Abstract
A preventive archaeological excavation carried out in 2012 at Dambach-la-Ville (Bas-Rhin, France) uncovered a large Middle Neolithic settlement (Upper Rhine West Bischheim group) dating from the second half of the 5th millennium BCE. The site comprised a very large assemblage of well-dated macrolithic tools (more than 600). Grinding stones, including about roughouts, make up the bulk of the assemblage. Morphological analyses indicate that certain types of use-wear are linked directly to specific types of rock. The variety of rock types is unusual for this period. In fact, contrary to other assemblages from the same period mainly made up of Lower Triassic sandstone (Vosges sandstone; 43%), the tools fashioned on this settlement are mostly made from sedimentary rocks of the Permian and Lower Triassic (possible sources at 15 km), and more rarely from plutonic and metamorphic rocks (possible sources between 5 and 15 km). The use of rough textured rocks such as arkosic sandstone or microconglomerate largely dominating the assemblage. This one also includes a large group of hammerstones from different rock types (sedimentary, plutonic, volcanic and metamorphic). More than half are silicified micritic limestones, a rock that is extremely rare and can be unambiguously traced to a single outcrop about 15 kilometres from the site. This systematic interdisciplinary study of the tools and their petrography offers the opportunity to explore questions regarding provenance and procurement networks in Alsace around 4150 BCE.
Highlights
IntroductionA preventive archaeological excavation carried out near the town of Dambach-la-Ville (Alsace, France), 40 kilometres south of Strasbourg, led in 2011 to the discovery of a large Middle Neolithic settlement (Figure 1) dating from about 4150 BCE (Croutsch et al 2016)
Pebbles with facetted surfaces that assured a good grip were favoured for hammerstone production at the site of Dambach-la-Ville
The use of silicified limestone as hammerstones is most likely explained by its hardness
Summary
A preventive archaeological excavation carried out near the town of Dambach-la-Ville (Alsace, France), 40 kilometres south of Strasbourg, led in 2011 to the discovery of a large Middle Neolithic settlement (Figure 1) dating from about 4150 BCE (Croutsch et al 2016). Journal of Lithic Studies (2020) vol 7, nr. The settlement is located at the foot of the Vosges granite Bernstein Massif and covers a surface of over three hectares in the lowlands of Bruch de l'Andlau, one of Alsace's largest wetlands. The Neolithic occupation comprises just over 450 structures (pits, post holes, wells). Dendrochronological analyses, supported by pottery studies, suggest that the settlement spanned about 50 years, from circa 4172 to 4118 BCE. The grinding and polishing tool assemblage alone includes more 4,000 artefacts
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