Our EU-PoTaRCh network played a key role in the scientific program of the 31st Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA), held virtually from Belgrade (September 2-6, 2025).
Organized by our members Oliver Nelle, Aleksandra Fostikov, and Mirko Vranić, Session #256: „Metallurgy, timber and charcoal” delved into the crucial historical interconnections between mining, forest exploitation, and the production of essential forest by-products like charcoal.
The session highlighted how the increased demand for timber (for construction) and charcoal (as fuel and reducing agent for ore processing) led to significant landscape changes due to deforestation. It brought together scholars working on diverse aspects – from mining archaeology and dendrochronology of mining timbers to charcoal production site investigations – encouraging an interdisciplinary approach that combines surveys, excavations, material analysis, and textual explorations.
A key focus was the discussion on the heritage legacy of these practices, including their representation in museums and the challenges of identifying charcoal production sites linked to metal production. Furthermore, the session provided an update on the work initiated within our COST Action EU-PoTaRCh (CA22155), particularly concerning comparative data between South East and Central Europe, leveraging the rich mining history of the Balkan region. Discussions also covered the development of a database for PoTaRCh production, a core goal of WG3.
This active participation underscores our network’s commitment to exploring and disseminating research on the interconnectedness of resources and the long-term impact of historical forest product use on European heritage.