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The Early TRB ‘Ploughmarks’ from Sarnowo in Central Poland: A New Interpretation
Author(s) -
NiesioлowskaŚreniowska Ewa
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
oxford journal of archaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1468-0092
pISSN - 0262-5253
DOI - 10.1111/1468-0092.00069
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , archaeology , plough , charcoal , geography , archaeological evidence , interpretation (philosophy) , history , ancient history , materials science , computer science , metallurgy , programming language
The parallel, charcoal‐filled depressions beneath a long‐barrow at Sarnowo (Wлocлawek district, central Poland) have usually been interpreted as cultivation‐furrows, and have been widely cited in the archaeological literature as evidence for use of the light plough, despite their early date (mid‐fifth millennium cal BC) and context (early TRB). Since unambiguous ploughmarks only occur in northern Europe a millennium later, this is an anomaly. Here it is suggested that a more plausible explanation is that they represent the burned timber elements of a building, which would account for the plentiful traces of charcoal and burnt daub. The earliest evidence for the plough in Europe would thus date to the fourth millennium cal BC.