulting need for tools andother metal items, it seems reasonable to presume se­veral smithies. Macroscopic, i.e. physical characteristicsof the slag from the furnace rooms and from the layersof building debris confirm unambiguously that it didnot result from the process of smelting iron and copperores (see Appendix and fig. 42 a-e).

On the east end of the furnace-rooms complex, room8 has been explored, 5.50 by 7 m, with walls 0.60-0.70 mthick (figs. 6 and 8). A partition divides it crosswiseinto two compartments (the north being 2.60 m longand the south 4.50 m). It was accessed by descending afew very wide steps in the northeast corner. Three largesteps, approximately in the middle of the partition,connected the two compartments. The floor in the southcompartment, about 1 m lower, consisted of a 3-cm-thicklayer of plaster over a layer of gravel and the footingof smaller flat stones levelling off the uneven stonyground. On a layer of ash and soot the floor was coveredwith remains of a collapsed furnace have been foundpossessing all the characteristics of a closed assem­blage. That its walls were built of split logs interwovenwith rushes is evidenced by pieces of clay mixed withquartz and feldspar the construction was plastered withand which bear imprints of the logs and rushes (figs.10 and 11). The pieces of clay with concave hollowsindicate that the furnace was barrel-vaulted. Beingabundant, the remains suggest it was large and musthave occupied the space between the east and west wallswhich were used to reinforce its lower part (figs. 6 and 8).It must have been higher than the partition, as evidencedby many of its fragments registered in the upper com­partment. This was a pottery kiln. Among its remains ahuge quantity of fragmented (or even complete) vesselshave been found. The most remarkable information isthat most fragments are completely deformed and fused

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 167

b

a

Ti

:...---_l

~I. 1.60- 2m ·1

Fig. 25. a) Roman stone troughs for

washing out gold discovered in the valley

of the Kunuku Brook, the Pek area;

b) wooden troughs for washing out gold

in the Pek Valley still in use today(after B. CUMuli, 1951,figs. 114 and 12l)

Fig. 24. Almost identical medieval location in G. Agricola's»De re metallica«

with the clay coating from the kiln walls and with non­metallic slag. Such a degree of vitrification must havebeen caused by extremely high temperatures. That thekiln had been in use before is indicated by a noteworthyarea adjoining the outer side of the compartment's eastwall where a number of complete and fragmented well­fired vessels have been found. The complete vesselshave been found in situ: mostly turned upside down(figs. 6, 9 and 18). They are identical in shape to thevitrified ones. There is a predominance of large-sizedvessels such as pithoi, pots and amphorae (with lids), andan absence of small-sized vessels for everyday use.!"And finally, fused and deformed pottery shards alsooccur embedded in very large (max. 1.20 by 0.90 m) andvery light pieces of slag.

Interesting information can be drawn from a com­parison with room 2, which has served as a basis forthe assertion that it was an iron ore furnace. Macrosco­pically and physically, the slag is identical. In this casetoo, there occur strikingly large (0.80 by 0.60 m and0.50 by 0.40 m) and disproportionately light pieces ofnonmetallic slag fused with deformed pottery shards.Both rooms 2 and 8 have predominantly yielded large­sized vessels (pots, amphorae, pithoi) and not a single

piece of household earthenware. The remains of thefurnaces disclose the same building materials. Theprincipal difference lies in portable archaeologicalmaterial. Whereas that from room 8 consists almostexclusively of vessels and thus indicate a pottery kiln,the finds from room 2 suggest a smithy in which ironingots brought from some other place were heated in aforging furnace and shaped into a variety of miningand gold panning tools (nails, clamps, knives, wedgesetc.). These obviously were not the only roomsintended for pottery making and metalworking. Thescale of industrial activity in the area engaging manypanners, miners and other workmen required largeamounts of diverse material not only for their work butalso for building the structures for their accommodation.There are indications that there were glass furnaces.Unfortunately, the location of find for more than 100

16 In the other rooms, in the west part of the fortification, twotypes of pottery are clearly distinguishable. One includes importedluxurious ware (mainly bowls, plates, smaller pots and amphorae),while the other comprises pottery manufactured on the site (theirhighly micaceous and quartzose paste is a distinctive feature of theclay sources in the Kraku lu Jordan area). Decoration occurs rarelyand is reduced to simple linear and geometrical patterns.

STARINAR L, 2000.

168 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

Fig. 26. Medieval placer mining

locations and launders

in G. Agricola :\'»De re metallicae.fol. 266

Fig. 27. Heating ofore veins

by fire (G. Agricola,

»De re metallica«, fol. 80)

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 169

ao

Fig. 28. Kraku lu Jordan. Iron ingots(drawing: A. Kapuran)

Fig. 29. Zeleznik. Part of the fetters for the feetofslaves (drawing: A. Kapuran)

Fig. 31. Kraku lu Jordan. Various types offloor tiles

from rooms in northwest part offortification

STARINAR L, 2000.

Fig. 30a-c. Mining toolsfrom Kraku lu Jordan:

iron pickaxes and shovel

Fig. 32. Kraku lu Jordan. Bronze mirror

a

b

c

170 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

a

d

g

c

e

f

Fig. 33. Kraku lu Jordan: a-b) iron keys; c) iron tool; d) part ofan iron lock;e) iron tool; f) iron weigh;g) iron scissors, 8 em in length

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 171

Fig. 34. Washing out gold from the Sikolska River, early

20th century (after B. CUMuh, 1951,fig. 123)

Fig. 35. Group oflocal gold prospectors from Mala

Jasikova setting offto work with launders on their hacks

(after B. CUMuh, 1951,fig. 126)

Fig. 36. Sorting out remains ofAntique ores at Blagojev

Kamen near Kraku lu Jordan, early 20th century

(after B. CUMuh, 1951,fig. 126)

STARINAR L, 2000.

glass fragments discovered until 1976 has not beenspecified. I? In trench 2, barely opened in 1991 (fig. 5),the layer of shattered furnaces has yielded thirty oddglass fragments of small dimensions (fig. 37 a-c).Among them there are several deformed and vitrifiedpieces, and a few small amorphous pieces, the final pro­ducts coming out of a glass furnace. A number of frag­ments of flat glass suggest the possibility of windowglass having been manufactured in addition to vessels.

Also interesting is the information that the furnacerooms have shown a predominance of large-sizedvessels (principally pots, amphorae and pithoi) and anabsence of household ware. We believe the explanationwould lie in the multipurpose function of this complexsuited for gold mining and metallurgy and for supplyingthe panners and miners with everything their work andeveryday life required. Both mining techniques - placermining and digging for ores in a mine - may have madeuse of large-sized vessels, which could also serve forthe transportation and storage of gold-bearing sand andthe raw materials employed in gold smelting, cupella­tion (figs. 9 and 41) or metalworking. Of course, suchvessels were also much needed for storing grains andother food, or water, indispensable to metallurgists,potters or blacksmiths. Both mining techniques werein fact very simple technological procedures requiringample labour force supplied principally by slaves, con­victs (as evidenced by the fetters from a smithy in thenearby village of Zeleznik; fig. 29) and, under duress,by the local population.

The first technique involved the washing of tonnesof sand from the floodplains of the Pek and its majorauriferous tributaries - the Brodica, Zeleznik, Glozane,Komsa, Bukovska Reka etc. 18 Some idea about the

17 B. Bartel, V. Kondic, M. R. Werner, op. cit., 1979, 146 (theinformation pertains to the excavations conducted between 1973and 1976). The authors report about predominantly small pieces,possibly parts of drinking glasses.

18 It is in the area of Kraku lu Jordan that the most copiousfinds of ancient mine works in the Pek Valley are concentrated(Brodica, Neresnica, Zeleznik, Kucajna, Voluja: or the tributaries:Brodicka Reka, Komsa, Zeleznicka Reka etc). They comprise heapsof gravel (mounds, piles, barrows, tumuli) 1-4 m in height, thevestiges of placer mining in the floodplain, usually on the lowestterraces, on one or either side of the river. Of course, as they arecompletely unexplored (not even a trial excavation has been under­taken so far), the question of their date remains open. Their attributionto the Roman period, however, is indicated by the information thatthe dredging of alluvial deposits that began in the late 19th centuryuncovered Roman coins, mining tools, earthenware, as reported bya number of geologists (M. Riznic, M. Milicevic, V.Karic, F.Hofman,M. Blagojevic, D. Jovanovic, V.Sirnic). Between 1945 and 1952 V.Simic surveyed the entire Pek Valley and concluded assuredly that

172

i1/

MIODRAG TOMOVIC

Fig. 37. Kraku lu Jordan. Glass fragments (drawing: A. Kapuran)

a b

c e

d

Fig. 38a-e. Kraku lu Jordan.

Terra sigillatafragments

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 173

d

FiR. 39a-d. Kraku lu Jordan. Ceramic lamps

c

methods that may have been applied by Antique pannersis offered indirectly by G. Agricola (fig. 24) and, also,by the practice that has survived in the Pek Valley tillthis day (fig. 23).19 In both cases there seems to belittle difference from what Agricola describes asmedieval practice.I" The second technique was to digfor auriferous quartz veins making use of simple handtools; to crush and grind the ore; and then to wash it.No mines that could be reliably identified as Romanhave been found yet in the broader area of Kraku luJordan. Nevertheless, the richness and availability ofauriferous quartz veins that reach the surface makesthe idea of their existence realistic. Few minesdiscovered in the territory of the Empire and classicalsources clearly show those were regular shafts withgalleries that followed the vein. A good illustration is

these were Roman placering locations with waste material heapedup on the surface of terraces, and gold-bearing washes deeperbelow. In evidence of his assertion, he offered the finds of Romancoins and other artefacts (B. CI1MI10, HCUlopujCKU paseoj Hamelpyqapctuea, Eeorpan 1951, 242-67, 314-27, 333-40). For theremains of ancient mine works in the Pek Valley see also: F. Kanic,Srbija. Zemlja i stanovnistvo, vol. I, Beograd 1985, 242-48. O.Davies. Roman Mines in Europe, Oxford 1935, 217-21; D.Iovanovitch, Serbie Orientale. Or et Cuivre. Historique. Geologie,Mineralogic. Exploitation, Paris 1907. 17 ff. To illustrate therichness of gold-bearing gravels in the Pek Valley I shall offer twopieces of information: at Neresnica in the Pek Valley (only a fewkilometres upstream from Kraku lu Jordan) between 1903 and1905, 445,000 cu m of gravel processed by two elevator dredgers(known as Cyclopes - 32 m long, 8.5 m wide, draught depth of 3 m,

and a capacity of 225 cu m per hour) yielded an average of 288.8mg of 86%-gold per cubic metre of gravels. According to somedata, between 1904 and 1918 alone 3 tonnes of gold were obtained(B. CI1MI10. op. cit., 1951, 321-2, and Table 86).

STARINAR L, 2000.

174 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

the Dolaucothy mine, Wales, with two horizontal gal­leries cut through a hill, about 48 m long, 1.8-2.1 m high,1.5-1.8 m wide, and dated to the late 1st and 2nd cen­turies.I! Large-sized vessels may have been used in anumber of ways in mining auriferous quartz ores.Tylecote believes the basic mining technique was fire­setting.I? Rock was heated and then water was dashedagainst it (the same procedure is vividly described byAgricola; fig. 27). It is reasonable to presume, then,that large vessels may have been used for carrying andstoring the water for this purpose. The next step in theprocess was to crush the ore and grind it to quartz»sand«. The »sand«, which contained tiny grains of gold,was washed under a stream of water: lighter particlesof quartz were washed off whereas the gold, beingheavier, settled on the bottom. Large vessels may havebeen put to good use in this process too. This accountsfor the fact that no slag has been found at Kraku luJordan. Numerous millstones registered in the valleysof the Pek and its tributaries (fig. 25a) are evidence forthe primary grinding of auriferous quartz ore in closeproximity to the mine. 23 Numerous finds of millstoneswithin the fortification, however, pose a special problem.Perhaps security reasons at times required that thecrushed ore be transferred to the fortification to beground to quartz »powder«, which then was washed onthe banks of the Pek and Brodicka Reka at the bottomof the fortification. And finally, there was no runningwater within the fortification, and for the washing ofsand or ground ore, or for the activity of potters, black­smiths and other craftsmen ample water was needed.This may in part account for the predominance oflargelidded vessels. Such vessels (especially pithoi) wereideal also for storing salt and other minerals used in theprocess of gold extraction.

The Romans did not make use of common ore fur­naces. The obtained gold grains were fired in fire-clayreceptacles at a temperature of no less than 1,000 0 C.This is yet another explanation for the absence of me­tal1urgical slag at Kraku lu Jordan. Naturally occurringgold (at least 80% gold)24 melted at Kraku Jordan pro­bably was associated with an amount of silver or copper.Pliny the Elder had already noted that gold containingmore than 20% of silver is called electrum25(the first

a

Fig. 40a-b. Kraku lu Jordan.Glass beads

b

Greek gold coins were struck from such gold in Lydiaabout 640 BC).26 Roman metallurgists were familiarwith the process of its removal. Pliny says that, besidessalt, other minerals were also added to gold in theprocess of extraction, the rightly proportioned mixturebeing of vital importance. In the first phase twice asmuch salt as gold and thrice ground copper pyrite wereadded. In the second phase to the molten gold was addedtwice as much salt and one part of the stone called»schistos«, as specified by a formula in the LeydenPapirus.P Noxious substances were thereby released,while the other minerals burnt away leaving pure gold

19 Gold prospectors in the Pek Valley (fig. 25b) make use of

wooden troughs (accommodating 3--4 kg of sand) or of a special

wooden device, the »launder« as they call it, usually handled by twomen (figs. 23 and 45). The identical device is shown in Agricola's

De re metallica (figs. 24 and 26). In their words, an average of 2-3

g of gold can be obtained (in tiny grains or leaves, or »grenades« in

local parlance; some have found nuggets weighing a few grams).

Three grains of gold about 109 each were recovered at Ram by theDanube in the 1880's (B. CI1Ml1n, op. cit., 1951,3(5). S. A. W. Herder

tRudarski put po Srbiji, Beograd 1845) relates about groups of panners

he met on his way to Majdanpek in 1835. They were particularly

active in spring when, after the thaw and ample rain fall, even the

littlest stream was fed with enough water for washing out gold (B.CI1Ml1n, op. cit., 1951,317). R. F. Tylccotc (op. cit., 1962,2) quotes

an l Sth-century record referring to a 21.5-ounce nugget recoveredfrom the brooks of Krogan Kinselag, Ireland.

20 On mining techniques in Antiquity in the context of Agri­

cola's De re metallica. see especially C. Dornerguc, Les techniquesminicrcs antiques et lc De re metallica d' Agricola, Myneria y Meta­

lurgia en las Antiguas Civilizacianes Mediterraneas y Europeas,vol. II, Madrid 1989, 76-95 (with literature).

21 R. F. Tylecote, op. cit, 1962,2.

22 R. F. Tylecote, op. cit, 1962, 2.

23 Reporting ahout frequent finds of millstones for ore grinding

in the valleys of Pek and its tributaries, B. CI1Ml1n (1951,326) quotes

C. Tpojanosah tHetqauma tipuepeqa u UyUlCBU y cpucxus« "ICM.rbaMa,

Beorpan 1902) that in one place alone in the Lipa Valley parts of

about 300 millstones were piled. One of them, transferred to theMuseum of Mining by the end of the 19th century, had the lower

part 83 by 46 cm and weighing about 100 kg, while the upper part

was 45 em in diameter and 80 kg in weight.24 R. F. Tylecotc, op. cit., 1962, 3.

25 Plin., NH, XXXII1, 80. In Upper Moesia a particular kind

of this gold was used, the so-called Glam silver (gold-hearing

silver), obtained mostly from the mines of Novo Brdo and Janjcvo,

In the Middle Ages, the »Glam silver« became famous and extre­

mely important to the Serhian state. V. Sirnic (1951, 235) quotes a

letter of July 9, 1428, which says that »soda and other materials

needed for the separation of gold from silver may he sent to Serbia«

and suggests the separation is a well-paid jon.26 1. F. Healy, Greek Refining Techniques and the Composition

of Gold-Silver Alloys, Revue belge de Numismatique CXX, Bruxe­

lies 1974, 21; E. S. G. Robinson, The Date of the Earliest Coins,NC, 6th ser., XVI, 1956, 8.

27 L. B. Hunt, The Oldest Metallurgical Handbook, Gold Bulle­

tin, vol. 9 (1976), l, 24--30 (the author refers to E. R. Caley, The Ley­

den Papirus X, Journal of Chemical Education, 1926, 1149-66).

KRAKV LV JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 175

IIII,\ \, \

\ \\ \\ \

\ '\ '\ '

\ ------~\ "-cc: -

'\]7\ I f~c::u

STARINAR L, 2000.

l

I

}\<::

I T'1\t,

l'( I J

)

I" II

I"".

Fig. 41. Kraku lu Jordan.

Various types and shapes ofearthenware

176 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

in the container (these data should be consideredhighly reliable because Pliny was procurator of Spainat the time). 28 The method of extraction by using saltwas first recorded by Diodoros Siculus.I? All thesurviving subsequent records about gold refinementalso mention salt, while the other elements slightly vary:a similar, though somewhat modified, combination isquoted by Strabo, while Agatharcides, about 100 BC,includes lead and tin.3o Agatharcides' method has beenconfirmed experimentally by a five-day heating of agold alloy at a temperature of about 800 0 C. The purityof the gold thus obtained was 93.6%.31 1. F. Healy ispositive that Roman metallurgists used to extract goldby cupellation (the process of heating in a small fire­clay container) from galena and other lead ores, or byliquation (the phased heating of the alloy beginningwith the component with the lowest melting point)from pyrite and chalcopyrite.V Slag with high contentsof arsenic and antimony further confirms the assump­tion that they extracted gold from arsenopyrite andstibnite as well. 33 Unfortunately, neither the identifica­tion has been attempted of pottery shards that may havebeen parts of such fire-clay receptacles nor the ceramicsor slag have been put through physicochemical analyses.Nor has any attention been paid to the possible existenceof artefacts that served for assaying the purity of gold.The traditional Roman medium was the so-called»Lydian« stone (siliceous schist was also used for thatpurposej.l" The procedure was as follows: this stone offine but abrasive texture was rubbed over a goldobject. A comparison of a streak or any mark thus pro­duced with the objects or test plates of known puritygave a fairly accurate estimate. Among the finds sug­gesting the recovery of gold at Kraku lu Jordan is to besingled out a goldsmith's balance with weighs, from ahoard containing 52 coins.35

CONCLUSION

Kraku lu Jordan reveals an unusual architecturaland defensive conception determined by the relief andmultipurpose function of the complex. It was a power­ful fortification enabling control and protection of goldmine works; a place of safety where the gold obtainedwas deposited, melted and cast in ingots; a centre ofcrafts and metallurgy with numerous smithies, potteriesand other workshops manufacturing whatever equip­ment for mining in the vicinity of Kraku lu Jordan;and, finally, an administrative centre controlling theproduction of gold and the consignment of gold ingots.

Although no structures have been discovered, thefinds of pottery fragments and flint tools (figs. 19 a-c)within the fortification suggest occupation as early asthe Bronze Age. Considering the area is very rich incopper ores, the settlement is likely to have beenassociated with the activity of prehistoric miners andmetallurgists. The immediate vicinity abounds inKostolac-Cotofeni settlements on similar dominantelevations (Cukar at Kaona, Stenje at Turija, Krs atNeresnica, and Krst at Voluja are bigger settlementsregistered by survey). Quite close is Rudna Glava, theoldest copper mining and metallurgy site.

The beginnings of mining and smelting activity inthe Pek Valley after the Roman conquest are related tothe late Ist and 2nd centuries.I" The scale of activityand the number of workers are indirectly evidenced bythe fact that Hadrian (117-138) had a special issueminted for his officials in the Pek Valley with theinscription Aeliana Pincensia.i' As we have remarked,the metalla Pincensia were administrated fromPincum, the settlement of non-municipal rank and theeponym of the civitas situated at the confluence of thePek and the Danube (modern Veliko Gradiste).

28 Plin., NH, III, 2, 8.29 Diodorus Siculus, I, 14 (c. H. Oldfather, Loeb Edition,

London 1935, vol. II, 121; Plin., NH, XXXIII, 2, 8).30 Plin., NH, III, 2, 8.

3\ J. F. Healy, op. cit., 1980,177.32 Ibid., 179.33 Ibid., 179.

34 R. F. Tylecote, op. cit., 1962, 4 and note 16 (at the site ofHengistbury, England, a piece of siliceous schist used for thatpurpose has been found). For gold alloys with high contents ofsilver this method is reliable and precise, the possible deviationbeing 1-2%.

35 Y. Kondic, op. cit., 1982, 107. Unfortunately, this is theonly information about it (the published works bring neither adrawing nor a photograph).

36 Unlike the late Roman period, there is little evidence for

early Roman activity (certainly due to small scale of investigation).In a shaft near Majdanpek a hoard of denarii has been found with

the youngest coins dating from Nerva's rule (Y. Kondic, op. cit.,1982, 106). K PI13HI1n (CTapI1HCKI1 OCTaIlI1 Ycpe3Y 3BI1UIKOM, oxp.nO)KapeBa'{KI1, Ctuapunap Y, 1888) records that before 1884 theBrodicka Reka washed ashore a vessel of red clay, »painted blackand ornamented in white«, containing several hundred silver coins

dating from 141 to 235 AD, and two silver bracelets 61.45 g in

weight. Speaking about the remains of an Antique settlement (aminers' town) on the road from Dobra, halfway between Babinomostilo and Tilva (an area 3 km long and 600 m wide), and referring

to the same vessel, F. Kaniz (op. cit., 247-48) says that it wasexcavated in 1884, contained 220 coins dating from 141 to 235, andthat, together with two silver bracelets (7 em in diam.) found by theCestobrodica river, it was taken to the Museum of Belgrade.

37 S. Dusanic, Anticko rudarstvo, Rudarstvo Jugoslavije,Beograd 1972,121 (with literature).

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY

*t~t~ Flame (Continuous) ****~***~******t~~****~ 1999/12/17 13:13:11 *****

177

Elementp,

Cone. Conversion ModeAna IIJ;::t

Ni232.0 nnl

CalibrationZoltan Ceh

si~.r"1F' LENI) •

1

4567(3

9101112131415161718192021

242526

S,6.f"lPLEN,6NE

VI I I

::(\l

X'y' I I I

XI I

XI I I

X'v'I

IX

x'v' I I

XIX

::0:: I \/

XI

x

Conc.(ppm)-D.CI313-el.091/-CI •CI320-0.0306-(1.1774-1).271:15(1.47500.47550.87710.8906I) .36960.3690

-(1.0075-CI.0335

CI.1640(1.16700.32270.2959(1.21240.2215(1.2623(1.26:30(J.1803I). 1800o.15720.1572

2::'2.0nrll-0.OCI06-O.OClli)-0.0007-0.001)6-0.(11:1:36-I). (11:15 5(1.00970.0(1970.(11800.0182(1.0076(1.1)076

-0.0002-0.00070.1)0340.0035Ci .0(1660.(11)610.00430.0044(1.00540.0(1540.00370.0037O.(1032Ci.0032

1/·,1E IC1HT( I])

1.00001•(1(1(1(11.00(101.00001.1)Oell)1•(1(1004.::: 5::: 14.:::5812.76542.76542.72(1(12.721)(11 .01)(11)1.0(101)1.:::(1121•:::1) 125.14455. 1445(1.92801).92;;::0::; .6501::: • t~i 5f) 19.34119.34112.(15442.1)544

,I:.,CTIJ,8,L(\.I I] .../g)-1 Ji-4.6-1.6-1 .5-:::~: .9

- 1:::.55.4r: r:.1 • .)

15. ';l16.1fi .86. :::-1:1.4-1. 7(,.36.4.::. 12. ';J11.411 .9J. Ci::: • f~1

1 .1:11•(I

3.8

Sred.vred.(pprn)

(1.0

1).0

0.0

16. (I

6.::::

(I. (I

6.4

3.(1

11.7

,:; •fi

1.(1

Data Fr ocess i nl~l

Ca l i hr at i on Cur' ',ie

---li,,!.6,Rr',~ If'oJC1;~~---

lIJNi

;:;TDNo •

onc.PPili)1.1:10(1(12. (1(1(11)::: .1:11)1)1:1

,I:.,b s ,.Iln

I) • (11 iJI;; .1:14(1(I JH:i2

.IY7

U.o j .':1

Ki.i= 1::.I:il:l::lf), El= 1:!.':121)C,Select function ~ey.

E:::: it

STARINAR L, 2000.

Pi' i nt Fig.42a

178 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

***** Flame (Continuous) **********t**i~*t****** 1999/12/16 09:47:20 *t***Element Fe

24::;: .:3 nm

Cone. Conversion Mode CalibrationAnalyst . Zolatn Ceh

----------------------------------------;:;,6,r"lPLE SN"'lF'LE

Nt) • N,t-,r','lE1+ \/1112+.) + ::(\l

4+5+ ,:(:{6+7+ ::0::\,1 1I I::: +9+ XI I

10+11+ /.I I I12+1::; + :{\,.' I14+15 + xUH17+ rx18 +19 + X'v' II20+21+ XIX22+2:::+ xiv24+25+ ::0:: I26+

Cone.(p pnl)

31.78~16

::~:"1 •7:34726.6912~ti. 7630":~:5. 72fi5-,":1.657949.6:::Q'J49.:::21442.657742.964036.6664:36.619611.426811.41]9724.260724.274621J . 7510

30.952(-)30.89485CI.125550.4083:::6.711836. :::935:'~: 1•~i1J02::: 1.6C195

p"b s • I,.."IE I GHT24e: •:::: nlll ( I])

1.0465 2.54:321.0464 2 54:32I] .87::::3 ::. • 1349Cl.8811 2.13491.1762 '::.2(i511.1740 :::.26511.ti:35Q 4.35::: 11.62:3::: 4.35811.4C144 2. 7t~J~,4

1.4145 2.76541.2072 2. 72CI(11.2C156 2.721)1)(1.3762 [I. ;30::"(1o 3756 CI.802(1(1.79::;7 2.O~144

0.7992 2 JI544(1.9795 1.3(112(1.9461 1•:::(1121.0191 5.14451.0172 5 14451.650:::; (I 92:3(11•r:; 596 Ci .';)2;::(11.2087 :::: .(51) 11.2146 ::: .6 5Cl11.1)4CI49.34111.0407 9.:::411

,6,CTU,6,L(JJq.../I])624.'J624 qfi25.1626 i::547.1546. (I

57el.l56C'.9771.:3776.8fi74.1)

712.4711 .:~:

51;JI) . 5f"IIJI) • :::114:::­11 CI4 •:::1)1).8:::(10. :327CI(I.7~~Il tl (I5CI2 95CI r;. 4169.1169.2

Sred.'.... red.( PpIli)

624 1;1

56::: ':1

77:::. (I

673.: :

711':::

59(.1. t~,

1124.U

:::0\) r;

2lei::: .1:1

~d):3 •CI

169.1

r',~ :) •

D,jt a Pro oc ess i nl~l

C,j l i In ijt ion Curve

one. ,6,b:::

pili) 24;:: nil:

•ell) CiD ':1 • ::: 4• (11)1)1:1 ':1. 41• (II)(IC: 1:1. 9:::

I) .2 Ci

..,-t •

CI)Nr:~ • ( PP:II:'

~> to 1ec ~ t Ur"i C: ~ i ':'n k e I:J •

E it Fr i ntFig.42b

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY

***** Flame (Continuous) ******i~~i~~*********ti 1999/12/16 10:27:55 *r***

179

Eleluent),

Cone. Conversion Mode,/J,na lus t

Cu324.8 nm

Calib r at ionZolatn Ceh

SM"'1F'LE SN"U'LE Cone . ,!J,b .:::.. 1,I,,1E IC;HT ,6,Cnl,6,L Sr' eel 1./ f"' ed.["JI) . N,/J,f'''lE (p Pili) 324 .:3 nln (I;) (Uq,/ 1]) (,PPIII)

1 \l I I I 0 .(1987 (I .1)063 2·5,:1 ! .9"-', 0 10:::7 0 .1)(17CI 2 54 ":1 1 L .1:1c · · c; ·..) ::<\/ 0.2585 I) .0 166 2·13 6·14 CI .2656 (I 0170 (-', 13 6 2 6 ,

· L · · ·L..

5 xx (I .1) 57:;:j (I .0037 nr':1 9,) ·L II ·6 (I •(1730 0 .1)047 :::~ 1)7 1 1 1.':1.~I ·7 xv I I I 0 .3700 I) •(:12::::7 4.36 4 I)·L.

() 0 •::3fj:3:3 1:1 .02::3:::: 4.36 4 I) 4 f)l.~ I .~ .L

9 )::I I 0 7::::40 0 .050:::: (--I

II'" 14 (0.,

· L:::. · .i-

1CI (I 7792 0 05(1CI .-r 77 14 1 14 1· · .::::. ·, I . .

11 v I I I 0.3973 1:1 .0255 "-'I "7 ....., 7 ,..,J"1. L ·I L , ·..)

12 0 .:3 q(j2 0 0254 f ....' "7 (-'J 7 '-:;1 7 ,'-'.

· L ·tc ·..) ·..)

1,.:. XVI -(I .0131 -(I .0008 (I .8(1 -0 Q'·a.! .1.•.1

14 -(I .0100 -0 •(:1(:106 0 .:30 -0 .6 I) .015 './ 0 .0813 (I .0052 f) .05 ,,) .0,"I. '- '-

16 0 .0597 1:1 0038 f) .05 1 5 1 :3· .:::.. ·17 Iv 0 1726 (I .0111 1.30 fj .6,.... ·1.;. 0 1786 (I .0115 1.3CI 6.9 6 I;>I.) · .'-.'

19 XVI I (I .6297 (I .0404 5·14 6·I20 0•c:i:337 0.0407 5 14 6 I) 6 ..-)

· ·~ .Lr" .. 1 \,~ Ix 0 1405 (I .UO~)O (:1 .93 7 Cii.- i'.. · ,

22 n 1492: I) .0096 (I .9:3 ;;::: I 7 .1;1· · I

().,) XI\,/ 0 .:3201 0.0205 :3 .65 4.4z, ..)

24 0.329:3 [I .0211 .) .65 4 5 4 5<"I ·25 '"r I 0 51 15 I) .1)328 q.34 I'-'j 7/'L · z,• I

26 0 5262 13 .0338 q .34 , 1:_:1 f-. (I

· L. .1.) ~ • I)

Dat aPr' oc ess i nqCalibration Curve

;:;TD["j0 •

Cone.(ppIII)

1:1.51)1)1)1.00(11)2.1)0(11)

Ahs,:::24.8nll!

I) • CI:~:29(1.1:16541).1275

M:3.1).2(1

I:I.':{I('.(1 :::.u

[M:;:;J =1<1+ [G] +1':::::KO= 8.8000, Kl= 0.8642

Select function key.

Fig.42c

STARINAR L, 2000.

180 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

***** Flame (Continuous) ****~***********~*****~ 1999/12/16 11:24:32 *****Element

Cone. Conversion Mode,t..nal l,j8t

Zn21:~:.9 niH

CalibrationZolatn Cs h

S,8.r'~PLE SA~11PLE Cone. 16tb::: • ~\IE IGHT ,8,CTU,8,L Sred.vr'ed.

NO. N,Ii,~lE (ppm) 213.9nm ( ~l) (JJI~1/9) (ppm)1 vr I I 0.7860 0.2393 2.54 15.52 0.7704 0.2345 2.54 15.2 15.4,-:. x'v' 0.7397 0.2252 2. 13 17.4..)

4 0.7270 (1.2213 2.13 17.1 17.:35 XX 0.6732 0.2050 .....) ()( 10.3..). L I'

6 0.6753 0.2056 <I ')7 10 .3 10.3"). L I

""7 XVI I I 0.9:375 0.2854 4.36 10 .8",", 0.9315 0.2836 4.36 10.7 10.S()

rJ XI I 1.3278 0.4042 2.77 24.010 1.3265 0.4038 2.77 23.9 24.011 XI I I 0.8719 0.2655 2.72 16.012 0.8754 I) .21)65 2.72 lb .1 W.113 XVI 0.5336 0.1624 0.80 33.314 0.5264 o.1603 0.80 32.9 3:3.115 v 0.5107 (1.1555 2.05 12.5r,

16 0.5113 0.1557 2.es 12.5 12.517 IY 0.6238 (1.1899 1.30 24.018 8.6180 0.1881 1.30 23.8 23.919 X\? I I 8.6269 0.1909 5. 14 6.120 0.6238 O. 1899 5.14 6.1 6.121 XIX 0.6145 O. 1871 0.93 33.0r1'.... 0.6124 (1.1864 0.93 32.9 33.0t...L..-).,) XIV 0.8272 0.2518 3.05 11.3L' l

24 0.8213 0.2500 3.65 11.3 11.325 XI 8.5647 0.1719 9.34 3.026 8.5554 0.1691 9.34 ::: .0 :~ .n

Iiat i:t PI' ocess i n~l Z nCalibration Curve '6'

3TD Cone. ./!".b s , .6,BS.r"j IJ • ( ppm) 21:::.9nm 13. HI

1 1.0000 0.3325,', 1.5IJUCI 0.4560L.) 2.000el (1.5953'.)

13. (II)

Select function key.

0.0CONC.(ppm)

[,Ll,BS] =KldC] tKOKO= 0.0088, Kl= 0.3044

::: • (I

Fig.42d

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 181

***** Flame (Continuous) *********************** 1999/12/16 13:25:56 *****Element

Cone. Conversion ModeAna l ust

Pb217.IJ nlll

Cal i br at ionZul et n Ceh

S,il,r','1F'LENCI.

1

4

7

91011121314151617I :~:

I'~21)2122

24nr.:c .)26

SM"'lPLENM"lE

\/I I I

\.'~ I

A'I

xx

::0::\/ I I I

XI I

):: I I I

I v,.I,.

XI,,'" I I

):: IX

::0:: I \/

)::1

Cone.(p pIli)

0.:::151J0.:~:159

0.5(1501).5057(1.45:3:3(1.48088.1955;::; • 14:::(1(1.:::1420.65~::1

0.4:300(1.4:3(180.2759I] •27Cil]0.16611).1661(1.0649(1.0899IJ.21:;47(1.2650(1.6:3600.6369

-I) 1136-CI.0837

CI.0524(1.0899

217.0nmCI.O(139o.01):39n•(1062':1.1)0(12(1.005b(1.00590.1001(1.09IJ5

0.0099C1.00800.0052(I.CJ05:::(1.0034(I. CI0:341).002(1(1.002(11).000:30.0(111O.C10:32(1.0(1:3:::(1.0(17:::(1.007::;

-0.0014-I). CI(II (Io•CI(IOb1:1. (II) 11

(I~ )2.54:322.54:322.1:3492- .13493.26513.26514.35::~:·1

4.35812.76542.7b542.72002.7200(1.80200.8(12(12.05442.05441.30121.:31JI25.14455.14450.92800.92:30::;: .6501.:' .65(119.3411!L:3411

,il,CTIJAL(k.l'~l r,/ ~l )

6.26.211 •:::11 J:7.1)7.41;14.093 414.711 .97.97.917 .217.24.04.1)2.5::: 52Ji2.6:::4. ::;

-1.ti-1.1(I. :::1).5

Sred. ',Ir ed•( ppnl)

11.::;

7 )I • ..:.-.

7.9

17.2

4.CI

::: .1)

(I. U

(1.4

Data Fro cese incCd1i br at i on Cur ".,'e

Fb

STDNo.

Cunr,(ppnl)

5.D(I(ICI:3 •(1)(1(1

1(1.1)1)1)(1

,il,b ::: •217.(lnn,(1.0545(1.1)965(I. 1265

M:;:~.

CI.20

[,I:. =K]i [C] +YUK':i= , n = r::. III _

Fig. 42a-e Kraku lu Jordan. Analyses ofslag from kiln in room 8

STARINAR L, 2000.

Fig.42e

182 MIODRAG TOMOVIC

Fig. 43. Site ofZajacak,

village of Kremnici,

west side of Mt Kopaonik

(photo: M. Tomovic)

The second, and probably still busier, phase ofexploitation began after the loss of Dacia in 272 (it isreasonable to assume that the experienced miners andmetallurgists were brought from Dacia). Due to theconstant insecurity of the Danube frontier, mine worksbegan to be fortified. In addition to Kraku lu Jordan,further evidence is offered by a number of sites related tothe mining and metallurgical activity of the late Romanperiod. 38 As a precise chronological determination re­quires the publication of the entire material, we shall limitourselves to the assertion that the fortified complex atKraku lu Jordan was erected towards the end of the 3rdcentury (probably under Diocletian), while its closureshould be placed in the end ofthe 4th century (as eviden­ced by the portable material, the coins ofTheodosius I,and a hoard discovered by the north rampart with 52coins from Constantine to Theodosius 1).39 The complexwas not built all at once but grew with the expansion ofgold exploitation. Its entire structure was determinedby gold, which was obtained by washing the auriferoussand of the Pek and Brodicka Reka Rivers and by dig­ging in classical mines with galleries. The gold wasprimarily obtained from placer deposits, the mostimportant being the alluvia of the Pek and BrodicaRivers, and much less from primary deposits (mainly

the auriferous quartz veins in the Pek Valley). In bothcases, it was native gold. The complex had an outstandingposition: on an elevation with steep and inaccessiblesides, and bounded on three sides by the Pek and theBrodicka Reka, virtually at the heart of the area richest ingold. It had a multipurpose function. On the one hand, itwas a collection point for gold recovered in the area. Thegold was melted there, cast in ingots and safeguardeduntil it was transported further. At the same time, Krakulu Jordan was a craft and metallurgical centre with nu­merous potteries and smithies manufacturing tools forgold panners, miners and other workmen. Consideringthe scale of gold production in the Pek Valley, thepossibility that the centre also supplied forts along theDanubian limes is groundless.t'' In the west part of the

38 In the complex of Eneolithic mine shafts of Rudna Glavapart of a late Roman (4th century) lO-m-long gallery has beenuncovered offering all the elements for a reconstruction (Y. Kondic,op. cit., 1982, 106).At Debeli lug, before entering Majdanpek, thereis an unexplored mining and metallurgical centre fortified withpowerful walls and towers (dated to the 4th century from thesurface pottery evidence). In the immediate vicinity of Kraku luJordan, vestiges of settlements and fortifications have also beenregistered at Zeleznik, Neresnica and Kaona.

39 Y. Kondic, op. cit., 1982, 107.40 B. Bartel, Y. Kondic, M. R. Werner, op. cit., 1979, 149.

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY

APPENDIX

183

Fig. 44. The Pek Valley near Kraku lu Jordan.The last local gold prospectors working with the

launder (photographed in the 1980's)

fortification was the administration managing andcontrolling the entire process. A testimony to their wayof life are imported luxurious finds, few though. Forexample, terra sigillata (fig. 38a-e) and red-paintedvessels, gems, mirrors, opulently decorated ceramiclamps (figs. 32, 39-41). For the time being, it isimpossible to answer the question whether the westsection was also a residential zone. That the structureswere built solidly testify the finds suggesting the floo­ring with tiles of varied shapes (hexagonal, rectangular,conical; fig. 31a-c). Although the initial assumptionabout the residential structures on the slope, betweenthe partition wall and the presumed south rampart atthe bottom, has proved wrong, the possibility shouldnot be ruled out completely. Otherwise, perhaps suchstructures may be expected in the area of the presumedthermae, the only elevated spot in that part of the Pekand Brodicka Reka Valleys and thus unaffected byflooding.

The completion of this excavation (one-third ofthe area has been explored so far; figs. 4-5) - whichincludes the detection of necropolises, residential andother structures at the disposal of those working in thecomplex (fig. 5), the investigation of placer mininglocations and of a mine, as well as physicochemicalanalyses of the slag, furnaces and pottery - wouldcreate the perfect conditions for a study of Roman goldmining and metallurgy.

The complex was destroyed in a great fire, probablyin a devastating attack by the end of the 4th century.The subsequent centuries did not see its renovation norhas any trace of life been found.

STARINAR L, 2000.

In the Laboratory for Quality Control, Hemomed,Hemofarm, Vrsac (LKK-HMd), analyses of 16 slagsamples from the kiln in room 8 were performed''! bymeans of an absorption atomic spectrometer (AAS) inorder to determine the presence and concentration ofcertain metals (fig. 42a-e).42 Unfortunately, for thelack of the adequate HC lamps, tests for the presenceof gold and silver could not be carried out. The resultsclearly confirm our conclusions drawn from themacroscopic properties of the slag; namely, that theslag is nonmetallic and, consequently, that those werenot the furnaces for smelting iron, copper or lead ores.The tables here enclosed show that the occurrence ofmetals other than iron (Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni) is insignificant.The values for iron are also minimal (even if multiplesmelting is taken into account). There is nojustification therefore for assuming that the slag camefrom the process of smelting iron ores (for all thetables: 1 ppm = 1ug/g). It is quite obvious that the slagis nonmetallic and that the metals are of a mineralorigin. The slag samples (not only from room 2) we haveexamined in the Museum of Mining and Metallurgy,Bor, have the same properties and confirm its non­metallic nature unrelatable with furnaces for smeltingiron and copper ores.43

41 The tests were conducted by Z. Ceh, an analyst with theLaboratory, to whom we owe a debt of gratitude.

42 Z. Ceh supplied the following information about the testprocedure. Spectrometry was automatic because the AAS isequipped with its own software. The first step is transmission oflight of an He lamp that is made out of the element to be examined.It emits the light of a given wavelength (00). The software measuresthe mean wavelength of the transmitted light under the existinglaboratory conditions. The sample is then sucked in and dispersedinto the flame (G-mix. & As.s.). The repeatedly transmitted light ismeasured and the quality and quantity of absorbing atoms isdetermined. The measurement is performed in such a way that thetransmitted light is focused onto the sample, where it is absorbed bythe atoms of a given element (the atoms of a given element absorbthe very same light they emit), and then is focused onto themonochromator, which by means of a diffraction grating isolates agiven wavelength. By means of a photomultiplier this light is thenquantified. The element in question is determined by thewavelength and its quantity by the intensity.

43 The nonmetallic nature of the slag has been confirmed byB. Rothenberg, Director of the Institute for Archaeo-MetallurgicalStudies (Institute of Archaeology, University of London), whovisited Kraku lu Jordan in May 1990, along with other participantsin the international conference on Ancient Mining and Metallurgyin Southeast Europe, held at Donji Milanovac.

184

Pe3HMe:

MIODRAG TOMOVIC

MI10,UPAf TOMOBl1li, ApXeOJIOllIKI1 I1HCTI1Tyr, Beorpan

KPAKY JIY JOP)l;AHH AHTHqKO PY)l;APCTBO H METAJIYPrHJA 3JIATA

Kpaxy JIyJOP.UaH npencrasna npaa apxeoueranypunca aHTHqKH

KOMnJIeKC xojn je y Cp6HjH CHCTeMaTCKH HCTPa)KHBaH (ca xpa­fiHM, HJIH ,lJ,y)KHM npeKH,lJ,HMa, 0,lJ, 1971-1991. rO,lJ,HHe). Y JIHTepa­

rypu, Kpaxy JIy Jopnan je ,lJ,e<pHHHcaH xao pynapcxo-sreranyp­

WKH KOMnJIeKC, KOjH je, nopen 3JIaTa, nosohen y Be3Y ca pynap­

CTBOM H ronn.eaea pyna H3 KOjHX cy, y nehnaa oTKpHBeHHM y

YHYTPawlhocTH yrspbea.a, xao npauapaa MeTaJIH ,lJ,06HjaHHrsozche H fiaxap (na qaK n jenna spcra MecHHra). Mel)yTHM, pe­

3yJITaTH ,lJ,06HjeHH TOKOM nOCJIe,lJ,IhHX repeacxax HCTPa)KHBalha

(1986-87, 1991), HIhHXOBO KOMnapHpalhe ca paHHjHMnO,lJ,aUH­

Ma, He najy OCHOBa sa OBaKBO TYMaqelhe<pyHKUHje H xapaxre­

pa KOMnJIeKca. Ilpa TOMe, aaure npernocrasxe HeyMalhyjy, sehHanpOTHB jour nmne HCTHqy qHlheHHUY ,lJ,a ce pann 0 je,lJ,HOM CJIO­

)KeHOM H BHweHaMeHCKOM ueHTPY, sa cana, je,lJ,HHCTBeHOM na re­

pHTOpHjH PHMCKor uapcrsa, KOjH je 6HO y <pyHKUHjH pynapcrsa

3JIaTa xoje ce O,lJ,BHjaJIO aa OKOJIHOM npocropy. Metalla MoesiaeSuperioris, O,lJ,HOCHO pynapcrso - res metallica, qHHHJIH cy OKOC­

HHUy pHMcKe npaspene na reparopnja nanaunse Cpfinje, H y

TOMe je neacaonajsehn eKOHOMCKH sua-raj OBe repirropaje sa eKO­

HOMHjy UapCTBa. PY,lJ,HHUH y ,lJ,OJIHHH Ilexa, y KOjOj ce HaJIa3H

KpaxyJIY Jopnan, sajenno ca PY,lJ,HHUHMa y ,lJ,OJIHHH MJIaBe,npa­nanann cy noce6HOM pynapcxosr ,lJ,HCTPHKTY n03HaTOM non HMe­HOM metalla Pincensia. Ilpnaapua ynora npnnanana je ,lJ,OJIHHH

Ileica, y KOjOj ce HaJIa3e HajBa)KHHjH penrcrpoaaan PY,lJ,HHUH y

OKBHpy osor ,lJ,HcTPHKTa: Majnannex (fiaxap, raosche, 3JIaTo), BH­

TOBHHua (OJIOBO, cpe6po, raosche), Kyxajua (3JIaTO, fiaxap, cpe­

6po) H Bponnua (3JIaTO, fiaxap, raozche). Mel)yTHM, OHO WTO je

pynapcrso y ,lJ,OJIHHH Ileica CBpCTaBaJIO y pernone 0,lJ, aajsehersaa-raja sa pHMCKy Hsmepajy, 6HJIO je 3JIaTO. PHMCKa res meta­llica je seh 0,lJ, cauor noxerxa 6HJIa y <pyHKUHjH eKnaH3HBHor

MOHeTapHor Hnpaspenaor CHCTeMa. Ilocne ry6HTKa.II.aKHje, ,lJ,0­JIHHa Ilexa, ca CBOjHM 60raTHM H,lJ,OcTynHHM aacnaraua 3JIaTa,

nocraje, sajenao ca ,lJ,OJIHHaMa THMOKa, H 6pOjHHX pexa H pe-m­

ua na 06pOHUHMa .II.eJIH JOBaHa, nparouena aasrenasa H3ry6Jhe­Hena-nce aurariae. Kao pe3yJITaT TOra,na npocropy cesepoacro­-nror nena I'opa,e Mesuje, 0,lJ, xpaja III sexa, ,lJ,OJIa3H ,lJ,0 CHa)KHe

pynapcxe aKTHBHOCTH, xoja rpaje CBe ,lJ,0 xpaja IV sexa.

lleK, ca npHToKaMa, je Hawa HajH3pa3HTHja 3JIaTOHOCHa

06JIaCT, ca HajBHwe OCTaTaKa cTapHx pa,lJ,OBa Ha ,lJ,06Hjalhy 3JIa­

Ta. Y lleKy HMa3JIaTa 0,lJ, H3BopHwTa ,lJ,0 ywfia y .II.yHaB (,lJ,y)KHHe

120 km), ,lJ,OK yKynHa nOBpwHHa CJIHBa lleKa H lherOBHX npH­

TOKa, Kaoje,lJ,HHCTBeHe 3JIaTOHOCHe 06JIaCTH nOTBpl)eHe TParOBH­

Ma cTape py,lJ,apCKe aKTHBHOCTH, H3HOCH 1236 km2. Ca acneKTa

aHTHqKOr py,lJ,apCTBa H TeXHOJIOmje, nope,lJ, HcnHpalha 3JIaTOHO­

CHor neCKa y ,lJ,OJIHHaMa lleKa, Ep0,lJ,Hue, .II.y60Ke, KOMwe, fJIo­

)KaHa, )l{eJIe3HHKa, UpHe peKe, CaMOpO,lJ,HO 3JIaTO je KonaHO, npe

CBera,y paCHnHMa, Mel)y KojHMacy Haj3HaqajHHjH aJIyBHjaJIHHHaHOCH lleKa H EpO,lJ,Hue, r,lJ,e ce 3JIaTO TaJIO)KHJIO XHJha,lJ,aMa

rO,lJ,HHa, a 3HaTHO Malhe y KopeHHM py,lJ,HWTHMa, Ha npBOM Me­

cry H33JIaTOHOCHHX KBapUHHX )KHuay ,lJ,OJIHHH lleKa. KpaKy JIy

Jop,lJ,aH ce npaKTHqHO HaJIa3H y cpe,lJ,Hwry OBHX Haj60raTHjHx3JIaTOHOCHHX pY,lJ,HWTa (Fig. 1-6).

JIoKaJIHTeT ce HaJIa3H y aenocpeanoj 6JIH3HHH cena Bpo­nnue, 15 km HCTOqHO 0,lJ, Kyxeaa, na yurhy Ep0,lJ,HqKe pexe y

Ilex, ,lJ,y60KO y sanehy nyaancxor JIHMeCa (OKO 70 km jY)KHO).

Mecro na KOMe je asrpahen KOMnJIeKC y yCKOj ,lJ,OJIHHH Ilexa,xoja rrpeceua nponyzcerax xapnarcxor nJIaHHHCKor nanua,

0,lJ,a6paHO je ca noceriaon na)KIhOM. To je jenno H3,lJ,y)KeHO H

yCKO yaaauren,e (unrpnne OKO 80 m H ,lJ,y)KHHe OKO 160 m), ca

CTPMHM H, ca TPH crpane, TeWKO npacryna-nuea nannnaaa, KO­

je ce nojnaa xao HeKO OCTPBO, jep je ca TPH CTPaHe (cesepne,HCTOqHe a jyxore) 6HJIO oxpysceao EP0,lJ,HqKOM peicoa H Ilexou.Ilopen crpareunoix, OqHrJIe,lJ,HO je na cy nocrojann Hnpyra pas­

JI03H KOjH cy yCJIOBHJIH rserosy narpamey ynpaso aa OBOM y3­

samersy. Ilo csesry cyneha 6HJIO je HeOnXO,lJ,HO,lJ,a ce yraphea,enonarne y cpenunrry, O,lJ,HOCHO y nenocpenaoj 6JIH3HHH, pynap­

CKHX panosa. Kaxo ce pa,lJ,HJIO 0 3JIaTy, 0,lJ, npecymtor ana-raja je

6HJIO na ce ,lJ,06HjeHe KOJIHqHHe WTO npe CKJIOHe na 6e36e,lJ,HO

MeCTO H ry nperone y CJIHTKe.

Kpaxy JIy Jopnan npencraana jenny neyodaxajeny apxu­

TeKToHcKy H <pOpTH<pHKaUHoHy xonuerruajy, yCJIOBJheHy KOH­

<pHrypaUHjoM JIOKaJIHTeTa H BHweHaMeHCKOM <pyHKUHjOM KOM­nnexca, OH je CHa)KHa <pOpTH<pHKaUHja xoja je osroryhaaanaKOHTPOJIy H 3awTHTy pynapcxux panosa na ,lJ,06Hjalhy 3JIaTa,carypaa uenrap y KOjH je nonpeaaao 3JIaTO, H MeCTO aa KOMe je

OHO TOnJheHO H H3JIHBaHO y nnrore, 3aHaTcKO-MeTaJIypwKH uen­Tap, y qHjHM6pOjHHM KOBaqKHM, KepaMHqKHM, CTaKJIapCKI1M, 11

,lJ,pymM parmoaauawa, cy np0l13Bol)eHI1 np0I13BO,lJ,11 HeOnXO,lJ,HI1

sa acnapa-ncy H py,lJ,apcKy aKTHBHOCT xoja ce onsujana y OKO­

JIHHI1 Kpaxy JIy Jopnana, H na xpajy, ynpasaa uenrap KOjH jenanrnenao np0113BO,lJ,lhy 3JIaTa H ornpesraae 3JIaTHI1X narora.

]/[aKOHHCy OTKpl1BeHI1 OCTaUI1 oojexara, HaJIa311 <pparMe­

nara KepaMI1Ke H ofipahenux KpeMeHI1X aJIaTKI1 (Fig. 19. a-c)

ynyrap yrnphetsa, yxasyjy na ce y HaCeJhY na Y3BHwelhY )KHBe­JIO jour TOKOM 6p0H3aHO,lJ,OnCKe enoxe. Ca ,lJ,OJIaCKOM PI1MJhaHa,

noserax py,lJ,apCKO-TOnHOHl1qapCKe aKTHBHOCTH y ,lJ,OJIHHI1 Ile­xa sesyje ce aa xpaj I-II. 0 06HMHOCTH panosa 11 6pojy anra­)KOBaHHX pa,lJ,HI1Ka nocpenno CBe,lJ,OqH nonarax na je Xanpnjan(117-138) 3a cBoje CJIy)K6eHI1Ke y PY,lJ,HHUHMa lleKa KOBao no­ce6Hy BpCTy HOBua, C Haml1COM Aeliana Pincensia . .II.pyra, 11

BepoBaTHo, jow HHTe311BHHja <pa3a Ha eKCnJIOaTaUHjl1 py,n:HHKa

H npepa,n:H py,n:e, OTnOqeJIa je nOCJIe HanywTalha npoBHHUHje

.II.aKl1je, 272. ro,n:HHe (peaJIHO je npemOCTaBHTH ,n:a cy I1CKyCHI1

py,n:apH H MeTaJIyp311 KOjl1 cy pa,lJ,HJIH y PHMCKI1M py,n:HI1UHMa y

.II.aKHjH ,n:oBol)eHH y OBe KpajeBe). OTKpHBeHH HaJIa311 yKa3yjy

,n:a je yTBpl)eHH KOMnJIeKC Ha KpaKy JIy Jop,n:aHy no,n:l1rHyT Kpa­jeM III BeKa, a Kao terminus post quem 3a lheroBy aKTI1BHOCT

MO)Ke ce Y3eTH Kpaj IV BeKa (nope,n: nOKpeTHorMaTepHjaJIa, 0TOMe CBe,lJ,Oql1 OTKpHBeHH HOBau H3 BpeMeHa Teo,n:ocHja I, H

je,n:Ha OCTaBa HOBua oTKpHBeHa nope,n: ceBepHor 6e,n:eMa, Kojaca,n:p)KH 52 HOBql1fia o,n: KOHcTaHTHHa ,n:o Teo,n:ocHja I). KOM­

nJIeKC Hl1je HaCTao y I1CTOM TPeHyTKy, Befi je ,n:orpal)HBaH ca

eKcnaH3HjoM eKCnJIOaTaUHje 3JIaTa. UeJIOKynHa lherOBa KOH­

uenUHja je 6HJIa no,n:pel)eHa 3JIary,Koje je ,n:06HjaHo HCIlHpalheM

KRAKU LU JORDAN AND GOLD MINING AND METALLURGY IN ANTIQUITY 185

3JIaTOHOCHor necxa Ilexa H Ep0iJ,Hl.JKe peice, H KonafheM y OKBH­

py KJIaCHl.JHHX PYiJ,HHKa ca ranepajava. 11YjeiJ,HOM H y npyrov

cnysajy ce paiJ,HJIO 0 CaMOpOiJ,HOM, OiJ,HOCHO npHpOiJ,HOM l.JHC­

TOM 3JIaTY.

Yrspheae, OiJ,HOCHO KOMnJIeKC, je crpanao Y JKeCTOKOM no­

JKapyxpajexr IV nexa. Y KacHHjHM BeKOBHMa, MeTaJIyplllKo-3a­

HaTCKa aKTHBHOCT H yrspheae HHCy 06HOBJbaHH. Hejacao je

STARINAR L, 2000.

KaKO TYMal.JHTH CnOpaiJ,Hl.JHY nojany cPparMeHaTa CpeiJ,fhOBeKOB­He xepasnnce? KaKO y OKBHpy yrsphenor KOMnJIeKCa HeMa HO­

soaarpaheaux ofijexara H3 CpeiJ,fhOBeKOBHe enoxe, HHTH TPa­

rosa ofinaanaa,a HJIH anarrraunje crapujux aHTHl.JKHX rpahesa­aa, Moryhe je na OHH CBeiJ,Ol.Je casro 0 'rparoaava JKHBOTa, 6e3

xopmnhen,a pyiJ,apCKO-TOnHOHHl.JapCKO-3aHaTCKe KOMnOHeHTe

crapnjer aHTHl.JKOr KOMnJIeKca.