Janus Pannonius Múzeum Évkönyve 43 (1998)( Pécs, 1999)

Régészet - Schléder, Zsolt–T. Biró, Katalin. Petroarchaeological studies on polished stone artifacts from Baranya county, Hungary

84 A JANUS PANNONIUS MÚZEUM ÉVKÖNYVE 41-42 (1996-97) Serpentinite (sample 5) Supposed provenance, based on serpentinite occurences in Carpathian Basin (PAPP, 1986; 1989) is Penninic Unit. Serpentinite from this unit is both macroscopically and microscopically (KOLLER, HOCK, 1992) similar to our sample. Pétrographie features of stone tools originating from Tolna county (NiKL 1998) and Slovakia (HOVORKA, ULÁSOVA 1995) are similar to those of our sample. The mentioned authors also consider the Penninic Unit as source of this raw material. Limestone (sample 1) Based manily on macroscopic features, the bituminous limestone originates from Mecsek Mountains (Kantavár Limestone Formation, CSÁSZÁR ed. 1997). This supposition is also supported by the following facts: limestone in general is widespread in the Pannonian Basin, tools made of limestone are not durable and so the acquisition of raw material from great distances is not economical. Bituminous limestone, on the other hand, is a specific colour variety the geological occurence of which is not so frequent. The authors suppose that production of axes from inferior quality raw materials like limestone or marl had ceremonial significance mainly (e.g., symbolical axes for burials). Archaeological implications The number of samples and sites studied as well as the ad-hoc sampling does not allow any finite conclusions on archaeological trends in polished stone artefact use and 1 Archaeometrical study of stone tools 2 Prehistoric raw material atlas of the Carpathian Basin 3 The first presentation of the results took place accordingly (SCHLÉDER et .al. 1998). In the printed version of our article, corrections will be made concerning localities. 4 The authors are deeply indebted to the following persons for production. The raw material distribution of the three sites, represented with significant material in the study assemblage is given on Table 6. We can justly suppose an at least regional network of polished stone tool trade for both Zengóvárkony (Lengyel Culture) and Gusztávműve puszta (Baden [Pécel] Culture) while intensive local production of polished stone tools can be hypothesed for Pécs-Makártető (Keleti telep). Conclusions The petroarchaeological study of polished stone tools from Baranya county corroborated our opinion that the Lower Cretaceous volcanites of the Mecsek mts. were exploited for the production of a wide range of polished stone tools in different chronological periods. The use of "granite", referred to several times in old technical literature, could not be confirmed. In our opinion, "granite" was erroneously used for porphyric texture volcanite, typically, tephrite. Local (Mecsek) material was also used for symbolic / prestige related tools. In our sample, bituminous limestone can be considered a relevant example. There were, however, several pieces in the study material which could have travelled very large distances from the geological source to their archaeological place of occurrence. In the first place we have to mention basalt coming from the young (Pliocene) basalts of the Carpathian Basin. Our data does not allow yet an unambiguous identification of the source; for this, further studies are needed both on geological reference samples and archaeological material. More distant origin can also be supposed for the metamorphic rocks in the sample. friendly help end comments: Judit Antoni, György Szakmány, Szabolcs Harangi, Erzsébet Tóth and the staff of JPM for facilitating the analysis of the material. The valuable analytical help of Márta Ballá (NAA) and Kamilla G. Sólymos (EMA) is specially acknowledged. 5 EMA analyses were made by Kamilla Gál-Sólymos Abbreviations used in the text ARS II. Archaeometrical Research in Hungary II HAS BME Budapesti Műszaki Egyetem (Budapest Technical JPM University) kök., kők. EMA electron microprobe analysis NAA gy.n.sz. temporary (old) inventory number ("gyarapodási REE napló szám") IRAMTO Hungarian Academy of Sciences Janus Pannonius Museum, Pécs Stone Age CoDection - old reference number in JPM neutron activation analysis rare earth elements Industrial Archaeology and Archaeometry Newsletter Commentaries