Skoczylas Janusz1, Jochemczyk Leonard2, Foltyn Edelgarda3, Foltyn Eugeniusz3
Poznań University, Institute of Geological Sciences, 61-606 Poznań, ul. Maków Polnych 16
Poland; 2 Katowickie Przedsiębiorstwo Geologiczne, 40-157 Katowice, Al.Korfantego 125 A,
Poland,3 Śląski University, Institute of History, 43-502 Czechowice- Dziedzice, ul. Tetmajera
18/24, Poland.
1
SERPENTINITES IN NEOLITHIC OF WEST-CENTRAL POLAND AND UPPER
SILESIA
Key words: Neolithic, serpentinite, stone industry, west central Poland, and Upper Silesia
Abstract
The paper presents the research results on Neolithic serpentinite tools spread in west
central Poland and Upper Silesia.
The long period studies of stone mason activity in Polish Lowland allowed to prove the
erratic rocks strong predominance in all considered Neolithic cultures tools. However, many
cases of undetermined origin were connected to rocky area of Lower Silesia. But further
studies allowed advancing a hypothesis, that the imports of non-siliceous rock raw materials
took place not only from Sudety Mountains, but also from areas of Wołyń, Carpathians
Mountains and Moravia. In the beginning, the attention was drawn to Sudety basalts presence
in Neolithic tools rock material of Polish Lowland, and after that, also to Sudety amphibolites,
serpentinites, and nephrites.
The identification of 22 serpentinite tools was possible during macroscopic examinations,
among over than 4000 Neolithic stone subjects. Here are 14 axes and 8 adzes. Among these
tools, seven (07) subjects were dated as Danubian Cultures, one (01) as Ribbon Ceramic
Culture, and two (02) as Epi-String Culture. Four (04) tools have not shown any precise
culture belonging. The petrografic detailed study confirmed, that five (05) of these tools were
made of serpentinites occuriring inside massif of Gogołów – Jordanów localities. These rock
have their are exposed at highest hills surrounding the Ślęża Mountain – on the west, south
and southeast. The serpentinite material was displaced and transported along the distance
of about 160 – 340 km.
The presence of serpentinite products was noted also at 13 archeological positions in Upper
Silesia Region. The String Ceramic Culture axe was made of antigorite serpentinite from
Jańska Góra locality. The serpentinite from massif of Gogołów – Jordanów localites was the
raw material for further 17 archeological subjects:
- Of String Ceramic Culture (chisels)
- Funnel Beaker Culture (adzes, axes, non – identified fragments)
- Ribbon Ceramic Culture (axes)
- Generally dated as Neolithic (axes, non-identified fragments).
Please find enclosed the paper abstract. Please be informed, that we will send the paper
integral text by 10 October 1999.
Unfortunately, we can not be present at the 2 Workshop of UNESCO Project no. 442
Veszprem, on 11 – 13 October 1999.