Tracing technological transformation – mechanical mortar production in early medieval Europe and at Müstair Monastery, Switzerland

Abstract

ABSTRACT Archaeological and historical research combined with material science help to understand the development of building material and construction technology of the Middle Ages. The natural sciences, especially mortar characterisation and scientific dating have allowed new insights into mechanical mortar mixing which has been introduced and used mainly in the early medieval period between AD 500 and 1000. This paper combines the results of the pan-European archaeological research project RESTOMO with that of the interdisciplinary SNF-project “Mortar technology and construction history” at the UNESCO-world heritage site of Müstair monastery. Müstair so far is the only site with six mortar mixers from two periods. The comparison of the mortar samples from the mixers with samples from the building remains has proven to be challenging and partly contradicts the previous correlation of mortar mixers with archaeologically established building phases. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT