A Report on the Examination of Animal Skin Artefacts from the Bronze Age Salt Mines of Hallstatt, Austria

The aim of this research is to compare the cloth cultures of Europe and Egypt in the Bronze Age and New Kingdom. The comparison focuses on the fourteenth century cal BC and includes four geographically separate areas, including the oak coffin burials of southern Scandinavia, the Hallstatt salt mines of central Europe, Late Minoan Crete, and the tombs and towns of the later Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. The comparative approach can bring insights even when applied to unconnected cultures or regions. However, in this study I concentrate on a restricted chronological period and areas that were connected, directly or indirectly, by widespread networks of trade or exchange. The concept of cloth cultures is used to include both textiles and animal skins as these were closely related materials in the prehistoric past. Information was gathered according to the following categories: raw materials, including textile fibre, and species of skins; fabric structure and thread count (only for textiles); decoration and finish; and use and context. From this study, it is possible to recognize the universally shared principles of cloth cultures and the great versatility and creativity in the regional cloth cultures of the Bronze Age.

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Raport preliminar asupra experimentelor arheologice desfășurate la Beclean – Băile Figa jud. Bistrița-Năsăud, 2017 – 2018. Utilizarea ”troacelor” și instalațiilor din lemn în procesul de extragere și exploatare a surselor de sare, slatină și nămol sărat (I) / Preliminary report on the archaeological experiments in Beclean – BăileFiga, BistrițaNăsăud county, 2017-2018. The use of troughs and wooden installations for the saline resources, brine and salty mud extraction and exploitation (I)

10.36935/ang.v22.1 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 9-137

Author(s):

Buzea DAN

Keyword(s):

Bronze Age ◽

Fresh Water ◽

Rock Salt ◽

Tree Species ◽

Preliminary Report ◽

Functional System ◽

Chemical Analyses ◽

Salt Rocks ◽

Salt Mines ◽

The Bronze Age

Several hypotheses regarding the variety of functions fulfilled by the seven wooden troughs found until now in the prehistoric salt mines at Băile Figa, Bistrița-Năsaud County, Romania and dated in the Bronze Age, have been advanced. However, until now, no valid and convincing arguments in favour of a functional system in which troughs could be understood as part of the rock salt and brine extraction and/or exploitation processes, have been presented. Even if their connection with the salt areas is indubitable, because they were usually discovered in secondary contexts, their exact application was not immediately apparent. The hypothesis according to which the troughs were used as part of a system meant to direct streams of water to aid in the piercing of salt rocks, belongs to E. Preissig, who developed it in 1877. Although partly agreed by researchers up until 2010. It was our experiment in 2010 that clearly proved the efficiency of the troughs system in perforating salt rocks by fresh water. Between 2017–2018, more archaeological experiments were completed within the project EthnosalRo3 in the site of Beclean - Băile Figa. They have proven that the wooded troughs and structures, utensils and tools associated to them, are effective for: rock salt extraction, brine evaporation (brine evaporation in troughs is possible using hot stones), salt mud filtering. During the experiments we used three precise replicas of the wooden troughs found in Băile Figa (one small and two large), worked by specialized craftsmen from the exact tree species as the originals. Several positions and heights were tested, as well as the application of throughs in individual or group arrangements. Chemical analyses of the brine obtained in different times and ways are provided.

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Stone Vessels and Values in the Bronze Age Mediterranean

10.1017/cbo9780511499678 ◽

2007 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Andrew Bevan

Keyword(s):

Bronze Age ◽

The Bronze Age

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Investigating Burnt Mounds in Clydesdale during Motorway Construction

Glasgow Archaeological Journal ◽

10.3366/gas.1998.21.21.1 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 1-28

Author(s):

John A Atkinson ◽

Camilla Dickson ◽

Jane Downes ◽

Paul Robins ◽

David Sanderson

Keyword(s):

Bronze Age ◽

Research Strategy ◽

Archaeological Evidence ◽

Radiocarbon Dates ◽

Short Account ◽

And Function ◽

The Impact ◽

The Bronze Age

Summary Two small burnt mounds were excavated as part of the programme to mitigate the impact of motorway construction in the Crawford area. The excavations followed a research strategy designed to address questions of date and function. This paper surveys the various competing theories about burnt mounds and how the archaeological evidence was evaluated against those theories. Both sites produced radiocarbon dates from the Bronze Age and evidence to suggest that they were cooking places. In addition, a short account is presented of two further burnt mounds discovered during the construction of the motorway in Annandale.

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A Neolithic Structure and Bronze Age Activity at West Flank Road, Drumchapel, Glasgow

Scottish Archaeological Journal ◽

10.3366/saj.2003.25.2.103 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 103-128

Author(s):

Gavin Macgregor ◽

Irene Cullen ◽

Diane Alldritt ◽

Michael Donnelly ◽

Jennifer Miller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bronze Age ◽

Archaeological Research ◽

Research Division ◽

Close Proximity ◽

Archaeological Work ◽

Age Features ◽

The Bronze Age

Summary A programme of archaeological work was undertaken by Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (GUARD) at West Flank Road, Drumchapel, in close proximity to the site of the prehistoric cemetery of Knappers. This paper considers the results of excavation of a range of negative features, including earlier Neolithic and Bronze Age pits and postholes. The earlier Neolithic features date to c. 3500–3000 BC and are interpreted as the partial remains of a subrectangular structure. The Bronze Age features may relate to ceremonial activities in the wider area. The significance of these remains is considered in relation to the site of Knappers and wider traditions during the fourth to second millennia BC.

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