DOI chapter:
Grenzgänger, traders and the last hunter-gatherers of the North European Plain
DOI chapter:Anscher, Theo J. ten; Knippenberg, Sebastiaan: Unexpected dimensions of a Swifterbant settlement at Medel-De Roeskamp (the Netherlands)
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.66745#0169
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Unexpected dimensions of a Swifterbant settlement at Medel-De Roeskamp (the Netherlands)
Fig. 5 A selection of lithic artefacts: a) edge flake from a jadeitite axe; b) fragment of an amphibolite perforated broad wedge; c) active
grinder made from quartzite; d) quern fragments made from gabbro (left) and sandstone (right).
(17009). One of them has been turned into a longi-
tudinal knob by inserting a plug in the perforation
(15010). It has an asymmetrical section with a convex
and a concave long side, and it is covered with rows of
round impressions on top and on the convex side, but
not on the concave side, suggesting that it has been
one of a pair, placed closely to each other.
The usual SW decoration types like a row of verti-
cal elongated, oval or round impressions below the rim
are present, sometimes with ‘Lochbuckel’ on the in-
side of the rim. This type of decoration is mainly found
on larger pots (8529; 17231). Especially characteristic
for Medel are impressions, round or otherwise, ar-
ranged in fields on the shoulder or near the maximum
diameter (6620; 16761; 17243; 17497; 17765). This
type of decoration is typical for smaller pots (17472).
Some larger pots possessed a roughened surface cov-
ered with fingertip impressions (17549) similar to pots
found in late Bischheim and Michelsberg. Half of the
rim sherds have ‘Randkerbung’ or a less conspicuous
type of rim impressions (8529; 17231).
The characteristics of the Medel ceramics seem
to indicate regional variation in SW2, the emphasis on
decoration in fields and the two-staged construction
being characteristic for the Swifterbant communities
in the Dutch river area.20 Several sherd concentrations
belong to just one pot each and may represent buried
pot offerings (16151).
The lithic assemblage, comprising about 8,000
pieces of worked and utilised stone, for the large ma-
jority consists of river cobbles and pebbles in addi-
tion to a smaller portion of moraine rocks.21 These
probably had been collected from nearby outcrops
of coarse river sediments being part of the ice-pushed
ridges and slopes near Rhenen, where perifluvioglacial
activity also brought in moraine stones.
A few individual artefacs attest to external con-
tacts. The most definite examples are a re-worked
fragment of a perforated broad wedge made from am-
20 The ceramics have been analysed by Theo ten Anscher
(RAAP).
21 The stone artefacts have been analysed by Sebastiaan
Knippenberg (Archol).
Unexpected dimensions of a Swifterbant settlement at Medel-De Roeskamp (the Netherlands)
Fig. 5 A selection of lithic artefacts: a) edge flake from a jadeitite axe; b) fragment of an amphibolite perforated broad wedge; c) active
grinder made from quartzite; d) quern fragments made from gabbro (left) and sandstone (right).
(17009). One of them has been turned into a longi-
tudinal knob by inserting a plug in the perforation
(15010). It has an asymmetrical section with a convex
and a concave long side, and it is covered with rows of
round impressions on top and on the convex side, but
not on the concave side, suggesting that it has been
one of a pair, placed closely to each other.
The usual SW decoration types like a row of verti-
cal elongated, oval or round impressions below the rim
are present, sometimes with ‘Lochbuckel’ on the in-
side of the rim. This type of decoration is mainly found
on larger pots (8529; 17231). Especially characteristic
for Medel are impressions, round or otherwise, ar-
ranged in fields on the shoulder or near the maximum
diameter (6620; 16761; 17243; 17497; 17765). This
type of decoration is typical for smaller pots (17472).
Some larger pots possessed a roughened surface cov-
ered with fingertip impressions (17549) similar to pots
found in late Bischheim and Michelsberg. Half of the
rim sherds have ‘Randkerbung’ or a less conspicuous
type of rim impressions (8529; 17231).
The characteristics of the Medel ceramics seem
to indicate regional variation in SW2, the emphasis on
decoration in fields and the two-staged construction
being characteristic for the Swifterbant communities
in the Dutch river area.20 Several sherd concentrations
belong to just one pot each and may represent buried
pot offerings (16151).
The lithic assemblage, comprising about 8,000
pieces of worked and utilised stone, for the large ma-
jority consists of river cobbles and pebbles in addi-
tion to a smaller portion of moraine rocks.21 These
probably had been collected from nearby outcrops
of coarse river sediments being part of the ice-pushed
ridges and slopes near Rhenen, where perifluvioglacial
activity also brought in moraine stones.
A few individual artefacs attest to external con-
tacts. The most definite examples are a re-worked
fragment of a perforated broad wedge made from am-
20 The ceramics have been analysed by Theo ten Anscher
(RAAP).
21 The stone artefacts have been analysed by Sebastiaan
Knippenberg (Archol).