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Cycles in Stone Mining and Copper Circulation in Europe 5500–2000 bc: A View from Space

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2020

Peter Schauer
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK
Stephen Shennan
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK
Andrew Bevan
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK
Sue Colledge
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK
Kevan Edinborough
Affiliation:
Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Tim Kerig
Affiliation:
ROOTS Cluster of Excellence, Kiel University, Germany
Mike Parker Pearson
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK

Abstract

The authors of this article consider the relationship in European prehistory between the procurement of high-quality stones (for axeheads, daggers, and other tools) on the one hand, and the early mining, crafting, and deposition of copper on the other. The data consist of radiocarbon dates for the exploitation of stone quarries, flint mines, and copper mines, and of information regarding the frequency through time of jade axeheads and copper artefacts. By adopting a broad perspective, spanning much of central-western Europe from 5500 to 2000 bc, they identify a general pattern in which the circulation of the first copper artefacts was associated with a decline in specialized stone quarrying. The latter re-emerged in certain regions when copper use decreased, before declining more permanently in the Bell Beaker phase, once copper became more generally available. Regional variations reflect the degrees of connectivity among overlapping copper exchange networks. The patterns revealed are in keeping with previous understandings, refine them through quantification and demonstrate their cyclical nature, with additional reference to likely local demographic trajectories.

Cet article concerne les relations entre l'acquisition de pierre de haute qualité (utilisée dans la production de haches, de poignards et d'autres outils) et l'exploitation du cuivre, l'artisanat et les dépôts d'objets en cuivre en Europe préhistorique. Il se base sur les dates radiocarbone obtenues pour les carrières de pierre, de silex et mines de cuivre et sur les données relatives à la fréquence des haches de jade et objets de cuivre à travers les époques. Les auteurs adoptent une vaste perspective couvrant l'Europe centre-occidentale entre 5500 et 2000 av. J.-C et identifient une tendance générale dans laquelle la circulation des premiers objets en cuivre est associée à un déclin de l'exploitation spécialisée des carrières de pierre. Cette dernière réapparut dans certaines régions lorsque l'usage du cuivre diminua, puis décrut de façon plus permanente pendant la phase campaniforme, quand le cuivre devint plus accessible. Les différences entre régions reflètent le niveau des rapports entre réseaux interconnectés. Les résultats de cette étude s'accordent avec les interprétations antérieures mais vont au-delà en quantifiant les données et en démontrant leur caractère cyclique, complémentées par certaines sources relatives à un profil démographique local. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

Dieser Artikel betrifft die Beziehungen zwischen der Besorgung von hochwertigen Stein- und Silexprodukten (z. B. Beile, Dolche und andere Werkzeuge) und der frühen Gewinnung von Kupfer im Bergbau, im Handwerk und in der Niederlegung von Kupfergegenständen in Europa während der Urgeschichte. Die Daten bestehen aus Radiokarbonbestimmungen aus Steinbrüchen, Silexbergbaustätten und Kupferminen sowie Hinweise auf die Häufigkeit und zeitliche Verteilung von Jadebeilen und Kupferartefakten. In einer weiten Sichtweise, welche die meisten Gegenden in West- und Mitteleuropa zwischen 5500 und 2000 v. Chr. umfasst, identifizieren die Autoren eine allgemeine Tendenz, wobei die Verbreitung der ersten Kupferartefakten mit dem Rückgang des spezialisierten Steinbergbaus vergesellschaftet ist. Letzterer tauchte wieder in gewissen Gegenden auf, als die Nutzung von Kupfer abnahm; er fiel in der Glockenbecherzeit dauerhafter ab, als Kupfer allgemein zugänglich wurde. Regionale Unterschiede widerspiegeln die Intensität der Wechselbeziehungen zwischen überschneidenden Austauschnetzwerken von Kupfer. Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung reflektieren frühere Deutungen, verbessern sie aber durch Quantifizierung und illustrieren den zyklischen Charakter der Stein- und Kupfergewinnung, mit zusätzlichen Hinweisen auf möglichen lokalen demografischen Entwicklungen. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

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Article
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Copyright © European Association of Archaeologists 2020

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