The Difference between Jurassic and Cretaceous Cherts in Central Europe and Its Heat Treatment before Stone Chip-Ping (Pilot Study)

Petr Schnabl,David Milde,Martin Moník ,Zdeňka Nerudová ,Šimon Kdýr

doi:10.4236/ojg.2019.910072

Abstract

Rock-magnetic methods prove that the cultures in Moravia (Europe) 15,000 - 11,500 years ago might know the technique how to enhance knapping properties of Jurassic chert and Cretaceous flint in order to make stone tools.

Highlights

Scientific Research Publishing Inc.This work is licensed under the Creative The Olomučany chert outcrops are located NNE of Brno in a relic of Jurassic se-Commons Attribution International diments in the vicinity of Olomučany village
Olomucany chert artifacts contain more magnetite than the control rock-samples, which could be interpreted as a heat treatment before the knapping, later non-intentional heating or quarrying different layers for tool making than are exposed today
The pilot results show that the heat treatment method was not used in the Moravian Magdalenian regularly, the method was not absolutely unknown

Summary

Introduction

Scientific Research Publishing Inc.This work is licensed under the Creative The Olomučany chert outcrops are located NNE of Brno in a relic of Jurassic se-Commons Attribution International diments in the vicinity of Olomučany village. This work is licensed under the Creative The Olomučany chert outcrops are located NNE of Brno in a relic of Jurassic se-. The layered chert intercalates in License (CC BY 4.0). The chert has dark grey color and mi-. Open Access croscopically is formed by microfossils and opaque material partly by organic origin. The opaque material is colored rusty-brown due to the presence of iron oxides. The transparent material is formed by chalcedony and scarce crystals of macro quartz. The chalcedony forms the 0.2 mm spherulites and cryptocrystalline matrix. The spherulites are probably replaced microfossils [2]. The coarser grain size is typical for Olomučany chert that helps to macroscopically recognize from erratic flints encountered in Silesian and North-Moravian territory. A rare component of the Olomučany chert is glauconitic grains.

Methods

Results

Conclusion