Bell beaker relationships along the Atlantic coast

Petrographical analysis and archaeological studies realised in southwestern Brittany indicates that most of the Bell Beakers found in this region were produced locally, while a small number of examples are characterised by volcanic rock inclusions and a decoration impressed with a small shell (Donax Vitttus,). The same techniques of decoration have been observes in Portugal, that is why a programme of analysis on some Portuguese Bell Beakers has commenced. The aim of this programme, which began last year, is to specify Bell Beaker circulation mechanisms and exdlange routes along the Atlantic coast and, finally, relationships between littoral, where Bell Beakers are concentrated, and the hinterland. The first results come from the fortified site of Leceia (Oeiras), excavated by J. L. Cardoso

Ion beam analysis techniques: a powerful set ge tools for identification and sourcing of ancient gems

Gemstones are defined as rare minerals having a high clarity, a high hardness and showing a bright colour and a nice shining. The most important gems are diamond, sapphire and emerald. These gems are callad precious stones. Gems have fascinated man since the earliest times. They have always been sought out by man for their aesthetic and symbolic valué. Due to their scarceness and high '^alue, gems were appreciated by the mighty ones as a sign of their power (emperors ^nd kings, dignitaries of religions ...). Their high hardness and henee strong resismnce to deterioration symbolised the everlastingness of their reign. This last property is interesting from an archaeological point of view: gemstones travel through time without noticeable alteration, even buried in aggressive environment. On the other hand, gems oiay be used several times on different jewels, possibly cut and polished again. Like spices and other precious and sought-after items, gems were brought back from long distance. Accordingly, they are good tracers for ancient trading routes and influence of civilisations. Each civilisation had its own favourite gemstones: lapis lazuli in Egypt; amber and emerald in the Román Empire; gamet in early Middle Ages westem civil isations; jade, ruby and sapphire in Far-East cultures. Moreover, the provenance of some ancient gems such as emeralds or gamets is still debated. For all these reasons, the study of gems kept in museum collections is a promising research fíeld

Caractérisation physico-chimique et recherche des provenances des hématites oolithiques des sites du Néolithique ancien de Hesbaye (Province de Liège, Belgique) et des sites néolithiques des sources de la Dendre (Province du Hainaut, Belgique)

“Chemical and physical characterization and provenance study of oolitic hematites found both in early Neo-lithic sites of Hesbaye (Province of Liège, Belgium) and Neolithic sites from the Dendre River springs (Hainaut province, Belgium)”.Oolitic ironstones (OIS) are red raw materials producing a strong red pigment that are frequently encountered on LBK (Linearbandkeramic culture or Linienbandkeramische Kultur) sites from the Hesbaye (Liège province, Belgium), the Maastricht region (Limburg province, The Netherlands) and the Dendre springs area (Hainaut province, Belgium).  Macroscopical, mesoscopical and microscopical investigations show a genetic relationship between all of the studied sam-ples.  The latter consist mainly of Clinton-type OIS with fine-grained hematitic ooids and a red clayey-sandy matrix, rarely enclosing carbonates within the cement or in the fossils.  The observed variation inside the geological outcrops results from differences in the proportions of the detrital matrix and the carbonate content in comparison with the richness in hematitic ooids.  The geochemical analyses carried out with HH-XRF and PIXE, also show strong analogies between all of the studied archaeological objects discovered in both of the studied areas.  The diffractometric analysis resulted in poor information except for the mineralogical composition of the major phases. We do not observe differences between the pioneer sites and the older occupation sites. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the OIS from one village to another.  A comparison of geological samples from Belgium and Germany allowed to link archaeological samples to Lower Famennian OIS of the southern border of the Namur Synclinorium.  The latter spots are most probably located between the towns of Loyable and Amay, along the Meuse river valley. We may therefore conclude that the early Neolithic people looked at the same spots (in a geographic area of about three kilometers along the Meuse river axis).  Moreover, they have selected their primary raw materials using the richness in iron ooids and the scarcity in quartz and calcite as main selection criteria. This study is still in progress, now taking into account other types of (non-oolitic) red rocks from LBK sites in the Hesbaye area, The Netherlands and Lorraine, in order to trace the geographical and geological provenances of the raw materials. So far, we can already suggest that the sources are local to regional for the red sandstones and of German origin for the non-oolitic hematitic ores.Material Culture Studie

Belle-Île en Mer, du Néolithique à l'âge du Fer

Communication aux Journées du "CReAAH", Archéologie, Archéosciences, Histoire, Rennes, 12-13 mai 201

Different threshold and bipolar resistive switching mechanisms in reactively sputtered amorphous undoped and Cr-doped vanadium oxide thin films

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