Papers by Dagmara H. Werra
From Mine to User: Production and Procurement Systems of Siliceous Rocks in the European Neolithic and Bronze Age edited by, 2021
‘Chocolate’ flint was the most important raw material used by prehistoric communities from the Pa... more ‘Chocolate’ flint was the most important raw material used by prehistoric communities from the Palaeolithic to the Late Bronze Age in the north-east margin of the Holy Cross Mountains to as far away as the Carpathian Mountains. At present we know of 26 exploitation points of this raw material, which occurs in Upper Jurassic limestone deposits and karstic clays – the highest Oxfordian limestone and Lower Kimmeridgian. Five mining sites are presented in this article in chronological order to give an overview of their four main aspects – mining methods, mining tools, dating by radiocarbon determinations, and flint working.
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ABSTRACT
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Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
Soil geochemical prospecting is becoming an increasingly important part of archaeological researc... more Soil geochemical prospecting is becoming an increasingly important part of archaeological research. Therefore, it is possible to determine the location of various archaeological facilities that no longer exist in the study region. In this study, a morphological analysis of the “Stara Góra” deposit in Radzimowice (Lower Silesia, Poland) was performed using LiDAR DTM (light detection and ranging digital terrain model) images and historical data that describe mining in the vicinity of Radzimowice. This method identified numerous remains of centuries-old mining and metallurgical activity. The data collected were used to create a map of arsenic soil concentrations in this area. The map helped point to the exact locations of the old ore-processing facilities. Geochemical mapping was performed on a 20 × 20-m grid at a sampling depth of approximately 0.2 m. The samples were analysed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (XRF-EDS). The highest concentra...
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Walking Among Ancient Trees, 2022
Studies on obsidian sources, its use, and distribution, have been conducted in various parts of t... more Studies on obsidian sources, its use, and distribution, have been conducted in various parts of the globe for over a century. This product of
the volcanic activity, due to its outstanding physical properties and aesthetic quality, was widely used by prehistoric populations. The most important sources of obsidian for the prehistoric communities of Central-
Eastern Europe are located in southeast Slovakia (Carpathian 1, a and b)
and northeast Hungary (Carpathian 2, a and b). The Carpathian 3 variety
is located in Transcarpathian Ukraine. A century ago, Stefan Krukowski
was the first to publish works concerning the presence of obsidian in
Polish archaeological sites. This information was later brought to the
wider attention of the English-reading world by Józef Kostrzewski. The
inventory and description of eastern European obsidian were compiled
many years later, as were the first analyses undertaken. Nevertheless,
it was Marian Wawrzeniecki, archaeologist-amateur, who for the first
time, over a century ago, had observed the presence of obsidian in Poland
at a site in Wężerów, Kraków district, Małopolska (Lesser Poland).
In the Department of Old Collections of the Archaeological Museum in
Kraków, the archaeological materials from Wawrzeniecki’s collection are
stored, amongst which are seventeen obsidian artefacts.
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Acta Universitatis Nicolai Copernici Archeologia, Apr 13, 2017
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Sprawozdania Archeologiczne
Researches on prehistoric flint mines are currently widely developing, as they allow a deep insig... more Researches on prehistoric flint mines are currently widely developing, as they allow a deep insight into the past economy, early industry, and the network of trading routes and inter-regional contacts. In the territory of Poland and in general, Central Europe, one of the most important flint raw materials was an Upper Jurassic chert, so-called chocolate flint. In this paper are presented preliminary results of the research of chocolate flint mine in Poręba Dzierżna, site 24 (Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, southern Poland). The outcrop, and anthropogenic relief indicating the activity of prehistoric miners, were discovered in 2013. Recently excavations undertaken on the site recorded the remains of mining shafts, spoil heaps, and rich traces of workshops. The deposits of chocolate flint were previously known only in the Holy Cross Mountains, 130 km to the NE. The research undertaken has therefore a significant impact on the existing interpretations related to the extraction, use, and dis...
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Sprawozdania Archeologiczne
This paper reports the results of non-destructive energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) an... more This paper reports the results of non-destructive energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis of 186 obsidian artifacts from eight archaeological sites attributable to the Alföld Linear Pottery Culture (c. 5600-4900 cal BC). This is the largest instrument-based study yet conducted and reported for Alföld Linear Pottery Culture (ALPC) artifacts from Slovakia, where ALPC chipped lithic assemblages are almost entirely composed of obsidian items. Results show that all obsidian artifacts analyzed were manufactured exclusively from a volcanic glass of the Carpathian 1 chemical type, the source of which has been localised in Slovakia. This chemical variety of obsidian appears to have been the most important volcanic glass used by prehistoric communities in East-Central Europe during the Neolithic.
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Archaeologia Polona
The study details a pilot experiment in which samples of “chocolate’”flint from four procurement ... more The study details a pilot experiment in which samples of “chocolate’”flint from four procurement sites in Poland and chert from the United States were characterized spectrally and distinguished using reflectance spectroscopy and multivariate statistics. The characterization of ‘chocolate’ flint and the successful differentiation of sources has been, and continues to be, a major research focus for understanding prehistoric consumption, use, and distribution of this favored lithic resource. Reflectance spectroscopy potentially provides an analytical methodology for identifying artefact source by successfully distinguishing spatially and compositionally unique deposits. Initial results from the study show that “chocolate” flint can be distinguished from other silicite tool stone resources, regional lookalike materials, and by individual deposit. Future studies will test a more robust sample size of ‘chocolate’ flints and conduct experiments on surface weathering
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Quaternary International, 2021
The area of the Vistula is rich in deposits of several kinds of flint that were widely used in pr... more The area of the Vistula is rich in deposits of several kinds of flint that were widely used in prehistoric times: ‘chocolate’, grey white-spotted, Jurassic-Krakow, striped (banded), and on its eastern borders, Volhynian. The differentiation of these flint types and determination of their characteristic features can be achieved by applying mineralogical studies. Samples of flint from Poland and Ukraine were collected in flint outcrops and deposits used by prehistoric communities from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age and analysed to determine distinguishing characteristics. The mineralogical research focused on the accessory minerals present in the flint samples. The most interesting and useful minerals recognized are apatites, and phosphates of rare earth elements. Their chemical composition is variable and characteristic for samples from different outcrops. The authors discuss the results of chemical analyses of the phosphates of flints from different geological formations. These ...
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Antiquity
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Quaternary International
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Journal of Lithic Studies
In the Bronze Age flint was still being used throughout Europe. In the early periods of that age ... more In the Bronze Age flint was still being used throughout Europe. In the early periods of that age flint continued to play an important role in the economy in many areas, as evidenced by the numerous flint mines in use at the time as well as flint tools. In the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages, flint still had an important place in the economies of communities living in East Central Europe. At the same time, analysis of late flint industries suggests that some of those had no utilitarian significance. The presence of flint, especially in inhumation graves from the cemetery at Weklice (used by communities of the Wielbark culture during the Roman Period) potentially adds to the debate about its significance. The cemetery at Weklice is the one of the best-known sites from the Roman Period in Poland. The graves are mostly equipped with local finds of metals: gold, silver, copper alloys, iron and amber as well as Roman imports (glass beads, vessels: glass, copper alloys). The collections co...
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Archaeologia Austriaca
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Acta Universitatis Nicolai Copernici Archeologia
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Analysis of molecular composition of organic matter in lithics can determine correlations between... more Analysis of molecular composition of organic matter in lithics can determine correlations between organic matter and rock source. The paper presents the possibilities and limitations of using this method in Earth Sciences and Archaeology
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ANTHROPOLOGICA ET PRAEHISTORICA 128, 2017
Gunflints were a commodity indispensable for the modern military, playing a key role in the arsen... more Gunflints were a commodity indispensable for the modern military, playing a key role in the arsenals of all armies. The wars in the 17th-19th centuries increased the demand for weapons, and, consequently, for significant supplies of gunflints. To have their own source of the product was a strategic objective of all governments. Several flint workshops were located in the neighbourhoods of Cracow where flint was abundant. One of the largest and best preserved was the workshops in Zelków, a village that in the 19th century laid just on the border of Russia and Austria-Hungary. This paper discusses some issues of the mass production of gunflints in the modern era based on a case study of flint factories and the history of the Zelków workshop.
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As the Bronze Age came to its end and the Iron Age
began, flint ceased to be the key material for... more As the Bronze Age came to its end and the Iron Age
began, flint ceased to be the key material for making tools,
supplanted by iron for centuries to come. Flintstone lost
its previous significance yet remained in use, contrary to
the prevailing views. However, the extent of its use was
fairly limited indeed. It was mostly exploited locally and for domestic use. Ethnographic research proves that it was
still in use in the first decades of the 20th century.
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In the Bronze Age flint was still being used throughout Europe. In the early periods of that age ... more In the Bronze Age flint was still being used throughout Europe. In the early periods of that age flint continued to play an important role in the economy in many areas, as evidenced by the numerous flint mines in use at the time as well as flint tools. In the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages, flint still had an important place in the economies of communities living in East Central Europe. At the same time, analysis of late flint industries suggests that some of those had no utilitarian significance. The presence of flint, especially in inhumation graves from the cemetery at Weklice (used by communities of the Wielbark culture during the Roman Period) potentially adds to the debate about its significance. The cemetery at Weklice is the one of the best-known sites from the Roman Period in Poland. The graves are mostly equipped with local finds of metals: gold, silver, copper alloys, iron and amber as well as Roman imports (glass beads, vessels: glass, copper alloys). The collections comprise over of 4000 finds, however this number may change, as excavations in 2012 and 2013 revealed 22 flint artefacts. The presence of flint materials in a Roman Period cemetery admits several possible interpretations: 1) Those may be remnants of older settlements, with graves being dug into older strata and thus some of the specimens of flint could be in their secondary filling on the site; 2) Those may be remains of flint knapping activity by the Wielbark culture community; 3) Those may have been placed in the graves deliberately by the Wielbark culture community as an instance of an older custom involving the placing of flint in graves.
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Papers by Dagmara H. Werra
the volcanic activity, due to its outstanding physical properties and aesthetic quality, was widely used by prehistoric populations. The most important sources of obsidian for the prehistoric communities of Central-
Eastern Europe are located in southeast Slovakia (Carpathian 1, a and b)
and northeast Hungary (Carpathian 2, a and b). The Carpathian 3 variety
is located in Transcarpathian Ukraine. A century ago, Stefan Krukowski
was the first to publish works concerning the presence of obsidian in
Polish archaeological sites. This information was later brought to the
wider attention of the English-reading world by Józef Kostrzewski. The
inventory and description of eastern European obsidian were compiled
many years later, as were the first analyses undertaken. Nevertheless,
it was Marian Wawrzeniecki, archaeologist-amateur, who for the first
time, over a century ago, had observed the presence of obsidian in Poland
at a site in Wężerów, Kraków district, Małopolska (Lesser Poland).
In the Department of Old Collections of the Archaeological Museum in
Kraków, the archaeological materials from Wawrzeniecki’s collection are
stored, amongst which are seventeen obsidian artefacts.
began, flint ceased to be the key material for making tools,
supplanted by iron for centuries to come. Flintstone lost
its previous significance yet remained in use, contrary to
the prevailing views. However, the extent of its use was
fairly limited indeed. It was mostly exploited locally and for domestic use. Ethnographic research proves that it was
still in use in the first decades of the 20th century.
the volcanic activity, due to its outstanding physical properties and aesthetic quality, was widely used by prehistoric populations. The most important sources of obsidian for the prehistoric communities of Central-
Eastern Europe are located in southeast Slovakia (Carpathian 1, a and b)
and northeast Hungary (Carpathian 2, a and b). The Carpathian 3 variety
is located in Transcarpathian Ukraine. A century ago, Stefan Krukowski
was the first to publish works concerning the presence of obsidian in
Polish archaeological sites. This information was later brought to the
wider attention of the English-reading world by Józef Kostrzewski. The
inventory and description of eastern European obsidian were compiled
many years later, as were the first analyses undertaken. Nevertheless,
it was Marian Wawrzeniecki, archaeologist-amateur, who for the first
time, over a century ago, had observed the presence of obsidian in Poland
at a site in Wężerów, Kraków district, Małopolska (Lesser Poland).
In the Department of Old Collections of the Archaeological Museum in
Kraków, the archaeological materials from Wawrzeniecki’s collection are
stored, amongst which are seventeen obsidian artefacts.
began, flint ceased to be the key material for making tools,
supplanted by iron for centuries to come. Flintstone lost
its previous significance yet remained in use, contrary to
the prevailing views. However, the extent of its use was
fairly limited indeed. It was mostly exploited locally and for domestic use. Ethnographic research proves that it was
still in use in the first decades of the 20th century.
(PRELUDI
UM 2; UMO
-
2011/03/N/HS3/03973).
even after the Neolithic. In the Early Bronze Age this is supported by discoveries of flint mines and flint tools such as axe blades, sickles, daggers or arrowheads. The paper will present current problems with correctly determining the origin of “chocolate flint” from Central Poland and results of research into the geochemical and petrographic characteristics of this raw material. As well as remarks on the management of this raw material in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Differences between varieties of “chocolate flints” (mainly from different mines) are also discussed.
widely used in prehistoric times is “chocolate flint” which occurs in the Holy Cross Mountains Mesozoic margin. At present we know about 30 exploitation points and many
outcrops of this flint, forming the most numerous complex of prehistoric mining fields in Poland (Budziszewski 2008). Yet, though research of the occurrence and geological nature
of this raw material is over ninety years old, there are still many gaps in our knowledge
This session will focus on a tracking migration and intercultural contacts in the light of use and distribution of lithic raw materials. Focus will be put to follow cultural changes and intercultural contact based on changes in use and distribution of lithic raw materials as well as on changes in their technology. All this is to make a discussion in order to better understand hidden reason of lithic raw material spread.
We encourage you to submit paper tracing cultural changes, interactions, contacts and migrations in light of change in use of lithic raw materials in Neolithic. Papers dealing with diverse fields and contexts of spread of lithic raw material will be welcome.
Extended deadline for applications is 15 July 2018.
Further details on the conference can be found on https://sites.google.com/view/skam-2018-minsk/
The session will be held at the EAA Annual Meeting in Vilnius, 31 VIII – 4 IX 2016. Papers can be submitted via the EAA website.
Deadline for paper/poster submissions – 15 February 2016
Session details:
- session type – oral (preferred) and poster presentation
- session ID – TH5-01
- session theme – Science and multidisciplinarity in archaeology (TH5)
his inquiry into the study of prehistoric flint mining, Neolithic flint tools (and beyond), and the history of archaeology.
The papers explore topics on archaeology and history, and are organised into three sections. The first contains texts on flint mining dealing with well-known mining sites as well as previously unpublished new material. The reader will find here a wide spectrum of approaches to flint mining, ways of identifying raw materials used by prehistoric communities, and an impressive overview of the history of research, methodology and approaches to flint mining in Europe, North America and Asia.
The following group of papers deals with the use of flint by Neolithic and younger communities, including typological studies on trace evidence analyses as well as theoretical papers on prehistoric periods in Europe and the New World.
The final section consists of papers on the history of archaeology in the 19th and 20th centuries. Some deal with the beginnings of archaeology as a scholarly discipline, while others present significant research from different countries. Readers will also find papers on the development of archaeology in the second half of the 20th century, both in political and institutional contexts. The book ends with the memories, which bring the Jubilarian closer to the reader by viewing him through the eyes of his
co-workers and friends.
Zdzisław A. Rajewski (1907–1974), scholar of many talents”, Wojciech Brzeziński and Danuta Piotrowska consider one of the most important Polish archaeologists of the 20th century, the research he directed at the famous site of Biskupin and on the beginnings of the Polish state under the Millennium Poloniae program, and also for many years the director of the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw. This is followed by a text on the complicated history of an institution. In the article “The Archaeological Museum of the Polish Academy of Learning in Cracow during the Second World War”, one of this volume’s editors, Marzena Woźny presents new information on the history of Polish archaeology in the dramatic times of World War II. In the following insightful text (“Scientific Capital after 1945 in German archaeology – Wilhelm Unverzagt and the archaeology of hillforts”), Susanne Grunwald discusses aspects of the history of German archaeology after 1945. This paper re-examines some current views on this subject, also in the context of the archaeology of defended settlements in the region. In the next text (“European identity and Polish culture – Tomasz Mikocki’s studies on the tradition of ancient art”), Monika Rekowska considers the academic activity of an outstanding Polish researcher on the legacy of Antiquity in European culture. Mikocki studied collections of Greek and Roman antiquities and monuments and their imitations. She summarizes the extensive legacy in these fields of the researcher who died in 2007. The development of Italian medieval archaeology is discussed by Michele Nucciotti and Guido Vannini in their article “Light Archaeology and Territorial Analysis:
Experiences and Perspectives of the Florentine Medievalist School”. The final article in this section (“Archaeology of graves: a contribution to contemporary archaeology in Poland”) by Jolanta Adamek reviews contemporary exhumations and research at the burial sites of victims of World War II and the early post-War period conducted using modern archaeological methods. The volume ends with three more texts. The first is a book review (by Paul Barford) of a work discussing the place of historical patterns of thought in the development of a modern Classical archaeology. This is followed by a report from the conference “Biskupin in the past, today and tomorrow”, which took place in 2009, on the 75th anniversary of the beginning of archaeological research in Biskupin, reported by Kamil Adamczak, Anna Grossman and Wojciech Piotrowski. Since its discovery, the site of Biskupin has been of great importance for archaeology not only because of the nature of the remains that it contained, but also the effect its excavation had on the history of the discipline in the 20th century. The obituary for the archaeologist Gerd Weisgerber by Jacek Lech brings to the attention of the reader some aspects of the work of this outstanding researcher of ancient mining. With the final publication of this volume, the editors hope that the texts that it contains will contribute to the broadening of knowledge about the development of European archaeology at the end of the 19th and the 20th centuries and its place in the contemporary context.