Brix­en­tal

The Brixental was an important connecting area between the Bronze and Iron Age copper mining districts of Schwaz-Brixlegg in the west and Kitzbühel-Jochberg in the east. For this reason, the mining landscape of the Brixental, which has been little researched to date, was to be investigated for potential prehistoric copper mines. Through literature research and the study of geodata (DEM, orthophotos) prior to the surveys carried out in 2023, a total of six core areas were defined, which were investigated for the presence of mining archaeological features and finds. During the survey, all relevant features (mining heaps, pits, underground mines, etc.) were documented and samples were collected for radiocarbon dating. In this way, it was possible to provide evidence of prehistoric mining at three sites based on the artefacts discovered (stone tools, pottery, slag, etc.), while in the case of the Götschen near Brixen im Thale it was possible to obtain radiocarbon dating of Early to Middle Bronze Age mining. In addition, various samples provided evidence of widespread mining activities in the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Age, whereby in these periods the Brunnalm in Kirchberg in Tirol was particularly important. Located at the western entrance to the Brixental, the Grattenbergl in Kirchbichl was investigated using geophysical methods (geomagnetic measurements), revealing evidence of metallurgical activities (smelting furnace and/or roasting bed) during the Hallstatt period. It can therefore be concluded that copper mining was carried out in the Brixental similar to the well-known mining areas (Kitzbühel-Jochberg, Schwaz-Brixlegg) in the vicinity and that traces of it have survived to the present day.

 

Topographic map of the “core-areas” of the 2023 mining survey in the Brixental:

 

Topographic map of the “core-areas” of the 2023 mining survey in the Brixental: 1: Kirchbichl-Grattenbergl, 2: Itter-Kraftalm, 3: Westendorf-Jordanwiese, 4: Brixen im Thale-Niedingerwiese, 5:Brixen im Thale-Götschen, 6: Kirchberg in Tirol-Brunnalm. Bottom left: Map of the research area Brixental (B) and Viehhofen/Glemmtal (D) and well-known prehistoric mining districts in the Tyrol and Salzburg: A: Schwaz-Brixlegg, C: Kitzbühel-Jochberg, E: Mitterberg. Map: ESRI/R. Lamprecht.

 

 

Fig 8: Drone image of the prehistoric mining area at Götschen near Brixen im Thale. Photo: R. Lamprecht.

 

Drone image of the prehistoric mining area at Götschen near Brixen im Thale. Photo: R. Lamprecht.

 

Fig 9: Fire-set mine WP102 (western mine) at Kraftalm in Itter. Photo: R. Lamprecht.

Fire-set mine WP102 (western mine) at Kraftalm in Itter. Photo: R. Lamprecht.

 

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