On the Production and Distribution of the Ceramic Building Material in Vindobona

Abstract

This paper deals with the technical aspects of ceramic building material production in the brickyard located near the legionary fortress of Vindobona (nowdays Vienna, Austria). First, the general procedures of brick manufacture are described, then the paper focuses on the material from Vindobona itself. Tegulae, which make up most of the preserved evidence, are also treated at some length. In comparison to other ceramic building material, tiles are more distinguishable, thus more criteria can be observed. The observed criteria were: treatment of the surface, proportions, types of lower cutaways and shape of flanges. On the basis of these criteria, it is possible to distinguish differences in working procedures, which may relate to a change of units in the fortress and an exchange of workers within one unit. Attention is also paid to the economic aspect of production, which is reconstructed on the basis of the‑ oretical calculations. The amount of material necessary for the construction of camps was calculated along with the estimated time which it took to produce this material and the necessary work‑power. The last part deals with the distribution of bricks to the forts in the upper Pannonian Limes, with an attempt to determine if the material was transported to the construction sites from Vindobona or was produced on the sites. The results show it was more cost effective to transport the material over even long distances.