Achaeometrical Research in Hungary II., 1988

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

Katalin T. BÍRÓ THE STUDY OF POLISHED STONE IMPLEMENTS IN THE CARPATHIAN BASIN 1. Introduction The problem considered in the present paper was raised already by Flóris Römer, outstanding and pioneering personality of Hungarian prehistoric archaeology, in 1866. He drew attention to the successful practice of coeval Czech research on the raw material determination of stone axes (RÓMER 1866:10), and invited Hungarian scientists to work along similar lines. The relevance of his initiatives has not yet been lost. This paper is aimed at summarising the state of art in this matter and, at the same time, raise some problems to be discussed on the special workshop of the forthcoming Archaeometry Symposium. 2. The study of polished stone implements in Hungary 2.1. Archaeological results 2.1.1. Polished stone tools in the archaeological material Grinding and polishing, as possible means of lithic technology have been known since the Upper Palaeolithic

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. László Vértes published so-called "retouchers" made of sandstone, schist and jasper from the sites of Árka, Pilismarót and Zebegény, produced by polishing (VÉRTES 1965:198, Table LXIII.). This technique was also used in the production of ornamental pieces and amulets. An especiallynice example of the latter is the serpentinite disc (lunar calendar?) from the site of Bodrogkeresztur-Henye Mt. (VÉRTES 1966). The technique of polished stone tools attained major importance by the Neolithic Period, as an eponym feature. According to generally accepted view, deforestation and soil cultivation were the main causes for this development, indicating the function of these implements as well. Basic forms of polished stone tools appear - axes, chisels, shoe-last form implements and chisel blades - as well as hafting techniques: thinning, notches and piercing. The proximal limit of the application of polished stone tools cannot be fixed yet: authentic finds from the Late Bronze Age and the Iron Age speak for the longevity of this tool type (ILON 1996, BIRÓ 1996, HARCOS 1997). During historical periods, ground and polished stone implements were still used for different functions, e.g., sharpening metal objects. The beauty of polished rock surfaces are still part of our everyday life in the form of ornamental objects, building materials and sculptures. 2.1.2. The study of polished stone tools in the archaeological material The study of polished stone artefacts is, in many ways, different from that of the chipped stone industry. First, there is no universally accepted typological system elaboAt Tata, limestone pebble identified as retoucher was also found in Middle Palaeolithic context, see VÉRTES 1965 Table XIII

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