Cherni Osam — Visokata Mogila: Roman Archaeometallurgical Site in Middle Stara Planina (North Bulgaria)

Authors:

Pages: 285-304
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54664/QGUV3634

Abstract:

The subject of the publication concerns the newly discovered archaeometallurgical structures, studied in 2024 in Middle Stara Planina (ancient Haimos/Haemus). The researched site was discovered in the area of the upper reaches of the Cherni Osam River (ancient Asamus), at an elevation of approximately 901 m, on the southern slopes of the Visokata Mogila peak (1217 m). The eponymous locality is characterized by sloping terrain in the direction from north to south and several ravines with year-round flowing water. Nearby are some of the richest iron ore deposits of hematite in the region. As a result, a metallurgical furnace and a slag heap were identified in an area of 70 m². The data obtained during laboratory analyses largely confirm that the ancient metallurgists knew all stages of the production process for iron extraction. The excavations led to the discovery of the first Roman metallurgical site for iron production from the Principate period to be researched through archaeological excavations in our country. The dating of the site to the 2nd – 3rd c. AD coincides with the period of deployment of auxiliary military units in the mountainous section of the Oescus – Philipopolis road and the construction of facilities in connection with the organization of its strongest security. The slag heaps found on the high hills in the Cherni Osam river basin speak of intensive iron mining, as we know from the large-scale developed metal mining regions in some of the European provinces of the Roman Empire.

Keywords:

North Bulgaria, Middle Stara Planina, archaeometallurgy, iron making, metallurgical furnace, ore, slag heap, blooms, XRD, XRF, Eastern Balkan provinces of the Roman Empire, Roman road Oescus–Philipopolis, auxilia.

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