An archaeological experiment and new knowledge about the chipped stone industry from the Vinča culture
Keywords:
experimentation, sickle gloss, micro-wear analysis, Late Neolithic, Early Chalcolithic, Vinča culture, Central Balkans
Abstract
In order to examine the hypothesis of our knowledge on the Vinča chipped stone industry which was spreading on the territory of Serbia during the Late Neolithic until the Chalcolithic (the end of the 6th and the beginning of the 5th millennia BCE) and the previously noticed changes within it, we started from the question about the process of chipped stone tool production and the life cycle of artefacts. A series of preparatory activities in making replicas of flint sickles and the realization of a harvesting process contributed to gaining better knowledge on sequences of stone production technology, from the supply strategy to the production and utilization of artefacts. The main goal of the experiment was to obtain authentic traces of use on the working edges and creation of the first visual comparative database with examples from the region.
Preliminary results essentially influenced our determination of the methods applied for reduction sequences during the Vinča culture. A significant result was achieved with the first quantifications of raw materials for making tools, such as a sickle and needs during one season, as well as with the precise definition of areas of sown land necessary for maintenance of an average Vinča family.
References
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Antonović, D. & Šarić, J. 2011, Kameno orudje sa lokaliteta Crkvine u Stublinama, Starinar, 61: 61-79. (in Serbian) (“Stone tools from localty Crkvine in Stubline”). doi:10.2298/STA1161061A
Bogosavljević Petrović, V. 2001, New Results of the Study of Chipped Stone Industry of the Vinča Culture, Viminacium, 12: 35-50.
Bogosavljević Petrović, V. 2005, Praistorijski rudnici na centralnom Balkanu. Zbornik narodnog muzeja u Beogradu. Recueil du Musée National à Belgrade, 18(1): 79-113. (in Serbian) (“Prehistoric Mines in the Central Balkans”). URL: http://www.narodnimuzej.rs/images/ZBORNIKXVIII-1arheologija.pdf
Bogosavljević Petrović, V. 2008, Flaked Stone industry. In: Grivac Settlements of Proto-Starčevo and Vinča culture (Bogdanović, M., Ed.), Center for Scientific Research of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and University of Kragujevac and National Museum of Kragujevac, Kragujevac: p. 355-409.
Bogosavljević Petrović, V. 2011, Redukcija kamenih sirovina na lokalitetu Crkvine - sonda 5 sa arheološkim celinama. Kolubara, 5: 213-238. (In Serbian) (“Lithic reduction at the site of Crkvine - trench 5 with archaeological wholes”).
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Bogosavljević Petrović, V., & Marković, J. 2012, History and current studies of petroarcheological data from the Neolithic and Eneolithic in Serbia. Bulgarian e-Journal of Archaeology, 2(1): 51-66. URL: http://be-ja.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Be-JA_1_2012_51-66.pdf
Borrell, F. & Molist, M. 2007, Projectile Points, Sickle Blades and Glossed Points: Tools and Hafting System at Tell Halula (Syria) during the 8th millennium cal BC. Paléorient, 33(2): 59-77. doi:10.3406/paleo.2007.5221
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Goodale, N., Heather, O., Andrefsky, W. Jr., Kuijt, I., Finlayson, B., Bart, K. 2010, Sickle blade life-history and the transition to agriculture: An Early Neolithic case study from Southwest Asia. Journal of Archaeological Science, 37: 1192-1201. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2009.12.017
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Hansen, S. 2013, Innovative Metals: Copper, Gold and Silver in the Black Sea region and the Carpathian Basin During the 5th and 4th Millennium BC. In: Metal Matters; Innovative Technologies and Social Change in Prehistory and Antiquity (Burmeister, S., Hansen, S., Kunst, M., Müller-Sceeßel, N., Eds.), Verlag Marie Leidorf, Rahden: p. 137-167.
Kaczanowska, M. & Kozłowski, J. K. 1986, Gomolava-Chipped Stone Industries of Vinča Culture. Prace Archeologiczne Vol. 39, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Warszawa, 136 p.
Porčić, M. 2011, An exercise in archaeological demography: Estimating the population size of Late Neolithic settlements in the Central Balkans. Documenta Praehistorica, 38: 323-332. doi:10.4312/dp.38.25
Porčić, M. 2012, Social complexity and inequality in the Late Neolithic of the Central Balkans: Reviewing the evidence. Documenta Praehistorica, 39: 167-183. doi:10.4312/dp.39.12
Rosen, S. A. 1997, Lithics After the Stone Age. A Handbook of Stone Tools from the Levant. Alatamira Press, Walnut Creek, 184 p.
Tasić N., Marić M., Penezić K., Filipović D., Borojević K., Rusell N., Reimer P., Barclay A., Bayliss A., Borić D., Gaydarska B. &Whittle A. 2015, The end of the affair: Formal chronological moedelling for the top of the Neolithic tell of Vinča - Belo Brdo. Antiquity, 89(347): 1064-1082. doi:10.15184/aqy.2015.101
Tringham, R.E., McPherron, A., Gunn, J. & Odell, G., 1988, The Flaked Stone Industry from Divostin and Banja. In: Divostin and Neolithic of Central Serbia (McPherron, A. & Srejović, D., Eds.), Ethnology Monograph Vol. 19, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Anthropology, Pitsburgh: p. 203-254.
Tringham, R., Brukner, B. & Voytek, B. 1985, The Opovo project: A Study of Socioeconomic Change in the Balkan Neolithic. Journal of Field Archaeology, 12(4): 425-444. doi:10.2307/529968
Tringham, R., Brukner B., Kaiser T., Borojević K., Bukvić Lj., Steli P., Russell N., Stevanović M. & Voytek B. 1992, Excavations at Opovo, 1985-1987: Socioeconomic Change in the Balkan Neolithic. Journal of Field Archaeology, 19(1): 351-386. doi:10.2307/529922
Tripković, B. 2013 Domaćinstvo i zajednica. Kućne i naseobinske istorije u kasnom neolitu centralnog Balkana. Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade. Belgrade, 319 p. (in Serbian) (“Houshold and community. Histories of houses and settlements in the Late Neolithic in the Central Balkans”).
Šarić, J. 2014. Artefakti od okresanog kamena u starijem i srednjem neolitu na tlu Srbije. Arheološki institut. Belgrade, 299 p. (in Serbian) (“Artefacts of Early and Middle Neolithic in Serbia”).
Voytek, B. 1984, Microwear Analysis of Chipped Stone Artifacts from Vinča. In: The Chipped Stone Industry from Vinča (Excavation 1929-1934) (Srejović D. Ed.), Univerzitet u Beogradu, Filozofski fakultet, Centar za arheolška istraživanja (Series) Vol 24, University of Belgrade, Centre for Archaeological Research, Belgrade: 54-58.
Voytek, B. 1990 The Use of Stone Resources. In: Selevac: A Neolithic Village in Yugoslavia (Tringham, R., Krstić, D., Eds.), Monumenta Archaeologica Vol. 15, Los Angeles: p. 437-494.
Andrefsky, W. Jr. 2009, The Analysis of Stone Procurement, Production and Maintenance. Journal of Archaeological Research, 17: 65-103. doi: 10.1007/s10814-008-9026-2
Antonović, G., Živanović, Bogdanović, M., Ćorović, R. & Trifunović M. 1978. Zemljišta, područja Beograda južno od Save i Dunava. City Geodetic Authority, Belgrade, 438 p. (in Serbian) (“Soils of the Belgrade area south of the Sava and the Danube”).
Antonović, D. & Šarić, J. 2011, Kameno orudje sa lokaliteta Crkvine u Stublinama, Starinar, 61: 61-79. (in Serbian) (“Stone tools from localty Crkvine in Stubline”). doi:10.2298/STA1161061A
Bogosavljević Petrović, V. 2001, New Results of the Study of Chipped Stone Industry of the Vinča Culture, Viminacium, 12: 35-50.
Bogosavljević Petrović, V. 2005, Praistorijski rudnici na centralnom Balkanu. Zbornik narodnog muzeja u Beogradu. Recueil du Musée National à Belgrade, 18(1): 79-113. (in Serbian) (“Prehistoric Mines in the Central Balkans”). URL: http://www.narodnimuzej.rs/images/ZBORNIKXVIII-1arheologija.pdf
Bogosavljević Petrović, V. 2008, Flaked Stone industry. In: Grivac Settlements of Proto-Starčevo and Vinča culture (Bogdanović, M., Ed.), Center for Scientific Research of Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and University of Kragujevac and National Museum of Kragujevac, Kragujevac: p. 355-409.
Bogosavljević Petrović, V. 2011, Redukcija kamenih sirovina na lokalitetu Crkvine - sonda 5 sa arheološkim celinama. Kolubara, 5: 213-238. (In Serbian) (“Lithic reduction at the site of Crkvine - trench 5 with archaeological wholes”).
Bogosavljević Petrović, V. 2015, Razvoj industrije okresanog kamena u vinčanskoj kulturi na teritoriji Srbije. Doctoral dissertation no 306 at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, 547 p. (in Serbian) (“Evolution of the chipped stone industry in the Vinča culture in the territory of Serbia”).
Bogosavljević Petrović, V., & Marković, J. 2012, History and current studies of petroarcheological data from the Neolithic and Eneolithic in Serbia. Bulgarian e-Journal of Archaeology, 2(1): 51-66. URL: http://be-ja.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Be-JA_1_2012_51-66.pdf
Borrell, F. & Molist, M. 2007, Projectile Points, Sickle Blades and Glossed Points: Tools and Hafting System at Tell Halula (Syria) during the 8th millennium cal BC. Paléorient, 33(2): 59-77. doi:10.3406/paleo.2007.5221
Borić, D. 2009, Absolute dating of metallurgical innovations in the Vinča Culture of the Balkans. In: Metals and Societes. Studies in honour of Barbara S. Ottaway (Kienlin, T. K. & Roberts, B. W. Eds.), Universitätsforcshungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie, Bonn: p. 191-245.
Borić, D. 2015, The end of the Vinča world: Modelling Late Neolithic to Copper Age culture change and the notion of archaeological culture. In: Neolithic and Copper Age between the Carpathians and the Aegean Sea. Chronologies and Technologies from 6th to 4th millennium BCE, International Workshop Budapest 2012 (Hansen, S., Raczky, P., Anders A., & Reingruber, A., Eds.), Archäologie in Eurasien Vol. 31, Habelt, Bonn: p. 177-237.
Cvetković, V. & Šarić, K. 2008. Petrografska analiza uzoraka okresanih alatki sa lokaliteta Vinča - Belo Brdo. Report. Faculty of Mining, Department of Petrology and Geochemistry, University of Belgrade. Belgrade, 33 p. (In Serbian) (“Petrographic analysis of chipped stone artefacts from the Vinča - Belo Brdo site”).
Goodale, N., Heather, O., Andrefsky, W. Jr., Kuijt, I., Finlayson, B., Bart, K. 2010, Sickle blade life-history and the transition to agriculture: An Early Neolithic case study from Southwest Asia. Journal of Archaeological Science, 37: 1192-1201. doi:10.1016/j.jas.2009.12.017
Gunn, J. 1988, Core Manufacture and Use at Divostin. In: Divostin and Neolithic of Central Serbia (McPherron, A. & Srejović, D., Eds.), Ethnology Monograph Vol. 19, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Anthropology, Pitsburgh: p. 226-245.
Hansen, S. 2013, Innovative Metals: Copper, Gold and Silver in the Black Sea region and the Carpathian Basin During the 5th and 4th Millennium BC. In: Metal Matters; Innovative Technologies and Social Change in Prehistory and Antiquity (Burmeister, S., Hansen, S., Kunst, M., Müller-Sceeßel, N., Eds.), Verlag Marie Leidorf, Rahden: p. 137-167.
Kaczanowska, M. & Kozłowski, J. K. 1986, Gomolava-Chipped Stone Industries of Vinča Culture. Prace Archeologiczne Vol. 39, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Warszawa, 136 p.
Porčić, M. 2011, An exercise in archaeological demography: Estimating the population size of Late Neolithic settlements in the Central Balkans. Documenta Praehistorica, 38: 323-332. doi:10.4312/dp.38.25
Porčić, M. 2012, Social complexity and inequality in the Late Neolithic of the Central Balkans: Reviewing the evidence. Documenta Praehistorica, 39: 167-183. doi:10.4312/dp.39.12
Rosen, S. A. 1997, Lithics After the Stone Age. A Handbook of Stone Tools from the Levant. Alatamira Press, Walnut Creek, 184 p.
Tasić N., Marić M., Penezić K., Filipović D., Borojević K., Rusell N., Reimer P., Barclay A., Bayliss A., Borić D., Gaydarska B. &Whittle A. 2015, The end of the affair: Formal chronological moedelling for the top of the Neolithic tell of Vinča - Belo Brdo. Antiquity, 89(347): 1064-1082. doi:10.15184/aqy.2015.101
Tringham, R.E., McPherron, A., Gunn, J. & Odell, G., 1988, The Flaked Stone Industry from Divostin and Banja. In: Divostin and Neolithic of Central Serbia (McPherron, A. & Srejović, D., Eds.), Ethnology Monograph Vol. 19, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Anthropology, Pitsburgh: p. 203-254.
Tringham, R., Brukner, B. & Voytek, B. 1985, The Opovo project: A Study of Socioeconomic Change in the Balkan Neolithic. Journal of Field Archaeology, 12(4): 425-444. doi:10.2307/529968
Tringham, R., Brukner B., Kaiser T., Borojević K., Bukvić Lj., Steli P., Russell N., Stevanović M. & Voytek B. 1992, Excavations at Opovo, 1985-1987: Socioeconomic Change in the Balkan Neolithic. Journal of Field Archaeology, 19(1): 351-386. doi:10.2307/529922
Tripković, B. 2013 Domaćinstvo i zajednica. Kućne i naseobinske istorije u kasnom neolitu centralnog Balkana. Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade. Belgrade, 319 p. (in Serbian) (“Houshold and community. Histories of houses and settlements in the Late Neolithic in the Central Balkans”).
Šarić, J. 2014. Artefakti od okresanog kamena u starijem i srednjem neolitu na tlu Srbije. Arheološki institut. Belgrade, 299 p. (in Serbian) (“Artefacts of Early and Middle Neolithic in Serbia”).
Voytek, B. 1984, Microwear Analysis of Chipped Stone Artifacts from Vinča. In: The Chipped Stone Industry from Vinča (Excavation 1929-1934) (Srejović D. Ed.), Univerzitet u Beogradu, Filozofski fakultet, Centar za arheolška istraživanja (Series) Vol 24, University of Belgrade, Centre for Archaeological Research, Belgrade: 54-58.
Voytek, B. 1990 The Use of Stone Resources. In: Selevac: A Neolithic Village in Yugoslavia (Tringham, R., Krstić, D., Eds.), Monumenta Archaeologica Vol. 15, Los Angeles: p. 437-494.
Published
15-Sep-2016
How to Cite
Bogosavljević Petrović, V. (2016). An archaeological experiment and new knowledge about the chipped stone industry from the Vinča culture. Journal of Lithic Studies, 3(2), 53-71. https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.v3i2.1437
Issue
Section
ISKM 2015 - Barcelona - Research Articles
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