This research attempted to answer the following question: ‘What was the function of the Mesolithic small (<88,5mm) barbed bone points from the North Sea and what does this contribute to our...Show moreThis research attempted to answer the following question: ‘What was the function of the Mesolithic small (<88,5mm) barbed bone points from the North Sea and what does this contribute to our understanding of subsistence strategies of the inhabitants of the North Sea Basin?’ In order to answer this question an assemblage of 28 archaeological small barbed bone points – that originate from the North Sea in front of the Dutch coast of Zuid-Holland – was studied. This thesis started in chapter 1 with an outline of research that was already conducted on these points by Verhart (1986; 1988; 2000) Tsiopelas (2010) and Spithoven (2016). Thereafter, it was explained in chapter 2 how the research was conducted: literature research, experimental archaeology and use wear analysis. In chapter 3, it was outlined how these points fit within the archaeological context: Mesolithic Doggerland. The shooting experiment conducted for this research was discussed in chapter 4 and in chapter 5 the results of this experiment were compared with the results of the use wear analysis. The use wear analysis was conducted on 28 archaeological points in comparison to six experimental points from the shooting experiment. In chapter 6, the social factors which could have influenced the life history of the points were discussed, as well as their function and the representativeness of this research. In the concluding chapter of this thesis (7) the research question was answered followed by a review of the used methods and suggestions for future research. The function of the small barbed bone points from Mesolithic Doggerland could be inferred from the use wear analysis. The points are all (heavily) curated weapon tips. They have developed a high degree of wear and about half of the studied points have remains of reworked barbs present as well. The research area is only a small area of Mesolithic Doggerland which already yielded about 800 of these small barbed bone/antler points. The curation of these points, the function as weapon tips and the overrepresentation within the archaeological record of Mesolithic Doggerland suggests that these weapons were used very frequently. Therefore, it can be inferred that hunting was one an important subsistence strategy. The most used hunting weapon could have been the bow and arrow because the small points are interpreted as arrowheads. However, the use wear analysis could not confirm that the points were specifically used as arrowheads.Show less
Százhalombatta-Földvár, located in Central Hungary, is a Bronze Age tell-settlement along the Danube River, at the delta of the Benta river. The Bronze Age in Hungary is the period between 2800...Show moreSzázhalombatta-Földvár, located in Central Hungary, is a Bronze Age tell-settlement along the Danube River, at the delta of the Benta river. The Bronze Age in Hungary is the period between 2800-2700 BC and 800 BC (Kiss 2005), from which Százhalombatta represents 2000-1400 BC (Vicze 2013). This archaeological site has an important role in the Bronze Age research in Hungary – and abroad. Due to its size and geographical position, Százhalombatta-Földvár can be considered the head of the Bronze Age chiefdom in the Benta valley, according to the model proposed by Earle and Kristiansen (2010). However, detailed research of the site itself is challenging this view. Comparisons of the material culture with other site-types show little indications of a difference in social hierarchy within each site. Hence, instead of political differences, they might be economical. The present study aims to give additional information for the interpretation of the site through microwear analysis of sickle inserts. Microwear analysis is not yet an established approach in Hungary, making the present research a pioneer and offering a fully new approach to understanding the site. In the research presented here, a sample of sickle blades has been analysed, coming from the last occupation layer of the tell, the Koszider Phase (1500-1400 BC) (Vicze 2013). Sickle blades are the most common flint tools found on the site, which underlines their importance in the daily life and society. In order to properly introduce this new method into the current research, it was essential to conduct experiments as references, because the archaeological microwear traces have to be compared with traces on experimental tools. As such, harvesting with experimental flint flakes was carried out. The experiments focused on the difference between 148 Abstract harvesting methods and cereal types. Furthermore, the archaeological tools were also compared to literature and the experimental reference collection of the faculty of archaeology. The microwear analysis strengthens the interpretation that the sickle blades had been used to harvest cereals and that they were used for a long time and regularly maintained. Unfortunately, the experiments did not yield the hoped-for differentiating information, while the archaeological tools do show a greater variability. As a result, it is not possible to draw conclusions about the harvesting method or harvested cereal species at this stage of the research. Nevertheless, it was possible to give some interpretation about social organisation. From the microwear analysis it can be suggested that sickles were important tools and that the harvest might have been organised and centralised by Százhalombatta-Földvár in the chiefdom of the Benta valley.Show less
