Nagy Zoltán - Szulovszky János (szerk.): A vasművesség évezredei a Kárpát-medencében. Thousands of Years of Ironcrafts in the Carpathian Basin (Anyagi kultúrák a Kárpát-medencében 3. Vas Megyei Múzeumok Igazgatósága, Szombathely, 2009)

GABLER DÉNES: Ferrariae et ars ferraria. A vas kitermelése és feldolgozása a római korban

23. kép Kovácsolt vas ablakkrács a holsteini villából (Mutz 1976 nyomán) Ferrariae et ars ferraria. The exploitation and processing of iron in the Roman period Rome showed special interest in iron ore provenances from the beginning of the 2

nd century BC and acquired their high-quality steel-like iron by peaceful ways, by diplomatic contacts. As the Italian iron ore mines had lost their significance by Augustus' time, the Romans took possession of nearly every important iron ore provenances in Europe and the Near East in the imperial period. Iron was used for military, agricultural and various industrial and household purposes. The author gives a short summary of the data on iron mining, smelting, the exploitation and management of mines and on the relevant legal and epigraphic sources. The extracted iron was processed in smithies. A number of representations depict these workshops (Beligna, Domitilla catacomb). Smiths themselves are also illustrated on numerous statues, reliefs and statuettes. Roman smithcraft could produce series of various tools and it was also capable of a kind of mass production. This branch of industry could meet the demands of the army, the agriculture and also of diverse industrial activities. Roman smithies were found during archaeological excavations as well. Numerous smith's tools (anvils, hammers, forge-tongs, rasps, chisels and soldering sets) can also be found in the archaeological materials, beside representations, which are often uncovered as depot finds. The half products help the localisation of workshops