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GREENSTONE AXES FROM EASTERN CENTRAL SWEDEN: A TECHNOLOGICAL‐PETROLOGICAL APPROACH *
Author(s) -
KARS E. A. K.,
KARS H.,
McDONNELL R. D.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-4754.1992.tb00493.x
Subject(s) - knapping , thin section , geology , section (typography) , mesolithic , archaeology , geochemistry , geography , advertising , business
Thin‐section study of Mesolithic‐Neolithic axes from five sites in eastern central Sweden and of dolerites occurring in the vicinity showed that the axes were almost definitely produced from local material. Knapping experiments were carried out on blanks from two of these local dolerite varieties and on control material from Delaware, New Jersey, to produce thin‐butted axes. These showed that the unconventional shape of the Swedish preforms is mainly, if not completely, determined by the intrinsic properties of the rock and not by local or regional cultural differences or bad craftsmanship. A number of features were observed in thin‐section, such as a relatively coarse grain size, veining and small cracks, which may lead to the inferior knapping qualities of the Swedish dolerites.