Period: Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic (c. 4200-3300 BC)
Project title: Extracting, processing and using fibres from common reed and willow bark with unretouched blades and quartier d’orange.
Researchers: Annelou Van Gijn & Annemieke Verbaas, University of Lieden, The Netherlands
E-mail: a.l.v.gijn(at)arch.leidenuniv.nl
Year: 2007
Abstract:
Excavations of Stone Age settlements have revealed the existence of a large number of tools, mostly made of flint. In many cases we do not know how these tools were used but by investigating the wear traces on them we can see that one group of tools was used in work with plant fibres. But we do not know exactly how they were used or with which fibres.
During the past two years several experiments have been conducted at Lejre Experimental Centre, aiming to recreate two types of archaeologically observed wear traces on flint, of which the archaeologists have yet to discover the source.
In this years experiment many different types of tools were used to process different types of plant fibres. A total of 16 experimental tools were used to process willow and reeds in different conditions (dry, wet, cooked etc.). In addition, experiments with scraping fibres from hazel bark and wild grasses were carried out, as well as experiments with harvesting wild grasses using the blades in a transverse motion to scrape off the heads with the seeds.
Unfortunately none of the wear traces produced in the experiment resembled the archaeoligically observed wear traces. However the results of these experiments will enable researchers to better distinguish different plant working traces when observed archeologically.
The experiment is part of a series.
Reference number: HAF 13/07
Project title: Extracting, Processing and Using Fibres from Plants Using Stone, Bone and Antler Tools
Forskere: Annelou van Gjn & Annemieke Verbaas, University of Leiden, Holland
E-mail: a.l.van.gijn(at)arch.leidenuniv.nl
Year: 2006
Abstract:
Through history, humans have used fibres from plants for innummerable purposes including baskets, blankets and clothes. Unfortunately, these plant fibres are only very seldomly preserved up to modern times. On the other hand, tools are often found with traces of wear that probably originates from extracting fibres from plants. Espeicalliy flint tools are good to tell us about their past in this way.
By reconstructing the different working processes with reconstructed tools, it is possible to compare the wear on the reconstructed tools with the original wear. In that way, it is possible to get an insight into the methods and plants that were worked with the different tools.
In the experiment in 2006, the focus was on processing flax into fibres with a flint tool called "quatier d'orange". The flax was not rettend before the processing started. After 22 hours of work the amount of flax processed was the same as what was harvested from a 15 meter long densely planted row. It was a worksome proces even though the tool was efficient.
On the other hand, the resulting fibres were long and strong and easily spun. The fibres from dew-rettend flax was different; they broke easily and were therefore not as easily spun.
On one hand, the use wear on the reconstructed quartier d'orange looked very much like the original. On the other hand, they lacked a characteristic polish that are present on the original tools. It might be that the tool has to be used for even longer than this experiment to get the characteristic polish. Nettle and willow bark were also processed on a preliminary basis.
Moreover, the experiment of last year was expanded. Bone awls were tried out on a row of different materials which resulted in markedly different wear traces. In that way it is possible later to examine the original tools for the same wear traces. By that it is possible to see which materials has been used. The experiment is part of a series.
Reference number: HAF 16/06
Project title: Extracting, processing and using fibres from plants using stone, bone and antler tools
Researchers: Dr. Annelou van Gijn & Yvonne Lammers, Leiden University, the Netherlands
E-mail: a.l.van.gijn(at)arch.leidenuniv.nl
Year: 2005
Abstract:
Through history humans have used fibres from plants for innumerable purposes including baskets, blankets and clothes. Unfortunately these plant fibres only rarely survive to the present. We do, however, find the tools used to work plant fibres. When these tools are used they become worn and the nature of this wear can tell us a great deal about how, and on which materials, they were employed. Flint tools in particular are good at revealing their past.
In this project as many reconstructed tools as possible will be used on fibres of nettle, flax, birch, lime, roots, grasses and withies. The wear on the used tools will then be compared with that on the original tools. In this way the use of the tools can be analysed and we can expand our knowledge of how people used plant fibres.
Reference number: HAF 16/05
