Stone Artifacts of the Bronze Age: Analysis of the Mineral Composition and Determination of Resource Ranges

The mineral composition of stone artifacts from the collection of the Historical Museum from monuments of the Bronze Age in the North Caucasus and the adjacent steppe is determined by comprehensive instrumental analysis. It is found that three stone axes from the North Caucasus are made of serpentinite of local origin. A mace and straightener for arrow shafts found in the Republic of Kalmykia are made of Ergeninsky sandstone that is widespread on the territory of the Ergeninsky Upland. Two more items from sites of the Republic of Kalmykia (a mace and ax) are made of amphibolite that could have been mined in the deposits of the Ukrainian Shield in the Azov Lowland. The ancient population predominantly used for the manufacture of artifacts raw materials of local origin or from neighboring regions, where groups of mobile pastoralists could migrate as part of seasonal movements. It is probable that, at that time, Caucasian items did not find their way into the steppe as often as previously assumed.

Automated summary

The mineral composition of stone artifacts from historical museums in the North Caucasus and adjacent steppe of the Bronze Age was determined through instrumental analysis. The study found that the ancient population primarily used local or neighboring raw materials to make the artifacts, challenging previous assumptions.