Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Greenfield, Haskel J.

Titel

The Origins of Metallurgy: Distinguishing Stone from Metal Cut-marks on Bones from Archaeological Sites

Ist Teil von

• Journal of archaeological science, 1999-07, Vol.26 (7), p.797-808

Ort / Verlag

Amsterdam: Elsevier Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

1999

Quelle

Elsevier Journal Backfiles on ScienceDirect (DFG Nationallizenzen)

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• This paper presents an analytical procedure for identifying and mapping the introduction and spread of metallurgy to regions based upon the relative frequency of metal versus stone tool slicing cut-marks in butchered animal bone assemblages. The author conducted experiments to establish the relationship between the edge characteristics of metal and stone tools that create slicing cut-marks and the marks they produce when applied to bone. The type of tool used to produce such cut-marks on bone can be identified by taking silicone moulds of slicing cut-marks and analysing them in a scanning electron microscope. Quantifying the distribution of metal versus stone tool types over time and space provides insight into the processes underlying the introduction and diffusion of a functional metallurgical technology for subsistence activities. Prehistoric data from the central Balkans of southeast Europe are presented to illustrate the utility of the procedure. These data are used to calculate the frequency of use and relative importance of stone and metal implements over time in the central Balkans, from the introduction of metallurgy during the Late Neolithic (c . 3900–3300 bc) through the end of the Bronze Age (c . 1000 bc).