Dissertation Research: Production and Distribution of Chalcolithic Materials

在Anthony Marks博士的指导下，Staso Forenbaher先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。他将在欧洲大陆最西端的葡萄牙埃斯特雷马杜拉地区进行考古研究。在白垩纪(铜器时代)，Tejo河口深入内陆，有效地将其变成了一个超过100公里长、50公里宽的半岛。因此，该地区形成了一个独立的考古区。福伦鲍尔先生将从事两类工作。首先，他将在Casas de Baixo遗址挖掘，收集大量系统的石质材料样本，以及用于放射性碳测年的背景信息和有机物质。挖掘工作将在1平方米内进行。并继续进行，直到获得了足够的岩屑样本。其次，Forenbaher先生将分析大量胆石遗址的石器收藏品。这些包括获得原材料和生产石器的采石场、小型定居点、更大的设防定居点和人类墓地。将对样本进行测量和描述，以建立人工制品类别，并确定每个人工制品类别的标准化程度。原材料也将被采购，以将它们与原产地联系起来。考古学家希望了解复杂的社会是如何出现的，很明显，葡萄牙的胆石遗址代表了这一过程的早期阶段。根据出现在一些坟墓中的非常仔细的人工制品，很明显，在这段时间里，社会等级制度已经开始出现，但社会总体上按照这种原则组织起来的程度是不确定的。通过他的研究，福伦鲍尔将能够确定石块在社会制度中是如何发挥作用的。他将审查标准化产品的制造程度，这将提供有关经济集中化程度的信息。通过追踪成品到原材料来源，他可以重建贸易网络的范围和方向，以及所涉及的集中控制的程度。这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。它将提供许多考古学家感兴趣的数据。它将为社会复杂性的起源提供新的线索，并有助于培养一位有前途的年轻科学家。

Under the direction of Dr. Anthony Marks, Mr. Staso Forenbaher will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will conduct archaeological research in the Estremadura region of Portugal, the westernmost land of continental Europe. During the Chalcolithic (Copper Age), the Tejo estuary penetrated deep inland, effectively turning it into a peninsula over 100 km long and 50 km wide. The area thus forms a discrete archaeological region. Mr. Forenbaher will conduct two types of work. First he will excavate at the site of Casas de Baixo to collect a large systematic sample of lithic materials as well as contextual information and organic for radiocarbon dating. Excavation will be carried out in 1 m. sq. units and continue until an adequate lithic sample has been obtained. Secondly, Mr. Forenbaher will analyze lithic collections from a large number of Chalcolithic sites. These include quarries where raw materials were obtained and stone tools produced, small settlements, larger fortified settlements and human burials. Specimens will be measured and described both to establish artifact classes and to determine the degree of standardization within each. Raw materials will also be sourced to tie them to point of origin. Archaeologists wish to understand how complex societies emerged and it is clear that the Portuguese Chalcolithic sites represent an early stage in this process. Based on very carefully worked artifacts which appear in some graves, it is evident that social hierarchies had begun to appear during this time but the extent to which society generally was organized along such principles is uncertain. Through his research, Mr. Forenbaher will be able to determine how lithics functioned within the social system. He will examine the degree to which standardized products were manufactured and this will provide information on the extent of economic centralization. By tracing finished products to the raw material source he can reconstruct the extent and direction of trade networks and the degree of centralized control involved. This research is important for several reasons. It will provide data of interest to many archaeologists. It will shed new light on the origins of social complexity and assist in the training of a promising young scientist.