Experimental Traceological Research on Drilling Solid Minerals
https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2024-23-3-22-33
Abstract
Purpose. In archaeological sites of the Early Iron Age and the Hunno-Sarmatian period, there are very similar bead sets, among which carnelian products stand out. Carnelian has a high hardness coefficient and its drilling, even with modern tools, it is extremely technological and time-consuming. The important detail of the drilling process is the configuration of the cutting part of the tool, which leaves specific traces on the stone. In order to reconstruct this main operation, we conducted a series of experimental traceological studies, including the study of traces on the walls of the channels of beads from archaeological sites and on the channels of experimental samples.
Results. In one series, six experiments were conducted using six drills made of copper rod. As a result of the research drills with rounded cylindrical and tubular shapes left similar traces fixed on artifacts. It is worth noting that according to written sources, carnelian was drilled using diamond as an abrasive. Experimental work has shown that carnelian can also be processed and drilled with corundum.
Conclusion. Each technological operation is associated with the practical experience and knowledge of the properties of the mineral, in particular its crystal structure. The process of making beads from such hard stones as carnelian, agate, quartz, jasper, turquoise is one of the most labor-intensive and time-consuming. The craftsmen had to know the properties of the material they were working with as well as it was necessary for the minimum set of tools, consisting of a drill, reamer, tools for grinding and, polishing and various types of abrasives. Despite the complexity of their production, stone beads were intended for trade and exchange operations belong to the mass production of ancient stone-cutting workshops. Obviously, this was due to the high consumer demand for the jewelry they made.
Keywords
Middle Yenisei,
Early Iron Age,
carnelian beads,
drilling technology,
experimental traceological analysis
Supporting agencies: The study was carried out as part of the implementation of the State Task of the Ministry of Education and Science in the field of scientific activity (project № FSUS-2020-0021)
About the Authors
O. A. Mitko
Novosibirsk State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Oleg A. Mitko, Candidate of Sciences (History), Associate Professor
Scopus Author ID 55151372100
RSCI Author ID 385369
Novosibirsk
K. S. Burashnikova
Novosibirsk State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ksenia S. Burashnikova, Laboratory Research Assistant
WoS Researcher ID HSG-2289-2023
RSCI Author 1195729
Novosibirsk
E. V. Gubenko
Novosibirsk State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ekaterina V. Gubenko, Laboratory Research Assistant
Scopus Author ID 57929432600
WoS Researcher ID HTN-5717-2023
RSCI Author ID 1126124
Novosibirsk
References
1. Alekseeva E. M. Antichnye busy Severnogo Prichernomorya [Antique beads of the Northern Black Sea region]. Moscow, Nauka, 1975, 94 p. (in Russ.)
2. Groman-Yaroslavski I., Bar-Yosef Mayer D. E. Lapidary technology revealed by functional analysis of carnelian beads from the early Neolithic site of Nahal Hemar Cave, Southern Levant. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 2015, vol. 58, pp. 77–88.
3. Gubenko E. V., Poselyanin A. I. Kollektsiya ukrashenii iz tagarskogo mogil'nika Belyi Yar I (Altaiskii raion, Respublika Xakasiya) [Collection of jewelry from the Tagar burial ground Bely Yar I (Altai region, Republic of Khakassia)]. Vestnik Khakasskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta im. N. F. Katanova [Bulletin of the Khakassian State University named after N. F. Katanov], 2022, no. 3 (41), pp. 6–10. (in Russ.)
4. Hayden B. Practical and Prestige Technologies: The Evolution of Material Systems. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 1998, no. 1 (5), pp. 1–55.
5. Lemmlejn G. G. Opyt klassifikatsii form kamennyx bus [Experience in classifying the forms of stone beads]. In: KSIIMK. [Brief research reports of the Institute of the History of Material Culture]. 1950, iss. XXXII, p. 157–172. (in Russ.)
6. Lemmlein G. G. Tekhnika sverleniya kamennykh bus iz raskopok na Kavkaze [Technology for drilling stone beads from excavations in the Caucasus]. KSIIMK [Brief research reports of the Institute of the History of Material Culture], 1947, iss. 18, pp. 22–30. (in Russ.)
7. Litvinsky B. A. Drevnie kochevniki “Kryshi mira” [Ancient nomads “Roofs of the world”]. Moscow, Nauka, 1972, 269 p. (in Russ.)
8. Nakvi S. A. Mokhendzho-Daro [Mohenjodaro]. Kurer YuNESKO. Arkheologiya segodnya [UNESCO Courier. Archeology today], 1985, pp. 32–35. (in Russ.)
9. Nandagopal Prabhakar. Decorated Carnelian Beads from the Indus Civilisation Site of Dholavira (Great Rann of Kachchha, Gujarat). In: Walking with the Unicorn Social Organization and Material Culture in Ancient South Asia. Gandhinagar, Archaeopress, 2018, pp. 475–485. DOI 10.2307/j.ctv19vbgkc.35
10. Ruslanova R. R. Busy Yuzhnogo Urala po materialam nekropolei III–VIII vekov [Beads of the Southern Urals based on materials from necropolises of the 3rd – 8th centuries.]. Ufa, Bashkir Encyclopedia, 2018, 376 p. (in Russ.)
11. Serikov Yu. B. K voprosu o tekhnike izgotovleniya otverstii bolshogo diametra v kamennykh izdeliyakh neolita-bronzy Urala [On the question of the technique of making large-diameter holes in Neolithic-Bronze stone products of the Urals]. Povolzhskaya arkheologiya [The Volga River region archaeology], 2018, no. 1 (23), pp. 56–73. (in Russ.)
12. Serikov Yu. B., Grekhov S. V., Kanauka N. V. Eksperimenty po sverleniyu raznykh porod kamnya s pomoshchyu poloi kosti [Experiments on drilling different types of stone with hollow bone]. Vestnik Permskogo universiteta [Bulletin of the Perm University], 2020, vol. 48, iss. 1, pp. 71–81. (in Russ.)
13. Shefer E. Zolotye persiki Samarkanda. Kniga o chuzhezemnykh dikovinakh v imperii Tan [Golden peaches of Samarkand. A book about foreign curiosities in the Tang Empire]. Moscow, Nauka, 1981, 608 p. (in Russ.) (Seriya: Kultura narodov Vostoka [Series: Culture of the peoples of the East])
14. Sidorenko E. V. Tekhnologiya izgotovleniya kamennykh bus v lidovskoi kulture epokhi paleometalla Primorya [The technology of making stone beads in the Lidov culture of the paleometal era of Primorye]. Rossiya i ATR [Russia and Asia-Pacific region], 2014, vol. 3, iss. 85, pp. 219–226. (in Russ.)
15. Volkov P. V. Opyt eksperimenta v arkheologii [Experimental experience in archeology]. St. Petersburg, Nestor-Istoriya, 2013, 416 p. (in Russ.)
Review
For citations:
Mitko O.A., Burashnikova K.S., Gubenko E.V. Experimental Traceological Research on Drilling Solid Minerals. Vestnik NSU. Series: History and Philology. 2024;23(3):22-33. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25205/1818-7919-2024-23-3-22-33
Views:
202
Email this article 