Investigating the use of grinding tools in prehistoric Bulgaria by phytolith analysis

Abstract

The discovery of grinding tools in archaeological contexts, used both in everyday tasks but also loaded with symbolic meaning, puts them among the most ubiquitous (though often neglected) archaeological artefacts. A thorough and interdisciplinary study of grinding tool assemblages can provide information covering a vast area of research topics, including tool function, subsistence strategies, plant exploitation and social organization; however, these kind of studies are thus far lacking in Bulgarian archaeology. Through phytolith analysis, this study aims to provide specific data about the plant materials processed in 24 grinding tools from various depositional contexts in six Bulgarian archaeological sites, ranging from the Late Neolithic to the Late Iron Age. Multivariate statistics are applied to assess possible post-depositional contamination by comparing multiple samples. The data obtained is used in accordance with the origin of the artefact, i.e. its primary or secondary deposition, which enhances the interpretation of the use of grinding tools and can be of value for wider research questions in the future.