Raw Flint Research Articles

Flint Processing in Donbass during the Chalcolithic

In the Neolithic, the Donbass was finally formed as one of prominent European centers for extraction and primary processing of raw flint. The formation of such a large economic area with its particular production specialization was determined by the mineral wealth of the region and its plentiful deposits of high-quality Upper Cretaceous flints. The most complex sites of mining in terms of organization and specialised workshops on primary flint splitting date back to this period. As far as mining in the southern Donbas of the time is concerned, there emerged adits for flint extraction in the layer of limestone (Shirokoie). The mine workings were made in the form of wide horizontal chambers along the slope with separate entrances and transport and ventilation apertures. The mining was carried out with horn tools and adzes with metal wedge-shaped inserts. In the Chalcolithic, workshops for production of bifaces (Krasnoie) and a specialized settlement of flint craftsmen (Vasilyevskaia Pustosh) emerged in the North-Western Donbass. A variety of techniques for primary splitting and making of stone tools, characterized by a distinct cultural context, was used in these workshops. For the production of plates, large blanks of lithic cores with one platform and two longitudinal edges with two-sided processing that converge at the base were used. The most complex technologies for lithic cores splitting and tools processing are associated with the so-called Novodanilovsky cultural complex. The article contributes to the series of publications on the development of the Donetsk center for mining and primary processing of flint in the Stone Age.

Contribution to Understanding the Distribution of ‘Chocolate’ Flint on the Polish Lowlands in the Early Neolithic: Kruszyn, Site 13

Abstakt “Chocolate’”flint was the main raw material used by the Early Neolithic Linear Band Cul¬ture (LBK) groups in the Polish Lowlands. Since the second (note) phase of the development of this culture, the early farmers developed a complex system of distribution of ‘chocolate’ flint within the great-valleys zone of the Lowlands. Concretions of raw flint were transported by the Vistula river from the outcrops located on the southeastern slopes of the Świętokrzyskie (Holy Cross) Mountains to Kuyavia. They were worked into cores and processed in settlements close to the Vistula valley. Cores and blades/flakes were also exported to distant locations to the west as far as the Lower Oder basin area. One would expect the existence of specialised workshops providing materials for such a mass distribution. Kruszyn site 13, Włocławek distr., is the first LBK ‘chocolate’ flint workshop discovered close to the Vistula river concentrated on production of blades. This site fits well into the LBK flint distribution system developed on the Lowlands

Flint tools processing and use in northeastern Bulgaria at the end of Late Neolithic

A Late Neolithic settlement, chronologically related to the Boyan-Bolintineanu culture, with a considerate collection was found in 2003 during excavations of a Thracian fortress of IV-III BC in the archaeological reserve of Sboryanovo, northeastern Bulgaria. The total number of flint objects discovered to date is 1628. Over 90% of the raw flint is yellowish-grayish spotted flint with many inclusions, cracks and defects, apparently originating from small nodules collected on the surface and in the riverbeds. The remainder is typical Ludogorian (Balkan) honey-colored flint with excellent quality characteristics. The overall ratio of waste production: tools is typical for the Neolithic and Chalcolithic settlements in the area. The type of tools, use-wear traces, methods of treatment and the raw material used are specific for the Neolithic period. The analysis of the raw material used and the method of processing indicated trends in production, resulting in the subsequent bloom of flint industry in the Chalcolithic of the Balkan-Danubian region.

Adsorption of Congo, Red Rhodamine B and Disperse Blue Dyes From Aqueous Solution onto Raw Flint Clay

Removal of Congo red, Rhodamine B, and Dispers Blue dyes from water solution have been achieved using Flint Clay as an adsorbent. The adsorption was studied as a function of contact time, adsorbent dose, pH, and temperature under batch adsorption technique. The equilibrium data fit with Langmuir, Freundlich and Toth models of adsorption and the linear regression coefficient R2 was used to elucidate the best fitting isotherm model. Different thermodynamic parameters, namely Gibb’s free energy, enthalpy and entropy of the on-going adsorption process have also been evaluated. Batch technique has been employed for the kinetic measurements and the adsorption of the three dyes follows a second order rate kinetics. The kinetic investigations also reveal that intraparticle diffusion mechanism was operative

Adsorption of Congo, Red Rhodamine B and Disperse Blue Dyes From Aqueous Solution onto Raw Flint Clay

Removal of Congo red, Rhodamine B, and Dispers Blue dyes from water solution have been achieved using Flint Clay as an adsorbent. The adsorption was studied as a function of contact time, adsorbent dose, pH, and temperature under batch adsorption technique. The equilibrium data fit with Langmuir, Freundlich and Toth models of adsorption and the linear regression coefficient R2 was used to elucidate the best fitting isotherm model. Different thermodynamic parameters, namely Gibb’s free energy, enthalpy and entropy of the on-going adsorption process have also been evaluated. Batch technique has been employed for the kinetic measurements and the adsorption of the three dyes follows a second order rate kinetics. The kinetic investigations also reveal that intraparticle diffusion mechanism was operative

Pleistocene Rhine-Thames landscapes - a geological background for hominin occupation patterns in the southern North Sea

The relatively shallow southern North Sea is one of the most productive Pleistocene fossils bearing localities. Perhaps the most spectacular find thus far is a fragment of a Neanderthal skull. Unfortunately, it lacked a stratigraphical context and that applies to most of the finds retrieved. The North Sea Neanderthal project was therefore started with the aim to provide a better stratigraphical context for archaeological and palaeontological finds. Northwestern Europe was at the edge of the living range of hominins during major parts of the Pleistocene and establishing the pattern of hominin absence/presence is crucial to understand range shifts. We constructed a litho-morphogenetic framework explaining the stratigraphy and the spatial and temporal distribution of the Pleistocene deposits in the southern North Sea. This poster focuses on the largescale palaeogeographical changes in the drainage network that occurred during the Pleistocene. These changes result in a threefold division of the Pleistocene: 1.before the breaching of the Chalk bridge (pre-Anglian/Elsterian), the English Channel and the North Sea were separated; 2.After the Anglian/Elsterian and before MIS 6, the waters of the North Sea and English Channel were still separated, now by a smaller landbridge consisting of massive Paleogene clays, separating the Thames from the Rhine. It is hypothesised that breaching of the land bridge formed by the massive Paleogene clays occurred during MIS 6; 3.From MIS 5 to present, the final situation evolved with a highstand sea strait and a lowstand gorge in the Dover Strait. Besides directly impacting migration routes of animals and hominins, the changes also resulted in a larger availability of raw flint material (breach of Strait of Dover), but also in favourable conditions for extensive loess accumulation in northern France and Belgium which enabled preservation of Middle Palaeolithic sites, in contrast to Britain where thick loess blankets are rare.

Lystrup Østergård – En værkstedsplads fra yngre stenalder

Lystrup Østergård – En værkstedsplads fra yngre stenalder

IS THE MACROSCOPIC CLASSIFICATION OF FLINT USEFUL? A PETROARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FLINT RAW MATERIALS FROM THE IBERIAN NEOLITHIC MINE OF CASA MONTERO*

Casa Montero is a mining complex located outside Madrid (Spain), dated from the Early Neolithic (c. 5400–5000 cal bc). An area of some 4 ha has been investigated and some 4000 shafts recorded, of which 324 have been excavated. The characterization of its raw flint materials and the establishment of its diagnostic features are indispensable in the reconstruction of the distribution of the mine's products beyond the immediate site. This work reports the geological study of the mine's Miocene flint layers and their petrological characterization. Archaeological samples from the mine's shafts were classified according to macroscopic features and petrological characteristics.

Organization of Flint Sickle Blade Production at an Early Bronze Age Workshop in Anatolia

ABSTRACTA specialized workshop for the manufacture of flint sickle blades has recently been excavated at the site of Titris Hoyuk in southeastern Anatolia [1]. This paper will examine the sequence of production for the blades as well as the social context of this craft within the site. The workshop is the first example found containing evidence of the complete sequence of production for the ‘Canaanean blade,’ a type commonly used across the Near East in this period [2]. Since bronze was still new and relatively expensive, high-quality flint was used to manufacture sickle blades. Tabular flint was imported in the form of large slabs from several sources in the nearby hills. Specialists then prepared the blade cores, removed the blades, and then traded the final products to local farmers. A range of manufacturing debris has been found to illustrate the production sequence, including chunks of raw flint, core-shaping pieces, debitage pits, and stacks of exhausted and used cores. The large sample of over 1000 blade cores collected ensures a sizable data set for statistical analyses. Several types of raw flint were utilized for making the blades and production appears to vary slightly by these material types. The workshop is located within a household setting and is the only area within the excavated site containing debris from this craft. Spatial analyses of the types of flint used within the household workshop reveal its division into largely distinct areas for domestic versus specialist craft activities. The placement of the workshop in the suburbs far from the site's administrative center may indicate that its activities were independent of any elite. An estimate of the volume of blades produced combined with the location of the workshop at a major regional center suggest that it also supplied blades to other sites in the region.

Control of Factors Affecting Reproducibility of Mechanical Properties of Refractory Semidry Press Specimens

The factors that affect the uniformity of semidry press refractories were studied. Specimens were made from batches having either raw flint clay or calcined flint clay as the granular material. They were formed by uniaxial pressing in a steel mold or by hydrostatic pressing in a rubber mold. Refinements in the control of factors that affect reproducibility, including particle sizing, mixing, forming, drying, and heat‐treating, are discussed. Modulus of elasticity and strength in tension were obtained, and the average values, coefficients of variation, and strain variability within the specimen were the criteria of reproducibility. All specimens of this particular material developed pressure cracks after forming in a steel mold. Sound specimens having reasonable reproducibility were obtained by hydrostatic molding and strict control of other variables. Specimens made from calcined grog were the most reproducible.

Flintpladser i Bahrains ørken

Flintpladser i Bahrains ørken

Mellemholm

MellemholmIn the parish of Nørholm, in Hornum Herred, North Jutland, stands an isolated hill, formerly an island, called Mellemholm. Its western side, out towards the Nibe estuary in Limfjord, is a shallow slope of flint, pebbles and gravel, at the foot of which are broad flats, now cultivated.On this slope three graves containing objects of bronze were found in the course of an investigation. One was a woman's grave containing a belt plate, an armlet and a ring, another a child's grave containing an armlet and a ring, and the third a man's grave with a belt clasp and a pin.Across the foot-end of the woman's grave lay a human skeleton in a sharply contracted position, only barely covered by a layer of oyster shells and rubbish. A similar discovery was made in the child's grave, whereas the man's grave, on account of the absence of calcium in the soil, showed no trace of skeletons. It must nevertheless be considered as established that it was the custom on Mellemholm to accompany burials with a human sacrifice.Above the graves lay the remains of a settlement site, with large quantities of flint swarf from the manufacture of implements, with discarded implements and with trial strikes of raw flint. Above the woman's grave this layer was thicker, forming a low tumulus, the contours of which were somewhat vague but in general followed the conformation of the ground. This tumulus had been formed gradually as a results of the inhabitants of the settlement having had their workplace and their hearths here. These were time and again drifted over by wind-borne sand, whereupon new hearths were built above the sand. Food remains were discarded on this site, including a heap of oyster shells, which, however, are probably merely the more imperishable remains of a more varied refuse heap. The western edge of this heap of shells extended to cover the woman's grave, and its calcium content helped to preserve the bones in this grave, particularly those of the sacrificial victim, which lay immediately under the shell heap and would even appear not to have been completely covered by earth, before the shell heap extended over them.The stratification of the shell heap above the woman's grave established that the graves were earlier than the settlement, or at least that the settlement continued to be occupied for some time after the inhumations. The reason for the eventual abandonment of the settlement was doubtless that the supply of raw flint was used up.The types of implements found are those of the latest phases of the Stone Age, though only one specimen - a sickle - was found unbroken. Fragments of sickles are numerous and include some of a type which must have had a bronze sickle as prototype (fig. 10); fragments of spearheads or daggers are also common. On the other hand axe semifabricata are absent and the whole range of objects appears to be of later date than the flint smithy at Fornæs, even though some types are common to both sites, among these the implement which P. V. Glob calls a "beak" and which is common in both discoveries.This site appears to prove that implements of flint were manufactured and used right up into the Second Period of the Bronze Age, and even to have been so dominant that there is good reason for calling Mellemholm a Stone Age settlement lying above Bronze Age graves!Grantzau, Marseen og Riismøller

Flint Implements of the Bronze Age

WHAT would appear to be a remarkable collection of flint implements of Bronze Age date, unusually numerous for the period, is reported (The Times, June 28) to have been found on Lightlands Farm, belonging to Mr. George Lawrence, of Frant, Sussex. It includes arrow-heads, tanged and barbed, scrapers, knives and flakes. Apparently the implements belong to a pygmy flint industry. The site is half a mile north-east of the camp of Saxonbury. It is on clay soil which has been ploughed for orchards. The flints in consequence have been widely scattered. It is pointed out that such sites are not common in the mid-Weald, to which the raw flint had to be carried either sixteen miles from the North Downs or eighteen miles from the South Downs. Pygmy implements are more commonly found on the sandy sites fringing the Weald.

MEASUREMENT OF THE HEAT ABSORBED AND EVOLVED BY CLAYS DURING FIRING AND COOLING1

ABSTRACT Apparatus.—A vacuum calorimeter containing an insulated platinum resistance furnace is described for use in determining reaction heats, and the heat absorbed in raising the temperature of a material in the furnace from room temperature to 1200°C, and also the heat evolved in cooling down the material from 1200°. Materials experimented with.—Four typical clays are employed, namely A‐1 English china clay, North Carolina kaolin, Tennessee ball clay No. 5, and Laclede‐Christy raw flint clay. The calorimeter is calibrated with pure quartz. Results.—The numerical data obtained are assembled in Table IV. The quantity of heat absorbed per gram per degree on heating the air dried clays over the complete temperature range 25—1200° amounts to 0.50–0.55 calories, whereas the heat evolved on cooling the final products per gram per degree through the range 1200—700° is 0.23–0.29 calories.The heat absorbed in the ranges 24—420°, 420—900°, and 900—1200°, together with the heat evolved in the ranges 1200—900°, and 900—700°, are also given for all of the above clays.