Zprávy památkové péče 2018, 78(4):340-348 | DOI: 10.56112/zpp.2018.4.07

Extinct modern glassworks complexes as an item of interest for archaeological heritage care

Ján Čáni

NPÚ, GnŘ

The article presents a brief overview of the spectrum of archaeological heritage properties, specifically extinct modern glassworks, with an emphasis on relics related to technological processes of preparing glass raw materials and glass production.
Historiographical research on the history of glass production in the Czech lands has a long tradition, followed by a professional interest in the archeological field since the middle of the 20th century. While archaeological research has predominantly focused on medieval sites, the level of research of modern-era glassworks is still insufficient. The present situation among heritage care of relics of modern-era glassworks is quite unfavorable, as only 3 of them have been registered as cultural monuments. This strongly contrasts not only with the important position that glass production played in Czech history, but also with the actual number of glass archaeological heritage sites. The existence of many hundreds of such archaeological sites may be safely assumed, since there are more than 450 records of them gathered in the NPÚ under the name "glassworks geodatabase" (Sklářská geodatabáze) since 2014. Basic record-keeping with the localization of as many extinct glassworks as possible is essential for field research. To identify the sites of such extinct modern-era glassworks, we must know at least the types of terrain relics that are characteristic for such premises.
The aim of the article is to basically describe, for example, the relics of the smelting halls and the production furnaces as well as other pyrotechnical facilities, but also waterworks (grinders and cutters) as well as production waste dumps.
Smelter halls and furnaces
These were the main production facilities of the entire complex and the functional center of each glassworks; identifying these sites enables us to identify the basic location of the defunct glassworks. In the older modern era until the first half of the 19th century, these were block structures with a predominantly rectangular layout consisting of a wooden wall construction on a stone foundation wall. In the central area was the main production furnace consisting of melting and cooling parts. In addition, there were another 2 to 5 auxiliary furnaces in the hall.
During the industrial era, the smelter halls changed; their scope increased, and the layouts became more complex. The number of the glasswork furnaces also increased, and the nature of both the main production and the auxiliary furnaces changed. An example of a glassworks from the earlier period is the site of the Třecí huť (1754-1791) with relics of a smelter hall and three furnaces. The location of a smelter hall has been identified by a relic of the melting furnace of the defunct glass mill Mlýnský Vrch (1757-1791). The industrial period is represented by the extensive relics of the smelter hall of the Nečtiny glassworks hall (1824-1896) and by the Černá Údolí glassworks (1838-1903).
Self-standing pyro-technological structures
These were particularly furnaces used for roasting quartz, known locally as "kyzovny". In the proto-industrial period from the beginning of the 19th century, they were mostly moved from the smelter halls to the scales.
Remains of such a structure have been identified, for example, at the defunct glassworks of Křížová Huť (1708-1890). Unfortunately, the structure was disturbed by the intervention of amateur archeologists.
Grinders and waterworks
Grinders for crushing raw materials into glass batch were a necessary part of technical structures in every glassworks complex until almost the end of the 19th century. In the older period, these were classic stick grinders powered by a water wheel; industrial wheeled mills were used later.
The grinder has been identified, for example, at the site of the Nečtiny glassworks, where the terrain shows a recognizable terrace of the work area and part of the ice area with a drainage channel. The relics of two grinders were also identified on the premises of the Brtnice glassworks (1839-1850). Relics of the younger type, using a wheeled mill, are located near the defunct glassworks of Kristiánov (1775-1887) in the Jizera Mountains and millraces. Relics of such ponds (outlines of embankments) are located, for example, in the location of the extinct glassworks above Láz, e.g. Dobříšské huti (1749-1783), as well as the extinct Boštice glassworks (1708 - before 1720). A millrace was also identified at the aforementioned Kristiánov glassworks, where it drained water from the grinder, as well as at the glassworks in Kouty (1794-1810) where it supplied driving water to a possible grinder or sawmill.
Waste heaps
Waste heaps represent a specific archaeological relic with deposits of glass production waste, which is the most characteristic for defunct glassworks. The terrain identification of a waste heap usually provides the basis for the location of a defunct glassworks, since other relics in the terrain are often unrecognizable. A massive waste heap has been identified, for example, at the aforementioned Nečtiny glassworks site, but also at the defunct glasswork Jiříkovo Údolí (1786-1910). A waste heap, completely archaeologically transformed, was also located at the Zalíbená glassworks (1739-1749).
Brief information on the appearance of the archaeological relics of extinct glassworks, together with the creation of an inventory of glasswork locations, could serve as an impulse to stimulate a higher interest in archaeological heritage sites of extinct modern glassworks. Only through an effort to gain comprehensive knowledge of this type of archaeological site is it possible to create the conditions for defining methods to protect them in a meaningful and effective way. Identifying the most valuable sites and elements, and subsequently declaring them as cultural heritage properties, is merely the basic starting point for such an endeavor.

Keywords: archeology, modern-era glassworks, extinct glassworks, glass production, non-destructive exploration

Published: December 1, 2018  Show citation