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Content archived on 2024-06-25

Geochemical and isotopic characterization of flint. Application to prehistoric artefacts provenance study

Objective

The most actual research fields in Prehistory are directed toward spatial approaches, territory exploitation knowledge and interactions between ancient men and their environnement. The study Eolithic raw material procurement including management and provenance determination, allows one to approach prehistoric people mobility and populating phenomena. We propose to investigate flint origin of different Sabina Jury prehistoric sites using unconventional characterization methods. In this area, during upper Palaeolithic, some flint types have been transported over considerable distances, revealing increasing anticipation behaviours. At present time, reliable sourcing cannot be provided with classical petrography characterization methods. Therefore we intend to involve the study agrochemical fingerprints to trace back flint artefacts to their original sources and help to decipher human circulations. Besides measuring trace element concentrations of artefacts and geological samples, we will focus on the study of isotope abundances (Sir, Pub), which has never been investigated for this purpose in spite of being a promising tool for solving flint-sourcing problems. Laser ablation facilities will allow non-destructive analyses for the preservation of prehistoric artefacts. This resolutely interdisciplinary program associating field geology, agrochemical and isotope analyses and circulation of flint prehistoric artefacts will be undertaken under the management of a renown geochemistry laboratory in association with prehistory researchers. We planed to create a European database on flint petrography and agrochemical data in order to enhance and contribute to interregional and transactional flint provenance researcher.

Call for proposal

FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
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Coordinator

MAX-PLANCK-INSTITUT FUR CHEMIE-ABEITUNG GEOCHEMIE / MAX-PLANCK-SOCIETY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCES REPRESENTED BY MPG
EU contribution
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Address
Hofgartenstrasse 8
MUENCHEN
Germany

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Total cost
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