Lithic Research Roundtables

In total, 1061 polished and ground stone tools were unearthed from the stratified tell settlement of Hódmezővásárhely-Gorzsa. During the excavation of the multiperiod tell site (in the 1980s and 1990s), detailed archaeological study of the excavated archaeological finds (mainly chipped-, polished stone tools and ceramics) was started, including archaeometric sourcing of the lithic raw materials. Among the numerous polished stone tools and ground stone tools (GSTs), the latter ones dominate (they represent three-quarters of the total amount) (Starnini et al., 2015; Miklós et al., 2021; 2024). Due to their quantity, the investigation of these macro-lithic tools is an important task in the provenance analysis of the stone tools. The archaeometric investigation, including petrography and geochemistry, of such artefacts to determine their raw materials has not been conducted routinely. Over the last two decades, research on GSTs showed exponential growth, not only from an archaeological point of view but also from their raw material analysis (e.g., Wright, 1992; Adams et al., 2009; Dubreuil et al., 2015; Christiani & Zupancich, 2021). Since then, they have served as the basis of much provenance research in Hungary (e.g., Makkai et al., 1996; Starnini & Szakmány, 1998; Horváth et al., 2015; 2016; Péterdi, 2020; Priskin, 2022; Kósa et al., 2023) and at the same time, in the international literature, the archaeological questions predominate.

GSTs from Gorzsa show a rather varied composition, the most common types are different types of sandstones (50%), andesite and granitoid-metagranitoid varieties. Our research focus is the identification of the sandstone tools’ provenance. We comprehensively investigate artefacts and potential geological source samples, using petrographic-mineralogical and geochemical methods. Our research explores an understudied field because only a few studies looked at sandstone tools (e.g., Szakmány & Nagy, 2005; Péterdi, 2012; 2020; Kósa et al., 2023). So far, Hódmezővásárhely-Gorzsa Neolithic tell settlement is the only one where a multidisciplinary approach was applied. In the international specialized literature, they mainly focus on macroscopic petrographic examinations of the raw materials.

Based on the petrographic examination of the Gorzsa sandstone tool (402 pieces), the following grouping system can be established: red, grey, white meta-, carbonate-bound and other sandstones-metasandstones. The sandstone raw materials have been divided into two main groups: ‘red’ and ‘grey’. The former includes exclusively the Permian red sandstones with various shades of red, while the latter includes grey, white meta-, and carbonate-bound, which have typically grey, yellow and white colours. Each type of raw material was submitted to petrographic, heavy mineral and geochemical (SEM-EDX, PGAA and NAA) analysis. This resulted in four ‘red’ and three ‘grey’ sandstone types (grey, white meta- and carbonate-bound), as well as several variants within each type. In addition, we also carried out comparative studies of possible raw materials from natural sandstone occurrences. Therefore, it can be established that the raw materials are sourced non-locally, in regions located to the east of the settlement (more than 60-70 km), primarily within the river Maros upper valley and its surroundings.

The research was funded by the NKFIH 131814 project.

References

Adams, J., Delgado, S., Dubreuil, L., Hamon, C., Plisson, H. & Risch, R. (2009) ‘Functional Analysis of Macro-Lithic Artefacts: A Focus On Working Surfaces’, in F. Stenke, L. Eigeland & L.J. Costa (eds.) Non-flint raw material use in prehistory: Old prejudices and new directions. Oxford: Archaeopress (BAR International Series 1939), pp. 41–66

Cristiani, E. & Zupancich, A. (2021) ‘Sandstone Ground Stone Technology: a Multi-level Use Wear and Residue Approach to Investigate the Function of Pounding and Grinding Tools’, Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 28(2), pp. 704–735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-020-09488-1

Dubreuil, L., Savage, D., Delgado-Raack, S., Plisson, H., Stephenson, B. & de la Torre, I. (2015) ‘Current analytical frameworks for studies of use–wear on ground stone tools’, in J. M. Marreiros, J. F. Gibaja Bao & N. Ferreira Bicho (eds.) Use-wear and residue analysis in archaeology. Cham: Springer International Publishing (Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique), pp. 105–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08257-8_7

Horváth, T., Farkas-Pető, A., Farkas, I., Mihály, J. & Péterdi, B. (2015) ‘The stone implements of the Middle Bronze Age tell settlement of Füzesabony-Öreg-Domb’, Slovenská Archeológia, 63(1), pp. 31−62.

Horváth, T., Farkas-Pető, A., Farkas, I., Mihály, J. & Péterdi, B. (2016) ‘Füzesabony−Öregdomb bronzkori tell-település kőanyaga’, Agria. Az egri Dobó István Vármúzeum Évkönyve, 49, pp. 29−94.

Kósa, P., Tarbay, J. G. & Miklós, D. G. (2023) ‘The Late Bronze Age casting moulds from Poroszló-Aponhát’, Communicationas Archaeologicae Hungaricae, 2022, pp. 57−81. https://doi.org/10.54640/CAH.2022.57

Makkai, J., Starnini, E. & Tulok, M. (1996) ‘Description of the finds: the pottery’, in J. Makkay, E. Starnini & M. Tulok Excavations at Bicske Galagonyàs. Part III. The „Notenkopf” and Sopot-Bicske Cultural phases. Trieste: Edizioni Svevo Trieste (Quaderno 6), pp. 224−241.

Miklós, D. G., Szakmány, Gy., Józsa, S., Starnini, E. & Horváth, F. (2021) ‘Vörös homokkő nyersanyagú szerszámkövek Hódmezővásárhely-Gorzsa Késő neolit (Tisza kultúra) tell település leletanyagában’, Archeometriai Műhely, 18(3), pp. 209–238. https://doi.org/10.55023/issn.1786-271X.2021-017

Miklós, D. G., Józsa, S., Kasztovszky, Zs., Harsányi, I., Gméling, K., Kovács, Z., Starnini, E., Horváth, F. & Szakmány, Gy. (2024) ’Provenance analysis of red sandstone ground stone tools from the tell settlement of Hódmezővásárhely-Gorzsa (SE Hungary)’, Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 16, p. 107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-024-01998-3

Péterdi, B. (2012) ‘Balatonőszöd – Temetői Dűlő rézkori lelőhely homokkő nyersanyagú kőeszközeinek kőzettani és geokémiai vizsgálata’, Archeometriai Műhely, 2012(4), pp. 265−286.

Péterdi, B. (2020) ‘Red sandstone as raw material of Baden culture (Late Copper Age) grinding stones (Balatonőszöd – Temetői dűlő site, Hungary), with a review of the red sandstone formations of SW Hungary’, Journal of Lithic Studies, 7(3), pp. 1–29. https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.3092

Priskin, A. (2022) ‘The analysis of Bronze Age macrolithic tools a case study from Csanádpalota-Földvár (Southeastern Hungary)’, Antaeus, Communicationes ex Instituto Archaeologico, 38, pp. 251−272. https://doi.org/10.62149/Antaeus.38.2022_08

Starnini, E. & Szakmány, Gy. (1998) ‘The lithic industry of the Neolithic sites of Szarvas and Endrőd (South-Eastern Hungary): Technotypological and archaeometrical aspects’, Acta Archaeologica Academiae Scientiarium Hungaricae, 50, pp. 279−342.

Starnini, E., Szakmány, Gy., Józsa, S., Kasztovszky, Zs., Szilágyi, V., Maróti, B., Voytek, B. & Horváth, F. (2015) ‘Lithics from the Tell Site Hódmezővásárhely–Gorzsa (Southeast Hungary): Typology, Technology, Use and Raw Material Strategies during the Late Neolithic (Tisza Culture)’, in S. Hansen, P. Raczky, A. Anders & A. Reingruber (eds.) Neolithic and Copper Age between the Carpathians and the Aegean Sea. Chronologies and technologies from the 6^th to the 4^th Millennium BCE. Bonn: Habelt (Archäologie in Eurasien, Bd. 31), pp. 105–128.

Szakmány, Gy. & Nagy, B. (2005) ‘Balatonlelle–Felső-Gamász lelőhelyről előkerült késő rézkori vörös homokkő őrlőkövek petrográfiai vizsgálatának eredményei’, Archeometriai Műhely, 2005(3), pp. 13–21.

Wright, K. (1992) ‘A Classification System for Ground Stone Tools from the Prehistoric Levant’, Paléorient, 18(2), pp. 53−81. https://doi.org/10.3406/paleo.1992.4573

The artefacts collected during archaeological field surveys receive little attention beyond the possibly most precise establishment of the date and extension of the site. Besides ceramics and metal artefacts, lithic finds have little importance. In our presentation, we would like to show the amount of information that can be obtained via archaeological and natural scientific investigations of a single, highly damaged polished stone tool found during a field survey in the territory of Szerep (a village in Hajdú-Bihar County).

During the primary macroscopic examination, it became obvious, that despite the broken surface, the piece could be further investigated. Based on the documentation of the use-wear and surface damage, data can be obtained about the individual phases of its life cycle. The tool, originally produced and used as an axe, after fragmentation was reshaped and used as an adze. In addition to the archaeological determination, the relatively long time of the use of the tool is closely connected to the raw material of the stone tool, which was shown to be amphibolite or metabasite based on primary macroscopic and stereomicroscopic examinations.

In order to determine the raw material more precisely, we carried out non-destructive, so-called „original surface test measurements” on the stone axe surface using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDS), an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), a Raman microspectrometer and magnetic susceptibility meter at the Archaeometry Laboratory in the National Institute of Archaeology of the Hungarian National Museum Public Collection Centre.

In our presentation, we would like to answer two important research questions. What is the raw material of the tool? Can the choice of raw materials support multiple changes of function and long-term use?

The natural occurrence of the knappable raw materials used during the Neolithic can be divided into two major groups: the various nodular formations (Tevel flint, obsidian, northern flint and in some cases radiolarites from the Bakony) and the block formations (limnic silicites and Bakony radiolarites). Technological analysis of these cores has shown that the appearance and morphology of the raw material already anticipate the process of preparation and the debitage itself. We are dealing here with a fixed and characteristic sequence of operations which is predestined by the naturally occurring shape of the raw material itself.

In the Middle and Late Neolithic, we can distinguish between prismatic (block or rectangular), conical, natural wedge-shaped (splinter-like) and irregular shapes that cannot be classified in these groups. Unipolar and bipolar cores occur based on the shape of the striking surfaces. In terms of striking directions, unidirectional and multidirectional, including orthogonal and alternating strikes are known. Looking at their debitage surface, we can distinguish unilateral or multilateral and circular separations. Based on these complex features, we can arrange the individual cores into groups: unipolar conic core with unidirectional circular separations, prismatic core with unilateral and multilateral as well as unidirectional and multidirectional separations, wedge-shaped core with unilateral and unidirectional separations, and the circle of irregularly shaped core with ad hoc unilateral and unidirectional separations.

Systematic Palaeolithic research in the Mátra Mountains region began quite late, in the early 2000s. As a result of the field surveys, numerous sites, mainly Upper Paleolithic, were identified.

The presence of Middle Palaeolithic archaeological sites in the Mártaalja region was initially proposed by Katalin Simán (Simán, 1986, pp. 271–275). She assumed that the circulation of the quartz-porphyry lithic raw material from the Bükk Mountains through the Mátra Mountains to the west indicates the potential presence of previously unknown sites in the latter region. The earliest known lithic artefact there, which can be linked to the Middle Palaeolithic, is a bifacial knife made of quartz-porphyry found in Parád-Marhád-tető. Katalin Bíró (Biró, 1984, pp. 5-11) considered this carefully knapped piece with bifacial retouch a diagnostic tool of the Micoquian culture.

In 2011, Mónika Gutay and Gyula Kerékgyártó (Gutay et al., 2012, pp. 12–17) collected four bifacial leaf points during field surveys in the Mátra region. The second leaf point was found in the vicinity of the Mulató-hegy hill in Gyöngyöstarján.

The site of Gyöngyöstarján 10 was identified by Mónika Gutay and Gyula Kerékgyártó in 2006. Further research (Gutay, 2021) was carried out in 2011, 2017, 2020, and 2021 in the form of field surveys, test excavations, as well as luminescent dating, and sedimentological sampling. Some of the tools were examined and assigned to the Middle Palaeolithic by Zsolt Mester and Mónika Gutay (Gutay & Mester, 2024). Through the typological and technological analysis of the lithics, the assemblage was linked to the Micoquian of Eastern and Central Europe. However, some features show differences from the already-known Micoquian-like industries in Hungary.

The typological examination of the whole assemblage was the subject of my BA thesis. Due to the presence of debitage products and waste, which makes up the majority of the finds, and the lack of intact tools, the site can be interpreted as a workshop phenomenon. In terms of lithic raw material, it is characterized almost exclusively by the use of locally sourced limnosilicite.

The assemblage contains 178 tools out of a total of 2817 finds. Retouched flakes and various types of sidescrapers constitute the largest part of the collection, but the number of leaf points, bifacially backed knives (Keilmesser), and handaxes are also significant. In this presentation, I will discuss the results of the typological examination of the assemblage, briefly supplemented with the results of the field surveys conducted recently with Attila Péntek in the Mátraalja region.

The Lower Palaeolithic site of Vértesszőlős is the oldest known prehistoric settlement in Hungary, which was excavated in the 1960s. The processing of the excavated finds also started in those years, using the knowledge available and a novel methodology at the time. In the years since then, our knowledge of this period has increased, and new analytical possibilities have emerged in Palaeolithic research.

In this presentation, we will present two methodologies and their results that have not been applied to the Vértesszőlős artefacts yet. These are the geometric morphometry (Log Shape Ratio – LSR) and use-wear analysis with the help of different microscopes. Using LSR, the objective is to identify potential support pieces in the artefact assemblage, for which a detailed data table with a large amount of data is essential. With use-wear analysis, we should be able to identify the worked materials and the type and intensity of work done with the stones can also be observed. Furthermore, we will present the basics of the methods and the tools used to get the data, together with the possibilities for later applications of them in the future. 

Șardu (Hungarian: Magyarsárd) is located in Cluj County, Northwestern Romania. During an extensive field survey conducted in 2022, the author identified the Șardu – Lângă Podeț site. A total of 268 lithic artefacts and 39 ceramic fragments were collected from the site. The unusually high proportion of lithic artefacts compared to ceramic fragments strongly suggested a multi-period site.

The collected ceramic assemblage includes prehistoric, Roman, and modern-era fragments. Due to the nature of the prehistoric ceramics, it was not possible to precisely date the prehistoric occupation, however, the coarse craftsmanship suggests a Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age origin. The lithic toolkit from the site contains notched and denticulated tools, side-scrapers, and splintered pieces. Blades are present only in small quantities, while end-scrapers are absent. The raw material used for the lithic artefacts exclusively consists of the local, low-quality “Șardu type” chert. Initially, the large number of lithic artefacts and the simple, atypical toolkit appeared to indicate a Middle Palaeolithic occupation; however, the assemblage finds closer analogies with Late Prehistoric (Late Bronze Age, Early Iron Age) sites.

The current state of research suggests that the use of lithic tools gradually declined in the Carpathian Basin following the Koszider period. If we accept the provisional dating of the studied site, it can be concluded that the intensive use of lithic tools persisted in certain contexts during the Late Prehistoric period. This case study aims to illustrate the interpretative challenges and pitfalls that arise when a surface lithic assemblage is approached with preconceived notions.

The grave goods of the Vekerzug (or, Vekerzug-Chotín) culture include stone artefacts of various materials and designs. Research explains the burial of these objects with different cultural and religious reasons. Grave goods of the inhumated burials are thought to be of pre-Scythian origin, while the cremated burials are associated with the surviving traditions of local Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age communities, or perhaps with a steppe tradition.

Thirteen macrolithic tools were analysed from four graves in Békés County. Each piece was placed in inhumation burials, apart from the three cremation graves from Gyopáros. Their placement in these burials may also indicate the position of the buried person in society. They are typically female grave goods, often with traces of red ochre(?) and the presence of a realgar. In the case of male burials, these objects may have served as weapon-sharpening tools.

The macrolithic grave goods from the cemeteries of the period are traditionally defined as polishing or grinding stones. However, the simple, macroscopic definition of stone tools is no longer sufficient for a more thorough interpretation of the graves. Our investigation includes functional analysis and use-wear analysis. In the presentation, we present the first results of this research, proceeding along with the following questions. What were the phases of the use of the tools? In which phase of fragmentation were they placed in the graves? Can traditionally defined types be substantiated and can they be linked to standard forms? How can deformed tools be interpreted?

In the presentation, we present the first results of a new research project and we describe the main directions and future objectives of the research.

Two neighbouring Austrian Late Neolithic sites, Maria Enzersdorf–Hirschkogel (Jevišovice Culture) and Mödling–Jennyberg (Boleráz culture) have already been presented recently (Péterdi et al., 2022, 2023a, 2023b; Horváth et al., 2023). Although the two nearby sites were inhabited partly at the same time (from 3400/3300 BC to 2900/2800 BC) significant differences could be observed amongst the macrolithic artefacts: at Maria Enzersdorf–Hirschkogel, polished stone tools dominate but at Mödling–Jennyberg, ground stone tools and pebbles can be found in greater numbers. Nephrite, which is usually the raw material of polished stone tools, is only known from the Maria Enzersdorf–Hirschkogel assemblage.

The special „nephrite texture” makes nephrite an excellent raw material for polished stone tools, especially for axes and adzes. The interweaving and interlocking thin, fine amphibole (tremolite – actinolite) fibres make a very tough rock – and give an aesthetic appearance to the finished tools. Nephrite was a widespread raw material in Europe during the Neolithic but its use is usually found only in small numbers at each site since it was not available in large quantities at the geological sources either. This is also the case at Maria Enzersdorf–Hirschkogel: Among the 67 macrolithic finds we examined, only 5 finds were made from nephrite.

During our raw material investigations, only non-destructive techniques were used. After macroscopic description and grouping, first, the magnetic susceptibility (MS) of the findings was measured using a KT-5 type Kappameter. To avoid measurement errors due to the shape of the adzes, we applied corrections that take into account the size and shape of the artefacts (Bradák et al., 2005; 2009). To determine the mineral composition and texture more precisely, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry from the original surface (OS-SEM-EDX, Bendő et al., 2013) were applied to one of the artefacts. Amphibole species were defined based on the nomenclature of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) (Hawthorne et al., 2012).

Nephrites discovered at the Maria Enzersdorf–Hirschkogel site were very fine-grained rocks with a silky lustre. The characteristic „nephrite texture” is also visible on their surface by the naked eye: amphibole fibres that exhibit a tissue-like interweave or spread out like a fan. Their colours are different shades of green (dark green, pale green) or almost white (very pale green in spots). During weathering, the surface of the originally green specimens can also fade to white. Likewise, the surface of a specimen with a macroscopically uncertain classification turned dark (almost black) in spots due to weathering.

The magnetic susceptibility value of the nephrites found on the site is low: 0,090-0,210 SI units except for the specimen with macroscopically uncertain classification mentioned above, where the MS value is slightly higher: 0,814 SI units.

Based on the OS-SEM-EDX results, the main rock constituents are amphiboles: tremolite, actinolite and edenite (an amphibole species with higher calcium and iron content). The characteristic „nephrite texture” which can be seen with the naked eye in places is mainly created by the amphiboles with tremolitic composition which were formed last, and to a lesser extent by the amphiboles with actinolitic composition. As accessories opaque minerals (magnetite and chrome spinel) can be found in the rock in small quantities and sizes.

The previously examined Prehistoric nephrite artefacts from Hungary were classified into five groups based on their mineral composition, texture and mineral chemical characteristics (Péterdi et al., 2014a). The most probable source areas of several groups have also been identified (Péterdi et al., 2014a; 2014b).

The artefact from Maria Enzersdorf–Hirschkogel is similar to types 1 and 2 in that it contains only small amounts of accessory minerals in addition to the main rock-forming amphiboles, and these are only grains of magnetite and spinel. However, while type 1 is almost pure tremolite nephrite and type 2 is almost pure actinolite nephrite, the amphiboles in the artefact we examined have a more varied composition. The most probable source area of type 1 is Jordanów (Lower Silesia, Poland), while the source area of type 2 is probably in the Swiss Alps but it has not yet been precisely identified (Péterdi et al., 2014a).

Although we detected several types of amphibole in the examined raw material, the fabric of the find is most similar to the Jordanów nephrite, and various authors have shown the presence of actinolite in addition to tremolite in these (Heflik et al., 1987; Łobos et al., 2008; Gil et al., 2015), and also in nephrite from other sources near Jordanów (Nasławice, Lower Silesia, Poland) (Łobos et al., 2008). A type very similar to the raw material we examined – almost completely homogeneous, and containing only a few chromite inclusions in addition to the rock-forming amphiboles – was also presented from the Nasławice site (Łobos et al., 2008).

The Jordanów nephrite and the serpentinites found on the surface, in an area have been known since the Neolithic. It has been proven that the latter was also quarried, and mainly based on finds in Poland they were used for tool making since the same time (Wojciechowski, 1995; Foltyn et al., 2000; Gunia, 2000; Majerowicz et al., 2000; Skoczylas et al., 2000). The raw material has also been identified in archaeological sites in the Czech Republic and Hungary. Their cultural connections to the Carpathian Basin are also known from a wide period of Prehistory, in several archaeological cultures (Přichystal, 2000; Péterdi, 2011; Přichystal et al., 2012; Péterdi et al., 2014b; 2014c).

Taking all of this into consideration, the most likely source area for the raw material of the nephrite artefacts found at the Maria Enzersdorf–Hirschkogel site is Jordanów (Lower Silesia, Poland) and its surroundings.

The project has received funding from the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (grant NKFIH/OTKA K 131814) and from the Stand Alone Project P-31825 of Der Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.

References

Bendő, Zs., Oláh, I., Péterdi, B., Szakmány, Gy. & Horváth, E. (2013) ‘Csiszolt kőeszközök és ékkövek roncsolásmentes SEM-EDX vizsgálata: lehetőségek és korlátok (Non-destructive SEM-EDX analytical method for polished stone tools and gems: opportunities and limitations)’, Archeometriai Műhely/Archaeometry Workshop, 10(1), pp. 51–66.

Bradák, B., Szakmány, Gy. & Józsa, S. (2005) ‘Mágneses szuszceptibilitás mérések – új módszer alkalmazása csiszolt kőeszközök vizsgálatában’, Archeometriai Műhely/Archaeometry Workshop, 2(1), pp. 13–22.

Bradák, B., Szakmány, Gy., Józsa, S. & Přichystal, A. (2009) ‘Application of magnetic susceptibility on polished stone tools from Western Hungary and the Eastern part of the Czech Republic (Central Europe)’, Journal of Archaeological Science, 36, pp. 2437–2444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.07.001

Foltyn, E. M., Foltyn, E., Jochemczyk, L. & Skoczylas, J. (2000) ‘Basalte und Nephrite im Neolithikum Mittel-Westpolens und der oberschlesieschen Region’, Krystalinikum, 26, pp. 67–81.

Gil, G., Barnes, J.D., Boschi, C., Gunia, P., Szakmány, G., Bendő, Z., Raczyński, P., Péterdi, B. (2015) ‘Origin of serpentinite-related nephrite from Jordanów and adjacent areas (SW Poland) and its comparison with selected nephrite occurrences’, Geological Quarterly, 59 (3), pp. 457–472 + Appendix 1 & 2. https://doi.org/10.7306/gq.1228

Gunia, P. (2000) ‘Nephrite from South-Western Poland as potential raw material of the European Neolithic artefacts’, Krystalinikum, 26, pp. 167–171.

Hawthorne, F.C., Oberti, R., Harlow, G. E., Maresch, W. V., Martin, R. F., Schumacher, J. C. & Welch, M. D. (2012) ‘Ima Report. Nomenclature of the amphibole supergroup’, American Mineralogist, 97, pp. 2031–2048. https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2012.4276

Heflik, W., Nakaniec-Nowak, L., Sobczak, N. & Sobczak, T. (1987) ‘Nephrit aus Niederschlesien’, Zeitschrift der Deutchen Gemmologischen Gesellschaft, 36(3/4), pp. 153–160.

Horváth, T. & Ruttkay, E. (2023) Mödling-Jennyberg. A Hilltop Settlement of the Boleráz and Leithaprodersdorf Cultures. With contributions by: Bajnóczi, B., Gulyás, S., Kaňaková, L., Klammer, J., Kreiter, A., Kovács, Z., May, Z., Péterdi, B., Pucher, E., Saliari, K., Szabó, M., Tóth, M., Viktorik, O. Budapest: Martin Opitz Kiadó

Łobos, K., Sachanbiński, M. & Pawlik, T. (2008) ‘Nefryt z Nasławic na Dolnym Śląsku (Nephrite from Nasławice in Lower Silesia (SW Poland))’, Przegląd Geologiczny, 56(11), pp. 991–999.

Majerowicz, A., Wojcik, A., Gunia, P. & Cholewa, P. (2000) ‘Comparative study of serpentinite textures and rock material of Neolithic artefacts from Lower Silesia (SW Poland)’, Krystalinikum, 26, pp. 111–117.

Péterdi, B., Szakmány, Gy., Bendő, Zs., Kasztovszky, Zs., T. Biró, K., Gil, G., Harsányi, I., Mile, V. & Szilágyi, Sz. (2014a) ‘Possible provenances of nephrite artefacts found on Hungarian archaeological sites (preliminary results)’, Archeometriai Műhely/Archaeometry Workshop, 11(4), pp. 207–222.

Péterdi, B., Szakmány, Gy., Judik, K., Dobosi, G., Kasztovszky, Zs., Szilágyi, V., Maróti, B., Bendő, Zs. & Gil, G. (2014b) ‘Petrographic and geochemical investigation of a stone adze made of nephrite from the Balatonőszöd – Temetői dűlő site (Hungary), with a review of the nephrite occurrences in Europe (especially in Switzerland and in the Bohemian Massif)’, Geological Quarterly, 58(1), pp. 181–192 + Supplement. https://doi.org/10.7306/gq.1146

Péterdi, B., Kovács, Z. & Horváth, T. (2022) ‘Contact metabasite stone tools from two high-altitude sites near Vienna (preliminary results) (poster presentation)’, in A. Király (ed.) Lithic Research Roundtable 12, 2022. Litikum – Journal of the Lithic Research Roundtable, 10, pp. 53–55. https://doi.org/10.23898/litikuma0034

Péterdi, B., Horváth, T. & Török, K. (2023a) ‘Preliminary Results Of The Petrological Examination Of A Gneiss Grinding Stone (Boleráz Culture, Mödling–Jennyberg, Austria) (poster presentation)’, in A. Király & T. Sági (eds.) Lithic Research Roundtable 13, 2023. Litikum – Journal of the Lithic Research Roundtable, 11, pp. 84–85. https://doi.org/10.23898/litikuma0039

Péterdi, B., Kovács, Z. & Horváth, T. (2023b) ‘Preliminary results of the archaeometric examination of metadolerite polished stone tools (Mödling–Jennyberg (Boleráz culture) and Maria Enzersdorf– Hirschkogel (Jevišovice culture) sites, Austria) (poster presentation)’, in A. Király & T. Sági (eds.) Lithic Research Roundtable 13, 2023. Litikum – Journal of the Lithic Research Roundtable, 11, pp. 86–87. https://doi.org/10.23898/litikuma0039

Přichystal, A. (2000) ‘Stone raw materials of Neolithic-Aeneolithic polished artefacts in the Czech Republic: The present state of knowledge’, Krystalinikum, 26, pp. 119–136.

Přichystal, A., Kovář, J. J. & Kuča, M. (2012) ‘A nephrite axe from the Jeseník Museum’, Časopis Slezského Zemského Muzea, Série B, 60, pp. 153–159.

Skoczylas, J., Jochemczyk, L., Foltyn, E. & Foltyn, E. (2000) ‘Neolithic serpentinite tools of west-central Poland and Upper Silesia’, Krystalinikum, 26, pp. 157–166.

Wojciechowski, W. (1995) ‘Die neolitische Serpentinit Mine vom Jańska Góra in Niederschlesien, Polen’, Veröffentlichungen des Brandenburgischen Landesmuseums für Ur- und Frühgeschichte, 29, pp. 201–208.

The first Palaeolithic archaeological site in the Great Hungarian Plain was discovered and excavated in 1935.

Of the few dozen recovered artefacts, only 25 lithics are available for analysis today. Retouched tools and cores are missing, however, refitted flakes clearly document on-site core reduction.

The most abundant among the utilized lithic raw materials is a medium-quality rock similar to rocks of hydrothermal origin (called hydroquartzite in the Hungarian technical literature), covered with a white patina. In addition, we have data on the use of small siliceous pebble fragments, Northern flint, jasper and perhaps Jurassic flint from southern Baranya County.

In conclusion, the archaeological significance of the rather atypical artefacts, dated to about 17 thousand years before present via stratigraphic and calibrated radiocarbon data, is mostly topographical.

The research was funded by the NKFIH 131814 project.

During the 2000s, the Ariadne cave research group mentioned bone remains and chipped stone tools from the ‘Turkish well chamber’ of the cellar under houses 151 and 153 Szentháromság Street. Perhaps the same site was identified in 1964 by Péter Szablyár and János Haas, then students at the Tata Geological Technical College, and Kálmán Barátosi, who collected siliceous pebbles embedded in limestone tuff. (According to the data of the inventory book, however, the site was located at the northern end of Castle, at the cellar nr. 200 under 20 Országház street).

The occurrences of stone tools documented this year will enable further investigation of the archaeological sites below the surface in the central part of Buda’s Vár-hegy in the future.

Based on its microscopic characteristics, the raw material of the grinding stone is orthogneiss, its main rock constituents are quartz, feldspars (potassium feldspars and plagioclase) and mica (muscovite). In addition to traces of metamorphic transformation (deformational fabric, polycrystalline quartz grains, albitization), signs of the original magmatic formation (euhedral quartz grains, perthitic potassium feldspars, rutile forming a sagenite lattice, myrmekites) are also preserved.

Orthogneisses similar in texture and mineral composition to the studied find are also found relatively close to Mödling–Jennyberg, primarily in the Sopron Mountains and Lower Austria (Grobgneis series, e.g. Draganits 1998; Török 1998). Determining the exact raw material source requires further investigations.

We thank for NKFIH/OTKA K 131814. grant and Der Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung No. P-31825 Stand Alone Project for funding the studies.

The project has received funding from the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (grant NKFIH/OTKA K 131814) and from the Stand Alone Project P-31825 of Der Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.

References

Draganits, E. (1998). Seriengliederung im Kristallin des südlichen Ödenburger Gebirges (Burgenland) und deren Stellung zum Unterostalpin am Alpenostrand. Jahrbuch der Geologischen Bundesanstalt, 141, 113–146.

Horváth, T., & Ruttkay, E. (2023). Mödling-Jennyberg. A Hilltop Settlement of the Boleráz and Leithaprodersdorf Cultures. With contributions by: Bajnóczi, B., Gulyás, S., Kaňaková, L., Klammer, J., Kreiter, A., Kovács, Z., May, Z., Péterdi, B., Pucher, E., Saliari, K., Szabó, M., Tóth, M., Viktorik, O. Martin Opitz Kiadó.

Péterdi, B., Kovács, Z., & Horváth, T. (2022). Contact metabasite stone tools from two high-altitude sites near Vienna (preliminary results). In A. Király (Ed.), Lithic Research Roundtable 12, 2022. Litikum – Journal of the Lithic Research Roundtable, 10, 53–54. https://doi.org/10.23898/litikuma0034

Török, K. (1998). Magmatic and high-pressure metamorphic development of orthogneisses in the sopron area, Eastern Alps (W Hungary). Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie – Abhandlungen, 173(1), 63–91. https://doi.org/10.1127/njma/173/1998/63

Kaersutite-bearing metadolerites can be found in several areas further away from the studied archaeological sites (e.g. in the Western Sudetes in Poland, and in the Juvavic Nappe System of the central and eastern Northern Calcareous Alps), but a more precise definition of the source area of the examined raw material requires further investigations.
The project has received funding from the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (grant NKFIH/OTKA K 131814) and from the Stand Alone Project P-31825 of Der Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.

References:

Bendő, Zs., Oláh, I., Péterdi, B., Szakmány, Gy., & Horváth, E. (2013). Csiszolt kőeszközök és ékkövek roncsolásmentes SEM-EDX vizsgálata: lehetőségek és korlátok / Non-destructive SEM-EDX analytical method for polished stone tools and gems: opportunities and limitations. Archeometriai Műhely, 10(1), 51–66.

Bradák, B., Szakmány, Gy., & Józsa, S. (2005), Mágneses szuszceptibilitás mérések – új módszer alkalmazása csiszolt kőeszközök vizsgálatában. Archeometriai Műhely, 2(1), 13–22.

Bradák, B., Szakmány, Gy., Józsa, S., & Přichystal, A. (2009), Application of magnetic susceptibility on polished stone tools from Western Hungary and the Eastern part of the Czech Republic (Central Europe). Journal of Archaeological Science, 36, 2437–2444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2009.07.001

Horváth, T., & Ruttkay, E. (2023). Mödling-Jennyberg. A Hilltop Settlement of the Boleráz and Leithaprodersdorf Cultures. With contributions by: Bajnóczi, B., Gulyás, S., Kaňaková, L., Klammer, J., Kreiter, A., Kovács, Z., May, Z., Péterdi, B., Pucher, E., Saliari, K., Szabó, M., Tóth, M., Viktorik, O. Martin Opitz Kiadó.

Péterdi, B., Kovács, Z., & Horváth, T. (2022). Contact metabasite stone tools from two high-altitude sites near Vienna (preliminary results). In A. Király (Ed.), Lithic Research Roundtable 12, 2022. Litikum – Journal of the Lithic Research Roundtable, 10, 53–54. https://doi.org/10.23898/litikuma0034

This research is funded by the NKFIA K 124334 grant.

Overall, the stone material from Vác is compared to the typical pebble-working assemblages known from the Mogyorósbánya-Újfalusi-dombok and Szob-Ipolypart sites.