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Management of Osseous Materials For Processing Artifacts in The Boian Settlement of Radovanu - La Muscalu (Romania)
Management of Osseous Materials For Processing Artifacts in The Boian Settlement of Radovanu - La Muscalu (Romania)
The Boian Culture generally developed in the first half of the Vth
millennium B.C. and comprises four phases: Bolintineanu, Giuleti,
Vidra and Spanov (Coma 1974). Some authors consider (Pandrea
2000) the Bolintineanu cultural phase to be an independent culture.
Geographically, it covered the region formed by the greater part of
Wallachia, partially Dobrudja and South-East Transylvania. The pottery from the four phases is represented by a variety of forms (pots,
bowl / basins, cups Steckdose, shells etc.). Their ornamentation is
also quite diverse and includes incision, excision and incrustation with
white paste, painting in red and painting with graphite. Specialists from
both sides of the Danube synchronized the phase Vidra of the Boian
culture with Poljanica I-III, and the Spanov phase with Poljanica IV
(Todorova 1978, table 33).
The settlements were located in a variety of places such as islands,
terrace edges or hills mouths. There are some tells-dwellings. Among
the most famous settlements are those from Glina, Tangru, Aldeni,
Boian A, Vidra and Radovanu. Some of them have one or more enclosure ditches. Dwelling types in the settlements comprise pit houses
and houses constructed on the surface, information derived from archaeological research and complemented by studying the models of
clay dwellings discovered at the settlements (Coma 1974).
present the method of observing the objects that led to the interpretations presented in this study. In the first stage, an analysis chart was
drawn for each artifact, with observations on raw material (raw material type, species, skeletal element etc.), the type of object (waste, blank,
preform, finished object), and morphology; then followed investigations into the manufacturing technique (two main operations: debitage
and shaping) and, finally, proposing a hypothetical function, resulting
from identified use wear. In the next stage, in order to correlate the data
offered by each artifact, the analysis was largely dependent on specific
raw materials (such as bone, antler, bivalve shell and tooth), because, as
we will observe in this study, the different mechanical characteristics of
raw materials limited the manufacturing techniques used.
Within the main categories of raw materials, the artifacts were
subdivided following their degree of finishing, resulting in four categories; the presence of all the constitutive elements of an operational
sequence offered clues regarding the in situ or exterior processing of
the necessary toolkit for the community. The definition of typological
categories in which the finished objects were included was based upon
the Fiches typologiques de lindustrie osseuse prhistorique (e.g. CampFabrer 1990; 1998; Patou-Mathis 2002), starting from the active side
Shell
Antler
102
Canine
Astragalus
1
2
Mandible
Rib
Radius
Humerus
Ulna
Spondylus sp.
Indeterminate sp.
Lepus europaeus
Canis sp.
Capreolus capreolus
Cervus elaphus
Sus sp.
Bos taurus
SKELETON ELEMENTS
Table 1. Numerical distribution of the differents types of raw materials and their selection by species and skeletal elements at the settlement of Radovanu La Muscalu
1
1
Metacarpus
Metapodialus
10
Femur
Tibia
Metatarsus
Long bone
diaphysis
TOTAL
39
14
1
1
1
3
1
106
35
35
the repurposing of food waste as artifacts to be used in domestic activities (skin processing, vegetable, even ceramic, etc.).
According to the experts, the fallen antler is more suitable for
processing, since it is completely developed and the cross-section (the
area used for processing) has a compact tissue. For the prehistoric
populations it was essential to know the specific features of each material, as well as its morphology and anatomy, in order to select the
best materials and to exploit the most suitable areas for technological
processing. As for the Cervus elaphus species, the antlers reach their
maximum development in September and fall in February-March;
therefore, we can assume the existence of a seasonal acquisition cycle towards the beginning of spring. Experiments have already proved
the particular resistance of weapons and tools made of antler, and the
presence of a possible stock of blanks suggests that the resources
were renewed.
The object made of Spondylus sp. shell though singular highlights possible connections with the Mediterranean area or a transfer from one group to another, like in the kula type of exchanges
(Malinovski 1989). Some authors have suggested that the Spondylus
valves may have been gathered from fossil deposits, and might not
derive from exchanges with the Mediterranean areas. However, a series of studies, based on isotopic analyses, like those of Shakelton and
Elderfield (1990), or, more recently, of Bajnczi et al. (2012), for the
Neolithic site of Aszd-Papi (Hungary) seem to confirm the use of
fresh valves. Moreover, Miller (2003), introducing another argument
in favor of the use of fresh valves of Spondylus, shows that those gathered from the beach are more fragile during processing, and tend to
break, unlike those gathered while alive.
Maybe more than other types of raw materials, those of animal
origin necessitate the selection for the processing of a certain type of
artifact by their anatomical form. Apart from the properties of the
raw materials (Margaris 2012) well known in the Prehistoric communities their cultural significance within the group seems to have
been equally important in the selection process. The two determinatives (efficient technology and cultural traditions) seem to complement one another in that the knowledge concerning which parts of
the animal skeleton may be used were recorded in the communitys
myths (Choyke / Darczi-Szab 2010); thus, changes in the selection
of raw materials were consistent over long periods of time, although
there were fluctuations of species availability (Choyke et al. 2004; Luik
2009; 2011).
The animal material industry from the Radovanu settlement totals 204 objects, which can be assigned to the four product and subproduct categories mentioned above. Their distribution is uneven, favoring the finished products, which total 138 (68% of total products),
whereas the objects under processing are 26 (13%) and the blanks
and wastes amount to 15 items (7%). We have also added the important category of undetermined, which includes 25 artifacts (12%).
Nevertheless, we have to mention that such a substantial category of
preforms is rare in sites inventories; it points to in situ manufacture
and to an interest for achieving a manufacture stock. Thus, the result
is a reserve for the immediate replacement of fractured objects and a
strict management of the raw materials.
Concerning the finished objects numerical distribution, linked to
raw material, the picture stands thus (table 2):
Technology management
Bone
Bevelled objects (N = 36). At least 32 objects feature bevelling on flat
blank, for which the chosen bone types were Bos taurus tibia (6), radius (3), metapodial bone (2), and long bone diaphysis (3), Canis sp.
humerus (1), Ovis/Capra humerus (1) and long bone diaphysis of indeterminable species (16). To obtain the blank, percussion was applied
Typological categories
Bone
Antler
Shell
Tooth
1.
Adornment
2.
Harpoon
3.
Handle
4.
Point
5.
6.
Bevelled object
39
36
35
7.
Needle
8.
Processed astragalus
Burin
10.
9.
Scraped bone
11.
Ring
12.
Hammer
13.
Spatula
14.
Undetermined object
1
We have used the terminology proposed by Aline Averbouh (2000).
Bevelled objects
Radius
Humerus
Ulna
Metapodialus
Tibia
Long bone diaphysis
Points
Radius
Humerus
Ulna
Metacarpus
Metapodialus
Femur
Tibia
Metatarsus
Long bone diaphysis
Needles
Metapodialus
Metatarsus
Processed astragalus
Astragalus
Spatulas
Rib
Burins
Long bone diaphysis
Scraped bones
Metacarpus
Ring
Tibia
Hammer
Femur
Preform
Mandible
Blanks and wastes
Long bone diaphysis
Undetermined objects
Radius
Metapodialus
Metatarsus
Long bone diaphysis
Indeterminate sp.
Lepus europaeus
Canis sp.
Cervus elaphus
Sus sp.
Ovis aries/
Capra hircus
SKELETON ELEMENTS
Bos taurus
Table 3. Numerical distribution of the different types of artifacts and their selection
by species
3
1
4
2
6
3
16
1
1
1
7
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
3
1
14
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
3
three over-burned objects, the development procedures of the functional side are not known.
For 20 objects, the blank was obtained by grooving (fig. 3/d). The
necessary time for the manufacture of this kind of point is different
from the time required for the manufacture of the previous category
but we cannot tell whether this technological difference also led to
10
different uses. The selected matrix was Bos taurus metacarpus (1),
metapodial (4), and metatarsus (2), Cervus elaphus metatarsus (3),
Ovis/Capra metatarsus (2), and diaphysis of an undeterminable species (8). In ten cases, the blank was obtained by longitudinal bipartition, by means of a double grooving procedure. In the case of other objects, however, the blank represents approx. of the matrix diameter,
so we may deduce a successive bipartition method, either by double
grooving (7 objects) (fig. 3/c) or by a combination of grooving and
percussion procedure (3 objects) (fig. 4/d). Only for seven points was
the bone epiphysis preserved, with no modification of the anatomic
morphology.
Out of blank in volume (fig. 3/g), five points were processed, and
the selected matrix consisted of Lepus europaeus tibia (1) and diaphysis bone (1), Ovis/Capra tibia (1), Canis familiaris humerus (1) and Bos
taurus ulna (1). In two cases, the bone epiphysis is preserved with no
technological intervention. For the active front development, percussion was used, and then, in the case of four objects, a longitudinal scraping (fig. 3/h) was applied on the fracture sides (4 objects). For five items,
a bi-facial abrasion was applied only on the level of its extremity.
11
Needles (N = 2). To this category belong two objects with perforation on the proximal side and pointed morphology on the distal
side. The first object was processed out of a Bos taurus metapodial,
through longitudinal bipartition, with no possibility of identifying the
procedure, as the whole object surface was developed by longitudinal
scraping that was more intensive on distal level (for providing the side
convergence), followed by a rather rough abrasion. The perforation
was realized by bifacial rotation. The active extremity is fractured and
the proximal one is smooth, suggesting that it may have been used
in indirect percussion. The second needle (fig. 5/a) was obtained out
of an Ovis/Capra metatarsus, using the bipartition method, by double grooving (fig. 5/b). The perforation was realized by bifacial rotation (fig. 5/c) and the active front by longitudinal scraping (fig. 5/d).
Unfortunately, the active extremity was fractured.
Processed astragalus (N= 4). This category includes four objects,
two Ovis/Capra and two Bos taurus. For the sheep/goat astragals, one
modification by abrasion is evident on one side, while the second object (fig. 5/e) preserves a perforation made from the lateral towards the
12
medial face by unifacial rotation (fig. 5/g), after which both the medial
and the lateral faces were intensively processed by abrasion (fig. 5/f)
until the object disappeared (it was no longer possible to hold it). The
two Bos taurus astragals (fig. 5/h) do not show specific abrasion stigmata, except for a perforation, made through rotation.
Spatulas (N = 2). The first object (fig. 6/a) was processed on a
longitudinally bipartitioned rib, with no possibility of identifying the
procedure, as the fracture sides and lower face were very thoroughly
processed by abrasion (fig. 6/b), and the cancellous tissue was eliminated. This resulted in an active rectilinear extremity spatula. On its
upper face, the active front consists exclusively of wear. On the proximal level, as much as the extremity is available, we can identify a perforation made through bifacial rotation (fig. 6/c), very worn, since the
sides are rounded and the rotation traces cannot be seen anymore. The
second object, having a convex active part, is very much degraded on
its surface, which has made it impossible for us to identify the shaping
or functional stigmata. The rib bipartition was realized by percussion,
with no development of the fracture sides.
Burins (N = 2). In this category are two objects (fig. 6/d) processed
on a long bone diaphysis of a large mammal. A flat blank was used, ob-
13
14
15
Undetermined objects (N = 6). One object from this category is processed on flat blank (fig. 7/b), proximally fractured on the level of a circular perforation (fig. 7/d), made by bifacial rotation. We do not have any
information about the procedures used for its detachment because its
whole surface has been thoroughly processed by abrasion (fig. 7/c).
Five objects showing fractures on variable surfaces were also included in this category. The first two, processed out of a Bos taurus
metatarsus and a Cervus elaphus metapodial, preserve only the mesoproximal side. They were processed on a flat blank, obtained by the
longitudinal bipartition of the bone, the procedure (grooving) being
identifiable in just one case. A thorough abrasion of the fracture sides
and of the proximal extremities followed.
The third object, on blank in volume, was developed along an Ovis/
Capra radius by oblique percussion, which led to the appearance of the
active front. One of the fracture sides was processed by abrasion, for
providing the side convergence. Unfortunately, the active extremity is
missing; if it had been present, we would have been able to include it
in one of the typological categories.
The last two are hardly fractured. The first may be a fragment of a
point and the second preserves a small surface of a perforation.
Red deer antler
Bevelled objects (N = 35) represent the most important typological category for objects made of Red deer antler. In order to present
them, we have grouped them according to their features but the common element is given by the development of a bevelled-type extremity. In the first category we included 20 objects, 17 of which had been
processed on the tine, two along the beam, and one undetermined (due
to its fracture), which preserves the blank in anatomic volume and has
a perforation intended for holding at its proximal level. The proximal
extremity is preserved in only four objects, two cases illustrating a segmentation procedure by percussion around the entire circumference,
and two cases are indeterminable. The remaining objects are fractured
in dents de scie (fig. 8/d), at the level of a perforation having a circular
morphology, realized by bifacial rotation. For the latter, we identified
two main procedure types, meant to develop the active front: a bifacial development by longitudinal scraping (fig. 8/a-b), which provides
convergence of two sides, and a unifacial development by percussion,
sometimes followed by abrasion (fig. 8/f), leading to the creation of an
active part, oblique by comparison to the object axis. In that group, a
bevelled object processed along the beam is very particular (fig. 9/a).
It is in a complete accordance with the above description (a fracture on
the level of a circular perforation, active part developed by percussion
followed by abrasion), but on the upper face, ornamentation consisting of two series of five semicircular points was achieved by the rotation of lithic equipment. The same design can be found on the lower
face, as well-namely, six points developed in a semicircle.
Finally, a third procedure (fig. 9/d) involving an active front development, is identified only in the case of one object. This consisted
of the application of debitage by percussion, through breaking, which
caused an oblique fracture. Then an abrasion towards extremity was
applied on the lower face (fig. 9/e). Moreover, the proximal part is
very smooth (fig. 9/h), up to the disappearance of the extremity and
16
17
18
have been used to obtain the morphology of a chisel? The other two
points present a proximal fracture, at the level of their perforation with
a cylindrical morphology. First, the active front was developed at the
distal level only, on a single face, by the application of longitudinal
scraping for flattening the surface; second, the anatomic morphology
of the tine was preserved. In all cases, the point is smooth, showing a
macroscopic polish (fig. 10/d), but it is difficult to decide whether it
was functional or it occurred during the animals lifetime.
Objects with circular extremity (N = 5). This category includes five
objects on blank in volume which were endowed with a perforation and one extremity with a hammers morphology (fig. 10/f). Four
of them were processed along the beam and one on its tine. The first
common element is the presence of a perforation with a cylindrical
morphology, obtained by rotation and fractured through use. The second element is the development of a circular active front, through the
rigorous abrasion of the active front (fig. 10/g).
Handle (N = 1) was processed out of outer burr and the basic zone
of a fallen antler, preserving the blank in anatomic volume (fig. 10/h).
We have no data on the branch segmentation procedures, but on the
19
20
21
22
23
24
Eight objects were processed along the beam, and the perforation
procedures consisted in bi-facial rotation (5 objects), in one case, with
the prior development of the perforation zone, by percussion, bi-facial
percussion (1 object), percussion, followed by rotation (in the case of
a basic part of a fallen antler), and undetermined, due to the massive
deposits on the objects surfaces (1 object).
Another three objects are fractured, only small surfaces being preserved, where stigmata of branch segmentation can be identified. We
cannot include those objects in any product or sub-product category
that resulted from the operational sequence, and this is why we have
chosen the name of undetermined.
Shell
This raw material is represented by only one extremely interesting
object, since it illustrates a recycling (curation) procedure (fig. 11/e).
Initially, it was a bracelet, processed out of a Spondylus valve, rectangular in section. The object surface was finely processed by abrasion, so
that we can no longer identify the stigmata of the debitage operation.
The object was broken and in order not to lose it a perforation
was produced by bifacial rotation (fig. 11/f), allowing the object to be
used as a pendant. The same recycling procedure is also confirmed in
the settlement of Isaccea, also belonging to the Boian culture (Micu
2004).
Tooth
A Sus scrofa canine tusk was turned into an adornment element (fig.
11/g). For that purpose, a longitudinal bipartition method was used,
which provided a flat blank. It has been impossible to identify the procedure, given the supplementary interventions on the item. The lower
face was shaped by longitudinal scraping (fig. 11/i), followed by the
abrasion of the fracture sides. The object has four perforations, made
by rotation (fig. 11/h). Towards the object extremities, the rotation
marks are removed because of the development of a macroscopic wear
area, which may suggest an area used for suspension.
Discussion
Experts agree that technology depends on cultural traditions
(Lemonnier 1993; Dobres 2010; Luik / Maldre 2007; Choyke 2009;
Luik 2011). Under these circumstances, the re-grouping of all the elements resulted from an operational sequence, and the identification
of some repetitive operational schemes in the raw material processing
can offer the key for the identification of some cultural indicators. As
Buc and Loponte highlighted (2009, 152), tool design must be understood as constrained by these technological choices and technological
costs (manufacture and procurement costs) should be considered in
the light of its efficiency.
Starting from the inventory composition, within the lot of
Radovanu we identified four types of products and sub-products based
on the application of different operational schemes:
- waste coming from the processing of the blank which cannot
be re-used;
- blanks non-shaped products, derived from debitage, able to be
turned into finished objects later;
25
- preforms objects in different processing stages, which are important because they carry numerous stigmata of the operational sequence, particularly of the shaping stage;
- finished objects used for different activities.
The integration of artifacts in one of the above-mentioned categories is not, as some might initially believe, very simple: since many
objects create problems, either due to fractures, or because they may
have been compatible with two intentions (for example, an item might
be classified first as waste, when a blank was detached from it for the
manufacture of an object, it might then be considered as a blank, preform, or finished object, if its size still allowed processing and transformation into a finished object, etc.). Another problem is the differentiation between technological/functional stigmata and those that
occurred during the animals lifetime, especially in the case of antler.
Since deer use their antlers as tools, and this triggers fractures, percussion, smooth areas, we should avoid speculative diagnosis.
The study of the above-mentioned categories (see table 4) led to
the identification of the following detachment procedures: a transversal debitage, to which a transformation scheme by segmentation corresponds, and a longitudinal debitage, to which transformation schemes
by bipartition and successive partitions are subordinated. To the above
mentioned procedures, one can add a transformation scheme by direct shaping, identified in the case of the processed astragals and of
the bones with scraping stigmata. As for the techniques used during
the debitage stage, we did some statistics on raw material types, as we
could clearly highlight a different treatment for bone and antler. For
bone, the debitage resulted in two blanks types: in volume and flat.
Considering the percentage, we may state a preference for the use of
flattened blanks (longitudinal debitage 73 objects), followed by those
that preserved their anatomic volume (20 objects). The transversal
debitage was realized by direct percussion (9 objects) and sawing (3
objects). Longitudinally, for the bipartition procedures, the techniques
used were percussion (34 objects), double grooving (11 objects) and
a groove and splinter combination (1 object), while for the successive
partition, the double grooving (8 objects), groove and percussion (3)
or only percussion (1 object) were used.
Within the surface modification procedures (see table 5), abrasion
was the most used technique, closely followed by longitudinal scraping, which was used both for shaping of the fracture plane and for the
development of the active front. These techniques may have been used
in combination on different objects, for the final shaping of the object.
The main technique used for volume modification procedure was perforation, having a single manufacture alternative, namely rotation.
For antler (see table 4), the case is completely different, given the
predominance of the blanks in volume (67 objects) compared to the
flat ones (16 objects). In the case of transversal debitage, the technique
used was direct percussion, except in one case where segmentation
by sawing was observed. The technique used for longitudinal debitage procedures is percussion, as the grooving technique so often
in appearance on bones was not identified. Direct percussion and
scraping were used in surface modification (see table 5), followed by
abrasion in some cases. The volume modification was particularly realized by perforation, rotation (56 objects), or percussion (3 objects).
Needles
Processed astragalus
Spatulas
Burins
Scraped bones
Ring
Hammer
Preforms
Undetermined objects
Undetermined objects
Harpoon
Pendant
Points
Objects with circular
extremity
Handle
Preforms
Bevelled objects
Antler
Double
grooving
Points
Percussion
Groove and
splinter
Debitage by bipartition
(longitudinal debitage)
Bevelled objects
Bone
Typological categories
Percussion
Double grooving
Groove and
splinter
Debitage procedures
Percussion
Sawing
Debitage by segmentation
(transversal debitage)
Table 4. Distribution of the debitage procedures and techniques, identified by the types of raw materials and typological categories, in the settlement of Radovanu
26
Monica MRGRIT / Cristian Eduard TEFAN / Valentin DUMITRACU
27
Table 5. Distribution of the shaping procedures and techniques, identified by the types of raw materials and typological
categories, in the settlement of Radovanu
Shaping procedures
Typological categories
Percussion
Abrasion
Scraping
Perforation
by
rotation
Perforation
by
percution
Sawing
Bone
Bevelled objects
Points
Needles
Processed astragalus
Spatulas
Burins
Scraped bones
Ring
Hammer
Preforms
Undetermined objects
Bevelled objects
Antler
Points
Handle
Harpoon
Pendant
Preforms
Undetermined objects
Another volume modification technique was sawing, used for detachment of harpoon barbs or for decoration of the pendant.
The general picture shows that techniques and procedures vary
rather little, especially in the case of antler, where percussion is omnipresent, but they are well adapted to different raw material types,
illustrating a good knowledge in the field. Besides, a great part of the
tools (points, chisels) illustrate a simplistic development bipartition
by percussion, with a scarce processing of the active front by abrasion;
they may have been selected out of the splinters already obtained while
extracting the bone marrow. This development may have been generated by an ad-hoc use, namely an opportune recovery of the blanks
from the faunal waste, and then the tools may have been abandoned,
after the action for which they had been selected was over. Those tools
were obviously not created by specialists, as the job was at everybodys
hand, but the repeated elements of the operational sequence which
are found within the set illustrate skill or knowledge that is transmitted from one generation to the next.
Within the studied set, the most numerous typological category
is that of chisels (bevelled objects). In literature, numerous tool types
28
carry the generic name of chisels, as their common element is the development of their active part through the intersection of two convergent sides. The main question we asked ourselves was whether those
tools had had an identical function since as we could see from the
study that we carried out on the present set they prove a different
wear evolution. For example, in the case of three objects, their extremity shows small fractures on the extremity level, but at 200x magnification, one can see a polished area, with scratches perpendicular on
the extremity (fig. 15/a, b). They may have been intermediate tools,
according to the fracture type, such as splitting wedge for wood or for
tree bark removal. For most objects made both of bone and antler (fig.
15/c, d), the active side shows an intense macroscopic polish, with
fine marks perpendicular on the extremity being increasingly more
extended on one face. As a result, we may consider that they belong to
the transformation tool category, destined for processing soft materials (skin Christidou / Legrand 2005; Raskova Zelinkova 2010; skin
or wood Maigrot 2000).
Most points, including needles, seem to have been related to domestic activities like skin perforation or textile fiber knitting (Campana
1989; LeMoine1991); projectile points, which could certainly be included here, are not present. We think that the different hardness of the
processed materials is also reflected in the different appearances of the
Fig. 15. Examples of active extremities
with traces of wear
29
active extremity wear: the rounded points in the case of the processing of the soft materials (fig. 15/e; fig. 16/a, b), and those which had
suffered significant loss of material in surface, for the harder materials
(fig. 15/f; fig. 16/d). In the case of perforating thick skin, these points
may have also been used in indirect percussion (as it seems to be the
case of one needle) (fig. 16/c) as already stated by other specialists
(Christidou / Legrand 2005).
By their extended and fine usage polish (fine chipping or depressions are lacking) (fig. 16/e, f), spatulas seem to correspond to a functionality characterized by a prolonged movement on soft materials,
such as skins (Averbouh / Buisson 2003; Raskova Zelinkova 2010).
Actually, it was suggested that their manufacturing out of, primarily,
longitudinally cut ribs had the purpose of assuring the flexibility of
the equipment (Tartar 2009). However, other studies suggest the use
of those objects in clay pots processing (Struckmeyer 2011). Our own
experiments on ceramics illustrated, especially for the spatulas with
convex extremity, that they are very useful in homogenization of the
pots surface and in order to remove the excess clay.
For the astragal category processed by abrasion, we may posit, as
a first functional hypothesis, a domestic use; the result of intense fric-
30
tion against another resistant abrasive body could be aimed, for example, at finishing ceramics (e.g. Meier 2013). Another hypothesis is
trying to prove the use of those astragals in different games, as there
are testimonies in this sense throughout the time and in the faraway
parts of the world (Neolithic, Bronze Age, Rome, modern Iran and
Mongolia or aboriginals in Australia) (Elster 2003; Korzakova 2010);
moreover, we cannot ignore the possibility that they may have been
used in different rituals, for example in divination (Zidarov 2005).
The processed antler objects with a circular active extremity exhibit the morphology of hammers for stone processing; however, the
functional scratches development seems to correspond to a completely
different operation mode. The active surface preserves fine sub-parallel scratches, identifiable only at magnifications of 100x 150x (fig.
10/g). This is why we consider that they were used in an action of
breaking and friction for an abrasive material. The wear area is quite
well delimited, in some cases having a concave morphology.
There have been continual discussions on the functionality of the
bones like the two objects featuring scraping stigmata (Alexandrescu
1961; Semenov 1964); no final solutions have been reached so far.
Traditionally, the literature called them polishers, as they were used
for the smoothing of ceramics (Semenov 1964). Another hypothesis
speaks about skin processing, but recent experiments have proved that
they were rather inefficient for this operation (http://www.palaeotechnik.de/knochenwerkzeug.html). Having no intention of rejecting
these hypotheses, we would like to insist on the details we were able to
identify. The fact is that some of concave faces resulted from a longitudinally applied scraping procedure using equipment made of stone.
The scraping area is well-defined; the stigmata are very well preserved
and are not removed by the wear which occurred as a result of a polishing process (fig. 6/h). However, we may not ignore the possibility of
the periodic reshaping when the wear was too obvious. This practice is
often confirmed in some prehistoric artifact categories. Furthermore,
we may talk about the possibility of multiple functions, as the impact
stigmata on one of the objects correspond to those that are specific to
the pressure flaker for stone objects (fig. 6/i).
Rings, like that from Radovanu, much too small for an adornment,
may be associated with the procedures related to manufacturing of
vegetal fiber baskets (Sidera 2000).
Traditionally, the literature made a connection between harpoons
and fishing. For the primitive communities, the harpoon was used for
fishing (Amerindians, Eskimos), catching water birds and animals
crossing the water (Eskimos), seals (Patagonia) (Scheinsohn 2010)
or arboreal animals, including monkeys (Agta) (Bion Griffin 1997).
In the settlement of Radovanu, even if fishing was absolutely secondary, some fish bones were recovered, like those of a nine year-old carp
or those of some 7-14 year-old catfish (Necrasov 1973), which might
explain the harpoon presence in the settlement. Finally, the object
shown in figure 7/b might be interpreted as an element of a composite
trap, such was the case for similar objects used in southern Romania
(Coma 1983).
The present study provides data that may be helpful in the reconstruction of daily activities that took place in the site. We were able
to underline a systematic exploitation of the environment, with the
31
aid of tools made of hard animal materials, by their implication in action of wood cutting, splitting wedge, bark processing or vegetal fibers
processing. In conclusion, we could take a look at the ways in which
the Eneolithic communities exploited the animal environment in order to obtain their hard animal material industry artifacts, and at the
way in which these objects are re-integrated in the cycle of use this
time as a means for exploitation of the environment. Unfortunately,
it brings a timely result since it cannot offer a complete picture of the
hard animal material industry specific to the Boian culture. The only
comparable study we can mention is the one on the Boian settlement
from Isaccea, Suhat point (Micu 2004), which highlighted an archaeological set rather different from the one shown in the present study.
The usual types of bone points may be found in both settlements, but,
for example, in the Isaccea settlement there are not many chisels made
of bone and antler, other than their preforms, which suggests another
type of economy. In any case, the technical and cultural traditions specific to the Boian culture cannot be individualized based just on two
archaeological sets. Comparative studies relating these finds to other
contemporary or successive sets would be needed in order to identify
the cultural innovation and continuity processes in time and space.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian National
Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS UEFISCDI, project number
PN-II-RU-TE-2011-3-0133.
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, , 1960-1990. -
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(5000-4450 . . .).
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,
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Monica Mrgrit PhD
Valahia University of Trgovite
34-36 Lt. Stancu Ion St.
RO-130018 Trgovite
monicamargarit@yahoo.com
Cristian Eduard tefan PhD
Institute of Archaeology Vasile Prvan
11 Henri Coand St.
RO-010667 Bucureti
cristarh_1978@yahoo.com
Valentin Dumitracu PhD
Institute of Archaeology Vasile Prvan
11 Henri Coand St.
RO-010667 Bucureti
validumitrascu@yahoo.com