Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis of the Nyírlugos obsidian core depot find

Zsolt Kasztovszky,Katalin T Biró,Zoltán Kis

doi:10.2218/jls.v1i1.784

Zsolt Kasztovszky, Katalin T Biró + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.v1i1.784

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Abstract

The Nyirlugos obsidian core depot find is one of the most important lithic assemblages in the collection of the Hungarian National Museum (HNM). The original set comprised 12 giant obsidian cores, of which 11 are currently on the permanent archaeological exhibition of the HNM. One of the cores is known to be in Debrecen. The first publication attributed the hoard, on the strength of giant (flint) blades known from the Early and Middle Copper Age Tiszapolgar and Bodrogkeresztur cultures, to the Copper Age. In the light of recent finds it is more likely to belong to the Middle Neolithic period. The source area was defined as Tokaj Mts., about 100 km to the NW from Nyirlugos. The size and beauty of the exceptional pieces exclude any invasive analysis. Using Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA), we can measure major chemical components and some key trace elements of stone artefacts with adequate accuracy to successfully determine provenance of obsidian. Recent methodological development also facilitated the study of relatively large objects like the Nyirlugos cores. The cores were individually measured by PGAA. The results show that the cores originate from the Carpathian 1 sources, most probably the Vinicky variety (C1b). The study of the hoard as a batch is an important contribution to the assessment of prehistoric trade and allows us to reconsider the so-called Carpathian, especially Carpathian 1 (Slovakian) sources.

Highlights

The obsidian core depot find from Nyírlugos, Eastern Hungary is one of the most important lithic assemblages in the collection of the Hungarian National Museum (HNM)
The study of the hoard as a batch is an important contribution to the assessment of prehistoric trade and allows as to reconsider the so-called Carpathian, especially Carpathian 1 (Slovakian) sources
The quantitative analysis was based on our Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) library (Révay et al 2004) using the HYPERMET PC spectrum fitting software (Révay et al 2005, Révay 2009) and the ProSpeRo 3.2.4 software package used for calculation of elemental concentrations and their uncertainties

Summary

Introduction

The obsidian core depot find from Nyírlugos, Eastern Hungary is one of the most important lithic assemblages in the collection of the Hungarian National Museum (HNM). The original set was comprised of 12 giant obsidian cores, of which 11 are currently on the permanent archaeological exhibition of the HNM (Figure 1.). One of the cores is known to be in Debrecen. This unique find was published first by J. Hillebrand (1928) who attributed the hoard, on the strength of giant blades known from the Early and Middle Copper Age Tiszapolgár and Bodrogkeresztúr cultures, to the Copper Age. This unique find was published first by J. Hillebrand (1928) who attributed the hoard, on the strength of giant blades known from the Early and Middle Copper Age Tiszapolgár and Bodrogkeresztúr cultures, to the Copper Age These long blades were, made of flint exclusively (Hillebrand 1929; later on especially Patay 1960)

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