Page 61 - buvkeramika

61
language, phonetically similar to Modern German Ziegel. The designation tegel in its turn was adopted
from the Latin tegula – this was how Romans named thin bricks or clay plates that were used for roof
covering (from Lat. tegere – cover). Tegel was used in Livonian documents still in the 16th century,
although in parallel also zigel was encountered (LGU II, Nr. 450, S. 265; Nr. 825, S. 527). On the meaning
see: Lübben 1989, 400). Whereas the Latin name for a brick used for construction of walls is later. The
Latvian word dakstiņš (roof tile) is a localised Middle Low German designation that can be literally
translated as “stone of the roof ” (dacksten 1502 – LUB II,2; Nr. 412, S. 310). In Modern German Dachziegel
(literally – “brick of the roof ”) is used (dacksten, dachtegel = Dachziegel, see Lübben 1989, 72). Also, the
words flīze (tile; vlisenn , 1535 – LGU II, Nr. 639, S. 384), mūris (brick wall), būvēt (to build; mure, muren,
buwen – LUB I, Nr. 549, Sp. 688) have been adopted from the German language.
There is little documentary evidence of Livonian medieval brick-kilns and their produce. Mainly some
particular facts are known – a few notes of makers of building ceramics or prices of their products in Riga
city registry books, or a mention of some brick-kiln in other documents. Therefore, only fragmentary
information is available about the locations of brick-kilns and their produce until the 16th century, whereas
from the late 17th century and the 18th century the documents of brick-kilns of Riga and Jelgava/Mitau
have been preserved, which have allowed researchers to make a much more comprehensive summarisation
and versatile conclusions on the organisation of the operation of brick-kilns (Dunsdorfs 1937, 42–54;
Zeida 1962).
Most ancient written evidence on bricks and their production
in Riga and its closest environs
In the territory of Latvia the traditions of masonry and application of lime mortar were introduced in
the late 12th century and early 13th century by incomers – building masters invited by German bishops. It
was mentioned in the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia (Heinrici Cronicon Lyvoniae = Indriķa hronika, I, 6)
that in 1185 Ikšķile/Uexküll Castle was erected by stonemasons from Gottland, but in 1207 the defensive
wall of Riga was heightened by pilgrims – crusaders having arrived from German countries (Indriķa
hronika, XI, 1). Soon thereafter, written sources informed about application of building ceramics and
its production in Riga. An already existing brick building was mentioned in a year 2011 document by
which Bishop Albert of Riga allotted the place for building a new cathedral – the second Dom Church
of Riga (latericius domus – LUB I, Nr. 21, S. 29). Thus, in the newly-founded city bricks had been applied
already before 1211.
Since the dawn of Riga’s existence, bricks were made in the neighbourhood of the city. In 1226, Pope’s
legate Wilhelm von Modena, while in Livonia, permitted both clergymen and secular people to bake
bricks and burn lime (lateribus et calce coquenda; opus laterum – LGU I, Nr. 7, S. 7). More extensive use
of bricks was started in the 14th century, since in 1293 the Riga town council adopted the first building
regulations of the city. These contained the demand for brick masonry in the construction of buildings
and roofing of them with fireproof materials – roof tiles (buwen mit stene, und dekke mit stene – LUB I,
Nr. 549, Sp. 688). Since heating of the ovens was associated with fire, smoke, the smell of burn and intense
heat, brick-kilns were set up beyond the city walls, owing to fire safety.
Ieva Ose. Building ceramics of Turaida Castle in the 13th–17th centuries