Touchstones of archaeology

Ježek, Martin

doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2013.04.004

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…only dozens of similar finds from the same period are known (the same is true for both hacksilver hoards and finds of balances and weights). The find picture of various European regions could be interpreted as a mirror image of different exchange systems in the Early Middle Ages (as did Ježek 2013;2017, with refs.). However, the congruence in the geographic distribution of burial finds of touch stones over millennia, or in the votive role of tools used to determine the value of precious metal, tes tifies to the longue durée of differences in behaviour and traditions of various European societies.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 76%

Millennia of continuity in the votive behaviour of Europeans The testimony of tools for determining the value of metal Tisíciletá kontinuita votivního chování Evropanů Svědectví nástrojů k určení jakosti kovu

Ježek

2020

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Archaeology has a great deal of experience with how the misinterpretation of finds creates a false image of the past. The main reason for this is down to ideologically-conditioned stereotypes. The paper describes one such case involving hundreds of thousands of finds of one type of artefact, commonly classified as whetstones, pendants, amulets, etc., from the Chalcolithic up to the Early Middle Ages. The article emphasises that although touchstones from ancient burials had already been identified using an electron microscopy half a century ago, the interpretation of these finds corresponding to the paradigm from the early 19th century remains popular to this day. For the chemical microanalysis of metal traces preserved on the surface of these stone artefacts, samples were selected from Russian, Slovakian, Swedish and Ukrainian sites, from the Hallstatt period up to the Early Middle Ages, with special regard for their previous interpretation history. However, the main aim is to point out the symbolic role of tools used to test the value of precious metals outside the grave context. Finds from wet environments in particular reveal the continuity of the behaviour of European over the millennia, regardless of the current ideology or cult, and the diversity of artefacts that were, and still are, chosen as a medium for votive behaviour.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 76%

Millennia of continuity in the votive behaviour of Europeans The testimony of tools for determining the value of metal Tisíciletá kontinuita votivního chování Evropanů Svědectví nástrojů k určení jakosti kovu

Ježek

2020

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“…One of the reasons for analysing the Lejre stone was the distinctive SEM-results presented by Martin Ježek on different types of whetstones, for instance from the boat burials at Vendel, Valsgärde, and the cemeteries at Hedeby, Birka, and elsewhere (Ježek 2013(Ježek , 2014(Ježek , 2016(Ježek , 2017Ježek and Holub 2014;Ježek and Hansen 2019). This research suggests that a surprisingly large portion -perhaps even a majority -of what previous archaeologists have determined to be whetstones found in graves, could in fact have been touchstones, or had dual uses.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade

Jessen¹,

Taube²

2021

viking

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Whetstones of the Viking Age can have a conspicuous design, but not much is understood about the specific use of more unusual specimens, or their place in rituals. This article proposes a new interpretation of whetstones, based on novel studies of a well-known whetstone from Lejre, and miniature pendants from Tissø. Our examination of the prominent whetstone from the Lejre hoard with an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) scan, did not reveal any metal traces, which suggests that it was unused. At Tissø, the find distribution of so-called stafflike pendants – made of iron, bronze, or silver – links them to a metal-working area, and since their morphology resembles full-scale whetstones we suggest that they may be symbolic, miniature whetstones. Finally, we argue that the overarching meaning of the ritual use of whetstones is more related to the authority over – and control of – metallurgical processes, as well as the trade of metal goods, and only by proxy to the smith himself.

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“…Beginning with this event and until approximately 1100 AC, the Vikings looted monasteries, abbeys, and cities throughout Europe. Viking balances, weights and touchstones, tools to test the quality of non-ferrous metal, became widespread in the northern part of Europe as a sign of the buried individual's access to precious metals [137,138]. The cities were reinforced in anticipation of new attacks.…”

Section: Early Middle Agesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Forerunners on Heritage Stones Investigation: Historical Synthesis and Evolution

Freire-Lista

2021

Heritage

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Human activity has required, since its origins, stones as raw material for carving, construction and rock art. The study, exploration, use and maintenance of building stones is a global phenomenon that has evolved from the first shelters, manufacture of lithic tools, to the construction of houses, infrastructures and monuments. Druids, philosophers, clergymen, quarrymen, master builders, naturalists, travelers, architects, archaeologists, physicists, chemists, curators, restorers, museologists, engineers and geologists, among other professionals, have worked with stones and they have produced the current knowledge in heritage stones. They are stones that have special significance in human culture. In this way, the connotation of heritage in stones has been acquired over the time. That is, the stones at the time of their historical use were simply stones used for a certain purpose. Therefore, the concept of heritage stone is broad, with cultural, historic, artistic, architectural, and scientific implications. A historical synthesis is presented of the main events that marked the use of stones from prehistory, through ancient history, medieval times, and to the modern period. In addition, the main authors who have written about stones are surveyed from Ancient Roman times to the middle of the twentieth century. Subtle properties of stones have been discovered and exploited by artists and artisans long before rigorous science took notice of them and explained them.

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Touchstones of archaeology

Cited by 13 publications

References 21 publications

Millennia of continuity in the votive behaviour of Europeans The testimony of tools for determining the value of metal Tisíciletá kontinuita votivního chování Evropanů Svědectví nástrojů k určení jakosti kovu

Millennia of continuity in the votive behaviour of Europeans The testimony of tools for determining the value of metal Tisíciletá kontinuita votivního chování Evropanů Svědectví nástrojů k určení jakosti kovu

The Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade

The Forerunners on Heritage Stones Investigation: Historical Synthesis and Evolution

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