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Alte Münze mit Porträt und Inschrift, daneben Maßstab auf grauem Hintergrund.

Archaeology

A journey through time through the legacy

people's societies.

Arbeiter mit Bagger bei Ausgrabungen in einem engen, beleuchteten Kellerbereich.

Profound discoveries in the Blue Goose

Archeology has already been a guest at the Blaue Gans several times.
In 2012, a large 150 square meter cellar was dug under the foundations from the 14th century, and in 2018 and 2021 the rooms at Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz were adapted for catering (garden tavern).

The excavation of the cellar showed that this place had been “lived up” since ancient times (1st century AD).
It was located on the banks of the Salzach, and today’s artifacts were deposited there as municipal waste.

The first written records of the owners of the properties at the site of today’s Blue Goose date back to the middle of the 14th century.
Their material remains were found in cesspools that were used for wastewater and waste disposal.
Show me your trash – and I’ll tell you who you are!

(Ulli Hampel, ARDIG excavation service)

Image: Excavations in today’s kitchen

 

Window 1: Medieval pots and jugs (14th/15th century)

Unglazed, grey-toned “reductively fired” ceramic pots were used for cooking in the Middle Ages.
Economical decoration with scroll wheel decorations or horizontal ribs also served to improve handling through the rougher surfaces.

The mug belongs on the table, maybe also in the bar?
We don’t know the content.
However, the first homeowners (1350) were not yet innkeepers; as mining trades, they belonged to the upper middle class.

Drei antike Keramikfragmente auf weißem Hintergrund mit Messskala.

Window 2:

Glass fragments

(1st-3rd & 16th/17th centuries)

As early as Roman times, glass was produced in Salzburg, not far from the Blaue Gans, in the area of the Alte Universität/Hofstallgasse.
Perhaps the twisted rod with a bird protome (attachment) was produced there?
Originally, the so-called rubbing stick had a pestle-shaped end (for grinding cosmetics?) and was part of the toilet appliance.

Kleines, gedrehtes türkisfarbenes Glasobjekt auf hellem Hintergrund, mit feinen Details.

Window 2:

Glass fragments

(1st-3rd & 16th/17th centuries)

As early as Roman times, glass was produced in Salzburg, not far from the Blaue Gans, in the area of the Alte Universität/Hofstallgasse.
Perhaps the twisted rod with a bird protome (attachment) was produced there?
Originally, the so-called rubbing stick had a pestle-shaped end (for grinding cosmetics?) and was part of the toilet appliance.

In the 16th century, a Mediterranean table culture once again conquered Salzburg.
In the late Renaissance period and the early Baroque period, individual place settings, settings and precious dishes required exclusive framing.
Fragile, hand-blown glass was imported from Venice to decorate the festive table and invite guests on a sensual journey to the south.
The production method and recipes were kept a secret for a long time, and the knowledge (as with porcelain) also reached Austria (especially Bohemia) through “espionage”.

Antikes Glasfragment mit dekorativer Verzierung auf hellem Hintergrund und Maßstabsleiste.

Window 3:

Bowl Terra Sigillata (1st century)

Manufactured in large factories, this tableware represents the porcelain of antiquity. The shiny surfaces, made with a special slip coating, as well as the fine relief decorations were a must in any elegant household – even north of the Alps.
The ever-new decors created pressure to buy, as the table should always be equipped with the latest service.
Roman table customs required a multitude of bowls and bowls, which, in relief decorations, also conveyed generally known myths and stories in abbreviated form.

Zerbrochene rote Keramikscherben mit feinen Mustern und Reliefs

Window 3:

Bowl Terra Sigillata (1st century)

Manufactured in large factories, this tableware represents the porcelain of antiquity. The shiny surfaces, made with a special slip coating, as well as the fine relief decorations were a must in any elegant household – even north of the Alps.
The ever-new decors created pressure to buy, as the table should always be equipped with the latest service.
Roman table customs required a multitude of bowls and bowls, which, in relief decorations, also conveyed generally known myths and stories in abbreviated form.

Alte, verwitterte Kupfermünze mit grünen und braunen Patinaschichten auf weißem Hintergrund.
Altes, rostiges Werkzeug mit markanter Form auf weißem Hintergrund.
Down to the beginning

Window 4:

Coins (2nd & 17th centuries)

The Ace shows the portrait of the Roman Emperor Commodus (180-192 AD), the coin was minted in 175/176 AD under his father Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) for his co-ruling son.
These portraits were intended to transport the image of the emperor to the remote borders of the Roman Empire.
Marcus Aurelius (known for his “Self-Contemplations,” which is still appreciated today), and Commodus are proven to have stayed on the Danube, and therefore probably in what is now Austria.

Historische Münze mit beeindruckendem Porträt und lateinischer Inschrift

The two silver coins were minted almost 1,600 years later.
In the territory of Salzburg, not only Salzburg coins were valid; due to their material value, “foreign” Austrian coins were also accepted.
Here too, the coats of arms refer to the reigning rulers – advertising on their own behalf, so to speak!

Zwei historische Münzen mit Wappen und Inschrift auf weißem Hintergrund.

The two silver coins were minted almost 1,600 years later.
In the territory of Salzburg, not only Salzburg coins were valid; due to their material value, “foreign” Austrian coins were also accepted.
Here too, the coats of arms refer to the reigning rulers – advertising on their own behalf, so to speak!

Window 5:

Knife and ironing scissors (Roman Empire)

An iron knife as a personal tool – so functional that it cannot be classified in terms of time.
Whether in antiquity or the Middle Ages, form is determined by function.
The handle made of organic material (wood, bone, antler) is lost due to long storage in the ground.
Only one arm of the scissors remains.

Based on where it was found, our knife probably comes from the Roman Empire.
2,000 years of culinary culture in the Blaue Gans!

Zwei rostige Metallobjekte mit Maßstab in Nahaufnahme zu sehen.

Window 6:

Amphora fragments

(1st century)

In ancient times, amphorae were used as transport containers to transport wine, olives and seasoning sauces, even oysters, over long distances.
Original sound from Andreas Gfrerer: “The PET bottle of the Romans, so to speak!”
In this country, the products of the Mediterranean south were in demand not only because of their taste, but also as prestige goods.
Exclusive and expensive!
Stripped of their contents, the packaging ended up in landfills along the river.

Verschiedene antike Keramikscherben in einer Ausstellungsbox mit blauem Hintergrund.

Window 6:

Amphora fragments

(1st century)

In ancient times, amphorae were used as transport containers to transport wine, olives and seasoning sauces, even oysters, over long distances.
Original sound from Andreas Gfrerer: “The PET bottle of the Romans, so to speak!”
In this country, the products of the Mediterranean south were in demand not only because of their taste, but also as prestige goods.
Exclusive and expensive!
Stripped of their contents, the packaging ended up in landfills along the river.

Rostiges, antikes Bronzeobjekt mit grüner Patina und abgenutzter Oberfläche
Rendevous with the past