From macro to micro approaches in settlement archaeology : a case study of an Early Iron Age smithy at the Pungrt hillfort (Central Slovenia)

Gruškovnjak, Luka (author), Prijatelj, Agni (author), Vojaković, Petra (author), Burja, Jaka (author), Šetina, Barbara (author), Brajkovič, Rok (author), Toškan, Borut (author), Tolar, Tjaša (author), Grčman, Helena (author), Črešnar, Matija (author)

In this paper, we present an interdisciplinary and multiscalar study of an Early Iron Age smithy uncovered at the Pungrt hillfort in Central Slovenia. By examining and comparing the stratigraphic and artefactual evidence preserved at both macro- and micro-scales this study highlights the importance of integrated micromorphological and micro-refuse analyses in settlement contexts. Our integrated approach allowed us to identify the blacksmith’s workshop and cyclical skimming of the floor surface in the wider area of the anvil, revealing the presence of lime plaster technology for the first time during this period in Slovenia. Additionally, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the macro- and micro-evidence examined, as well as the geoarchaeological methods used, by exploring the distinct ways in which micromorphology and micro-refuse analysis complement each other.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Early Iron Age, geoarchaeology, micromorphology, microrefuse, archaeometallurgy, smithy, floor construction, floor maintenance, lime plaster, hammerscale
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts; BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 2-35
• Numbering: 52
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-167881
• UDC: 902.3
• ISSN on article: 1854-2492
• DOI: 10.4312/dp.52.5
• COBISS.SI-ID: 229519363
• Publication date in RUL: 19.03.2025

GRUŠKOVNJAK, Luka, PRIJATELJ, Agni, VOJAKOVIĆ, Petra, BURJA, Jaka, ŠETINA, Barbara, BRAJKOVIČ, Rok, TOŠKAN, Borut, TOLAR, Tjaša, GRČMAN, Helena and ČREŠNAR, Matija, 2025, From macro to micro approaches in settlement archaeology : a case study of an Early Iron Age smithy at the Pungrt hillfort (Central Slovenia). [online]. 2025. Vol. 52, p. 2–35. [Accessed 18 May 2025]. DOI 10.4312/dp.52.5. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=167881

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Od makro k mikro pristopom v naselbinski arheologiji : študijski primer starejšeželeznodobne kovačnice na gradišču Pungrt (osrednja Slovenija)

Abstract

V prispevku predstavljamo večravensko interdisciplinarno študijo starejše železnodobne kovačnice, odkrite na gradišču Pungrt v osrednji Sloveniji. Študija s preučevanjem in primerjavo stratigrafije in artefaktov, ohranjenih tako na makro- kot mikroravni, opozarja na pomen integracije mikro morfologije in analize mikro odpada pri preučevanju naselbinskih kontekstov. Takšen pristop nam je omogočil prepoznavanje kovaške delavnice, cikličnega premazovanja tal okoli nakovala in prvič v tem obdobju v Sloveniji razkril prisotnost tehnike apnenih premazov. Poleg tega opozarja mo na prednosti in slabosti preučevanih makro- in mikro-dokazov ter razpravljamo o komplementarnosti uporabljenih geoarheoloških metod.

• Keywords: starejša železna doba, geoarheologija, mikromorfologija, mikroodpad, arheometalurgija, kovačnice, gradnja tlakov, vzdrževanje tlakov, apneni premazi, škaje