Achaeometrical Research in Hungary II., 1988

ANALYSES - LITHICS - Katalin T. BIRÓ: The study of polished stone implements in the Carpathian basin

stone axe forms preserved on the polisher. The final touch was given by (wet, sandy?) textile on the polisher (BIRÓ 1992: Figure 18/2). Piercing of the axes is documented by the "plugs" or traces of piercing observed on spoilt or reworked pieces. Typically, piercing started on the already finished base form, and could be made from one or both sides. The reconstruction of function for polished stone tools is even less certain. According to generally accepted opinions, the polished stone tools could be closely connected to agricultural activities, i. e. the spread of agriculture, as a means for felling trees (clearings: wedges, axes) and tillage (hoe). Polished stone tools were, most probably, also important as weapons, especially for adzes and mace heads. The appearance of polished stone tools as grave goods is likely to have been related with this function. 2.2.2. Experimental archaeological investigations Experimental archaeological investigations with polished stone tools were performed in Hungary by Judit Antoni. Her observations were also completed by ethnographic evidence. ANTONI (1990) has suggested that pebbles were chosen as a starting form of raw material, although this is not fully supported by archaeological evidence. Her most important results are the controlled experiments (on known raw- and auxiliary materials, with time measurements). Her results can be summarised as follows (cited by HARCOS 1997): Table 1 Way of boring From one side with plant twig using wet sand From two sides with plant twig using wet sand Duration of boring 1 hour 2 hours 3 hours 5 hours with short breaks 2 hours 10 min. 1 hour break 3 hours Raw material Felsőcsatár serpentinite plate 8 * 5.6 cm surface, 1.5 cm thick Felsőcsatár serpentinite plate 7 * 7 cm surface, 3 cm thick Felsőcsatár serpentinite plate 8*6.1 cm surface, 2.9 cm thick Felsőcsatár serpentinite plate 10 * 6 cm surface, 0.9 cm thick Felsőcsatár serpentinite plate 8* 7cm surface, 2.7 cm thick Diameter of hole bored 2 cm 2.1 cm 1.9 cm over 1.6 cm Depth of bored hole 0.1 cm 0.3 1.7 1.2 cm Plug diameter 0.5 cm 0.6 cm 0.6 cm 0.7 cm Performed by unexperienced young man in good physical condition 2.3. Provenance studies The provenance study of polished stone tools is partly more simple, partly more complicated than that of the chipped stone industry. It is more simple because for most of the polished stone tools, the raw material is petrologically more characteristic than in the case of the chipped stone industry, made almost exclusively on siliceous rocks composed of micro- and crypto-crystalline quartz varieties. On the other hand, polished stone tools were made on a great variety of rocks with considerable geological distribution. The pos118