Petroarchaeological investigation of three nephrite axes from Moravia and Czech Silesia

0581060 - ARÚB 2024 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Přichystal, A. - Rataj, Petr - Všianský, D.
Petroarchaeological investigation of three nephrite axes from Moravia and Czech Silesia.
Přehled výzkumů. Roč. 64, č. 1 (2023), s. 53-60. ISSN 1211-7250
Institutional support: RVO:68081758
Keywords : nephrite axes * Eneolithic * Moravia and Czech Silesia * natural sources * Jordanow Śląski
OECD category: Archaeology
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.arub.cz/wp-content/uploads/PV-64_1_03.pdf

In 2021, three axes were found in Moravia and Czech Silesia, which share a similar appearance and typology. Two of these axes (Bolatice near Opava, Hlinsko near Lipník and Bečvou) can be dated to the Early Eneolithic (Funnel Beaker Culture), while the third (Archlebov near Ždánice) was a surface find in an area with pottery fragments corresponding to the Moravian Painted Ware Culture. The raw material used in the axes is almost macroscopically identical and has a striking mottled colour. Mineralogical methods (determination of magnetic susceptibility and density, X-ray diffraction record) were used for classification. The methods proved the raw material was nephrite with a significant presence of clinopyroxene. Our comparison with nephrite occurrences in Central Europe has shown the nephrite source at Jordanów Śląski in Polish Silesia to be the most probable source.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0349627