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'Mester Z, Faragó N, Lengyel G, 2012: The lithic raw material sources and interregional human contacts in the northern Carpathian regions: a research program. Anthropologie (Brno) 50, 3: 275-293'. |
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| Abstract | | Due to its geological properties, the northern part of the Carpathians is very rich in different siliceous rocks which were preferred raw materials by prehistoric tool-makers. Furthermore, this region was a contact zone for human groups in north-south and east-west directions, due to that good quality flints were imported to the Carpathian basin across the Carpathians from South Poland and West Ukraine. Our research program is aimed to clarify the role of lithic raw material sources in the neolithisation process of Central Europe. In the interpretation of lithic assemblages at archaeological sites, it is very important to recognise the types of raw material sources. According to Turq (2005: Paleo 17: 111-132) lithic sources can be classified as: 1) primary autochthonous; 2) secondary autochthonous; 3) sub-allochthonous; 4) allochthonous. A critical review of the published data together with a systematic field survey using geological maps for establishing the comprehensive inventory of siliceous rocks, including varieties, geographic occurrences, types of outcrops, original geological context, and the morphological and metric characteristics of blocks, are applied in our research. Also, petrographic analysis and knapping experiments are included. The paper presents theoretical and methodological bases and the first results of the recently started research program. Our field experience confirms the usefulness of the raw material source classification. These types provided different access to the stones for prehistoric people. Good quality flint nodules are accessible only by mining at a primary autochthonous source. The easy access by collecting raw material blocks on the surface at an allochthonous source costs a lot of time to spend for search and selection. Secondary autochtonous sources and sub-allochthonous sources allowed the most favorable conditions for the acquisition of raw material blocks but with the risk to have them damaged by the weathering processes. | | | | Keywords | | Raw material sources - Northern Carpathians - Siliceous rocks - Field survey - Neolithisation process - Knapping experiments | | |
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