Thermal transformation of chalcedonite artefacts from the Magdalenian site of Ćmielów 95"Mały Gawroniec" (Poland). (12th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miśta‐Jakubowska, Ewelina Agnieszka; Kruszewski, Łukasz; Przeździecki, Michał; Paczkowski, Michał; Marynowski, Leszek; Gójska, Aneta Maria; Wilczopolska, Magdalena; Diduszko, Ryszard; Pyżewicz, Katarzyna; Kosiński, Tymoteusz; Trela, Krystian; Szubski, Michał
• Is Part Of: Archaeometry. Volume 64:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 300
• Page End: 316
• Publication Date: 2021-08-12
• Subjects: chalcedonite -- cooking stones -- EPMA -- GCMS -- Magdalenian culture -- middle Europe -- PXRD -- Raman spectroscopy -- temperature changes -- upper Paleolithic; Archaeometry -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Expertising -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1111/arcm.12703
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-813X

Abstract

Abstract: Two chalcedonite artefacts from the Magdalenian site of Ćmielów 95 (Poland), with macroscopic features suggestive of thermal treatment, were subjected to a multi‐instrumental analysis. The red upper layer of the objects consists of "protohematite", implying temperature‐driven, goethite‐to‐hematite transition. The red layer shows traces of carbonized matter with saccharides and levoglucosan (from burning wood) as well as fatty acids. PXRD data suggest a source of higher temperatures (up to ~800°C) within the bottom layer, with ~200–300°C range ascribed to the red layer. On the basis of the collected data the artefacts are proposed to be relics of cooking stones.