Slipsteinberget Soapstone Vessel Quarry. Home Production or Professional Craft?

Abstract

A case study of the large Slipsteinsberget soapstone quarry at Sparbu in Nord-Trøndelag County (central Norway) is presented. The archaeological evidence indicates that professional craftspeople worked at the soapstone quarry, producing vessels for larger markets, over a period of at least 400 years, from the early 11th to the 15th century. Discovery of finished vessels, two house ruins attached to the production, the large volume of the production and the exploitation methods all bear witness of a large-scale industry with distinct structures and methods.