This paper explores the application of use-wear analysis on flint tools for the reconstruction of bone-working toolkits. Lithics from three Neolithic Vlaardingen Culture (3400–2500 BCE) sites were... Show moreThis paper explores the application of use-wear analysis on flint tools for the reconstruction of bone-working toolkits. Lithics from three Neolithic Vlaardingen Culture (3400–2500 BCE) sites were analysed. We successfully identified toolkits used in the production of bone tools. Combining our results with zooarchaeological data, we conclude that the metapodium technique was only practiced on sites where deer was hunted, and deer bones were thus available. When deer were not, or barely, hunted, bone-working was limited to ad hoc tool production. Widely available cattle metapodia, which could provide a substitute for deer metapodia, especially for the production of chisels, were generally not used to make tools using the metapodium technique. Culturally determined preferences, for the use of specific raw materials, thus determined technological choices made by the inhabitants of these sites. Show less
Dikkenberg, L. van den; Pomstra, D.R.; Gijn, A.L. van 2023
In the western Netherlands Neolithic axes are hardly ever found in a complete state. Flint is scarce in this area and when these axes were exhausted, or when they broke during use, they were often... Show moreIn the western Netherlands Neolithic axes are hardly ever found in a complete state. Flint is scarce in this area and when these axes were exhausted, or when they broke during use, they were often re-used as flake cores. Vlaardingen Culture (3400–2500 BC) sites often yield large quantities of flakes and retouched tools made on polished axe fragments. Using an experimental approach, we tried to better understand the importance of recycling of these objects. For the experiments we reconstructed four so-called Buren axes. The experiments provided insights into the usefulness of broken axes as flake cores. It was also demonstrated that flakes struck from axes generally do not have a remnant of a polished surface, indicating that the importance of broken axes as flake cores has so far been underestimated. Furthermore, it was concluded that micro-debitage can successfully be studied to identify areas where broken axes were flaked. Show less
On the 22nd of October 2022 we hosted a hide-working workshop for the volunteers of Masamuda. The workshop was aimed to gain insight into hide-working traces on Vlaardingen Culture (VLC) scrapers.... Show moreOn the 22nd of October 2022 we hosted a hide-working workshop for the volunteers of Masamuda. The workshop was aimed to gain insight into hide-working traces on Vlaardingen Culture (VLC) scrapers. On the VLC site of Hekelingen III several scrapers were found with hide working traces which potentially could be linked to the scraping of fatty hides with the use of additives (Van Gijn 1990). To test this hypothesis, we scraped two sealskins with flint scrapers using additives. One hide was scraped with sand while the other was scraped with dried clay. The sealskins were donated to the project by Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen, a seal rescue center. These skins belonged to weaners, common seals (Phoca vitulina), who died of pneumonia, the skins were removed during the autopsy. We chose to use sealskins because these are notoriously fat and because seal bones were found both in Hekelingen III and in Vlaardingen (Brinkkemper et al. 2010). Show less
Graven met dierenbotten uit de midden-ijzertijd zijn in Gelderland voornamelijk aangetroffen in het rivierengebied. In deze periode kwam het meegeven van dierenbotten veel voor en het lijkt erop... Show moreGraven met dierenbotten uit de midden-ijzertijd zijn in Gelderland voornamelijk aangetroffen in het rivierengebied. In deze periode kwam het meegeven van dierenbotten veel voor en het lijkt erop dat dit gedurende de ijzertijd nog toenam. Dierenbotten zijn gevonden in mannengraven, vrouwengraven, kindergraven en in zowel elite- als niet-elitegraven. Er lijkt gedurende de hele ijzertijd geen onderscheid te zijn gemaakt op basis van leeftijd, geslacht of status. Ook lijkt er geen relatie te zijn geweest tussen het type graf en de keuze om wel of geen dierenbotten mee te geven. Dierenbotten eindigden vermoedelijk voornamelijk in graven als onderdeel van een rituele maaltijd. Door de tijd heen zien we dat varkens daarbij steeds dominanter werden. Vanaf de midden-ijzertijd lijkt er een sterke voorkeur te hebben bestaan voor het meegegeven van varkensbotten in graven. Het dierlijk botmateriaal van het grafveld van Wijchen Woezik Sportpark voldoet op hoofdlijnen aan dit algemene patroon. Wel is de vondst van een runderstaart opmerkelijk. Een ander uitzonderlijk geval is dat van Beuningen waar rund, schaap/geit, varken, vogel, platvis, kikker en pad in één graf zijn gevonden. Mogelijk moeten we deze vreemde combinatie zien als de resten van een medicijn; een fenomeen dat we kennen uit de Romeinse tijd. In dat geval kunnen we dit bijzondere graf wellicht interpreteren als het graf van een medicijnman. Show less
Article about Middle Iron Age (500-250 BC) cemeteries in the Southern- Netherlands, the Rhineland and Flanders. It presents an overview of the current state of research in this area. It is a first... Show moreArticle about Middle Iron Age (500-250 BC) cemeteries in the Southern- Netherlands, the Rhineland and Flanders. It presents an overview of the current state of research in this area. It is a first attempt to systematically review claims about the burial ritual based on a dataset of 67 sites. It discusses aspects of the burial ritual such as monument building, burial gifts and grave types. It also briefly discusses elite graves in the area. Show less
