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Roman Schmidig

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Papers by Roman Schmidig

Jahresbericht der Archäologischen Bodenforschung Basel-Stadt, Nov 27, 2023

Archäologie und Denkmalpflege im Kanton Solothurn, 2017

Auswertung der Tierknochen aus der Ausgrabung Erschwil (SO)-Kirchgasse (Schweiz)

C. S. Sommer/S. Matešić (Hrsg.), LIMES XXIII. Proceedings of the 23rd International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies Ingolstadt 2015. Akten des 23. Internationalen Limeskongress in Ingolstadt 2015. Beiträge zum Welterbe Limes Sonderband 4 (Mainz 2018), 2018

Based on a case study in an artisan quarter of the canabae legions of Vindonissa (Windisch, CH) t... more Based on a case study in an artisan quarter of the canabae legions of Vindonissa (Windisch, CH) this article will discuss features that were used in tanning and metalworking. The foundation of any interpretation is the classical analysis of the features. But an interdisciplinary approach allows a better view:
The micromorphology allowed the disproving of the common interpretation of a structure in the workshops of smiths as a dip tank. Thanks to archaeozoological analyses two tanning workshops – for hides but also for skins – were identified. Pits containing one to three barrels might have been used while processing the animal skins. The combination of these analysis allows us to identify not only the practiced handicrafts but can give us an idea of the living environment and offers even a whiff of the smells which might have prevailed.

The legionary fortress of Vindonissa has been under archaeological investigation for more than a ... more The legionary fortress of Vindonissa has been under archaeological investigation for more than a hundred years. On the other hand, its civil settlement was rarely in the focus of interest. From 2006 – 2009 a series of excavations on the western border of this settlement were carried out. For the first time, this offers the possibility to examine the development of the civil settlement und its margins in particular.
Within the framework of a thesis, eight plots with nearly 40 successively built buildings were analyzed. Most of them were striphouses, the typical housing type for civil settlements near military fortresses. They were used to live in, but also as workshop for various handicrafts. Easily recognizable – by means of slacks and scales – were various workshops of smiths. The paper will discuss some of the archaeological features observed within these workshops (micromorpological analysis by Sarah LoRusso).
Thanks to archaeozoological analyzes (by Sabine Deschler-Erb and Roman Schmidig) two tanning workshops – for hides but also for skins – were identified. Pits containing one to three barrels might have been used while processing the animal skins. The evidence for the processing of hides has rarely been identified in the archaeological record. The hides main use is for the fabrication of shoe soles. The key customer of this workshop must have been the legion, with its demand of 18’000 shoes per annum.
The combination of the analysis of the features with the archaeobiological data allows us to identify not only the practiced handicrafts but can give us an idea of the living environment and offers even a whiff of the smells which might have prevailed.

Books by Roman Schmidig

Veröffentlichungen der Gesellschaft Pro Vindonissa, 2017

OUTSIDE THE GATES OF VINDONISSA — LIVING AND WORKING IN A QUARTER FOR HANDICRAFTS IN THE CANABA ... more OUTSIDE THE GATES OF VINDONISSA — LIVING AND WORKING
IN A QUARTER FOR HANDICRAFTS IN THE CANABA E OF THE
LEGIONARY CAMP (WINDISCH ZIVILSIEDLUNG WEST 2006–2008).

For the first time a partial report of a large-scale excavation offers an in-depth view into the development and structure of the canabae legionis of Vindonissa.
– To the west of the camp, a roman cemetery was abolished, the terrain was reparcelled and rapidly overbuilt.
– A major fire around 70 AD destroyed the whole quarter.
– The quarter is abandoned just after 106 AD – almost simultaneously with the arrival of the XI legion in their new camp of Durostorum.
–The inhabitants are craftsmen – i.e. smiths and tanners. They probably produced for the camp.
– The dual settlement structure consisting of canabae legionis and vicus, known from other legion garrisons, does not seem to exist for Vindonissa
– the whole civil settlement should be addressed as canabae.