Polished Stone Artefacts Research Articles

Direct analysis of ground stone artefacts; a study of the use of Early Bronze Age stone Battle-Axes and Axe-Hammers

Most interpretations of ground stone artefacts are still based on their form and depositional contexts and lack scientific functional assessments, such as use-wear analysis and experimental archaeology. For instance, previous interpretations of perforated stone battle-axes and axe-hammers have been influenced by their form and similarity to the battle-axes of the Single Grave Culture in Scandinavia and have assumed the British battle-axes were purely ceremonial while the rougher axe-hammers were too large and crude to be either ceremonial or functional. Studies of typology, manufacturing processes and identification of petrological sources have failed to resolve the use of these implements. This paper presents the methodological approach used to revisit artefact function in the first large-scale application of use-wear analysis on Early Bronze Age battle-axes and axe-hammers from Northern Britain and the Isle of Man, 2200–500 BCE. The data supports a reassessment of the role of these objects, indicating they were versatile and multi-functional tools while expanding traceological research data for bladed ground stone artefacts. Moreover, it enhances the field of use-wear analysis on bladed ground and polished stone artefacts, of which only a small fraction have been analysed in this manner. As such, this research demonstrates the academic potential of applying use-wear analysis and experimental archaeology to the study of ground stone artefacts, which has thus far received less attention than knapped and flaked industries.

Шлифовка камня и усложнённое собирательство в палеолите: есть ли связь? (по материалам Костёнковско-Борщёвских стоянок)

Spectacular finds at some of the Gravettian sites of the Kostenki-Borshevo region on the Don River served for the reconstruction of the economic and technological characteristics of the Middle Upper Paleolithic. The materials of these sites contain large polished stone artifacts, but till recently the technology of their manufacture has not been studied in the context of the whole industry. Quartzite slabs with wear traces indicative of their use as grinders traditionally, following A. N. Rogachev, were considered as tools for processing plant resources obtained in the course of gathering. In addition, many of the salbs in question bear residues of ocher-based colorants. The article discusses the connection between the technological chains associated with the production of polished stone pieces and ocher-based colorants and their relationship with the concept of “complex gathering” proposed by A. N. Rogachev. It is shown that stone polishing was not a sporadic activity, but represented rather a well-developed technological know-how common for the Gravettian sites of Kostenki. Quartzite slabs were used both in grinding and in the production of colorants. Without denying the possibility of using such slabs for processing plant products, we have to stree that such a function definitely was not the only one.

Ecological change and human responses to the YD in a subtropical area: Archaeological evidences and isotope records from Zhongshan site, south China

Climate change, a global challenge for human beings, is in the long term best documented through archaeological research. As this has shown, some cold reversal events, like Last Glacial Maximum and YD, greatly impacted of human behavior in mid-latitude areas of the northern hemisphere. A general recognition on how these events affected those in low latitude areas is yet to be determined. Previous studies have suggested that cold reversal events had a limited impact on humans in the latter parts of the world. This account discusses the effect of the YD on human behavior in a subtropical region, based on isotope analyses, and samples both faunal and artificial from the late Pleistocene site of Zhongshan in the Bubing Basin, Guangxi. During the YD, the environment became more open, and the consumption of aquatic resources increased. Polished stone artefacts first occurred in this period, probably for finer food processing. Our study highlights the significant impact of the YD on the ecology and human behavior in this subtropical region.

INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TOALEAN AND AUSTRONESIAN CULTURES IN THE MALLAWA AREA, MAROS DISTRICT, SOUTH SULAWESI

The Mallawa area lies 92 km northeast of Makassar city and 62 km east of Maros township, in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Previous research points to an indigenous population named the Toalean and here we demonstrate its presence in the Mallawa area by around 6500–7000 BP, before the immigration of Neolithic Austronesians at around 3580 BP. Distinctive Toalean artefacts are geometric microliths, blades and Maros points, while distinctive Austronesian artefacts are red-slipped pottery and polished stone artefacts (especially axes and adzes). The purpose of this research is to examine archaeological evidence for contact between the first Austronesians and the Toaleans who already occupied Mallawa. The research method involved survey and excavation. The survey finding was documentation of 11 closed sites (caves) and two open sites. Excavation, undertaken in Liang Uttange 1, indicates Toalean occupation by 7000 cal. BP, followed by the arrival of Austronesian speakers in the Mallawa area who then underwent interaction and adaptation. Their interaction with Toaleans is shown by finds such as earthenware, adzes and distinctive types of shell ornaments (Neolithic Austronesian culture) associated with geometric microliths and Maros points (Toalean culture). This start of this interaction is dated to between circa 3500 and 3200 cal. BP at Liang Uttange 1.Keywords: Mallawa, Austronesian, Toalean, culture contact

The polished stone industry from Șoimuş – La Avicola (Ferma 2), Hunedoara County

In this contribution the polished stone artefacts from the Neolithic settlement at Şoimuş – La Avicola (Ferma 2), Hunedoara County are analysed. These items belong to Turdaş facies and were discovered during rescue excavations on the A1 Motorway route in 2011. The items are analysed from the point of view of their typology, technology and context, but also their dimensions and the possible sources of raw materials being taken into consideration. A wide range of raw materials for making stone tools at Şoimuş was used, which proves the amazing adaptability of the Turdaş communities to the local environment.

Clasificarea uneltelor din piatră şlefuită din situl de la Porţ-„Corău” / The Typological Clasification of the Polished Stone Tools from Porţ-„Corău”

The site of Porț-“Corău” (Sălaj County) represents the same neolithic settlement as Suplacu de Barcău-“Corău” site (Bihor County), belonging and defining the Suplac cultural group, included in the Cluj-Cheile Turzii-Lumea Nouă-Zau-Iclod-Suplac complex, redefined also as Zau culture. In both areas, but especially at Porț, a large number of polished stone tools (about 1700), showing different working stages, were discovered along with raw material showing traces of manufacture. The sistematic investigations, conducted by Doina Ignat at Suplacu de Barcău, lead to the discovery of more than 500 polished stone tools, making the site of “Corău” the richest one in this type of artifacts in the whole country. She had created a typology for chiesels, axes, adzes and smashing stones, each category being divided into types and subtypes.The preventive diggings from Porț gave us not only more polished stone artifacts, but also the possibility to reconsider their typology. First we must add some categories to those defined by D. Ignat: strikers, axe-chiesels, and tools used only for manufacturing the stone tools: sandstone slabs for polishing and stone slabs used for cutting/splitting the preforms. Second, and more important, we must redefine the types and subtypes of each category, based on common and general criterias. We have chosen usually the shape to define the type and the long profile to define the subtipe, adding here the presence of perforation. The main forms found for chiesels, axes and adzes are: rectangular, elongated, trapezoidal, oval, quadrilateral. The long profiles can be: rectangular, plain-rounded, plainconvex, rounded, oblique. Different combination between shapes and profiles appear. No chronological value can be given to the typology, the lithic material can be dated only by its context. The typology remains open for other types and subtypes based on the same criteria.

Non-Invasive Characterization of Stone Artifacts from the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan, Mexico

ABSTRACTThe Museum of the Great Temple of Tenochtitlan in Mexico City holds a collection of several thousands of polished stone artifacts that were excavated and identified as temple offerings. These can stratigraphically be related to the sequential construction stages (II-VII) of the ceremonial area of the Aztec capital from the foundation of the city in 1325 to 1521, when the Spaniards conquered the city. A non-destructive investigation of the elemental and chemical composition of these archaeological artifacts helps us to understand the provenance of these pieces, their use and the specific mineralogical choice for these artifacts as well as more information regarding trade routes relevant to the development of the Aztec empire. A mineralogical analysis of, in total, 450 stone artifacts was carried out using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). From this, eighty-five pieces were selected according to their excavation location, either in the Great Temple itself or in the surrounding buildings, as well as to represent the different construction stages of the area (this is part of a World Heritage Site). The resulting mineralogical and chemical information was related to possible mineral resources that were controlled and used as the empire expanded. Artifacts made from high-status semi-precious minerals, like jadeite and turquoise, are found to be concentrated in the central buildings and in the Great Temple itself, but also in the later construction periods of the area.

Neolithic tools in S. Lazzaro di Savena (Bologna): a petro-archaeometric study

Seventy-three Neolithic polished stone artefacts of the S. Lazzaro di Savena collection, of which about half petrographically studied, show both Early and Middle Neolithic Age. Sixty-five artefacts (89 %) are manufactured with HP-metaophiolites (“greenstone”): Alpine Eclogites (71 %), Na-pyroxenitic Jades (11 %), Omphacite schists (3 %) and Glaucophanic schists (4 %), similar to all Neolithic collections from Northern Italy. Some petrographic peculiarities suggest a provenance from the Rivanazzano or nearby sources in the NW-Apennines. Of eight other finds (11 %), four adzes and one fragmented arm ring are manufactured with basaltic lithologies derived from the Apennine ophiolites cropping out in the S. Lazzaro area. They demonstrate local sources and ability of manufacturing in loco. A few analogous Early Neolithic implements near the Po River and west of Bologna reveal a so far unknown circulation of these lithologies. One chisel made in sandstone comes from a nearby source. Two limestone arm ring fragments probably derive from SE, i.e. from the Ripoli Culture.

SYNCHROTRON FTIR MICRO-SPECTROSCOPY APPLIED TO THE STUDY OF POLISHED SERPENTINITE ARTEFACTS: A NON-DESTRUCTIVE ANALYTICAL APPROACH

In prehistory, serpentinite was one of the most frequently used raw materials to produce polished stone artefacts. Several conventional analytical techniques can be applied to identify the serpentine minerals, but their application generally requires a powdered sample. This implies that the artefacts to be analysed must be damaged, and the possibility of analysing a mixture of different serpentine polytypes is high. The use of spatially resolved techniques is therefore a necessity to overcome this problem. Several thin sections of serpentinitic rocks and prehistoric axes have been analysed by synchrotron radiation Fourier transform infrared micro-spectroscopy. The spectra were acquired directly on specific points of polished stone artefacts and this allowed the recognition of the different polytypes of serpentine minerals without causing any damage to the objects. The results show the infrared micro-spectroscopy technique to be a useful tool for the characterization of archaeological lithic material.

Prehistoric polished stone artefacts in Italy: a petrographic and archaeological assessment

Abstract The paper illustrates the results of an archaeometric project on the raw material characterization of some collections of prehistoric polished stone tools, dated from the Early Neolithic to the Bronze Age, from sites located in Northern Italy. The petrographic analyses (surface and thin-section microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-energy-dispersive spectrometry, X-ray fluorescence, atomic absorption spectrometry) revealed a raw material circulation network involving the whole of Northern Italy. Here occur the outcrops of high-pressure (HP) meta-ophiolites, which were widely utilized from the Early Neolithic onwards for the manufacture of polished cutting-edged tools, which are represented by axes, adzes and chisels. Other raw materials, such as serpentinites, seem to have been preferred for the production of other types of artefacts, including stone rings used as bracelets. The analyses revealed that the prehistoric polished stone artefacts were made from uncommon lithologies such as Alpine eclogites, jades and other HP meta-ophiolites. These rocks were exploited from primary and secondary sources, mainly located in Piedmont, the Aosta Valley and Liguria. During the Neolithic these lithologies are the dominant raw material for the polished stone tools in Northern Italy and southeastern France. In the same period, in other European countries the same lithologies occur less frequently as axe or adze blades; in NW Europe they were frequently used for manufacturing long ceremonial axes, which have a typology that does not appear to belong to the Italian tradition.

Paleoenvironmental and archeological significance of alluvial placers of the Brazilian Amazon

The gold and tin-bearing alluvial placers of the Brazilian Amazon high terrains constitute a remarkable record of the environmental changes which occurred in the region during the Quaternary. The deposits are typically immature, and have been formed by mass movements under semi-arid climate. They are clearly older than the last rain forest spreading, and may be attributed to cyclic episodes which have been correlated to the Pleistocene glaciations. These interpretations are highlighted by the discovery of abundant polished stone artifacts which have been preserved within Pleistocene deposits. The archeological record allows the demarcation of an important cultural tradition, widely disseminated in the Brazilian Amazon, and gives a starting point to review our present knowledge of the Amazonian Prehistory - still centered in studies on the Várzea" region, of Holocene age. This means that the human establishment in the Amazon is much older than formerly believed.

A Preliminary Study of Polished Stone Artefacts in Prehistoric Southern Italy

This paper is based on work carried out in 1984 to 1986 for an M.Phil, degree at the University of Lancaster. Virtually no work had been done on the subject for over seventy years and, with the exception of one article (Evett 1973), nothing showing the influence of the work of the Implement Petrology Committee of the Council for British Archaeology. Consequently little information was available which could be used as a basis for further research. Three problems were immediately faced: the time available in which to study artefacts in south Italian museums was severely limited; thin-sectioning could not be used; and due to lack of earlier studies data collection would have to be made blind, without reference to any formal model designed to answer previously formulated questions. These problems were all solved, and this paper outlines the development of, and theoretical and practical justifications for, my methodology, the methodology itself, its application to a sample of polished stone artefacts, the data thus obtained and their interpretation, and wider concerns such as the application of this methodology to other areas.

The Origin of the Sonoyta Townsite, Sonora, Mexico

Archaeological investigation in the vicinity of Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico, an oasis and crossroads settlement on the south bank of the Sonoyta River, a spring-fed desert stream that parallels the Arizona-Sonora boundary for some miles, discloses plentiful evidence of a lengthy and probably continuous occupation of the area by a toolusing agricultural people. The location and general environment of Sonoyta is shown in Fig. 3a.During the last thirty years, several tons of polished stone artifacts, mostly metates, manos, and hammers, have been found in the Sonoyta Valley within easy walking distance of the townsite. Many of these, particularly metates and manos, have been salvaged by local Indians, and are still in use.

The Origin of Some Polished Stone Artifacts

Polished stone artifacts, found in many parts of the world, are widely cited as evidence of the patience and manual dexterity of primitive man. Investigation of the polishing scratches on the surfaces of a number of stone hammers strongly suggests that the polish is of natural origin, a conclusion supported by the difference between this polish and that in the hafting grooves, known to be man-made. (Fig. 7)