Current researches on Bell BeakersProceedings of the 15th International Bell Beaker Conference:

From Atlantic to Ural.5th 9th May 2011

Poio Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain

M. Pilar Prieto Martínez & Laure Salanova coords.

2013. Santiago de Compostela Spain

© Galician ArchaeoPots: wikipot.com

ISBN: 978-84-941537-0-9

Depósito Legal: C 1281-2013

Printed in Santiago de Compostela Spain . June 2013

Editorial: Copynino-Centro de Impresión Digital

Acknowledgements

5

We would like to express our most sincere thanks to all of the individuals and institutions who contributed towards the success of this conference. Firstly, the Archéologie et Gobelets Association and its chairwoman a Marie Besse for inviting us to organise this conference in Galicia. Several aspects of the conference were sponsored by the in Wenner Gren Foundation, thanks to which it was possible for 35 projects to be presented by 35 researchers from all over Europe. The Spanish Ministry of the Economy and Competitiveness, through the project titled ‘Bell Beaker International Conference: From Atlantic to Ural’ 2010, HAR2010 11670 E financed a significant part of the infrastructure used in the conference; the Local Council of Poio and the Mancomunidade de Terras de Pontevedra financed the transportation used during the whole of the conference, as well as the opening and closing dinners. The revision of the text in English was financed by the project titled ‘Los estilos cerámicos en la Prehistoria de Galicia: tecnología, materias primas y circulación’, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation 2010 2012, HAR2010 17637 .Finally, we are also grateful for the equally helpful collaboration of the other institutions involved in organising the conference: the District Council of Pontedvedra, Bodegas Martín Codax, the Regional Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Xunta de Galicia, the Municipality of Campo Lameiro, Monastery of Poio, Rías Baixas Tourist Department, Pontevedra Museum, San Antón Museum, the District Council of A Coruña, and the Novas Rías bus company.

Preface

The 15th International Bell Beaker Conference: From Atlantic to Ural, held in Poio Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain in May 2011, brought together one hundred researchers from 17

European countries, presenting the most recent advances on the transition between the Neolithic and Bronze Age, 2nd half of the 3rd and beginning of the 2nd millennium BC , in particular on the Bell Beaker phenomenon that spread all over Europe and North Africa from 2500 BC onwards.

The Conference focused on material culture in relation to the mobility of populations, following on from the e orts of the previous meeting held in Scotland in May 2010, which was dedicated to isotopic analyses recently carried out on skeletons, showing that population movements were rare and over short distances in the UK. Could circulations of items, ideas or craftsmen explain the unprecedented homogeneity of material culture observed throughout Europe?

Except for the afternoon excursions, which made it possible to reveal the diversity of Galician Rock Art or the famous and freshly restored Dombate dolmen, the programme of the presentations and posters were organized into three di erent sessions. The first was dedicated to archaeometric and technological studies applied to pottery, lithic or metal productions in order to understand circulation processes during the 3rd millennium BC. The second focused on chronological reconstructions in relation to environmental and social evolution at local or regional levels in order to understand the position of Bell Beaker communities. Finally, session 3, and most of the poster presentations, dealt with current research into the Bell Beaker phenomenon, especially unpublished works related to new excavations or studies. As the number of contributions was very high 60 , it was impossible to imagine publishing the whole in only one proceedings volume. This is why we have decided to separate the thematic sessions, which will soon be published in another volume, from the presentations on current research, which are the purpose of the present book.

These presentations essentially concern new data on Bell Beaker burial practices, some on domestic sites, and a few regional studies.

Concerning burial practices, new excavations, such as those carried out in Sierentz HautRhin, France by L. Vergnaud, have clearly shown that the concept of simple, flat graves is really not topical anymore. In the most recent excavations, especially from France, the existence of wooden architectures, generally with postholes located in the corner of grave pits, is more and more frequently demonstrated. This means that despite the huge number of Bell Beaker graves known, new excavations with precise archaeological and anthropological

7

data are still necessary in order to fully grasp all the complexity and diversity of funerary practices throughout Europe.

If several types of graves are used during the same period, bell beaker grave goods seem to be more frequently discovered in the most visible and prestigious constructions, such as Dombate Bello Diéguez et al. or the monumental enclosure from Forca Bettencourt & Luz . Some archaeological features found outside the graves in Dombate or nearby as in Camino de las Yeseras: Liesau et al. , as well as the numerous botanical remains in the cemeteries from the Csepel Group in Hungary Gyulai , emphasise ritual ceremonies that could have been organized during or after burial, and which are still partially understood. In any case, it seems clear that bell beaker deposits from Western Europe are often associated with special contexts, as already demonstrated with their frequent appearance on fortified sites from the Iberian Peninsula, highlighted once again in the enclosure from Forca.

While the question in Western Europe focuses on the status of the bell beaker burial or ceremonial deposits among other contemporary rituals which are not associated with bell beaker material, the examples from Eastern Europe published in this volume reveal a greater homogeneity and a clearer social structuring inside the cemeteries. This is the case in Hungary, where the richest burial in grave goods is also distinguishable by a large circular ditch and symbolic graves Endrõdi , and also in Moravia where specific groups of graves characterized by the depth of their pit and the abundance of the grave goods seem to indicate a relative hierarchy amongst the dead Pe ka . In the Moravian cemetery from Hulín Prav ice 2, the most remarkable graves with archery equipment and precious stone ornaments are located in a specific area, arranged in row. These special graves are associated with Bell Beakers from the early or classic stages and, of course, the question of the cultural, social or biological identity of the dead inevitably lies at the heart of the matter.

The di erences between the reality of the Bell Beaker data from Western and Eastern Europe could explain why researchers will be not interested in the same subjects in the future.

The study of M. Labaune on copper productions underlines once more the well known di erences between the Atlantic part of Europe and the Mediterranean regions, where copper metallurgy despite thriving during the 1st half of the 3rd millennium BC, seems to decline with the appearance of the Bell Beaker phenomenon and probably the setting up of new circulation networks. In the West, current research is now focusing on understanding the Bell Beaker integration, on long term and regional scales, as shown in some examples in this volume from the Iberian Peninsula: the region of Madrid Blasco et al., Ríos , Galicia Seoane Veiga et al., Prieto Martínez or Estremadura Carvalho .

The articles on Eastern Europe refer to the opposite movements of new groups. The borders of the Eastern Bell Beaker Province are stretched each time new discoveries demonstrate clear bell beaker influences further eastwards. In the present volume, wristguards found in graves from south east Poland Jarosz et al. , as well as in the Republic of Moldova Demchenko with a specific group of tumuli that also reveal burial practices

8

typical of the Bell Beaker graves to the west architectural features, body positions, Begleitkeramik , are really convincing. In order to understand the social complexity of the Eastern Bell Beaker Province and the origin of the small groups in motion that are highlighted by current investigations, the technological studies that are beginning on lithic productions Kopacz, P ichystal and ebela or pottery Neumannova appear very encouraging.

In conclusion, far from belonging to a sphere outside the conference proper, the articles gathered for the first publication of the Poio Conference could instead provide new ideas for the organizers of future Bell Beaker meetings.

9

Group photo with the majority of the participants in the congress photo by Erik Carlsson

ContentsList of contributors ......................................................................................................................... 13

Chapter 1. A corded mixed Bell Beaker vase at the monumental enclosure of Forca, Maia, North of Portugal Bettencourt, A. M. S.; Luz, S. ...................................................................... 15

Chapter 2. The Dolmen of Dombate in its bell beaker phase. Ceramic styles and occupation of space Bello Diéguez, J.M.; Lestón Gómez, M.; Prieto Martínez, M.P. ................................... 21

Chapter 3. Bell beaker findings in rock art contexts Seoane Veiga, Y.; Prieto Martínez, M. P.; Dal Zovo, C. .................................................................................................................................. 31

Chapter 4. Achievements and blunders in the application archaeometric techniques for the study of a chalcolithic site with Bell Beakers Blasco, C.; Liesau, C.; Ríos, P. ....................... 41

Chapter 5. The Bell Beaker funeral group from Sierentz “Les Villas d’Aurèle” Haut Rhin, France Vergnaud,L. ..................................................................................................................... 51

Chapter 6. Two new burial sites of Bell Beaker Culture with an exceptional find from Eastern Moravia/Czech Republic Pe ka, J. ............................................................................................. 61

Chapter 7. Funerary Rituals, Social Relations and Di usion of Bell Beaker Csepel Group Endr di, A. ................................................................................................................................... 73

Chapter 8. New archaeobotanical Data of the Bell Beaker Csepel Group Gyulai, F. .......... 89

Chapter 9. New dating of the Bell Beaker Horizon in the region of Madrid Ríos, P. .......... 97

Chapter 10. Bell Beaker influence in the Early Bronze Age on the basis of latest discoveries in Rozbórz, in south eastern Poland Jarosz, P.; Mazurek, M.; Oko ski, J.; Szczepanek, A. ... 111

Chapter 11. Where does the East meet the West? A find of a wrist guard in the Republic of Moldova Demchenko, T. ........................................................................................................... 117

Chapter 12. Recent work on the Bell Beaker settlement at Cavenham, Su olk Gibson, A.; Snape, N. ..................................................................................................................................... 129

Chapter 13. Hut structures from the bell beaker horizon: housing, communal or funerary use in the Camino de las Yeseras site Madrid Liesau, C.; Rios, P.; Aliaga, R.; Daza, A.; Blasco, C. .................................................................................................................................................. 139

Chapter 14. The Beginning of Terminal Lithic Industries in Moravia Kopacz, J. ................ 153

Chapter 15. The Bell beaker culture in Eastern Central Europe and silicite flint Axes P ichystal, A.; ebela, L. ............................................................................................................ 163

11

Chapter 16. Bell Beaker metal and metallurgy in Western Europe Labaune, M. ................. 177

Chapter 17. Technology of Bell Beaker pottery in Bohemia Neumannova, K. .................... 189

Chapter 18. Bell Beaker ware from Estremadura, Portugal, and its likely influence on the appearance of Maritime Bell Beaker ware Carvalho Amaro, G. ............................................ 197

Chapter 19. Unity and Circulation : what underlies the homogeneity of Galician bell beaker ceramic style ? Prieto Martínez, M. P. ...................................................................................... 209

12

Bell Beaker metal and metallurgy in Western Europe16

177

Labaune, M.AbstractThe main purpose of this article is to question metal Bell Beakers artefacts in Western Europe, and more specifically in France. After an inventory of Bell Beakers metal finds and metallurgical evidences in France, we come to the conclusion that the Beaker people used and maybe produced specific types of artifacts, some of them in direct relation with ornamented ceramic, and others in hard to find contexts.A remarkable number of metallic objects are under the direct influence of Iberian models, underlining probable trades between di erent areas of Bell Beakers cultures, France being at the crossroad of theses exchanges.According to the small number of metallurgical areas in France, it was very di cult to retrace the level of metallurgical knowledge of Bell Beakers societies and the possible impact on metallurgical processes. But a marked diversity in the pattern of impurities could suggest a deliberate strategy, maintaining a network of relations with diverse metal producing groups.Considering the fact that metallurgy takes a large part in the definition of cultural changes and economic processes during all the third millennium B. C., we think that metal must be seen as a clue to understand the wide spread of Bell Beaker culture in Western Europe.

Key wordsBell Beaker, metal, metallurgy, copper, gold, France.

Historical research: the di culty to identify Beaker metallurgy in France

The main purpose of this article is to discuss the relationship between metal, metallurgy and Bell Beaker in France and to identify whether metal objects related to the phenomenon can enter in its definition or not.

As we can see by the diversity of topics discussed at this symposium, the angles of attack have been multiplied to better understand the Beaker phenomenon. It is now accepted that it is not just the decorated beakers that define the Bell Beaker, but also, in a broader sense, all of the related manifestations, such as common ware Besse 2003 , the lithic industry Furestier 2007 and probably metallic productions.

These secondary components are certainly very useful to describe at least a part of the phenomenon, linking it with movements of larger scale for instance the spread and development of metallurgy in Europe .

In most European countries, metal and metallurgy are involved in the definition of the Bell Beaker phenomenon. In Spain or in Portugal, metallurgical processes have been studied since a long time and until now Rovira, Montero 1994 ; Rovira et al. 2005 ; Blasco, Ríos 2010 . In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Clarke has included metal artifacts in the definition of Beaker phenomenon Clarke 1970 .

But in France, the metal and the metallurgy linked to the Bell Beaker are still very hard to define Ambert, 2001 , especially in the south of the country, where metalworking is demonstrated at least since the beginning of the third millennium BC. Ambert et al. 2005 .

Concerning the metallic productions, the studies were too often focused on specific points, for instance on gold ornaments Eluère 1977, 1982 , or on the repartition of Palmela points Gachina 1997 . No systematic inventory has been made. And yet, they are the prerequisite for any theoretical thinking that have to often su ered from lack of rigor, especially in regard to the contexts of discovery. Therefore it was essential

to conduct a methodical study on Bell Beaker metal and metallurgy in France.

Methods and Problems

Because of the lack of a documentary database, it was essential to produce this database of all metal objects and metallurgical sites in France. The synthesis is presented under the form of a catalog, where each object is recorded as an inventory sheet fig. 1 .

After the preliminary inventory work, the metal and the metallurgy may enable us to focus on various issues and problems:

• a more e cient characterization of morphological types of the objects,

• an examination of predominant modes of deposit of these objects, with reexamination, and sometimes revision of these contexts of discovery,

• a definition of the main regions of discoveries

• What importance give to metal objects and metallurgy in the definition of Bell Beaker impact?

• The Bell Beaker phenomenon and metal are they associated from the beginning or the metal is it a late and opportunistic contribution?

• Metal and metallurgy have they a role in the dissemination and sustainable implantations of Bell Beaker in some regions?

• Bell Beaker people are they only consumers of metal artifacts or also metallurgists? What could be their know how about the metallurgy?

A synthesis in France

For France, we have listed 274 metal objects that could be linked to the Bell Beaker phenomenon.

This total includes:

• 49 daggers, various morphological types,

• 50 arrowheads, Palmela points, but with slight morphological variations,

178

• 115 ornaments including 74 in gold ,

• 49 tools mainly awls .

More details of each type based on the region of discovery will be developed later in the article. We

have also summarised the limited data on metallurgical practices in France. In addition, 67 metallographic analyses have been identified.

179

Figure 1. Sample of an inventory sheet Labaune

Which object in which areas? Geographic distribution and morphological types

It seems that we must distinguish two main geographical distribution areas fig. 2 . The first along Atlantic coasts from the South of the Morbihan, to the basin of Gironde , and the second largely in the south towards the Mediterranean like a large southeastern arc between the Alps and the Pyrenees . And in the north, a few objects, widely distributed without trends. We can notice a concentration of metal objects for some sites.

The Atlantic area

In the first Atlantic area, we find a majority of gold objects, but also Palmela points, and tanged copper daggers. In this region, it is particularly interesting that the di usion of the metal seems to go hand in hand with those of the Bell Beaker people particularly in Brittany .

The concentration of gold in the dolmens of Morbihan is impressive, and appears always in parallel with the Bell Beaker ceramic. Unfortunately, some of the

180

Figure 2. Map of repartition of the metal artifacts related to the Bell Beaker phenomenon. The principal areas of distribution are highlighted DAO: M. Labaune

findings are old and poorly documented Le Rouzic 1930 .

For 74 gold objects in our inventory, 63 were found along the Atlantic coast including 36 in Morbihan . Typologically, the most numerous are the small clips gold sheet folded on itself, perforated or not at the

edges , but we also find some little hammered sheets rectangular, perforated or not , thick wires rolled in

spiral, and few beads. Comparisons are numerous with

some of Iberians artifacts. For instance, direct parallels can be drawn between the gold objects from the dolmen of Kerouaren in France fig.3 n°1 , and the small clips from cave III and cave I from Casal do Prado fig. 3 n°2 and 3 , or the spirals from cave II from Senhora da Luz, the Cave I from Casal do Prado, or the site of Vila nova de Cerveira, Viana do Castelo, in Portugal fig. 3 n°4, 5 and 6 .

Concerning the copper artifacts, we find in this area: 21 daggers, 29 Palmela points and 4 awls. The daggers are represented by several types Gallay, 1981; fig 4, n°1 to 5 :

181

Figure 3. Beaker gold objects from France and Portugal. France: 1: Dolmen of Kerouaren, Portugal : 2 3: small clip from the cave III and cave I from Casal do Prado ; 4: spiral from the cave II from Senhora da Luz; 5: spiral from the Cave I from Casal do Prado; 6 : spiral from Vila nova de Cerveira, Viana do Castelo. N°1: Guilaine, 2005; n°2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Museu Nacional de Arqueologia Portugal

Figure 4. Bell Beakers metal objects from Atlantic area : Daggers : 1 : Bernières sur Mer, Calvados ; 2: La Trache Chateaubernard, Charente ; 3: Trizay Charente Maritime ;

4: Terrier du Cabut Anglade, Gironde ; 5: Aremberg Wallers, Nord ; Palmela points: 6: Hourtin Hourtin,

Gironde ; 7 8: Vendays Montalivet Gironde ; 9 10: La Glaneuse Soulac sur Mer, Gironde ; 11: Pépiron Saint JustLuzac, CHanrente Maritime . N°1, 2, 3, 5 from Gallay 1981; n°4 from Roussot Larroque 1998; n°6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 from Roussot Larroque 2003

• Tryzay type dagger tongue with light edges formed by hammering . For instance dagger from Bernières sur Mer Calvados , La Trache Châteaubernard, Charente , Trizay Charente Maritime ; fig 4 n°3 , Terrier du Cabut Anglade, Gironde ;

• Tanged copper dagger, with simple and triangular tongue: burial of Aremberg Wallers, Nord , gallery grave of Penker Plozévet, Finistère , of Kerandrèze Moëlan sur Mer, Finistère , dolmen of Puyraveau Puyraveau, Deux Sèvres …

We must add to this inventory many Palmela points fig 4 n°6 to 11, with a large concentration in the

Gironde department 13 examples . But most of them were found out of any context: Hourtin, VendaysMontalivet, la Glaneuse Gironde ; L’Angle Guignard Vendée ; Dolmen de Kercadoret Morbihan ; Pépiron Charente Maritime .

The Mediterranean area

This area again includes copper daggers, few Palmela points, but also ornaments in copper, bronze, lead and silver, and the majority of awls of our inventory. While the first influences from the Iberian Peninsula are always represented, others bring their originality.

The daggers are typologically more diverse than in the first zone fig 5 n°1 to 5 :

• Fontbouisse type dagger with triangular and serrated tongue : cave from Nizas Hérault ; dolmen from Arbouin Saint Vallier de Thiey, Alpes Maritimes ; dolmen from Saint Eugène Laure Minervois, Aude ,

• Small tanged dagger with notch and rivet hole: La Fare, Forcalquier, Alpes de Haute Provence .

• Dagger with a triangular blade and two rivet holes: Abri du Capitaine Sainte Croix du Verdon, Alpes deHaute Provence .

• Dagger with a rectangular tongue and a small blade: La Balance Avignon, Vaucluse .

We have listed 13 Palmela points in this zone of research fig 5 n°6 and 7 . 40 awls out of 45 were found in this region. They are in the direct continuity of metal awls already used by the local groups of the Mediterranean Neolithic fig 5 n°8 to 19 .

The ornaments are represented by rings and beads of all types in copper, lead, bronze or silver fig 5 n°20 to 36 .

In this Mediterranean area, origin of objects appears to be more diverse than for the Atlantic region: to traditional Iberian influences, we may add autochthonous objects Fontbouisse types .

Largely funerary discovery contexts? fig. 6

What is the context of discovery of the objects? Most of the discoveries were made in funerary contexts 180 among 273 objects . This includes all type of structures, with or without reusing of preexistent funerary monument. Some objects come from household contexts: they are represented by 53 cases mainly copper awls . Finally 44 items don’t have contexts of discovery reliable, unfortunately mostly Palmela points. The relevance of certain contexts is questioned.

Considering stratigraphic evidences, some contexts of discoveries are ancients and poorly documented. If we want to use as a criterion the strict association between metal and Bell Beaker, the sample is reduced to 55 objects on 273 objects identified in our inventory. Nevertheless, by combining the morphological types, the contexts of discoveries and related objects, 187 uncertain objects may be considered as belonging to the Beaker sphere total of 243 objects . 31 objects are rejected.

A Bell Beaker metallurgy in France?

According to the small number of metallurgical sites in France, it is very di cult to retrace the level of metallurgical knowledge of Bell Beakers peoples and their possible impact on metallurgical processes enrichment of copper, arsenic alloys, smelting

processes . From very tenuous clues, we have identified

182

only three sites that could to demonstrate beaker metallurgy in France.

Probably the most significant evidence are the sherds of a vase oven with beaker ornamentation and inner scorification from the site of Le Travers des Fourches, Villeveyrac, Hérault ”, but the context of discovery is

poorly documented Montjardin 1996, fig. 6 n°1 . But

this demonstrates the possible arrival of a technique from the Iberian Peninsula, o ering the possibility of treating complex ores like the sulfurs innovation brought by beaker movements? ; Rovira and Ambert 2002 .

At the site of Talmont Saint Hilaire Vendée , a purely Beaker occupation was revealed. A metallurgical area

183

Figure 5. Bell Beakers metal objects from Mediterranean area : Daggers : n°1: NIzas Hérault ; n°2: Dolmen of Saint Eugène Laure Minervois, Aude ; n°3: La Fare Forcalquier, Alpes de Haute Provence ; n°4: Abri du

Capitaine Sainte Croix du Verdon, Alpes de HauteProvence ; n°5: La Balance Avignon, Vaucluse ; Palmela points: n°6: Les Condamines Cabrières, Hérault ; n°7:Le Fortin du Saut Châteauneuf les Martigues, Bouches du Rhône ; Awls: n°8: Dolmen des Peyraoutes Roquefort les Pins, Alpes Maritimes ; n°9,10,11: La

Blance Avignon, Vaucluse ; n°12: Miouvin Istres, Bouches du Rhône ; n°13: Tumulus de la Colette Escragnolles, Alpes Maritimes ; n°14,15,16: Les Calades Orgon, Bouches du Rhône ; n°17,18,19: Grotte Murée Montpezat, Alpes de Haute Provence ; Ornaments: n

°20, 31, 32, 33: Saint Pancrace la Bâtie Neuve, Hautes Alpes ; n°21 : Hypogée de la Source Fontvieille, Bouches du Rhône ; n°22, 27, 28 : grotte du cimetière Châteaubernard, Bouches du Rhône ; n°24: Pearl from

Chaussee Tirancourt in the Somme, culture S.O.M. not included in our inventory. It is presented here for comparison ; n°25 : dolmen d’Arbouin Saint Vallier deThiey, Alpes Maritimes ; n°26 : Les Calades Orgon, Bouches du Rhône ; n°29 : grotte des perles Gonfaron, Var ; n°30 : Tombe 2 des Canneaux Andon, AlpesMaritimes ; n°34 et 35 : Dolmen de Saint Eugène LaureMinervois, Aude, from Guilaine 1967 ; n°36 : Grottebasse du Pas du Noyer Armissan, Aude, from Guilaine 1967 . N°1, 4 from Gallay, 1981; n°2 from Courtin and Roudil 1978; n°3: from Müller, 1994; n°5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33: from Barge Mahieu, 1995; n°6: from Ambert 1986 ; n°7: from Courtin 1977; n°8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 22, 27, 28: from Courtin 1974, n°35, 3, from Guilaine 1967

Figure 6. Graphic showing the number of objects depending on the type of context of discovery: Funerary, domestic or isolated. Note the predominance of funerary context for daggers and ornaments, the predominance of isolated finds for the Palmela points, and the ambivalent situation concerning the awls

was materialized by a white ring of 30 cm in diameter and 20 cm deep. The structure had also a perfect sealing made with plastic clay. In the center was a copper slag. Several others copper slags related to the metallurgical activity were discovered in situ. Two samples were analyzed. A copper content of about 26 was determined Poissonnier 2004 .

Another clue about Bell Beaker metallurgy was brought by the discoveries from the site of Le Fortin du Saut Châteauneuf les Martigues ; Bouches duRhône ; Furestier et al. 2007 : a melting droplet, a slag fig.6 n°2 , and a stone with concave depressions

maybe used during the crushing of ore fig.6 n°3 . This stone tool is similar to others, like those found at the site of la Capitelle du Broum Hérault ; Hamon et al. 2005 .

Recent discoveries show that Beaker people were very close to metallurgical areas in France Burial cave of the Rhinoceros, Péret, Hérault, with metal artifacts; Sohn, this volume .

At this level, the questions about the place of manufacture and provenance of objects are pertinent and are the result of the low number of metallurgical site in France: local productions from French ore, or long distance exchanges of ore/objects?

Metallographic analysis

We can notice a marked diversity in the content of impurities fig. 8 . We should point out the predominance of copper with arsenic, generally considered to have an Iberian origin and to be the marker of Bell Beaker productions. But this point of view is to reappraise, particularly on two specific points:

• Arsenic does not appear to be the exclusivity of Beaker productions, autochthonous artifacts have sometimes high levels of arsenic fig. 8

• The e ective rate of arsenic is rarely reached 3 4 fig. 8 and 9 .

For objects of the South of France, some compositions significant rate of antimony and silver could suggest

the use of local ores ore of Cabrières? . That concerns only 8 analysis out of 67, but could imply contacts and exchanges to short or medium distance.

Synthesis

After this very short synthesis, on the Bell Beaker metal and metallurgy in France, we have to reconsider the place given to metal in the definition on Bell Beaker in France. We can make several observations:

• The Beaker peoples use and maybe produced specifics types of artifacts tanged daggers, Palmela points, gold ornaments, awls , some of them in direct relation with ornamented ceramics, others in uncertain contexts.

184

Figure 7. 1: Sherds of a vase oven with beaker ornamentation and inner scorification from the site of Le Travers des Fourches Villeveyrac, Hérault ; 2: Melting droplet and slag from Le Fortin du

Saut Châteauneuf les Martigues, Bouches du Rhône ; 3: Stone with concave depression Pierre à cupule from the same site. N° 1 from Montjardin, 1996, n°2 and 3 from Furestier et al. 2007

185

Figure 8. Elemental analysis of composition from Bell Beaker metal objects. D: Dagger; P : Palmela points; A : Awl; F: Fragment; C : Chisel; Di: Disc; levels in parentheses are measured by di erences; ~: around; tr.: Traces : element not measured

• The utilization of the gold seems directly related to the spread of Beaker and development.

• A significant number of objects are based directly on the Iberian models gold ornaments, tanged copper dagger, and Palmela points . The presence of autochthonous types is to report Fontbouisse daggers .

• For the metallurgy, a technical level seems to be achieved in the second half of the third millennium BC. We think about the combination of multiple factors: a non reducing metallurgy, utilization of ores rich in arsenic tennantite , use of new technique like vase ovens Ambert 2001; Rovira, Ambert 2002 . As discussed previously, it seems native to the Iberian Peninsula, and used by Beaker peoples.

• It is still di cult to say if Beaker people were exclusively users/consumers of metal or also producers metalworkers and/or blacksmiths ? At this level, it is

necessary to wonder about what is transmitted, and how it was transmitted.

Are we exclusively in the presence of the circulation of metal with possibly all ideas that we can attach to this objects , or also in the presence of the communication of know how, of the transmission of metallurgy? On considering what is transmitted, and how, it is also necessary to try to understand the adaptation of Bell

Beaker standards by autochthonous groups and the success of the Bell Beaker phenomenon.

Research perspective

However, these preliminary conclusions are only valid for France, and the Bell Beaker is a European phenomenon. This is the reason why in our current PhD research, we want to extend our study to a larger scale in Western Europe taking into account five countries: France, but also Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The main objectives are:

• The unification and perhaps revision of typomorphologies, to confirm the Iberian influences and underline possible trades between di erent areas of Bell Beakers cultures,

• A synthesis and characterization of the contexts of discovery, of the associated objects, of the radiocarbon data, etc.

• To point out, the generalization of metallurgy in parallel with the spread of the Bell Beaker phenomenon, or not: for instance by the transmission of specific technology of ore processing such as vaseovens, or by the transmission of shaping techniques.

• Concerning the modalities of transmission, we can concur with O. Lemercier on the hypothesis of the “explorations, establishment, di usion, colonization and acculturation”, developed for the South of France Lemercier, in press . Ireland could

186

Figure 9. Arsenic content in the assemblage formed by daggers, Palmela points, awls and ornaments 64 objects analyzed in our inventory . Note the decreasing exponential function ruling the system

be the perfect example O’Brien 2005 .

• By the same token, we think that metal and metallurgy are more questions of local productions than of long distance exchanges as for Bell Beaker ceramic . Only the combination of elementary and isotopic analysis of metal could solve the question.

Considering the fact that metallurgy plays a large part in the definition of cultural changes, and economics processes during all the third millennium B. C., we think that metal must be seen as a clue with decorated and common pottery, lithic… to understand the wide spread of Beaker culture in Western Europe, and the development of Early Bronze cultures.

The Bell Beaker phenomenon has no doubt benefited from the communications network built by the dissemination of the first metallurgy. But the reverse is also true, metal products and metallurgy became standards through the Bell Beaker explorations for instance in Irlande, O’Brien 2005 .

Acknowledgments

This work was carried out as part of my research for a Master’s Degree. Thanks to O. Lemercier who has directed my work for two years.

References

Ambert, P. 2001 La Place de la métallurgie campaniforme dans la première métallurgie française, in: Nicolis F. dir. , Be Beakers today. Pottery, People, Culture, Symbols in prehistoric Europe, Proceedings of the International Colloquium, Riva del Garda, Trento, Italy, 11 16 May 1998, Provincia Autonoma di Trento, Trento, p. 577 588.

Ambert, P., Bouquet, L., Guendon, J. L., Mischka, D. 2005. La Capitelle du Broum, district minier de Cabrières Péret, Hérault : établissement industriel de l’aurore de la métallurgie française, 3100 2400 BC, in: Ambert P., Vaquer J., La première métallurgie en France et dans les pays limitrophes, Carcassonne, 28 30

septembre 2002, actes du colloque international, Paris, Société préhistorique ançaise, p.83 96.

Besse, M. 2003. Les céramiques communes des Campaniformes européens, Ga ia préhistoire, t. 45, p. 205 258.

Blasco, C., Ríos, P. 2010. La función del metal entre los grupos campaniformes. Oro versus cobre. El ejemplo de la Región de Madrid, Trabajos de Prehistoria, vol. 67, n°2, p. 369 372.

Clarke, D. L. 1970. Beaker pottery of Great Britain and Ireland, Cambridge Univ. press, Gulbenkian archaeological series, 2 vol., 576 p.

Éluère, C. 1977. Les premiers Ors en France, Bu etin de la Société Préhistorique Française, t. 74, n°1, p. 390 419.

Éluère, C. 1982. Les ors préhistoriques, l’âge du Bronze en France, t. 2, Picard, Paris, 287 p.

Furestier, R. 2007. Les industries lithiques campaniformes du sud est de la France, British Archaeological Reports International Series 1684, Oxford, John and Erica

Hedges Ltd, 339 p.

Furestier, R., Cauliez, J., Lazard, N., Lemercier, O., Pellissier, M., Courtin, J. 2007. 1974 2004 : Le site du Fortin du Saut Châteauneuf lès Martigues, Bouchesdu Rhône et le Campaniforme 30 ans après, in: Evin J. dir. , Un siècle de construction du discours scientifique en

Préhistoire, Actes du XXVIe Congrès Préhistorique de France, Avignon, 21 25 septembre 2004, Volume II, Paris, Société Préhistorique Française, p. 297 310.

Gachina, J. 1997. Inventaire des pointes de Palmela trouvées en France, Bu etin Préhistoire du Sud ouest, Nouve es études, n°4, p. 22 31.

Gallay, G. 1981 Die Kupfer und altbronzezeitlichen Dolche und Stabdolche in Frankreich, München, Beck, Prähistorische Bronzefunde, VI, 5, 164 p., 58 pl.

Hamon, C., Ambert, P., Laroche, M., Guendon, J. L., Rovira, S., Bouquet, L. 2009 Les outils à cupules, marqueurs de la métallurgie du district de Cabrières

187

Péret Hérault , au Chalcolithique, Ga ia Préhistoire, t. 51, p. 179 212.

Le Rouzic, Z. 1930 Bijoux en or découverts dans les dolmens du Morbihan, Revue des Musées, n°30, p. 169 175, 7 fig.

Lemercier O. in press. The Mediterranean France Beakers Transition, in Fokkens H., Nicolis F. dir. , Beakers in transition, EAA congress The Hague, 2010 , Leiden, Sidestone Press.

Montjardin, R. 1996 L’habitat campaniforme pyrénaïque du Travers des Fourches, Veyrac Villeveyrac Hérault dans le cadre de la chronologie

campaniforme, in: Duhamel P. dir. , La Bourgogne entre les bassins rhénan, rhodanien et parisien, Carrefour ou

ontière ?, Actes du XVIIIe Colloque Interrégional sur le Néolithique, Dijon, octobre 1991, Dijon, 1996, Revue Archéologique de l’Est, Quatorzième supplément, p. 483 502.

O’Brien, W. 2005. La plus ancienne métallurgie du cuivre en Irlande, in: Ambert P., Vaquer J. dir. , La première méta urgie en France et dans les pays limitrophes, Carcassonne, 28 30 septembre 2002, actes du co oque international, Paris, Société préhistorique française, p. 37 50.

Poissonnier, B. 1998. Le gisement campaniforme de la République à Talmont Saint Hilaire, in: Joussaume R. dir. , Les premiers paysans du Golfe. Le Néolithique dans le

Marais poitevin. Charente Maritime,Deux Sèvres, Vendée, editions patrimoines et médias, p. 124 125.

Rovira, S., Ambert P. 2002. Les céramiques à réduire le minerai de cuivre : une technique métallurgique utilisée en Ibérie, son extension en France méridionale, Bu etin de la Société préhistorique ançaise, t. 99, n° 1, p. 105 126.

Rovira, S., Montero, I. 1994. Metalurgia campaniforme y de la Edad del Bronce en la Comunidad de Madrid, in: C. Blasco ed. , El Horizonte Campaniforrne de la Región de Madrid en el centenario de Ciempozuelos, Madrid, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, p. 137 171.

Rovira Llorens, S. Delibes De Castro, G. 2005. Tecnología metalúrgica campaniforme en la Península Ibérica. Coladas, moldeado y tratamientos postfundición, in: Rojo Guerra M.A., Garrido Pena R., García Martínez de Lagrán I. dir. , Universidad de Valladolid, Junta de Castilla y León, Valladolid, p. 495 512.

188