W. Leitner/ T. Bachnetzer/ M. Brandl/ M. Staudt/ B. Nutz, Silex and rock crystal deposits and exploitation in the Alps of Western Austria and Northern Italy. 3rd International Conference "Archaeological Structures from the Flint Mining Site - UISPP Commission, Wien, 22.09.2010. (original) (raw)

Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age fahlore mining in the Lower Inn Valley (North Tyrol, Austria). Alpine Copper II – Alpenkupfer II – Rame delle Alpi II – Cuivre des Alpes II. New Results and Perspectives on Prehistoric Copper Production. Der Anschnitt. Beiheft 42, 2019

Der Anschnitt. Beiheft 42, 2019

Within the framework of the international DACH-project “Prehistoric copper production in the eastern and central Alps – technical, social and economic dynamics in space and time” (funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, I-1670-G19, the DFG and SNF, 2015 - 2018) traces of Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age mining activities were systematically prospected and investigated in the fahlore mining district Schwaz-Brixlegg, North-Tyrol, Austria. The aim was to reconstruct the production chain for copper from fahlore and to demonstrate the spatial and chronological development of the prehistoric mining activities in this district. Archaeological excavations were carried out at different places below and above ground comprising a series of fire-set mines, areas with surface depressions (german: “Pingenfelder”) and one smelting site. Besides the uncovering, documentation and interpretation of prehistoric structures and findings it was essential to obtain organic materials like wood, charcoal and animal bones for radiocarbon dating and – in the ideal case – timber and/or charcoal for dendrochronological analyses. These investigations could be realised at different spots distributed alongside the mining district of Schwaz-Brixlegg. Parallel to the excavations relevant sectors of the mines were mapped, mine plans were drawn and 3D-models were generated. In addition to the archaeological fieldwork, ore samples from the mining district were systematically collected for mineralogical and geochemical analyses with the aim to characterise the mineral assemblages for subsequent provenience studies. This paper reports on the mining sites investigated within the DACH-project as well as on first results from archaeometric analyses.

Attila Botond Szilasi Limnic silicites from Burgenland (Austria) and a new mining model

Savaria 41, 2020

In the Lengyel Period a new raw material appears in the lithic assemblages in the Neolithic Western Hungary. The form and the colour variation of this material have a huge similarity with the limnic silicites from North Hungary. The outcrop of this raw material was finally found in the vicinity of Kohfidisch (Burgenland, Austria). According to the technological examinations these limnic silicites and the radiolarit from the Bakony Mountain were definitely used as local materials in the Neolithic Western Hungarian sites: on the score of the mining activity, the relation with the outcrops and transportation of the raw material to the destination place. The problems which occurred under the examination of the mining traditions and redistribution could be solved with a new mining model.

Siliceous rocks from the southern part of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland (Southern Poland) as potential raw materials in the manufacture of stone tools -A characterization and possibilities of identification

Journal of Archaeological Science Reports, 2020

The Upper Jurassic sediments from the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland developed as carbonates, mostly lime-stones, which represent the microbial-sponge megafacies that were typical of the northern margin of the Tethys Ocean. Outcrops of these rocks are scattered along an extended belt ranging from Portugal to the Caucasus Mts. One of the common features of the bedded limestones belonging to this megafacies is the local occurrence of chert concretions. The siliceous rocks embedded within the Upper Jurassic sequences from the southern part of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland originated from a broad spectrum of limestone silicification processes and are represented by chert concretions, bedded cherts and epigenetic siliceous rocks. These rocks served as raw materials in the production of stone tools from the Middle Palaeolithic onwards. These tools have been studied extensively by archaeologists. This paper presents the identification of the above mentioned types of siliceous rocks used in the manufacture of tools based upon (i) microscopic observations of thin sections which reveal the primary microfacies of limestones subjected to silicification, and (ii) X-ray diffraction analyses, including the determination of the crystallinity index of SiO 2. Unfortunately, the available research methods do not permit the identification of the varieties of chert concretions to an extent that would permit them to be even roughly connected with particular outcrops or, at least, with particular regions of the occurrence of siliceous raw materials on a Pan-European scale. Macroscopic criteria have recently been adopted in archaeological classifications aimed at determining the origin of stone tools and drawing conclusions as to the source outcrops or regions. However, regrettably, these have proven groundless from the geological point of view.