SHAFT‐HOLE AXES FROM CAPUT ADRIAE MADE FROM AMPHIBOLE‐RICH METABASITES: EVIDENCE OF CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NORTHEASTERN ITALY AND CENTRAL EUROPE DURING THE FIFTH MILLENNIUM BC |
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| Authors: | F. BERNARDINI A. DE MIN D. LENAZ P. ŠÍDA C. TUNIZ E. MONTAGNARI KOKELJ |
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| Affiliation: | 1. The ‘Abdus Salam’ International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Multidisciplinary Laboratory, Strada Costiera, 11, 34014 Trieste, Italy;2. Department of Geosciences, University of Trieste, Via Weiss 8, 34127 Trieste, Italy;3. Institute of Archaeology, University of Hradec Králové, Rokitanského 62, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic;4. Department of History and Cultures from Antiquity to Contemporary World, University of Trieste, Via Lazzaretto Vecchio 6, 34123 Trieste, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Here we show the results of a study concerning a small group of shaft‐hole axes found in northeastern Italy, made from amphibole‐rich metabasites, fine‐grained and free of phenoblasts. The main mineral phases are amphibole, ranging from actinolite to hornblende, and plagioclase (An10–15 and An70–77). The amphiboles generally show a needle shape and are often radially arranged. Quartz is present in thin veinlets, while ilmenite is widespread in small patches. The petrographic and geochemical features suggest that the axes originate from the southern thermal aureole of Tanvald granite in northern Bohemia. In accordance with this provenance, the typology of the tools shows similarities with the perforated shoe‐last axes spread across Central Europe during the fifth millennium bc and made from similar raw material. For the first time, these axes give evidence of long‐distance (about 800 km) contacts between northeastern Italy and Central Europe during the Neolithic. |
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| Keywords: | SHAFT‐HOLE AXES NEOLITHIC NORTHEASTERN ITALY AMPHIBOLE‐RICH METABASITE PROVENANCE NORTHERN BOHEMIA |
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