Maintenance of Underground Granaries in Medieval Towns; Case Study from Padowetz, Brno, Czech Republic

IF 0.2 Q4 ANTHROPOLOGY
L. Lisá, Marek Peška, David Merta, M. Gregor
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The walls of the granary and also its bottom had been repeatedly sealed with straw. This material was at the bottom of the infill preserved in a nearly fresh state or totally impregnated by phosphates. Also the phases of bioturbation and the record of a burning event were recorded. The burning of the interior parts of the granary was probably their way of cleaning. The temperature was not higher than 300̊ C. These practices may be compared with rural practices documented already in 18th century in village areas. This is the first documentation of the processes of maintenance for Medieval granaries as compared with more recently documented practices. It confirms that the local inhabitants of a Medieval town applied the older rural tradition as known from village areas. IANSA 2017 ● VIII/2 ● 157–165 Lenka Lisá, Marek Peška, David Merta, Miloš Gregor: Maintenance of Underground Granaries in Medieval Towns; Case Study from Padowetz, Brno, Czech Republic 158 (Procházka 2012, 1012; 2013). Generally the underground granaries are often pear-shaped, with small openings and diameters of up to three metres at their widest point (Kunz 2004). The underground granaries excavated up till now in the Brno town area are usually pear-shaped with diameters of 1.8 m (2.2 m respectively) reaching a depth of 3.6 metres. These have been detected mainly in the distal parts of burgher plots (Kobližná 3, Josefská 8, Starobrněnská 18; Procházka 2013, 110; 2012, 203; 2000, 58). Due to the fact that most of the plots demarcated in the second quarter of the 13th century do not show any underground granary locations, we can connect their appearance mainly with the older rural tradition of the local inhabitants. While the need for cereals in the towns lasted, unlike in the villages there was no need to store added cereals for sowing. Additionally there was the need to store not only cereals, but also craft and other raw materials. The urban character of the sunken features at that time was usually already connected with the construction of earthen house cellars (Holub et al. 2005). The storage of the ceramic vessels (Nekuda, Reichertová 1968, 63; Procházka, Peška 2007, 168) used to store cereals had in fact replaced the need for underground granaries. To preserve the grain in an anaerobic environment, the pits were filled to the top and then hermetically sealed. The oxygen remaining in the silo would alter (decompose) the grain in contact with the earthen walls, but would be quickly used up as it turned to carbon dioxide. Cereals could thus be kept for several years without fermenting and without being attacked by insects. Among all these silos, certain cylindrical pits may be distinguished by their greater depth and by the existence of internal compartments associated with a raised floor. This arrangement solved the problem of excess humidity by creating an opening for coals or heated stones to be introduced, thus drying out the silo’s contents. We know that a part of the stored grain was thus steamed or grilled. These pits, which were normally grouped together a short distance from dwellings, were no doubt used to store excess grain from the harvest. After a period of use – which we believe to be relatively short – these silos were often converted into waste pits (Kunz 2004). There is a little known about the maintenance of underground granaries from the 12th–14th century, especially in the town environment of the city of Brno. The main aim of this paper is therefore an evaluation of the possible maintenance methods of the underground granary excavated at the edge of the Brno medieval burger plot, and the information value of such sedimentary records for understanding the medieval practices of these storage pits. 2. Material and methods The construction of an underground parking area for the Padowetz Hotel in 2008 (Bašty Street No. 2), was the Figure 1. Location of the study area together with the plan of the excavations and a section of the underground granary. 1) Bašty street No. 2; 2) Josefská street No. 8; 3) Starobrněnská street No. 18; 4) Kobližná street No. 3. 0 5 m IANSA 2017 ● VIII/2 ● 157–165 Lenka Lisá, Marek Peška, David Merta, Miloš Gregor: Maintenance of Underground Granaries in Medieval Towns; Case Study from Padowetz, Brno, Czech Republic 159 reason for the rescue excavations led by the archaeological company Archaia Brno. The study area, at an altitude of 214 m a.s.l., was located in the internal part of plot 351, Bašty Street, on the gentle lower slopes of the Petrov Hill. This area belongs historically to the medieval quarter of Brno town (Quartale Brunensis), in the close neighbourhood of the city walls and Jewish gateway (Porta Judeorum). The excavated area had the dimensions of 18×13 m. The geological background was composed of loess with a partlypreserved soil cover (20–30 cm). There were the preserved foundations of two houses, two ovens and one underground storage pit interpreted as an underground granary (Figure 1). The infill of the granary was quite homogenous with a laminated bottom part. This part was described according to field sedimentological criteria, based on parameters such as colour, texture, and internal organization. The colour of the sediments was identified in both a wet and dry state using a Munsell soil colour chart. The two micromorphological Figure 2. Documentation of the underground granary from Bašty Street together with a detail of the laminated bottom of this granary. 0 1 m IANSA 2017 ● VIII/2 ● 157–165 Lenka Lisá, Marek Peška, David Merta, Miloš Gregor: Maintenance of Underground Granaries in Medieval Towns; Case Study from Padowetz, Brno, Czech Republic 160 samples from this layer were collected using a Kubiena box. Large thin sections (approximately 140×70 mm) were prepared in the laboratory of Julie Boreham, Reach, GB (www.earthslides.com) and examined under plain and cross polarised light at different magnifications (40–800×). The descriptions and interpretations mainly followed the guidelines used by Stoops (2003) and Stoops et al. (2010). The mineralogical composition of the black uppermost part of the laminated fill of the granary was estimated with help of X-ray powder diffraction analyses using Bruker D-8 Advance (Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, Comenius University, Bratislava) operating at 440 kV and 40 mA using Cu antikathod (Cukα1=Å) and a Ni filter. 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引用次数: 4

Abstract

Medieval underground granaries are typical storage facilities for the Slavic part of Europe, but their appearance generally all over Europe is not limited to just a few regions. Though typical for the rural environment of villages, these objects are nearly unknown in cities. The only examples excavated inside city walls belong to the 12th to 14th century. This also explains why the maintenance practices used are nearly unknown. The Medieval granary excavated inside the city walls of Brno, Czech Republic, has provided important information concerning the way the granary was maintained and used. Micromorphological descriptions, combined with the PRTG analyses, show that the excavated granary was probably used repeatedly. The walls of the granary and also its bottom had been repeatedly sealed with straw. This material was at the bottom of the infill preserved in a nearly fresh state or totally impregnated by phosphates. Also the phases of bioturbation and the record of a burning event were recorded. The burning of the interior parts of the granary was probably their way of cleaning. The temperature was not higher than 300̊ C. These practices may be compared with rural practices documented already in 18th century in village areas. This is the first documentation of the processes of maintenance for Medieval granaries as compared with more recently documented practices. It confirms that the local inhabitants of a Medieval town applied the older rural tradition as known from village areas. IANSA 2017 ● VIII/2 ● 157–165 Lenka Lisá, Marek Peška, David Merta, Miloš Gregor: Maintenance of Underground Granaries in Medieval Towns; Case Study from Padowetz, Brno, Czech Republic 158 (Procházka 2012, 1012; 2013). Generally the underground granaries are often pear-shaped, with small openings and diameters of up to three metres at their widest point (Kunz 2004). The underground granaries excavated up till now in the Brno town area are usually pear-shaped with diameters of 1.8 m (2.2 m respectively) reaching a depth of 3.6 metres. These have been detected mainly in the distal parts of burgher plots (Kobližná 3, Josefská 8, Starobrněnská 18; Procházka 2013, 110; 2012, 203; 2000, 58). Due to the fact that most of the plots demarcated in the second quarter of the 13th century do not show any underground granary locations, we can connect their appearance mainly with the older rural tradition of the local inhabitants. While the need for cereals in the towns lasted, unlike in the villages there was no need to store added cereals for sowing. Additionally there was the need to store not only cereals, but also craft and other raw materials. The urban character of the sunken features at that time was usually already connected with the construction of earthen house cellars (Holub et al. 2005). The storage of the ceramic vessels (Nekuda, Reichertová 1968, 63; Procházka, Peška 2007, 168) used to store cereals had in fact replaced the need for underground granaries. To preserve the grain in an anaerobic environment, the pits were filled to the top and then hermetically sealed. The oxygen remaining in the silo would alter (decompose) the grain in contact with the earthen walls, but would be quickly used up as it turned to carbon dioxide. Cereals could thus be kept for several years without fermenting and without being attacked by insects. Among all these silos, certain cylindrical pits may be distinguished by their greater depth and by the existence of internal compartments associated with a raised floor. This arrangement solved the problem of excess humidity by creating an opening for coals or heated stones to be introduced, thus drying out the silo’s contents. We know that a part of the stored grain was thus steamed or grilled. These pits, which were normally grouped together a short distance from dwellings, were no doubt used to store excess grain from the harvest. After a period of use – which we believe to be relatively short – these silos were often converted into waste pits (Kunz 2004). There is a little known about the maintenance of underground granaries from the 12th–14th century, especially in the town environment of the city of Brno. The main aim of this paper is therefore an evaluation of the possible maintenance methods of the underground granary excavated at the edge of the Brno medieval burger plot, and the information value of such sedimentary records for understanding the medieval practices of these storage pits. 2. Material and methods The construction of an underground parking area for the Padowetz Hotel in 2008 (Bašty Street No. 2), was the Figure 1. Location of the study area together with the plan of the excavations and a section of the underground granary. 1) Bašty street No. 2; 2) Josefská street No. 8; 3) Starobrněnská street No. 18; 4) Kobližná street No. 3. 0 5 m IANSA 2017 ● VIII/2 ● 157–165 Lenka Lisá, Marek Peška, David Merta, Miloš Gregor: Maintenance of Underground Granaries in Medieval Towns; Case Study from Padowetz, Brno, Czech Republic 159 reason for the rescue excavations led by the archaeological company Archaia Brno. The study area, at an altitude of 214 m a.s.l., was located in the internal part of plot 351, Bašty Street, on the gentle lower slopes of the Petrov Hill. This area belongs historically to the medieval quarter of Brno town (Quartale Brunensis), in the close neighbourhood of the city walls and Jewish gateway (Porta Judeorum). The excavated area had the dimensions of 18×13 m. The geological background was composed of loess with a partlypreserved soil cover (20–30 cm). There were the preserved foundations of two houses, two ovens and one underground storage pit interpreted as an underground granary (Figure 1). The infill of the granary was quite homogenous with a laminated bottom part. This part was described according to field sedimentological criteria, based on parameters such as colour, texture, and internal organization. The colour of the sediments was identified in both a wet and dry state using a Munsell soil colour chart. The two micromorphological Figure 2. Documentation of the underground granary from Bašty Street together with a detail of the laminated bottom of this granary. 0 1 m IANSA 2017 ● VIII/2 ● 157–165 Lenka Lisá, Marek Peška, David Merta, Miloš Gregor: Maintenance of Underground Granaries in Medieval Towns; Case Study from Padowetz, Brno, Czech Republic 160 samples from this layer were collected using a Kubiena box. Large thin sections (approximately 140×70 mm) were prepared in the laboratory of Julie Boreham, Reach, GB (www.earthslides.com) and examined under plain and cross polarised light at different magnifications (40–800×). The descriptions and interpretations mainly followed the guidelines used by Stoops (2003) and Stoops et al. (2010). The mineralogical composition of the black uppermost part of the laminated fill of the granary was estimated with help of X-ray powder diffraction analyses using Bruker D-8 Advance (Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, Comenius University, Bratislava) operating at 440 kV and 40 mA using Cu antikathod (Cukα1=Å) and a Ni filter. The can speed recording intensities was in 0.01 °2θ per 1 second and oriented powder specimens were prepared.
中世纪城镇地下粮仓的维护捷克共和国布尔诺帕多韦茨案例研究
中世纪的地下粮仓是欧洲斯拉夫部分的典型储存设施,但它们在整个欧洲的出现并不局限于少数地区。虽然这些东西在乡村环境中是典型的,但在城市里几乎是不为人知的。城墙内出土的唯一例子是12至14世纪的。这也解释了为什么所使用的维护实践几乎是未知的。在捷克布尔诺城墙内出土的中世纪粮仓,提供了有关粮仓维护和使用方式的重要信息。显微形态描述和PRTG分析表明,出土的粮仓可能是重复使用的。粮仓的墙壁和底部都被反复用稻草封住了。这种材料在填充物的底部以近乎新鲜的状态保存或完全浸渍在磷酸盐中。同时记录了生物扰动的阶段和燃烧事件的记录。焚烧粮仓内部可能是他们清理粮仓的方式。温度不高于300℃,这些做法可以与18世纪已有的农村地区的农村做法进行比较。这是第一次记录了中世纪粮仓的维护过程,与最近的记录做法相比较。它证实了中世纪城镇的当地居民应用了从村庄地区所知的更古老的农村传统。IANSA 2017●VIII/2●157-165 Lenka lis<e:1>, Marek Peška, David Merta, milosi Gregor:中世纪城镇地下粮仓的维护;来自捷克共和国布尔诺帕多韦茨的案例研究158 (Procházka 2012, 1012;2013)。地下粮仓通常呈梨形,开口很小,最宽处直径可达3米(Kunz 2004)。迄今为止在布尔诺镇地区挖掘的地下粮仓通常为梨形,直径1.8米(分别为2.2米),深度3.6米。这些主要在burgher样地的远端部分检测到(Kobližná 3, josefsk<e:1> 8, starobrn<e:1> nsk<e:1> 18;Procházka 2013, 110;2012年,203年;2000年,58)。由于在13世纪下半叶划定的大部分地块并没有显示任何地下粮仓的位置,我们可以将它们的外观主要与当地居民的古老农村传统联系起来。虽然城镇对谷物的需求持续存在,但与农村不同,城镇不需要储存额外的谷物以备播种。此外,不仅需要储存谷物,还需要储存工艺品和其他原材料。当时凹陷特征的城市特征通常已经与土屋地窖的建造联系在一起(Holub et al. 2005)。陶瓷容器的储存(Nekuda, reichertov<e:1> 1968, 63;Procházka, Peška 2007, 168)用来储存谷物的仓库实际上已经取代了对地下粮仓的需求。为了在厌氧环境中保存谷物,这些坑被填满,然后密封起来。残留在筒仓中的氧气会改变(分解)与土墙接触的谷物,但很快就会被消耗掉,因为它变成了二氧化碳。因此,谷物可以保存数年而不发酵,也不会受到昆虫的侵害。在所有这些筒仓中,某些圆柱形坑的特点是它们的深度更大,并且存在与凸起的地面有关的内部隔间。这种布置通过为煤或加热的石头创造一个开口来解决过度湿度的问题,从而使筒仓的内容物干燥。我们知道,储存的谷物中有一部分是这样蒸或烤的。这些坑通常聚集在离住所不远的地方,毫无疑问是用来储存收获的多余粮食的。经过一段时间的使用后——我们认为这段时间相对较短——这些筒仓通常被转换成废物坑(Kunz 2004)。关于12 - 14世纪地下粮仓的维护,特别是在布尔诺市的城镇环境中,鲜为人知。因此,本文的主要目的是评估布尔诺中世纪汉堡地块边缘出土的地下粮仓的可能维护方法,以及这些沉积记录对了解这些储存坑的中世纪实践的信息价值。2. 2008年帕多韦茨酒店(Bašty Street No. 2)地下停车场的建设如图1所示。研究区域的位置以及挖掘的平面图和地下粮仓的一部分。1) Bašty街2号;2) josefsk<e:1>街8号;3) starobrnnsk<e:1>街18号;4) Kobližná街3号。
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Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica
Interdisciplinaria Archaeologica Arts and Humanities-Archeology (arts and humanities)
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