Smeltediglerne fra Kvæsthusbroen

English summary
In 2005, I was in charge of the archaeological investigation at Kvæsthusbroen in Copenhagen,
where, among other things, 56 fragments of crucibles dated to the period around 1600 to 1750 AD
was found. The crucibles could by subsequent analysis be determined to originate from the German
state of Hesse. Analysis could also reveal, that the crucibles proprably was involved in alchemical
operations.
To illustrate the reseach potential of medieval and post-medieval crucibles the thesis presents a
comparative material from Denmark and abroad.
The comparative material from Denmark includes two archaeological finds of crucibles from
Amalienborg in Copenhagen and the medieval mounds Rovborg near Skælskør. Both findings may
have had a connection to alchemy.. The crucibles from Kvæsthusbroen exhibits many similarities
with the crucible from Amalienborg concerning find circumstances, dating, shape and size.
Provenances also have similarities, since both types are produced in Germany. The crucible from
Amalienborg could, through a stamp on the base, be associated to the German state of Bavaria. The
two crucible finds from Copenhagen has fewer similarities with the find from Rovborg which
diverges in dating, shape and size. However, the crucibles from Rovborg has, similarities with
another Danish find, Bjørnkær, related to alchemy. Six Danish sites associated with alchemy,
including Bjørnkær, is presented in the thesis in order to illustrate the research potential in alchemy.
Two archaeological finds from Austria and Switzerland of objects related til alchemy is presented
as foreign comparative material.
English research has shown that there were mainly two dominant producers of crucibles in the
period between 1300-1800.. The production sites were situated in Hesse and Bavaria in Germany
and were major competitors during that period. The crucibles from Kvæsthusbroen and the crucible
from Amalienborg originated precisely from these two production sites and thus puts Denmark on
the distribution map that shows the export areas of the German crucibles. A distribution map which
also includes North and South America and large parts of Europe. The thesis presents several sites
from these areas, where archaeological finds of Hessian and Bavarian crucibles had been made.
The thesis also discuss the potential of post-medieval archaeology in Denmark. To illustrate this,
several examples from more recent excavations, which have given new and important knowledge
about the period in Denmark, are presented.
The thesis concludes that medieval and post-medieval crucibles and other archaeological objects
Susanne Møller Johansen. Kandidatspeciale
Forhistorisk Arkæologi
Københavns Universitet 2010
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