One of the most evocative archaeological cultures in the Netherlands is the Funnel Beaker culture, further referred to as TRB. During the TRB period megalithic burial structures were erected, the...Show moreOne of the most evocative archaeological cultures in the Netherlands is the Funnel Beaker culture, further referred to as TRB. During the TRB period megalithic burial structures were erected, the hunebedden. Most of the hunebedden have been excavated and are located in the north-east of the Netherlands (specifically the province of Drenthe). The excavations of the hunebedden were not very thorough but did however reveal a lot of information about burial practices of the TRB culture. For instance, the hunebedden were communal burials in which multiple people were buried. Along with the deceased, a range of different grave goods were provided, including flint tools and pottery. Due to the excavations, and the visibility of the hunebedden, a lot is known about them. This does not apply to the settlements of the TRB, so where did the people of the TRB live (van Gijn & Bakker, 2005, p. 288-289; van der Sanden, 2017, p. 4; Wentink, 2006, p. 33)? Settlements of the TRB are scarce, which results in less information about the settlements or the way of life of the TRB people. There are however a few settlements known of the TRB, the site of Slootdorp-Bouwlust is for instance one them as well as the site of Haren De Vork, which is examined in this thesis. What is known about the way of life of the TRB people is that their means of survival was in both hunting (and fishing) and agriculture. Their agricultural way of life consisted mostly of a method that is called slash and burn, where parts of forests were burned down to create fertile soil on which crops could be cultivated and harvested. For this agricultural system flint axes, strike-a-lights and sickle blades were used. They also held a range of livestock including pigs, goats and cattle, however no chickens were held (van der Sanden, 2017, p. 6; van Gijn 2013, p. 26-27). These people possibly lived in two-aisled houses. Within the settlements many different activities had probably been carried out, including hide working, wood working and plant working. For these activities a range of flint tools were used including scrapers and axes. The TRB people also produced a distinctive type of pottery, decorated by the deeply incised decoration (van Gijn & Bakker, 2005, p. 282). To interpret what kind activities were conducted at a settlement site, use-wear studies of the ubiquitous flint artefacts recovered from a site can reveal something about the activities carried out. In this thesis a use-wear analysis has been conducted for a selection of flint artefacts recovered at the site of Haren De Vork (Haren, the Netherlands). The site of Haren De Vork is possibly one of the scarce settlements of the TRB found in the Netherlands, and was excavated in 2017. The excavation brought forth a large amount of flint artefacts, namely 20.000 artefacts. Due to the large amount of flint artefacts that were found during the excavations, the finds have been divided in clusters (van Kruining et al., 2018, p. 14; Devriendt, 2021, p. 2-4). In this thesis the 50 artefacts were selected from two different clusters, clusters 3 & 4. Of cluster 3, 11 artefacts were selected and from cluster 4, 39 artefacts were selected. This difference in sample size can be explained through the sizes and the preservation of the artefacts per cluster. Hence, cluster 4 is the bigger cluster and seems to have better preserved artefacts. The selected artefacts of both clusters have been analysed by the so-called low- and high-power approach, where the artefacts are examined through two different microscopes. Among the selected artefacts of both clusters, there also burned artefacts. Cluster 3 consisted of 45% of burned objects, and cluster 4 of 32%. This complicated the analysis but in most cases traces were still visible. Three artefacts from cluster 3 were not interpretable due to heavy burning. The other artefacts showed evidence of hide working, plant working, wood working and bone working, of which hide working was the most prominent activity. The most prominent motion was cutting. For cluster 4 it was not possible to interpret four artefacts. On these artefacts there were either no traces or the traces were not interpretable due to burning. On the remaining 35 artefacts traces of hide working, plant working, bone working and wood working were inferred, of which again hide working was the most prominent. For cluster 4 the prominent motion is scraping but it is closely followed by cutting the contact material. For both clusters there was also a number of edges on which traces were seen but the contact material or motion could not be inferred. The artefacts with the probable used edges were therefore included in the analysis. The preservation of the artefacts of cluster 4 was better in cluster 3, which was clearly visible while conducting the use-wear analysis. Based on the results of the use-wear analysis it is clear that within cluster 3 and 4 a range of different activities were conducted. The main activity conducted at the site was probably hide working (both scraping and cutting hide). In cluster 3, the activities were diverse and no real main activity could be interpreted. Due to the high burning rate within cluster 3 it is believed by MUG archaeologists that within this cluster fire-related activities were conducted. This could however not be proven by the analysis. For cluster 4 it was seen that scraping hide was the main activity of the cluster, closely followed by cutting plant and plant-like materials. Bone working traces were scarce in both clusters which can indicate that this activity was probably conducted elsewhere. The activities are diverse and this diversity is consistent with a (permanent) settlement, which is also the interpretation of the site. The use-wear analysis supports the interpretation by showing the multiple activities and hide working as a possible main activity.Show less
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is one of the most common perennial plants on the European continent. Growing equally well in forests, ditches and ruderal spaces up to 2.5m tall, it is easy to find...Show moreStinging nettle (Urtica dioica) is one of the most common perennial plants on the European continent. Growing equally well in forests, ditches and ruderal spaces up to 2.5m tall, it is easy to find and identify due to its stem and characteristic oval, serrated leaves being lavishly covered in irritant-filled trichomes, a hair-like organs. Having plenty of nutritional and medical applications, it is however often overlooked as a source of textile fibres. The issue perhaps being a result of dying traditions of nettle uses, as well as being associated with war time crop, due to the increased attempts at industrialisation during the both World Wars in Europe. Yet, it had a much more profound role, not only in historical times. It used to be known as distinctive, luxurious, soft, fine and full of lustre fabric of Bronze Age elites, as it was identified as a priced grave gift in one of the richest and most splendid burials of the period from the mound Lushoj in Denmark. It was also known and valued in mediaeval times as both sign of status, but also as tough, fast drying and resistant fibre preferred for rigging. Urtica dioica seems often neglected in the research of Neolithic textiles. The aim of this paper therefore is to propose it as an alternative material to the main source of fibre of the age, that was newly domesticated and introduced to the small continent flax, as well as more and more acknowledged, and utilised since at least Mesolithic, tree basts. It is necessary to draw attention towards nettle, as there is a small, yet growing set of samples identified as this plant. The best known examples coming from spheres where the introduction of flax came at a later period, as the waterlogged site of La Draga, Spain where a whole ball of yarn has been found, or a thread on the fishing comb from seabed near Skjoldnas on Aro in Denmark. To contextualise these finds, a wider look at the Urticaceae family is included, especially as Japanese cousins of the common nettle is one of the oldest known textile dated to 10 000 BC early Jomon period, while well documented processing methods of Boehmeria nivea might be also applied for Urtica. Similarly, ethnological, historical and experimental data allows for expanding the understanding of nettle fibre applications, but also, based on records and in comparison to flax and hemp, for reconstruction of the collection, retting and spinning techniques, which might have been used by European Neolithic communities. Further, the identification methods, such as modified Herzog test, calcium oxalate crystals observation and cross section, are briefly discussed to illustrate the complexity and limitations of bast plants attribution. Additionally, the information about technical properties allows to demonstrate the value of Urtica as a source of fibre, as tensile strength, toughness and drying rate presented results as good, or better than those of flax. These, combined with possibly greater length and longer collection period, could constitute an important input of advantages of Urtica and its presence in the Neolithic. _..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._ _..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._..._ Pokrzywa zwyczajna (Urtica dioica) jest wieloletnią rośliną powszechnie występującą na terenie całej Europy. Rozwija się równie dobrze na terenach leśnych, łąkowych oraz ruderalnych osiągając wysokość do 2,5m. Jest stosunkowo łatwa do zidentyfikowania dzięki łodydze i charakterystycznym owalnym, ząbkowanym liściom, obficie pokrytymi gruczołowatymi, parzącymi włoskami, powodującymi, w kontakcie ze skórą, bolesną reakcję zapalną. Pomimo, iż jej zastosowania w obrębie medycyny i żywienia są dobrze znane,wykorzystanie pokrzywy do produkcji tekstylnej wydaje się być zapomniane lub zupełnie pomijane. Jej użycie w tej dziedzinie jest zwykle jedynie wspominane w kontekście braków wojennych, szczególnie prób industrializacji jej uprawy w czasie II wojny światowej. Jednak w okresie prehistorycznym, a nawet historycznym, rola pokrzywy i jej znacznie były o wiele większe, do tego stopnia, że starannie utkana w cienką, delikatną, miękką, wysoce połyskliwą tkaninę, jest obecnie czasem określana jako obiekt charakteryzujący epokę brązu. Taki, luksusowy, materiał był odnajdowany w darach pogrzebowych w pochówkach elit tego okresu, m. in. z niezwykle bogato wyposażonego kopca Lushøj w Danii. Jeszcze w okresie średniowiecza wykonana z pokrzywy lekka tkanina była symbolem statusu, zaś jej mniej obrobione, sztywniejsze i szorstkie włókna wykorzystywano do produkcji sznurów i olinowania. Jednakże Urtica dioica wydaje się być pomijana w badaniach nad szeroko rozumianymi tekstyliami okresu neolitu, dlatego celem tej pracy jest przybliżenie jej zastosowań i właściwości oraz, poprzez analogie form pozyskania i przetwórstwa, zaproponowanie pokrzywy jako alternatywy dla głównych źródeł włókienniczych tej epoki, za które przyjmuje się nowo udomowiony i dopiero wprowadzany do uprawy na terenie Europy len, oraz coraz częściej rozpoznawane, a będące w użyciu przynajmniej od mezolitu, łyka drzew. Jest to szczególnie uzasadnione ze względu na rosnącą grupę zabytków identyfikowanych jako tekstylia pokrzywowe, pochodzące często z regionów i kultur, w których uprawa lnu nie była praktykowana, takich jak podmokłe stanowisko w La Draga, w Hiszpanii, na którym odkryto wytworzony z włókien pokrzywy motek sznurka, lub z dna morskiego w pobliżu Skjoldnæs na Ærø, w Danii, skąd pochodzi trójzębna ość rybacka połączona ze sobą pokrzywową nicią. Aby umiejscowić pokrzywę zwyczajną w temacie produkcji tekstylnej, należy przyjrzeć się jej w szerszym kontekście taksonomicznym rodziny Urticaceae, jako że należące do niej rośliny mają długą i obszerną historię zastosowań w tej dziedzinie, a których techniki obróbki mogą być z powodzeniem przełożone na Urticę dioicę. Najlepiej znany jest tu Szczymiel biały (Boehmeria nivea) zwany również Ramią, zaś spokrewniona z nim Boehmeria japonica jest prawdopodobnie jedną z najdawniej wykorzystywanych roślin tkackich, o czym świadczy wykonany z niej fragment materiału z wczesnego okresu Jomon (Japonia), datowany na około 10 tys. lat BC. Podobnie, etnologiczne, historyczne i eksperymentalne badania pozwalają na poszerzenie wiedzy o wykorzystaniu pokrzywy zwyczajnej w produkcji tekstylnej, zwłaszcza poprzez porównanie tej rośliny, oraz metod jej pozyskania i obróbki, z tymi znanymi dla lnu i konopi włóknistych. W pracy dodatkowo przedstawiono metody identyfikacji wykorzystywane w badaniach tekstyliów archeologicznych, takie jak modyfikowany test Herzoga, analiza obecności kryształów szczawianu wapnia oraz kształtu przekroju łodygi, aby pokazać ich możliwości, ale także ich ograniczenia dotyczące prawdopodobieństwa rozpoznania poszczególnych roślin włóknistych, ponieważ istnieje podejrzenie błędnej atrybucji wielu prehistorycznych tkanin. Z tego powodu informacje o technicznych własnościach wyrobów tekstylnych wykonanych z dostępnych w neolicie roślin włóknistych stanowią tutaj konieczne uzupełnienie. Z nielicznych przeprowadzonych badań wynika bowiem, że Urtica dioca ma właściwości podobne, jeśli nie lepsze, do lnu, konopi włóknistych, czy łyka drzew, szczególnie w zakresie wytrzymałości materiału. Razem ze znacznie dłuższym dostępnym okresem zbioru, te cechy sprawiają, iż pokrzywa zwyczajna mogła być atrakcyjnym źródłem włókien dla neolitycznych społeczności europejskich i w tym kontekście powinna być częściej uwzględniana w pracach i badaniach dotyczących tej epoki.Show less
Archaeological material dating to the Bronze Age (BA) suggest that violence was a reoccurring phenomenon in the period. This evidence includes the amass deposition in hoards of the newly emerged...Show moreArchaeological material dating to the Bronze Age (BA) suggest that violence was a reoccurring phenomenon in the period. This evidence includes the amass deposition in hoards of the newly emerged bronze weapons. Brück and Fontijn (2013) have explained this deposition as reflecting the end of the life-path of bronze objects. They assume that object during the BA were imbued with power and meaning through the actions done with the object, i.e. its life-history. Through the interaction between objects and individuals, the social fabric of the BA was formed. This model explains the selective depositions of bronze objects, but it does not delineate why precisely weapons were deposited. While weapons have a clear social context where they could have derived meaning and power from, in the form of combat. Therefore, within this thesis the intended combative use of bronze weapons is explored, in particular bronze spears, in order to examine if a specif type of combat could have imbued bronze weapons with meaning. One of the martial contexts were bronze spears could have been used in is formalised combats. These are combats fought with highly specific norms, called combat capital, for a large array of socio-political and -cultural reasons, named societal capital. Formalised fights act as a safe and controlled manner of violence expression in society. The highly specific combat capital with which the fights are fought, manifest itself in various combat styles that can be linked to a weapon design. The two primary combat styles are binding, whereby contact between the weapons of two fighters is continuously maintained to feel the actions of an opponent, and striking, whereby hitting an opponents weapon is used as the manner for gaining control. Binding is more associated with formalised combat, due to necessity of only combating one opponent, while striking combat can be used in all types of combat. In order to examine for which combat style bronze spears were intended for, a weapons design analysis (WDA) method was used. This method analysis weapons according to five elements, to form a framework of limitations wherein the weapon could have been used. This WDA relies on a different epistemic dimension than conscious deliberation. A knowledge dimensions that is largely unconscious and comes to individuals as feelings and sensations. The WDA thus must be performed by expert-users, that pose a minimum level of skill, i.e. knowledge, in this unconscious dimensions. A WDA, composing of four phenomenological archaeological experiments, was performed by two expert users on two replica bronze spears to gain insight into the combative use of BA spears in general. This WDA concluded, especially based on damage sustained by the spears during the experiments, that bronze spears were probably primarily intended for formalised fights, but with the potential to be used for other martial contexts. Other weapons, however, were probably more optimised 122 for these other types of fights. These formalised fights could have been one of the events wherein the social fabric of Bronze Age society was negotiated, and weapon could procure their power and meaning from.Show less
The site of Mai Adrasha is an important settlement in the northern highlands of Ethiopia. It has a relatively abundant plant resources, especially crop resources. Many archaeological researches...Show moreThe site of Mai Adrasha is an important settlement in the northern highlands of Ethiopia. It has a relatively abundant plant resources, especially crop resources. Many archaeological researches have been undertaken in this region. There are a large number of grinding tool excavated from this site. Grinding tools have played an important role in local people’s daily life for many years. In order to analyze the function these grinding tools, use wear analysis is needed now. This technique was started and developed from the 1930s and it is now relatively mature. In this thesis, I try to use this technique to analyze some grinding tools excavated from the Mai Adrasha. Based on the reference collection in the laboratory at Leiden University, I find that these grinding tools might be used for food preparation. People at that time might use these tools to grind cereals like finger millet and tef into flour. Although if we want to know the details of these plant species, a further study is necessary and residue analysis is also important.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
Bodily ornaments are abundant in the circum-Caribbean region. Made of a variety of raw materials, most notably shell, stone and minerals, they have been recovered from the archipelago and...Show moreBodily ornaments are abundant in the circum-Caribbean region. Made of a variety of raw materials, most notably shell, stone and minerals, they have been recovered from the archipelago and surrounding mainlands. Most studies have focused on iconographic analysis of the motifs depicted on pendants and on the sourcing of exotic raw materials from which they were made. Technologies of production have also received attention, with emphasis on workshop contexts from the Early Ceramic Age (400 BC – AD 600/800) which present abundant debitage. For the later period (until AD 1492), considerably less is known. This research proposes a theoretical framework focused on the cultural biographies of ornaments. The main objective is to approach how pre-Colonial indigenous communities have dealt with ornaments, including the collection of raw material, production sequence, use, reuse and deposition. A chaîne opératoire approach is also put forward, in order to assess technological choices, gestures, techniques, toolkits and skill levels. Two case studies from the Late Ceramic Age are discussed: the Valencia Lake Basin in north-central Venezuela (AD 800 – 1200) and the northwest of the Dominican Republic, especially the site of El Flaco (AD 1200 – 1400). Microwear analysis was conducted on 161 beads and pendants using optical light microscopy, with magnifications of up to 200x. Experimental replications of specific techniques with local tools and contact materials were also made to serve as analogues to the microscopic evidence. An overview of the biographies of ornaments among lowland South American indigenous societies was made in order to shed light into the patterns observed in the archaeological material. Analysis has shown that in the Valencia Lake Basin the production of ornaments had an important role, involving high skill and the use of a specialized toolkit for shell working. The ornaments display different degrees of wear and indicate different systems of attachment with strings, regardless of type and depositional contexts. In El Flaco, bead making was only limitedly present and restricted to specific raw materials. Most beads, made of calcite and igneous rocks, probably entered the site through exchange networks. In general, the beads are intact and present limited use-wear, with different intensities and distribution regardless of the type. This combined approach (microscopic, experimental and ethnographical) permitted a new insight into the role of ornaments in these contexts and on how their biographies were connected to social relations at local and regional levels.Show less
In Dutch archaeology prehistoric houses are frequently used as sources of information on past societies. There hasn’t been much research on the construction of these houses, however. Even though...Show moreIn Dutch archaeology prehistoric houses are frequently used as sources of information on past societies. There hasn’t been much research on the construction of these houses, however. Even though anthropological studies show that the construction of a house vital is in understanding the links between house and society. This thesis develops a chaîne opératoire-based methodology for studying prehistoric house-construction and applies this methodology to develop an analogy for prehistoric house-construction. The latter goal is achieved by studying the reconstruction of a Late Neolithic house that was built during the Horsterwold-project. This project is an archaeological experiment that aimed to gain insights in prehistoric house-building and tool use by building a reconstruction of a Late Neolithic house with replicas of Neolithic and Mesolithic tools. All the use of tools and building-processes were monitored during the project. The results of this analysis consist of a chaîne opératoire for the Horsterwold House; an overview of traces from production processes which can serve to diagnose these; and quantifications for several of the building-processes. These results can be used as parallels for understanding the construction of the original house, but also as a starting-point for the analysis of prehistoric house-construction. Since the methodology was an essential element of the thesis, it was tested by analysing an Iron Age house from Ezinge, Groningen. This test demonstrated the broad applicability of the model when studying prehistoric house-construction. The most important result of this study is that we should understand prehistoric houses as the end product of a dynamic interaction between a large number of factors in a complex entanglement of processes. This complexity offers opportunities to study the connections between a large number of factors through an analysis of prehistoric house-construction.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
Threepointers are amongst the most enigmatic artefacts of the pre-Columbian insular Caribbean (ca. 200 BC – AD 1492). According to the ethnohistoric chronicles they possessed a largely ritual...Show moreThreepointers are amongst the most enigmatic artefacts of the pre-Columbian insular Caribbean (ca. 200 BC – AD 1492). According to the ethnohistoric chronicles they possessed a largely ritual function and were designated as zemies, Amerindian spirit-objects. Nevertheless, what threepointers actually signified and how they were used is not known, nor have previous studies been able to verify the existing hypotheses. This pilot study explores a biographical way of visualising the threepointer artefact group, addressing the question of how they operated in Amerindian society. Microscopic trace analysis has been carried out on a sample of 59 threepointers, describing the microwear patterns that developed due to manufacture and use. Supplemented with data on the material proveniences and archaeological contexts, the research presents a broad range of evidence. These data are inserted in a biographical framework aimed at reconstruction of the cultural expectations behind the biographical trajectories of threepointers. As threepointers moved through five distinct phases in their biographies, being cause, conception, birth, life, and death, they were continuously recontextualised in the eyes of society. The thesis investigates how this process reflects on the cultural and societal values of the Amerindians. A reinterpretation of the ethnohistoric chronicles using ethnographic observations circumscribes this biographical framework in the context of Amerindian ontologies. Intersubjectivity between people and threepointers was the mechanism that allowed threepointers to interact with human sociality as autonomous actors. Through this mechanism, threepointers could be drawn to the human habitus, acculturated, and made to act on their own subjectivity. This study finds that threepointers were enormously variable in ‘conception’ and ‘birth’, knew active uses during ‘life’, but had no common significance in ‘death’. It argues that their unique existence is the direct result of their potential for intersubjectivity. Threepointers effectively functioned as devices capable of influencing the natural flow of the world.Show less
As evident from archaeological excavation, red ochre, or hematite-rich ironstones, was widely used for ceremonial, mortuary, and other purposes in the Dutch Linearbandkeramik (LBK). Two regional...Show moreAs evident from archaeological excavation, red ochre, or hematite-rich ironstones, was widely used for ceremonial, mortuary, and other purposes in the Dutch Linearbandkeramik (LBK). Two regional groups of LBK settlements are known within the Netherlands, Graetheide and Caberg. Although these sites have some remarkable differences, they also have some remarkable similarities, making it that the jury is still out on whether they should be classified as a different regional groups or not. This study aims to help in this line of questioning by analysing the differences between the red ochre finds of a set of sites from both groups. The samples have been studied morphologically and have been analysed by handheld X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (HH-XRF). A subset of the sample has also been analysed using laboratory X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) in order to evaluate the reliability of the HH-XRF results. This resulted in three groups of red ochre with different geological origin being identified. Two of these had been formed through chemical sedimentation, one of which has ooidal grains while the other does not. The third group is of (sicili)clastic sedimentary origin. Both optical (morphological) examination and HH-XRF have been found suitable for identification of all three categories. There appear to be no significant differences between the sites from the two regional groups in terms of types of red ochre found. This could be the result of tradition in exploitation of similar sources or exchange networks, but could also be pertaining to the differences in functionality of the three categories. As no specialisation is known between LBK settlements or households, the uniform distribution of red ochre over the categories could also be a representation of the different uses of the different types.Show less
In deze scriptie wordt een ruimtelijk onderzoek uitgevoerd met de uitkomsten van een typologische analyse van een selectie van het vuursteen uit de Vlaardingen site, Wateringseveld Binnentuinen....Show moreIn deze scriptie wordt een ruimtelijk onderzoek uitgevoerd met de uitkomsten van een typologische analyse van een selectie van het vuursteen uit de Vlaardingen site, Wateringseveld Binnentuinen. Ook wordt er een vergelijking gemaakt tussen een woonplaats met één fase bebouwing, een woonplaats met twee fasen van bebouwing en een deel van het erf . Hieruit werd duidelijk dat de twee woonplaatsen veel van elkaar verschilden, terwijl het materiaal van het erf erg lijkt op dat van één van de huisplattegronden. Bij één van de woonplaatsen zijn grote hoeveelheden verbrand vuursteen gevonden. Het vuursteen van Wateringseveld Binnentuinen heeft een zuidelijke herkomst, evenals de grote hoeveelheid Buren bijlfragmenten die er zijn gevonden. Er zijn in het vuursteen geen aanwijzingen voor het wel of niet plaats vinden van agrarische activiteiten op de site.Show less
This thesis is about bone paste (also called incrustation) used in the pottery of the Dutch Funnel Beaker West Group, which could be dated between 3400 BC and 2850 BC. On the basis of the problem...Show moreThis thesis is about bone paste (also called incrustation) used in the pottery of the Dutch Funnel Beaker West Group, which could be dated between 3400 BC and 2850 BC. On the basis of the problem definition an answer is sought for the question whether the bone paste was inserted into the pottery decorations and what this bone paste is made of. This question is answered through four research parts. The first is a study of Funnel Beaker pottery to look at how frequently the phenomenon of bone paste usage occurs. The second is an experiment to try to find out what is the best way to make bone paste. The third is a taphonomical experiment to see if there are any detectable traces of the application of bone paste in the pottery. And the fourth is a DNA analysis to find out if the bone which was used for the Funnel Beaker pottery was human or animal derived. The conclusion of this thesis is that bone paste can be found in about 23% of the ancient pottery studied. Probably, more pottery contained bone paste, but this is undetectable due to taphonomic conditions and the cleaning of the pottery. White burned crushed bone was most likely rubbed into fired pottery and then a fatty substance such as melted butter was put over it. This means that the pots could not be heated or washed. The result of the taphonomical part of the research is the discovery that bone powder applied before melted butter is most resistant to all kinds of taphonomical processes. The outcome of the DNA analysis is that most likely burned human bone was used as a source for the crushed bone powder in the ancient pottery decorations.Show less
In this thesis the results of a microscopic analysis of ornaments from the Dutch Funnel Beaker culture (3350-2750 cal. BC) are presented. It is tried to get a better understanding of the meaning of...Show moreIn this thesis the results of a microscopic analysis of ornaments from the Dutch Funnel Beaker culture (3350-2750 cal. BC) are presented. It is tried to get a better understanding of the meaning of the TRB ornaments. By using the concept of cultural biography of objects, insight is gained into how ornaments were treated during this period. Several patterns were distinguished in the choice of raw material, the shape of ornaments, the amount of use and the deposition of ornaments. Most ornaments were made of amber, followed by jet and stone. A strong preference for disc-shaped beads was observed, followed by cylindrical-shaped beads. Other shapes, such as pendants, were only sporadically observed. The technological analysis resulted in the conclusion that ornaments were made following a rather straightforward production sequence of cutting, grinding and biconical perforating. Almost all ornaments were used to some degree. No clear pattern was found as to how, how long and how many ornaments were worn by a single individual. The few indications suggest a variety of ways to wear ornaments. After use, more than half of all ornaments were reground. Dutch Funnel Beaker ornaments are mainly found in the hunebedden. During social gatherings burials and rituals were performed at these megalithic structures, emphasizing and reinforcing the collective identity of the social group. It has been argued that the axes, flints and pottery deposited commemorated communal values, beliefs and activities. In this thesis a similar interpretation is suggested for the amber and jet ornaments. The only local source of amber and jet during the Dutch TRB was the coastal area. Exploiting this area was an important part of TRB existence. It is argued that the specific provenance of amber and jet would have created an association between this material and the coastal area. In this manner the ornaments could have come to symbolize the activity of travelling to and from and exploiting the coast. And in my opinion the ornaments in the hunebedden refer to this aspect of everyday life.Show less
The goal of this thesis is to try and obtain raw quantifiable data on the effects of various pH levels on the flint tools and traces of use on those tools in order to give recommendations on...Show moreThe goal of this thesis is to try and obtain raw quantifiable data on the effects of various pH levels on the flint tools and traces of use on those tools in order to give recommendations on cleaning procedures. In order to do this tools have been experimentally used and subsequently cleaned for use-wear analysis. The changes to the traces of use were observed through the use of a metallographic microscope. In order to make accurate claims on the effects of these cleaning procedures on the traces of use, it was important to determine the exact nature of polish. An attempt has been made to try and answer this by making use of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and image the microscopic surface of the flint tools. Sadly the experimental set-up proved to be insufficient to answer this question. As such approximate conclusions and recommendations had to be given for each theory on the formation of polish.Show less
This thesis aims to balance the lack of published data on flint finds from Dutch megalithic monuments, the hunebedden, that were built during the Middle Neolithic. Technological and typological...Show moreThis thesis aims to balance the lack of published data on flint finds from Dutch megalithic monuments, the hunebedden, that were built during the Middle Neolithic. Technological and typological aspects from hunebed D19, D26, G2 and G3 are described in detail, considering the entire flint assemblages, not only focussing on formal tools. Results from use wear analysis of a selection of objects from these sites are included. The representativity of these four sites is assessed by a small-scale literature survey describing the flint finds from eleven other megaliths although data other than a typological description is scarce. The results of the study of the archaeological material and the literature survey are contextualized by comparing it to several other contexts: other TRB-sites (flat graves, settlements, hoards), development of burial conventions into the Late Neolithic and a modest description of megalithic research in northern Europe. This research leads to the conclusion that the set of items that is included in a hunebed is fairly wide when compared to TRB flat graves as well as graves from later periods. Some items show traces of use from varying activities but most pieces seem to be deposited unused. Since the assemblages contain many flakes and numerous technological indicators for flint-working, flint-knapping probably took place at the megaliths. Some artefacts, like certain transverse arrowheads, were most likely not made for actual use but especially for deposition in the megalith. Polished flint axes form a separate category; they are heavily used and were in numerous cases carefully resharpened before deposition in the megalith.Show less
The Vlaardingen (VL) period poses many interpretational challenges. That does not result from a poor array of data. On the contrary, good preservation conditions in many sites offer a wealth of...Show moreThe Vlaardingen (VL) period poses many interpretational challenges. That does not result from a poor array of data. On the contrary, good preservation conditions in many sites offer a wealth of information. That information, (artefacts, settlement configurations etc) can be subject to divergent interpretations though, and a clear picture of subsistence and habitation mode or inter-site relations is lacking. Even more obscure is the relationship between the VL group and other groups or ‘cultures’ of the upland area, in what is nowadays the Netherlands and other neighboring regions. Consequently every new excavation, such as the one of Hellevoetsluis-Ossenhoek (hereafter Hellevoetsluis), can provide invaluable information. Use-wear analysis has been shown to possess considerable potential in contributing to discussion on the aforementioned issues in the Dutch Delta (cf. Van Gijn 1998, 2008a). This thesis has a dual aim: the first is to analyze the position of the VL group within the process of ‘neolithization’. In that way a series of questions (habitation mode, subsistence strategies and cultural aspects) can take a more refined shape or addressed to some degree if possible. The second is to use the use-wear results from the site of Hellevoetsluis, in order to evaluate the results of the preceding discussion in a constructive manner. In addition, some new assumptions or questions might become part of the discussion in this second data-laden part. The structure of this thesis is as follows: a comprehensive discussion of the state and potential of use-wear studies will precede, in order to outline the main interpretative tool. After a brief description of the general characteristics of the VL group, a detailed discussion of the neolithization process in the Lower Rhine Basin. This discussion will subsequently be narrowed down on a presentation of the chipped stone industries of the VL group and the use-wear analyses conducted so far, so that a framework for the discussion of more refined questions can be set up. The presentation of the use wear results will occupy the final part, along with a discussion of the inferences in comparison to the theoretical problematic presented in the previous chapters.Show less
