Research at the RGZM
Main Research Areas
The development of an industrial landscape – The ancient quarry and mining district between the Eifel and Rhine
For the VAT, it is important to combine the many objectives resulting from the work with the volcano-project and connect them to broader contexts. This is accomplished through self-contained research on the industrial and economic history under the title “The development of an industrial landscape- the ancient quarry and mining district between the Eifel and Rhine”. The particular historical importance of this economic area is the mass trade within Europe over the centuries of commodities and goods that originate here. Even in ancient times, this area was one of the largest mining districts north of the Alps. This had consequences for the region: even into the 20th century, both the regional economic and social structures were largely defined by the mining and processing of the mineral commodities. Through the combination of different aspects, VAT wants to determine to what extent this phenomenon can be found in classical ancient times and the Middle Ages. Furthermore, the complex activities originating in prehistory that eventually led to the development of an industrial landscape will also be evaluated.
This demonstrates the major role of the interdependency between natural resources and human access; the consequences of such in this case are especially obvious.
Research Projects
- Mining of basalt during the Roman Period (F. Mangartz).
The medieval pottery district at Mayen “Burggärten” (L. Grunwald).
The roman vicus of Mayen (A. Glauben).
The Roman cemeteries of Mayen (M. Grünewald).
The fortification on the “Katzenberg” near Mayen and the Late Roman hilltop fortresses in Northern Gaul (A. Hunold).
Studies on the prehistoric rotary mills in the region between the Mayen and Lovosice production areas (St. Welfers).
Roman, medieval and modern mining of tuff in the valley of the Krufter Bach (H. Schaaff).
One topic of interest is the research regarding the economical area of Mayen, an important center of stone and pottery production during the Roman Period and Middle Ages. The connection between the individual economic sectors and the settlement development as a whole should therefore be taken into account. While the research on basalt mining and pottery trade concentrates on production, the investigations of vicus and cemeteries are based on the basic expansion of knowledge of ancient Mayen. The importance of the economic location of Mayen, even in the late antiquity, is reflected by the large hilltop fortress on the nearby Katzenberg Mountain. With regard to prehistory, Mayen should be observed in its relation to competing production areas.
Another topic of interest is the research on the tuff mines in the Pellenz. Although at Mayen, machines and household goods were produced from the mineral commodities there, the ruff mines can be regarded as the beginning of the industrial foundation in the region north of the Alps.
Contact
Forschungsbereich Vulkanologie, Archäologie und Technikgeschichte des RGZM
An den Mühlsteinen 7
56727 Mayen
Tel.: +49 (0) 2651/70060-0
Fax: +49 (0) 2651/70060-60