Find during construction work

Ancient ceramic production site uncovered in Lower Austria

In the course of work for a drinking water pipeline, an ancient production site (picture) for ceramics was uncovered in Petronell.

(Bild: APA/EVN AG/Daniela Matejschek)

During work for an EVN water pipeline, a ceramic production site has been uncovered in Petronell, Lower Austria. Kurt Fiebig, head of the archaeological site supervision, dated the find to between 100 and 300 years after Christ.

According to information from Friday, the Federal Monuments Office has decided to leave the discoveries in place, as the soil offers the best protection for monuments. The planned pipeline will now be relocated by a few meters.

According to EVN CEO Stefan Stallinger, a new drinking water supply pipeline is being laid in the region from the Petronell natural filter plant towards Scharndorf. After the discovery, however, it was the archaeologists' turn to have their say.

Probably even two ceramic productions
As Fiebig noted, the discovery probably even involved two ceramic production sites that were built next to each other. "The exposed object still shows the firing chamber. Next to it, we found the heating channel that connects the working pit with the firing chamber."

The workplace was once located outside the city walls due to noise and dirt. Traces of posts and trenches point to a building that served as a drying and storage room.

In addition, the preserved remains of the posts show brick foundations which, according to the EVN, were partly built with Roman roof tiles, the so-called tegulae.