DOI Kapitel:
Grenzgänger, traders and the last hunter-gatherers of the North European Plain
DOI Kapitel:Anscher, Theo J. ten; Knippenberg, Sebastiaan: Unexpected dimensions of a Swifterbant settlement at Medel-De Roeskamp (the Netherlands)
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.66745#0170
Theo J. ten Anscher and Sebastiaan Knippenberg
169
phibolite22 and an edge flake as well as a very small
fragment of a ground axe, both made from jadeite,
preferably named jadeitite (Fig. 5a-b).23 The amphibo-
lite may have originated from northern Bohemia in
the Czech Republic,24 whereas the rare jadeitite most
probably came from the Italian Alps around Mount
Viso and Mount Beigua (Petrequin et al. 2012). Most
likely, these objects were obtained through inter-com-
munity exchange with neighbouring sites in the Neo-
lithic hinterland.
The stone tool assemblage provides additional
evidence for (grain) food processing and permanent
settlement. A predominance of hand-held stones ac-
tively used for food grinding (Fig. 5c) is noticed, with
only a few flat quern counterparts, mostly fragmented
and worn down (Fig. 5d). The presence of these tools
is taken as an indication of the processing of cereals
and/or other food plants.25
A recurrent feature of many tools is their multi-
functional usage, particularly among the hand-held
tools, being used as active hammers, grinders, and
pounding stones, as well as anvils, and sometimes
even querns. This has been attested at other Swifter-
bant sites as well (Devriendt 2014; see also Peeters /
Devriendt 2016), and it suggests an integrated part
of the Swifterbant stone industry.
Another recurrent tool type is the hammer stone.
Ground stone in the form of axes occur in very small
numbers and are without exception fragmented, with
often only (edge) flakes remaining. The Medel inhabit-
ants also used stone to adorn themselves, exemplified
by the finding of a small number of pendants and a
single bead. The pendants generally consist of flat
small water-worn pebbles with a biconical perforation
at one end, although an artificially ground and shaped
example possessing two perforations has also been rec-
ognised. The presence of a number of pre-forms sug-
gests that these items had been manufactured locally.
22 It is rock rich in amphibole and high-Ca plagioclase, based
on non-destructive analysis by Hanco Zwaan, Museum of Na-
tural History (Naturalis), Leiden, using micro-Raman spec-
troscopy and X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF).
23 Based on high Na contents, these are relatively pure jadeite
rocks with low omphacite presence. The artefact has been ana-
lysed non-destructively by Hanco Zwaan, Museum of Natural
History (Naturalis), Leiden, using micro-Raman spectroscopy
and X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF); see Harlow et al. 2014 for
terminology.
24 Bernardini et al. 2012; Christensen et al. 2006; Schwarz-
Mackensen / Schneider 1986; Sida / Kachlik 2009.
25 Use-wear analysis is currently being performed.
Among the 20,000 pieces of flint, the large majority
consists of nearby obtained flints. A small portion, how-
ever, is brought in from southern regions: from south-
ern Dutch Limburg and possibly the Hesbaye region
in Belgium. The number of arrowheads is remarkably
low. The toolkit predominantly consists of scrapers.
Together with the presence of sickle blades and the
abundant evidence of tool re-use, they all are aspects
one would expect in a permanent settlement site, with
an emphasis on agricultural and domestic activities.26
Features
The notion of a domestic settlement site at Medel is
further supported by the spatial analysis of the fea-
tures.27 Postholes are by far the predominant feature
type. Over a thousand postholes, many of considerable
depth of up to 0.8-1.0 m and with diameters around
0.25-0.3 m have been uncovered. Exceptional cases
in which the actual post-fill could be distinguished
within the larger posthole suggest postdiameters of c.
0.15-0.20 m, pointing to firmly built structures. Most
postholes had very light-coloured fills, making them
hard to distinguish from the natural subsoil. It is likely
that therefore some went unnoticed, as the interrupted
patterns in several adjacent trenches illustrate.
The careful study of the posthole clusters enabled
the identification of house plans at the southern site.
So far about 25 house plans have been reconstructed
(Fig. 6). More houses must have been present, given
the considerable number of postholes that could not
be assigned to any plans.
Despite the variation in size, the plans show a
remarkable consistency in post configurations. Based
on the most complete plans, the following general
observations can be made (Fig. 7). All are two-aisled
structures. It is noteworthy that the postholes within
each row are in almost perfect alignment, suggesting
the main constructing axis had been along the longi-
tudal direction. The central postholes are the deepest
and are placed at more or less regular intervals. They
constituted the longest posts.
Wall postholes exhibit more variation in their
dephs and intervals. The variation in the latter aspect
may be partly due to a bias in visibility, as the wall
26 The information on the flints has been provided by Paul
van der Kroft (RAAP) who together with Jeroen Mendelts MA
(RAAP) carried out the analysis of the flint material.
27 All features from the Neolithic period have been analysed
by Sebastiaan Knippenberg (Archol).
169
phibolite22 and an edge flake as well as a very small
fragment of a ground axe, both made from jadeite,
preferably named jadeitite (Fig. 5a-b).23 The amphibo-
lite may have originated from northern Bohemia in
the Czech Republic,24 whereas the rare jadeitite most
probably came from the Italian Alps around Mount
Viso and Mount Beigua (Petrequin et al. 2012). Most
likely, these objects were obtained through inter-com-
munity exchange with neighbouring sites in the Neo-
lithic hinterland.
The stone tool assemblage provides additional
evidence for (grain) food processing and permanent
settlement. A predominance of hand-held stones ac-
tively used for food grinding (Fig. 5c) is noticed, with
only a few flat quern counterparts, mostly fragmented
and worn down (Fig. 5d). The presence of these tools
is taken as an indication of the processing of cereals
and/or other food plants.25
A recurrent feature of many tools is their multi-
functional usage, particularly among the hand-held
tools, being used as active hammers, grinders, and
pounding stones, as well as anvils, and sometimes
even querns. This has been attested at other Swifter-
bant sites as well (Devriendt 2014; see also Peeters /
Devriendt 2016), and it suggests an integrated part
of the Swifterbant stone industry.
Another recurrent tool type is the hammer stone.
Ground stone in the form of axes occur in very small
numbers and are without exception fragmented, with
often only (edge) flakes remaining. The Medel inhabit-
ants also used stone to adorn themselves, exemplified
by the finding of a small number of pendants and a
single bead. The pendants generally consist of flat
small water-worn pebbles with a biconical perforation
at one end, although an artificially ground and shaped
example possessing two perforations has also been rec-
ognised. The presence of a number of pre-forms sug-
gests that these items had been manufactured locally.
22 It is rock rich in amphibole and high-Ca plagioclase, based
on non-destructive analysis by Hanco Zwaan, Museum of Na-
tural History (Naturalis), Leiden, using micro-Raman spec-
troscopy and X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF).
23 Based on high Na contents, these are relatively pure jadeite
rocks with low omphacite presence. The artefact has been ana-
lysed non-destructively by Hanco Zwaan, Museum of Natural
History (Naturalis), Leiden, using micro-Raman spectroscopy
and X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF); see Harlow et al. 2014 for
terminology.
24 Bernardini et al. 2012; Christensen et al. 2006; Schwarz-
Mackensen / Schneider 1986; Sida / Kachlik 2009.
25 Use-wear analysis is currently being performed.
Among the 20,000 pieces of flint, the large majority
consists of nearby obtained flints. A small portion, how-
ever, is brought in from southern regions: from south-
ern Dutch Limburg and possibly the Hesbaye region
in Belgium. The number of arrowheads is remarkably
low. The toolkit predominantly consists of scrapers.
Together with the presence of sickle blades and the
abundant evidence of tool re-use, they all are aspects
one would expect in a permanent settlement site, with
an emphasis on agricultural and domestic activities.26
Features
The notion of a domestic settlement site at Medel is
further supported by the spatial analysis of the fea-
tures.27 Postholes are by far the predominant feature
type. Over a thousand postholes, many of considerable
depth of up to 0.8-1.0 m and with diameters around
0.25-0.3 m have been uncovered. Exceptional cases
in which the actual post-fill could be distinguished
within the larger posthole suggest postdiameters of c.
0.15-0.20 m, pointing to firmly built structures. Most
postholes had very light-coloured fills, making them
hard to distinguish from the natural subsoil. It is likely
that therefore some went unnoticed, as the interrupted
patterns in several adjacent trenches illustrate.
The careful study of the posthole clusters enabled
the identification of house plans at the southern site.
So far about 25 house plans have been reconstructed
(Fig. 6). More houses must have been present, given
the considerable number of postholes that could not
be assigned to any plans.
Despite the variation in size, the plans show a
remarkable consistency in post configurations. Based
on the most complete plans, the following general
observations can be made (Fig. 7). All are two-aisled
structures. It is noteworthy that the postholes within
each row are in almost perfect alignment, suggesting
the main constructing axis had been along the longi-
tudal direction. The central postholes are the deepest
and are placed at more or less regular intervals. They
constituted the longest posts.
Wall postholes exhibit more variation in their
dephs and intervals. The variation in the latter aspect
may be partly due to a bias in visibility, as the wall
26 The information on the flints has been provided by Paul
van der Kroft (RAAP) who together with Jeroen Mendelts MA
(RAAP) carried out the analysis of the flint material.
27 All features from the Neolithic period have been analysed
by Sebastiaan Knippenberg (Archol).