Innovation and Imitation: Stone Skeuomorphs of Metal from 4th-2nd Millennia BC Northwest Europe

Description

In this study of prehistoric innovation, the author argues that a range of technologies and practices need to be considered in order to place innovation into the pre-existing social and technological systems in which it functioned and to assess the means by which it was accepted and valued. In particular the study focuses on how archaeological interpretations of stone objects and stone-working can help understand the adoption and continued presence of metal and metallurgy in prehistoric Europe. The author compares traditionally identified stone skeuomorphs —that is, meaningful imitations —of metal with their putative prototypes. Three separate corpora of these stone skeuomorphs have been identified: polished stone shafthole axes from the Netherlands and surrounding areas, identified as copies of perforated, copper axes; flint daggers from Jutland, identified as copies of bronze, metal-hilted daggers; and jet spacer-plate ornaments from the British Isles, Ireland and Brittany, identified as copies of hammered gold lunulae. Front Cover Title Page Copyright Table of Contents List of Figures List of Tables List of Plates Acknowledgements Abstract Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Skeuomorphism in the archaeological record Chapter 3: A framework for analysis Chapter 4: The temporal, material and social context of the early metal-using era in northwest Europe Chapter 5: Ground Stone Knob-butted Axes Chapter 6: Fishtail Flint Daggers Chapter 7: Crescentic Jet Necklaces Chapter 8: Innovation, imitation, metalworking and stone-working in the early metal-using era Chapter 9: Conclusions Appendix A: Catalogue of ground stone knob-butted axes Appendix B: Catalogue of fishtail flint daggers Appendix C: Catalogue of jet bead assemblages with spacer plates Appendix D: Data collected Appendix E: Statistical Analyses Bibliography Plates