57110.19.01 Prähistorisches Bergbaugebiet Weikersbach

The study area covers the districts of Harham and Weikersbach in Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer, extending from the Gröbenbach stream in the south to Weikersbach in the north and from the ridge between Durchenkopf (1,764 m) and Weikersbacher Köpfl (1,614 m) down to the valley floor. The slopes are largely covered with debris, with geological outcrops mainly found in large gullies, exposing Pinzgauer phyllites with hydrothermal pyrite mineralization containing varying copper concentrations.

Due to the steep terrain, the survey was conducted in October and November 2019 without a fixed grid. It confirmed four previously known sites (smelting and mining areas) and identified a new prehistoric smelting site (Obj. 04 – Schmelzplatz Gröbenbach) at 1,350–1,360 m altitude. The site was recognized by strong soil discoloration and sparse vegetation. A 6 m high slope revealed evidence of past smelting activities over a 25 m stretch, including slag processing remains, heat-reddened stones, and remnants of a smelting furnace disrupted by forest road construction. A complete slag cake from the furnace was recovered, along with a charcoal sample for dendrochronological analysis.

All documented smelting sites share characteristics with those in Viehhofen, showing evidence of multiple smelting processes and slag refining. The sites were recorded using GNSS, and representative finds were collected for further study (dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating).