Characterization, procurement and transformation of iron-rich raw material during Early Neolithic in Northwestern Europe
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18 mai 2022
- ISIDORE Id: 10670/1.207176...
- hal: hal-05003782
info:eu-repo/semantics/OpenAccess
Mots-clés
Hematite oolithic ironstones Early neolithic SourcingSujets proches
Powder Red hematite Bloodstone Red ocher Red iron ore Raddle Oligist iron Rhombohedral iron ore Haematite Council of Europe countriesCiter ce document
Aurélie Chassin de Kergommeaux et al., « Characterization, procurement and transformation of iron-rich raw material during Early Neolithic in Northwestern Europe », HAL SHS (Sciences de l’Homme et de la Société), ID : 10670/1.207176...
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Résumé
Haematite crystal and (red to black) haematite rich stones (sedimentary, metamorphic or weathered rocks), with high red colouring strength have been intensively used throughout prehistoric times. In North-western Europe, at the beginning of the Neolithic, oolithic ironstones (OIS) were commonly used. Even if, red OIS are absent in all the LBK (Linear Band Keramik) settlements of the French Lorraine (Moselle valley and tributaries), this early exploitation is documented specially in Belgium (Hesbaye and Dendre springs areas), the Netherlands (Maastricht area) and France (Normandy). First results dedicated to the LBK OIS from Hesbaye, the Netherlands and Normandy were published earlier as part of a crossborder research project launched in 2010. But a (wide) variety of non-oolithic black-red stones are also found besides the OIS and/or including fired iron hydroxides and burned carbonate concretions, often in lower quantities. The « red » or black-red material frequently shows wear traces of abrasion (flattened surfaces and facetted pieces showing sometimes striations). In all sites, smaller angular fragments with no clear evidence of use are also found. Some of the iron-rich material from Belgium and Lorraine has a common geological origin. In some places, grindstone, which are reused broken millstones made out of various sandstones, were found covered by a thin layer of red powder. This research is focused on a) the characterization of all types of red artefacts found in Hesbaye and French Lorraine through studies at different scales from macroscopic to elemental thanks to petrological and physico-chemical analyses (Optical Microscopy in thin-sections, Scanning Electronic Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Particule Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE), Magnetic Susceptibility); b) the relationship between the red powder sampled from the grindstones and the artefacts ; c) the determination of the geological and geographical origin of the haematitic items through the identification of fingerprints ; d) the methods of red powder production, especially the firing of iron-sulphides, goethite-rich sediments and iron-carbonates concretions and e) the common material between the Hesbaye and Lorraine areas. The conclusion will draw a synthesis of our current knowledge on the exploitation, transformation and supply strategies of iron-rich material during Ancient Neolithic in North-western Europe.
