Knappable materials in the Criș Valley, Romania

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and characterise some of the raw materials in the Criș Valley, in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania which are suitable for knapping tools. The materials cropping out in this area include: siliceous sinter, agate, and silicified wood. The basic characteristics of the materials, obtained by macroscopic and petrographic investigations, provide a reference database useful in provenance studies on individual artefacts or whole assemblages. An assessment of each material is made regarding its quality as a knappable material.

Keywords

• knappable material
• lithic tools
• siliceous sinter
• agate
• silicified wood
• lithotheque
• apuseni mountains
• romania