Textilreste aus einem spätbronzezeitlichen Bergbaurevier bei Radfeld in Nordtirol – Sekundärnutzung von Stoffen zur Abdichtung

In the traditional mining district Schwaz-Brix-legg in North-Tyrol a large amount of archaeological remains from an extensive Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age copper ore mining is still visible in the landscape. In 1993 the University of Innsbruck started with mining archaeological investigations in this area in the frame of several research projects, supported by the Austrian Science Fund FWF and the Tyrolian Science Fund TWF. The aim of the research program is to identify and to date prehistoric mining activities and to reconstruct the met-allurgical production chain including mining, benefici-ation and smelting of copper ores. Also the working and living environment of the prehistoric miners and smelters is studied. So far evidence for mining activities from the 12th to the 8th century BC could be provided. In the frame of archaeological excavations in 1997 at the Late Bronze Age smelting site Mauk A near Radfeld a few well pre-served textile fragments could be recovered in the context of a washing installation, where crushed slag had been processed in order to obtain concentrates of copper rich inclusions. In this paper the textile finds will be presented in their archaeological context together with analysis on textile techniques, seam materials and dyestuffs. Further-more, their functional interpretation and positioning in a larger historical context will be discussed.