In the Middle Ages Nordheim played a particularly important role. The noble family of the Northeimers, who carried the name of the Sarntal into the wider world through Cyprian von Northeim, the Chancellor of Emperor Maximilian, came from here. The first von Northeim noble is mentioned in the records in 1212. In contrast, in early modern times, Astfeld owes its fame to its smelting works, about whose location and importance Georg Mutschlechner teaches. The location of the smelting works is indicated by a letter dating from 1545 to the regional judges of Gries and Bolzano regarding water pollution in Nordheim and Astfeld. It was positioned below the confluence of the Durnholz stream and the river Talfer. This smelting works, which was operated by the Teutonic Order, was used to smelt ore from the Sarntal as well as silver ores from Terlano/Terlan and Nalles/Nals. Sadly, the two villages also became known over the centuries for the many floods caused by the deluges from the Durnholz stream and the Talfer from the Pensertal Valley.