Useless Stones? The Potential of Lithics in Palaeodemographic Research
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23858/SA70.2018.002Keywords:
Lithics, Palaeolithic and Mesolithic of Central and Northern Europe, Basic group size, Identification of individuals and group structure, Estimated size of territory, Mobility in prehistoryAbstract
The following paper will ask questions concerning the usefulness and potential of lithics in palaeodemographic research. Lithic material is the most common find among Stone Age sites in Central and Northern Europe. Osteological material is extremely rare, and can therefore not form the basis for demographic analysis. However, previous studies have shown that in some cases a detailed analysis of lithics can provide information concerning group size and structure, as well as territory size and mobility in prehistory. We will use case studies from Central and Northern Europe from the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods to describe this issue.
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References
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Adamczyk M. 2013. Buniewice, stan. 7. Stanowisko paleolityczne i mezolityczne na tle archeologii i paleośrodowiska Wyspy Wolin i Wyspy Chrząszczewskiej. Szczecin (unpublished MA Thesis in the archive of the Cathedral of Archaeology University of Szczecin).
Adamczyk M. 2014. Buniewice, site 7: A collection of Tanged Points Technocomplex on the background of the Final Palaeolithic Settlement of Pomeranian Bay. Sprawozdania Archeologiczne 66, 177-220.
Adamczyk M. 2016. Paleolit i mezolit na wyspach Zatoki Pomorskiej, Warszawa. (unpublished PhD Thesis in the archive of IAE PAN).
Adamczyk M. In print a. Raw Material and Blade Technology Variability. Case Study of Mesolithic Pressure Blade Methods on Wolin Island Region (NW Poland) – an Experimental Approach. In K. Knutsson, H. Knutsson, J. Apel, H. Glørstad (eds.), The early settlement of Northern Europe – Technology and Communications. Sheffield: Equinox.
Adamczyk M. In print b. Lithics. In: M. Rębkowski (ed.), Lubin. High medieval stronghold at the mouth of the Oder. Szczecin: Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii.
Adamczyk M., Anttiroiko N, Ekholm T. and Berg-Hansen I.-M. 2013. Study of collections in Riga, Latvia, 7-9th of March 2013. Riga (unpublished report in the archive of National Museum of Latvia).
Alexandrowicz Z. 1966. Utwory kredowe w krach glacjalnych na wyspie Wolin i w okolicy Kamienia Pomorskiego. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Geologiczne.
Anttiroiko N. 2015. Sæleneshøgda, a re-analysis of a classical Mesolithic Phase II assemblage in northern Norway. Helsinki (unpublished MA Thesis in the archive of the Department of Archaeology University of Helsinki).
Baxter J.E. 2008. Archaeology of Childhood. Annual Review of Anthropology 37, 159-175.
Benedict R. 2001. Wzory Kultury. Warszawa: Muza.
Chmiel-Chrzanowska M. and Fetner R. 2016. Problemy i perspektywy badań paleodemograficznych nad kulturą wielbarską na przykładzie cmentarzyska w Kowalewku, Przeszłość Demograficzna Polski 38 (3), 7-29.
Cyrek K. 1983. Surowce krzemienne w mezolicie dorzeczy Wisły i Górnej Warty. In J. K. Kozłowski and S. K. Kozłowski (eds.), Człowiek i środowisko w pradziejach. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo PWN, 106-113.
Czarnecki M. 1981. The Mesolithic in the Szczecin Lowland. In B. Gramsch (ed.), Mesolithikum in Europa. Potsdam: Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, 345-354.
Czarnecki M. 1983. Początki zasiedlenia w paleolicie i mezolicie. In W. Filipowiak and G. Labuda (eds.), Dzieje Szczecina vol. 1. Pradzieje Szczecina. Szczecin: Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 60-101.
Domańska L. and Wąs M. 2007. Dąbrowa Biskupia, site 71. New data for evidence of the Mesolithic specialized camps. In M. Masojć, T. Płonka, B. Ginter and S. K. Kozłowski (eds.), Contributions to the Central European Stone Age. Wrocław: Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Archeologii, 141-152.
Domańska, L. and Wąs M. 2010. Dąbrowa Biskupia 71: a specialized camp from the Maglemose culture. In S. McCartan, R. Schulting, G. Warren and P. Woodman (eds.), Mesolithic Horizons. Papers presented at the seventh International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Belfast 2005. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 261-268.
Galiński T. 1992. Mezolit Pomorza. Szczecin: Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie.
Giddens A. 2012. Socjologia. Warszawa: PWN.
Gramsch B. 1973. Das Mesolithikum im Flachland zwischen Elbe und Oder. Berlin: Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften.
Högberg A. 1999. Child and Adult in the Knapping Area. A technological Flake Analysis of the Manufacture of a Neolithic Square Section Axe and a Child’s Flintknapping Activities on an Assemblage Excavated as Part of the Öresund Fixed Link Project. Acta Archeologica 70, 79-106.
Kamp K. A. 2001. Where have all the children gone?. Journal of Archaeological methods and theory 8 (1), 1-34.
Kankaanpää J. and Rankama T. 2014. Fast or slow Pioneers? A View from Northern Lapland. In F. Riede, M. Tallaavaara (eds.), Lateglacial and Postglacial Pioneers in Northern Europe. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 147-159.
Kobusiewicz M. 1999. Ludy zbieracko-łowieckie północno-zachodniej Polski. Poznań: Poznańskie Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk.
Kobyliński Z. 1986. Koncepcja „Terytorium eksploatowanego przez osadę” w archeologii brytyjskiej i jej implikacje badawcze. Archeologia Polski 31 (1), 7-30.
Lübke H. and Terberger T. 2002. New evidence on the Ertebølle Culture on Rügen and neighbouring areas. In R. Lampe (ed.), Holocene Evolution of the South-Western Baltic Coast – Geological, Archaeological and Palaeo-environmental Aspects, Greifswalder Geographische Arbeiten 27. Greifswald: Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Univrsität Greifswald, 47-53.
Migal W. 2007. On preferential points of the Final Paleolithic in the Central European Lowland. In M. Kobusiewicz, J. Kabaciński (eds.), Studies in Final Paleolithic of the Great European Plain. Poznań: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań Branch, Poznań Prehistoric Society, 185-200.
Nielsen S. V. 2017. Long blades and Phantom Cores: A Case of Long-Distance Stone Tool Refitting (Southern Norway). Lithic Technology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01977261.2016.1268994
Olsen B. 1994. Bosetning og samfunn i Finnmarks forhistorie, Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.
Orzyłowska K. and Adamczyk M. Learning the Method in Flintknapping. Two Controlled Experiments and Their Results. Szczecin. In preparation.
Rankama T. and Kankaanpää J. 2011. First evidence of eastern Preboreal pioneers in arctic Finland and Norway. Quartär 58, 183-209.
Rozoy J. G. 1989. The Revolution of the Bowmen in Europe. In C. Bonsall (ed.), The Mesolithic in Europe. Edinburgh: John Donald Publishers LTD, 13-28.
Sobkowiak-Tabaka I. 2011. Społeczności późnego paleolitu w dorzeczu Odry. Poznań: Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk.
Sørensen M. 2012. The Arrival and Development of Pressure Blade Technology in Southern Scandinavia. In P. M. Desrosiers (ed.), The Emergence of Pressure Blade Making. From Origin to Modern Experimentation. New York-Dordrecht-Heidelberg-London: Springer, 237-259.
Sørensen M., Rankama T., Kankaanpää J., Knutsson K., Knutsson H., Melvold S., Eriksen B.V. and Glørstad H. 2013. The First Eastern Migrations of People and Knowledge into Scandinavia: Evidence from Studies of Mesolithic Technology, 9th-8th Millennium BC. Norwegian Archaeological Review 2013, 19-56.
Stapert N. 2007. Neanderthal children and their flints. PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Northwest Europe 1 (2), 16-39.
Sternke F. and Sørensen M. 2010. The identification of children’s flint knapping products in Mesolithic Scandinavia. In S. McCartan, R. Schulting, G. Warren and P. Woodman (eds.), Mesolithic Horizons. Papers presented at the seventh International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Belfast 2005. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 720-726.
Sulgostowska Z. 2005. Kontakty społeczności późnopaleolitycznych i mezolitycznych między Odrą, Dźwiną i Górnym Dniestrem, Warszawa: Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk.
Terberger T. 2006. The Mesolithic Hunter-Fisher-Gatherers on Northern German Plain. In K. Møller Hansen and K. Buck Pedersen (eds.), Across the Western Baltic. Odense: Sydsjællands Museum, 111-184.
Winiarska-Kabacińska M. 2007. Dąbrowa Biskupia 71: Mesolithic hunter’s camp?. In M. Masojć, T. Płonka, B. Ginter and S. K. Kozłowski (eds.), Contributions to the Central European Stone Age. Wrocław: Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Archeologii, 153-160.
Adamczyk M. 2013. Buniewice, stan. 7. Stanowisko paleolityczne i mezolityczne na tle archeologii i paleośrodowiska Wyspy Wolin i Wyspy Chrząszczewskiej. Szczecin (unpublished MA Thesis in the archive of the Cathedral of Archaeology University of Szczecin).
Adamczyk M. 2014. Buniewice, site 7: A collection of Tanged Points Technocomplex on the background of the Final Palaeolithic Settlement of Pomeranian Bay. Sprawozdania Archeologiczne 66, 177-220.
Adamczyk M. 2016. Paleolit i mezolit na wyspach Zatoki Pomorskiej, Warszawa. (unpublished PhD Thesis in the archive of IAE PAN).
Adamczyk M. In print a. Raw Material and Blade Technology Variability. Case Study of Mesolithic Pressure Blade Methods on Wolin Island Region (NW Poland) – an Experimental Approach. In K. Knutsson, H. Knutsson, J. Apel, H. Glørstad (eds.), The early settlement of Northern Europe – Technology and Communications. Sheffield: Equinox.
Adamczyk M. In print b. Lithics. In: M. Rębkowski (ed.), Lubin. High medieval stronghold at the mouth of the Oder. Szczecin: Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii.
Adamczyk M., Anttiroiko N, Ekholm T. and Berg-Hansen I.-M. 2013. Study of collections in Riga, Latvia, 7-9th of March 2013. Riga (unpublished report in the archive of National Museum of Latvia).
Alexandrowicz Z. 1966. Utwory kredowe w krach glacjalnych na wyspie Wolin i w okolicy Kamienia Pomorskiego. Warszawa: Wydawnictwa Geologiczne.
Anttiroiko N. 2015. Sæleneshøgda, a re-analysis of a classical Mesolithic Phase II assemblage in northern Norway. Helsinki (unpublished MA Thesis in the archive of the Department of Archaeology University of Helsinki).
Baxter J.E. 2008. Archaeology of Childhood. Annual Review of Anthropology 37, 159-175.
Benedict R. 2001. Wzory Kultury. Warszawa: Muza.
Chmiel-Chrzanowska M. and Fetner R. 2016. Problemy i perspektywy badań paleodemograficznych nad kulturą wielbarską na przykładzie cmentarzyska w Kowalewku, Przeszłość Demograficzna Polski 38 (3), 7-29.
Cyrek K. 1983. Surowce krzemienne w mezolicie dorzeczy Wisły i Górnej Warty. In J. K. Kozłowski and S. K. Kozłowski (eds.), Człowiek i środowisko w pradziejach. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo PWN, 106-113.
Czarnecki M. 1981. The Mesolithic in the Szczecin Lowland. In B. Gramsch (ed.), Mesolithikum in Europa. Potsdam: Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften, 345-354.
Czarnecki M. 1983. Początki zasiedlenia w paleolicie i mezolicie. In W. Filipowiak and G. Labuda (eds.), Dzieje Szczecina vol. 1. Pradzieje Szczecina. Szczecin: Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 60-101.
Domańska L. and Wąs M. 2007. Dąbrowa Biskupia, site 71. New data for evidence of the Mesolithic specialized camps. In M. Masojć, T. Płonka, B. Ginter and S. K. Kozłowski (eds.), Contributions to the Central European Stone Age. Wrocław: Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Archeologii, 141-152.
Domańska, L. and Wąs M. 2010. Dąbrowa Biskupia 71: a specialized camp from the Maglemose culture. In S. McCartan, R. Schulting, G. Warren and P. Woodman (eds.), Mesolithic Horizons. Papers presented at the seventh International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Belfast 2005. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 261-268.
Galiński T. 1992. Mezolit Pomorza. Szczecin: Muzeum Narodowe w Szczecinie.
Giddens A. 2012. Socjologia. Warszawa: PWN.
Gramsch B. 1973. Das Mesolithikum im Flachland zwischen Elbe und Oder. Berlin: Deutscher Verlag der Wissenschaften.
Högberg A. 1999. Child and Adult in the Knapping Area. A technological Flake Analysis of the Manufacture of a Neolithic Square Section Axe and a Child’s Flintknapping Activities on an Assemblage Excavated as Part of the Öresund Fixed Link Project. Acta Archeologica 70, 79-106.
Kamp K. A. 2001. Where have all the children gone?. Journal of Archaeological methods and theory 8 (1), 1-34.
Kankaanpää J. and Rankama T. 2014. Fast or slow Pioneers? A View from Northern Lapland. In F. Riede, M. Tallaavaara (eds.), Lateglacial and Postglacial Pioneers in Northern Europe. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 147-159.
Kobusiewicz M. 1999. Ludy zbieracko-łowieckie północno-zachodniej Polski. Poznań: Poznańskie Towarzystwo Przyjaciół Nauk.
Kobyliński Z. 1986. Koncepcja „Terytorium eksploatowanego przez osadę” w archeologii brytyjskiej i jej implikacje badawcze. Archeologia Polski 31 (1), 7-30.
Lübke H. and Terberger T. 2002. New evidence on the Ertebølle Culture on Rügen and neighbouring areas. In R. Lampe (ed.), Holocene Evolution of the South-Western Baltic Coast – Geological, Archaeological and Palaeo-environmental Aspects, Greifswalder Geographische Arbeiten 27. Greifswald: Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Univrsität Greifswald, 47-53.
Migal W. 2007. On preferential points of the Final Paleolithic in the Central European Lowland. In M. Kobusiewicz, J. Kabaciński (eds.), Studies in Final Paleolithic of the Great European Plain. Poznań: Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań Branch, Poznań Prehistoric Society, 185-200.
Nielsen S. V. 2017. Long blades and Phantom Cores: A Case of Long-Distance Stone Tool Refitting (Southern Norway). Lithic Technology, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01977261.2016.1268994
Olsen B. 1994. Bosetning og samfunn i Finnmarks forhistorie, Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.
Orzyłowska K. and Adamczyk M. Learning the Method in Flintknapping. Two Controlled Experiments and Their Results. Szczecin. In preparation.
Rankama T. and Kankaanpää J. 2011. First evidence of eastern Preboreal pioneers in arctic Finland and Norway. Quartär 58, 183-209.
Rozoy J. G. 1989. The Revolution of the Bowmen in Europe. In C. Bonsall (ed.), The Mesolithic in Europe. Edinburgh: John Donald Publishers LTD, 13-28.
Sobkowiak-Tabaka I. 2011. Społeczności późnego paleolitu w dorzeczu Odry. Poznań: Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk.
Sørensen M. 2012. The Arrival and Development of Pressure Blade Technology in Southern Scandinavia. In P. M. Desrosiers (ed.), The Emergence of Pressure Blade Making. From Origin to Modern Experimentation. New York-Dordrecht-Heidelberg-London: Springer, 237-259.
Sørensen M., Rankama T., Kankaanpää J., Knutsson K., Knutsson H., Melvold S., Eriksen B.V. and Glørstad H. 2013. The First Eastern Migrations of People and Knowledge into Scandinavia: Evidence from Studies of Mesolithic Technology, 9th-8th Millennium BC. Norwegian Archaeological Review 2013, 19-56.
Stapert N. 2007. Neanderthal children and their flints. PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Northwest Europe 1 (2), 16-39.
Sternke F. and Sørensen M. 2010. The identification of children’s flint knapping products in Mesolithic Scandinavia. In S. McCartan, R. Schulting, G. Warren and P. Woodman (eds.), Mesolithic Horizons. Papers presented at the seventh International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Belfast 2005. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 720-726.
Sulgostowska Z. 2005. Kontakty społeczności późnopaleolitycznych i mezolitycznych między Odrą, Dźwiną i Górnym Dniestrem, Warszawa: Instytut Archeologii i Etnologii Polskiej Akademii Nauk.
Terberger T. 2006. The Mesolithic Hunter-Fisher-Gatherers on Northern German Plain. In K. Møller Hansen and K. Buck Pedersen (eds.), Across the Western Baltic. Odense: Sydsjællands Museum, 111-184.
Winiarska-Kabacińska M. 2007. Dąbrowa Biskupia 71: Mesolithic hunter’s camp?. In M. Masojć, T. Płonka, B. Ginter and S. K. Kozłowski (eds.), Contributions to the Central European Stone Age. Wrocław: Uniwersytet Wrocławski, Instytut Archeologii, 153-160.
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Published
2018-12-16
How to Cite
Adamczyk , M., & Chmiel-Chrzanowska , M. (2018). Useless Stones? The Potential of Lithics in Palaeodemographic Research . Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, 70, 31–45. https://doi.org/10.23858/SA70.2018.002
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