Badania mineralogiczne, petrograficzne i geochemiczne procesu wietrzenia naturalnych skał z wychodni karbońskich pod kątem rozpoznania technologii obróbki kamienia użytego do wykonywania przedmiotów i kamiennych obiektów Neolitycznych w stanowisku archeologicznym Burren-Marlbank, Irlandia

Abstract

Park Burren-Marlbank jest jednym z bardziej znanych obiektów Neolitycznych w którym występują kamienne a megality oraz liczne dowody aktywności człowieka w tym ryty skalne. Przedmiotem opracowania jest sprawdzenie struktur i składu mineralnego skał znajdujących się poza rejonem parku, pod kątem genezy niektórych obiektów> Próbki do badań pobrano z miejsc występowania skał w naturalnych odsłonięciach by nie niszczyć chronionych obiektów Parku. Przez analogie interpretowano rzeźby i ryty skalne dzieląc je na wykonane przez człowieka i te które powstały w wyniku procesów geologicznych.

Due to the protection of monuments in the Neolithic archaeological site of Burren-Marlbank, Ireland, mineral and petrographic studies of local rocks in their natural outcrops have been undertaken. Those rocks were used during the Neolithic period for both construction of architectural sites as well as for various types of objects and rites. Stereoscopic, polarizing, scanning microscopy, as well as Raman spectroscopy were used in the studies. Obtained results and conclusions can be applied by analogy to the protected antique stone objects at the site. The results prove that due to lack of siliceous raw materials, local Neolithic tools were made of extruded rock of porcelanite characteristics. Recognition of inventory of stone tools will allow us to determine types of Neolithic man’s activities at the site. Studies show mineral and structural heterogeneity of the examined carbonic sandstones, which influences their different susceptibility to weathering processes. That caused the formation of natural erosive forms with macroscopic features on the rocks, suggesting their creation by human hand. Recognition of natural rocks allowed us to determine features that distinguish between rocks that have been affected and not affected by human activity, based on the degree of cracking of the grains in the surface rocks. The research shows that coal deposits may have existed in Carboniferous rocks at the Burren-Marlbank site area. Perhaps it was the local coal used in hearths in the Neolithic period (in the absence of another fuel due to poor plant representation) that was the decisive factor in the location of the settlement in this place. This hypothesis and the obtained results should be tested in further research.