Querns and mills during Roman times at the northern frontier of the Roman Empire (Belgium, Northern France, Southern Netherlands, Western Germany): Unraveling geological and geographical provenances, a multidisciplinary research project

Journal of Lithic Studies

Else Hartoch⁵  Tatjana Gluhak³  Roland Dreesen²  Paul Picavet⁴  Gilles Fronteau⁶  Wim De Clercq¹  Eric Goemaere²  Sibrecht Reniere¹ 

[1] Ghent University;Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences;Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz;Lille University (Lille 3);Gallo-Roman Museum;University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne

关键词: geoarchaeology;    provenance study;    millstone;    querns;    ground stone tools;    Roman Empire;    Gallia Belgica;    Germania Inferior;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：地球科学(综合)

来源: University of Edinburgh * School of History, Classics and Archaeology

【 摘 要 】

This paper presents the results of a multi-disciplinary provenance study of querns and millstones during the Roman period (1 st -4 thcentury CE) in the northern part of the Roman Empire (provinces ofGallia BelgicaandGermania Inferior ). Comparative petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical analysis allowed an international team of archaeologists and geologists to identify the different raw materials used for the manufacturing of querns and millstones. As a result, (litho-) stratigraphic assignments as well as geological-geographical provenances are suggested or corroborated for the broad spectrum of these natural geo-materials. We give evidence for the exploitation of at least seven different rock types. They include sedimentary rocks (fine- to coarse-grained quartzitic and arkosic sandstones, conglomerates, limestones) and volcanic rocks (vesicular lavas) derived from different geological strata in the following geological-geographical settings: the volcanic Eifel area (Pleistocene lava), the Ardennes Massif (Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks) and the Paris and Northern Sea Basin (Cenozoic sedimentary rocks). Furthermore we show that a large diversity existed within different productions (different types of hand-mills and mechanical powered mills) and distribution patterns. This paper provides new data which will lead to new insights into the socio-economics of the local “Gallo-Roman�? communities and into their networks within the northern Roman Empire.

【 授权许可】

Unknown