Using pollen analysis to detect microscopical traces of the original contents of an Etruscan beaked flagon from Ostrov u Stříbra (okr. Tachov/CZ) near Pilsen

0462572 - ARÚ 2017 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Kozáková, Radka - Trefný, M. - Postránecká, K.
Using pollen analysis to detect microscopical traces of the original contents of an Etruscan beaked flagon from Ostrov u Stříbra (okr. Tachov/CZ) near Pilsen.
Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt. Roč. 46, č. 1 (2016), s. 75-87. ISSN 0342-734X
Institutional support: RVO:67985912
Keywords : beaked flagon * pollen analysis * Hallstatt period * honey
Subject RIV: AC - Archeology, Anthropology, Ethnology

During the rescue excavations in January 2013 in Ostrov u Stříbra (okr. Tachov/CZ), just of Pilsen, a cremation grave was uncovered. It contained an iron sword, two iron knives, an iron spearhead, an iron ring, a ceramic vessel, and a bronze beaked flagon (Schnabelkanne). Based on the type of the bronze flagon and other finds, the grave may be dated to the Late Hallstatt, respectively Early La Tène period (approx. 475-400 BC). The importance of the grave assemblage consists in the presence of an Etruscan beaked flagon, which represents the third find of an intact vessel of this kind in the Late Hallstatt/Early La Tène period in Bohemia. This paper focuses on palynological research connected with the beaked flagon and the aim to detect traces of its previous contents. Pollen is preserved in the contact layer of bronze surfaces due to the toxic effect of copper on microorganisms that normally decompose organic matter. We made pollen analyses of 14 samples taken from the layer closest to the bronze surface. Our two assumptions were: 1. pollen detected from the outer surfaces of the flagon come from the secondary soil filling the grave; and 2. pollen detected from the inner surfaces come from the secondary soil filling the flagon plus residue potentially from the previous contents. Three groups of samples can be recognised from the results: 1. samples with no or an extremely low number of pollen; 2. samples with a background pollen component; and 3. samples with a background pollen component but also a significant occurrence and counts of insect-pollinated taxa. Specific pollen spectra were detected in three samples from near the beak. Significantly high numbers had pollen of Tilia. In addition, several insect-pollinated herbs occurred in these samples - Mentha type, Hypericum, Trifolium repens type, and Trifolium pratense type. It may be assumed that the results of the pollen analysis showed clear evidence of the presence of honey in the flagon.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0262031