Starting point

Archaeology: treasure hunting or an exact science?

Stone Age archaeology has undergone enormous evolution. Until the Second World War it was more of a treasure hunt where people only searched for utensils like arrowheads, axes, scrapers, etc. and the ground was simply dug up recklessly. After the Second World War, this was tackled completely differently. Since an excavation can only be done once, the work is now carried out very carefully, collecting as much data as possible. Finds are accurately recorded and located as precisely as possible. Soil samples from the site make it possible to realistically reconstruct the landscape through pollen analysis. When fauna material has been preserved, it is also carefully examined, and thanks to advanced protein analysis and DNA, even fragmentary bone remains can provide important data. The stone technology is closely examined to understand the production process, and microscopic approaches are used to determine the origin of the materials as well as the use and possible assembly of the tools.

There are several ways to determine a site's age. Thanks to experimental archaeology, we also have a whole reference database of traces of use that make it possible to recognise actual use. The collection technique is very important here: no contact with metal objects, rinse only (certainly no scrubbing), handle as little as possible (if necessary, use gloves), pack important artefacts separately, etc. Special attention is also paid to vegetable residues. These can tell us something about how the artefacts were attached. So it is important to consider during the excavation which analysis techniques will be used afterwards.

Source: Functional research of Late Paleolithic and Early Mesolithic sites in Flanders, Dries Cnuts, Sonja Tomasso, Justin Coppe & Veerle Rots, 2021, A publication of the Agency for Immovable Heritage - Scientific institution of the Flemish Government, Policy Area Environment. https://publicaties.vlaanderen.be/view-file/45075

During a Stone Age excavation, the site is neatly divided into 50 x 50 cm² sections and excavated and thoroughly examined in layers of 10 cm.©BAAC

The sand is then sieved while wet. © Gemeente Zonhoven

In the sieve lies a perforated rubber folder that is made to vibrate. In this way, one prevents the finds from being damaged by the grinding on the metal of a classic sieve.©BAAC

Edge of flint blade before and after use in harvesting grain. ©TraceeLab

Source

Functional Research of Late Paleolithic and Early Mesolithic Sites in Flanders, Dries Cnuts, Sonja Tomasso, Justin Coppe & Veerle Rots, 2021, A publication of the Agency for Immovable Heritage - Scientific Institution of the Flemish Government, Environment Policy Domain. https://publicaties.vlaanderen.be/view-file/45075

Listening story

Orin: Hey, I'm Orin Holsteens. Have you been here before? I have. 11,000 years ago, our camps stood here. Actually, not much has changed here. Look, Those hills with that grass. There were less trees then, though.  And then down here the Roosterbeek. Does that water still taste like iron? 

Will you step back in time with me?  There on the left, a bit further up the hill, by the three birches, (description where) are our tents. The first ones belong to my uncles and aunts. And the big one is our family’s: mum, dad, my sister Lara and my little brother Yotin. He is only 4 months: mum is with him.  The rest of the Holsteens are already on their way to the open field. They are getting ready for the hunt, the reindeer hunt. It gives good meat, it keeps the family strong. And we need new skins to keep us warm. Because it won't be long before it starts freezing again. 

The reindeer will pass by here in the next few weeks. all heading north, and we will follow them. It's a good day for hunting. Nice and warm, about 11 degrees I think. Yes, it doesn't get any warmer in the summer at the end of the ice age. And in the winter the temperature here rarely rises above freezing. But by then we are gone, we never stay long in one place, we have to go with the reindeer, on foot of course, because this is a time when there are no cars, no schools, no mobile phones, no restaurants.  Here you only hear the freezing wind and the howling of wolves. 

If you walk with me, will you give me a hand? Because we can still use stones in the camp. I'll show you what we need later, one stone is not like another. And if you find a good branch, take that too, it's always useful. Come, and stay a bit out of the wind as you walk. Otherwise the reindeer will smell you and be gone.

Oh, in case you lose sight of me, you can always find me if you go to the listening posts. Or you can scan the QR code and listen with your smartphone, and I'll be there again. We will travel through many years along the way. Through the time of mammoths, for example, or wolves. And be sure to play along with the challenges, you can possibly win a prize.