Publication details
Kamenné mlaty se žlábkem – doklad o hornictví ve starší době bronzové v Čechách a na Moravě?
| Title in English | Stone Hammers with a groove – evidence of mining in the Early Bronze Age in Bohemia and Moravia? |
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| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Since the Early Bronze Age, it has been possible to observe an increasing presence of grooved stone threshing floors in Bohemia and Moravia, which are most often associated with mining and primary processing of the metal raw material, as evidenced by their abundant finds in Špana Dolina, Rudna Glava, Copa Hill and in the Schwaz/Brixlegg region in Austria. There is no evidence of mining activity in the BA1–A3 phase of the Czech Republic, and therefore the abundant presence of these artefacts in the investigated area is surprising. There is a hypothesis that the knowledge of the production and functional use of threshing floors in the primary phase of metal ore processing or ingots came to the territory of Bohemia and Moravia thanks to growing long-distance trade contacts, where material and ideological exchange of craft knowledge and tools took place. This theory can be investigated thanks to a combination of three non-destructive scientific analyses (petrographic, traceological and SEM/EDX analysis), which can also confirm the functional character of the examined artefacts. Very important in this research is the knowledge of socio-spatial contexts, where it is possible to establish spatial continuity to sites where metallurgical activity is confirmed in the Early Bronze Age in Bohemia and Moravia. The summary results of this research could bring a new perspective on metallurgical activity in the Early Bronze Age and their influence on the formation of the socio-economic structure of society and the development of specialized craftsmanship. |
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