Hyalophane- and tourmaline-bearing K-metasomatised polished stone implement from Northern Hungary

Abstract

A late Neolithic flat adze, originated from Szerencs-Taktaföldvár locality, North Hungary, was studied from archaeometric aspect. The adze suffered an alkali metasomatism which was revealed by the strikingly high alkali content and a large amount of potassic feldspars. Ba-rich and Ba-free potassic feldspars, and tourmaline, as characteristic minerals, were recorded from the adze. Despite of the several unique features, the precise provenance cannot be established. According to the mineral assemblage, one of the most possible provenances of raw material is Slovak Ore Mountains, near Tisovec; but due to the archaeological background of the Tiszaculture, the regions south of the Carpathian basin (Balkan, Banat) should be considered as well.