The oldest osseous mining tools in Europe? New discoveries from the chocolate flint mine in Orońsko, site 2 (southern Poland)

Abstract

This article presents the results of the traceological, experimental, physico-chemical and archaeozoological analyses undertaken on bone artefacts from one of the oldest known flint mines, i.e. the chocolate flint mine in Orońsko, Site 2, Poland. Based on typological and 11 radiocarbon measurements, the mine dates to the end of the Alleröd period and the early Younger Dryas. The results of the traceological and chemical analyses demonstrate that the bone artefacts were used as chisels/picks for removing limestone and extracting lumps of flint, which makes them some of the oldest known osseous mining tools in Europe. The identification of these unique tools has provided the impetus for conducting a multifaceted discussion on the state of research on the oldest mining tools from organic raw materials and the need to intensify specialist research in this area. The presence of ochre on one of the artefacts may indicate the possible movement of peoples connected with mining activities during the Late Palaeolithic/Mesolithic. Moreover, the results make an important contribution to our knowledge of the use-wear traces typical for prehistoric osseous mining tools.