DOI Kapitel:
Changing Worlds – The Spread of the Neolithic Way of Life in the North
DOI Kapitel:Klimscha, Florian; Neumann, Daniel: A longue durée perspective on technical innovations in the Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic of the North European Plain
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.66745#0390
Florian Klimscha and Daniel Neumann
389
hausen and Miisleringen. Compared to the preced-
ing time slot, there is a great difference between the
sporadic exchanges of exotic goods with little impact
on the societies in the North European Plain and the
massive imitation of foreign copper goods in local
stone35 from the early 4th millennium BC.
The recently discovered hoard from Liistringen,
city of Osnabriick, drew new attention to the topic
of early metal in northwestern Europe (Hassmann
2018). The hoard is an exceptional case in the archae-
ological record, as here for the first time an axe of the
type of Miisleringen / Reiffenhausen was part of a
larger material assemblage. The axe from the Liistrin-
gen hoard is hardly distinguishable morphologically
from the axes of Reiffenhausen and Miisleringen.
Furthermore, it has been likewise cast from copper
with low amounts of arsenic (Lehmann et al. 2018).
The pectorals from the hoard are strikingly similar
to a find made of arsenic copper found in the richly
furnished cist grave from Velvary, Bohemia (Mou-
cha 1960; PLESLOVA-Stikova 1993), as well as to a
pectoral from Villafranca Veronese36 in northern
Italy made from silver. Although the assemblage of
Liistringen is still in the process of examination, it
may be chronologically assigned to approximately the
same horizon as the axes - antedating the Corded
Ware. Their distribution patterns indicate that they
have bypassed southern Central Europe and the tra-
ditional Danubian communication routes: Besides
the aforementioned interregional connections, it is
striking that the axes have no analogies in the south-
ern regions of Central Europe. There is only one axe
of type §iria, found in Uberlingen at Lake Constance
(Matuschik 1997). Type §iria axes, however, are
dated to the late Bodrogkeresztur culture.
Especially, during the Fuchsberg phase (EN II,
or Brindley 1/2, respectively) between 3,600/3,500
and 3,300 calBC, spectacular find concentrations of
copper objects are known across the North European
Plain. According to Klassen, the weight of the finds
from Denmark taken together is higher than that
of all finds from the Alps from 3,800-3,300 calBC.
The pottery sherd found with the Bygholm hoard
35 We are referring to the battle-axes of the TRB culture. With
the exception of the axes from Miisleringen, Reiffenhausen, and
Liistringen, none of the assumed copper archetypes for the TRB
stone axes have been found. For a different view cf. Frieman
2012.
36 This pectoral is part of a burial assemblage of the Rinaldo-
ne culture and is among other things associated with a halberd
made of arsenic copper (Ghislanzon 1932; Salzani 2011,
50-51 Tab. 1).
also dates this find to the Fuchsberg phase. It is thus
contemporary with the hoards from Riesebusch and
the aforementioned hoard from Bytyn. The typologi-
cal relations of both finds with type Altheim axes
also suggest eastern influences (cf. Klimscha 2016,
166-167 with further references). Two axes of trap-
ezoidal type from the area of Bremen can be brought
forward; these also belong to the Fuchsberg phase.37
The metal objects of the 4th millennium calBC
are characterised by the first use of arsenic copper.
The shift from the use of pure copper to the use of
copper with distinct impurities may be considered
as an important improvement and innovation. The
alloy increases the artefacts’ hardness and creates
a shiny gloss on the surface.38 It is still a matter of
debate if some of these types of copper may be the
result of an increasing use of fahlores or an inten-
tional alloying of copper with arsenic. Nevertheless,
the metallurgical data reveals a strong correlation
between the emergence of blades and arsenical cop-
per39 during the 4th millennium calBC. In contrast
to that of the 5th and the 3rd millennium, the metal-
lurgical landscape of the 4th millennium calBC is
still only vaguely understood, and rivalling classi-
fications of copper types were introduced during
the past years, e.g. Bygmet (Liversage / Liversage
1989), Mondsee (Matuschik 1998), or Riesebusch
copper (Klassen / Sturup 2001). Recent analyses
emphasise that the conceptions of the metal cycles
of the 4th millennium hardly correspond with the
archaeological record so far as the evidence of lead
isotope analyses shows that Mondsee copper does
not match any known copper source from the Alpine
area as previously supposed, and at the moment, an
origin from southeastern copper sources seems more
plausible (Frank / Pernicka 2012).40 Copper finds
from the Nordic Middle Neolithic are rare. The axe
from Meilendorf, com. Wedemark (Hanover region),
has been associated with the axes from the Bygholm
hoard (Laux 2000, no. 8), but in contrast to the pub-
lished drawing it has low flanges. Therefore, it can
37 Find locations ‘Aus der Weser’ (out of the river Weser) bet-
ween the cities of Bremen and Nienburg (Laux 2000, no. 11),
and Okel, city of Syke, Lower Saxony (Laux 2000, no. 9).
38 Northover 1989; Budd I Ottawa y 1991; 1995; Lechtman I
Klein 2002.
39 Matuschik 1998; Horn 2014, 149 fig. 80; cf. also the dy-
namic map created by Horn 2012-2021 for the different time
periods.
40 The traditional idea of an alpine raw material source is for
instance referred to in Lefranc et al. 2012.
389
hausen and Miisleringen. Compared to the preced-
ing time slot, there is a great difference between the
sporadic exchanges of exotic goods with little impact
on the societies in the North European Plain and the
massive imitation of foreign copper goods in local
stone35 from the early 4th millennium BC.
The recently discovered hoard from Liistringen,
city of Osnabriick, drew new attention to the topic
of early metal in northwestern Europe (Hassmann
2018). The hoard is an exceptional case in the archae-
ological record, as here for the first time an axe of the
type of Miisleringen / Reiffenhausen was part of a
larger material assemblage. The axe from the Liistrin-
gen hoard is hardly distinguishable morphologically
from the axes of Reiffenhausen and Miisleringen.
Furthermore, it has been likewise cast from copper
with low amounts of arsenic (Lehmann et al. 2018).
The pectorals from the hoard are strikingly similar
to a find made of arsenic copper found in the richly
furnished cist grave from Velvary, Bohemia (Mou-
cha 1960; PLESLOVA-Stikova 1993), as well as to a
pectoral from Villafranca Veronese36 in northern
Italy made from silver. Although the assemblage of
Liistringen is still in the process of examination, it
may be chronologically assigned to approximately the
same horizon as the axes - antedating the Corded
Ware. Their distribution patterns indicate that they
have bypassed southern Central Europe and the tra-
ditional Danubian communication routes: Besides
the aforementioned interregional connections, it is
striking that the axes have no analogies in the south-
ern regions of Central Europe. There is only one axe
of type §iria, found in Uberlingen at Lake Constance
(Matuschik 1997). Type §iria axes, however, are
dated to the late Bodrogkeresztur culture.
Especially, during the Fuchsberg phase (EN II,
or Brindley 1/2, respectively) between 3,600/3,500
and 3,300 calBC, spectacular find concentrations of
copper objects are known across the North European
Plain. According to Klassen, the weight of the finds
from Denmark taken together is higher than that
of all finds from the Alps from 3,800-3,300 calBC.
The pottery sherd found with the Bygholm hoard
35 We are referring to the battle-axes of the TRB culture. With
the exception of the axes from Miisleringen, Reiffenhausen, and
Liistringen, none of the assumed copper archetypes for the TRB
stone axes have been found. For a different view cf. Frieman
2012.
36 This pectoral is part of a burial assemblage of the Rinaldo-
ne culture and is among other things associated with a halberd
made of arsenic copper (Ghislanzon 1932; Salzani 2011,
50-51 Tab. 1).
also dates this find to the Fuchsberg phase. It is thus
contemporary with the hoards from Riesebusch and
the aforementioned hoard from Bytyn. The typologi-
cal relations of both finds with type Altheim axes
also suggest eastern influences (cf. Klimscha 2016,
166-167 with further references). Two axes of trap-
ezoidal type from the area of Bremen can be brought
forward; these also belong to the Fuchsberg phase.37
The metal objects of the 4th millennium calBC
are characterised by the first use of arsenic copper.
The shift from the use of pure copper to the use of
copper with distinct impurities may be considered
as an important improvement and innovation. The
alloy increases the artefacts’ hardness and creates
a shiny gloss on the surface.38 It is still a matter of
debate if some of these types of copper may be the
result of an increasing use of fahlores or an inten-
tional alloying of copper with arsenic. Nevertheless,
the metallurgical data reveals a strong correlation
between the emergence of blades and arsenical cop-
per39 during the 4th millennium calBC. In contrast
to that of the 5th and the 3rd millennium, the metal-
lurgical landscape of the 4th millennium calBC is
still only vaguely understood, and rivalling classi-
fications of copper types were introduced during
the past years, e.g. Bygmet (Liversage / Liversage
1989), Mondsee (Matuschik 1998), or Riesebusch
copper (Klassen / Sturup 2001). Recent analyses
emphasise that the conceptions of the metal cycles
of the 4th millennium hardly correspond with the
archaeological record so far as the evidence of lead
isotope analyses shows that Mondsee copper does
not match any known copper source from the Alpine
area as previously supposed, and at the moment, an
origin from southeastern copper sources seems more
plausible (Frank / Pernicka 2012).40 Copper finds
from the Nordic Middle Neolithic are rare. The axe
from Meilendorf, com. Wedemark (Hanover region),
has been associated with the axes from the Bygholm
hoard (Laux 2000, no. 8), but in contrast to the pub-
lished drawing it has low flanges. Therefore, it can
37 Find locations ‘Aus der Weser’ (out of the river Weser) bet-
ween the cities of Bremen and Nienburg (Laux 2000, no. 11),
and Okel, city of Syke, Lower Saxony (Laux 2000, no. 9).
38 Northover 1989; Budd I Ottawa y 1991; 1995; Lechtman I
Klein 2002.
39 Matuschik 1998; Horn 2014, 149 fig. 80; cf. also the dy-
namic map created by Horn 2012-2021 for the different time
periods.
40 The traditional idea of an alpine raw material source is for
instance referred to in Lefranc et al. 2012.