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Vrbovec Castle near Klenovec Humski − Archaeological Conservation Excavations in 2006
Tatjana Tkalčec
Abstract
In 2006, the systematic archaeological conservation research of the castle of Vrbovec was continued. The archaeological research encompassed the area of the northwestern part of the site, beyond the measures of the architectural frame, in order to define the connection between the foundation footings of the north and west walls of the castle. Remains of a wooden construction were discovered. Whether we are dealing with the remains of a scaffolding used by the 13th century masons for the construction of the Romanic castle, shall only be clarified by the sequel of the archaeological research. In the upper layers, numerous discarded fragments of ceramic pottery, mostly kitchen pots, were found. On the other hand, the dates of some single finds of table pottery point to a wider time span, in which life or a form of life existed in the town, i.e. until the very end of the 15th and even the beginning of the 16th century. This is not in accordance with the historical sources, in which the castle of Vrbovec is mentioned as deserted already in 1463 and subsequently in 1497.
The rescue conservation and consolidation works were also continued on the investigated architecture. Before the works were started, the walls were cleansed and rinsed with Miniwash. In the course of the works, the plaster was tended by pouring water over it. The binding − gauged lime mortar − consisted of aggregate (< 4 mm) from the nearby local quarry, lime and cement in the ratio of (1:3:6 - cement:lime:aggregate). Stones from the very locality have been used. The finish coat was made out of the hydraulic lime Calx Romano in the ratio of 1:2 (Calx Romano:aggregate). The faces of the walls, i.e. their original medieval parts, were coated by a mixture firmer than Calx Romano (1:1), a process necessary because of their bad preservation.
Keywords
Castle; 13th-15th century; secular architecture; Gothic; archaeological excavation; architecture conservation; Hrvatsko zagorje
Hrčak ID:
13238
URI
Publication date:
5.6.2007.
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