Different tools with the same functionality at Măgura-Buduiasca Neolithic settlement (Teleorman County, southern Romania)

Abstract

At the Neolithic settlements from the northern Danube, three types of artefacts are constantly present in archaeological contexts: spatulas made from cattle ribs, flattened sheep/goats astragali and Unio sp. shells with traces of use. These are very different types of items, in terms of raw material and in degree of their processing. Thus, while spatulas were obtained by major transformations of ribs, the astragali suffered only moderate changes thus allowing the identification of bone type and species. The shells had no technological changes to their natural morphology. The main purpose of our analysis was to reconstruct the way in which these tools were technologically created and how they were used. For this purpose, an experimental program has been developed that allows the recording of all details: raw materials, operational sequence and processed materials. The experimental pieces were used and the use-wear evolution pattern was systematically analyzed. Comparing the use-wear marks present on the archaeological pieces with those on the experimental pieces, we conclude that such tools were used during different stages of pottery manufacturing. The archaeological assemblage from the Măgura-Buduiasca settlement was used as a case study to prove the relevance of the results.