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23.02.2023.
Session of the 82nd University of Latvia International Scientific Confernce "Skills, Environment, Society: Technology in Traditional Communities" held within the frame of the project

https://conferences.lu.lv/event/417/
Programme and abstracts: https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/65430

21.02.2023.
Project workshop with student participation
Workshop topic: "Drilling, carving and cutting: materials processing in the Neolithic." Introductory lectures by A.Macāne and A.Čakare. Practical exercise in perforation of animal tooth pendants.

01.11.2023
Project workshop with student participation

Workshop with participation of students from the University of Latvia Faculty of History and Philosophy and the Latvian Academy of Art on the subject of "Decoration of Neolithic pottery with animal bone impressions: research and experiments" (led by V.Bērziņš, A.Macāne and V.Haferberga). An introductory lecture was given by V.Bērziņš and A.Macāne, followed by a practical exercise where the participantes took part in an archaeological experiment, impressing animal bones in clay tablets, to be compared against impressions on Neolithic pottery with the aim of identifying which skeletal parts and from which animals were used to decorate Neolithic pottery. There was also a demonstration of the equipment and software used for microscopic examination of impressions in pottery. The workshop was attended by 16 people, in addition to the project participants.

27.03.2023
Project workshop
Literatūre on natural and intentional impurities in pottery fabric, their role and significance (led by: V.Visocka).

23.02.2023
Project practical workshop
Introduction to retouching flint (led by:M.Kalniņš).

13.01.2023
Project workshop
Literature on animal and human co-existence, the use of natural and animal resources and their interaction (led by: A.Macāne).

17.10. 2022
Project practical workshop
Making cord from nettle fibres and lime bast, cutting and drilling perforations in animal teeth.

06.10.2022.
Project workshop
1. Brief reports on experiments with the working of osseous materials (Aija Macāne) and amber (Agnese Čakare)
2. Finds from the fieldwork at Kreiči and Lake Burtnieks (Mārcis Kalniņš, Aija Macāne).
Workshop attended by students of the Faculty of History and Philosophy.
Project group meeting.

12.-16.09.2022

Excavation of Kreiči neolithic settlement at Lake Lielais Ludzas
(directed by M.Kalniņš)

Photo: M.Kalniņš


11.08.2022.

Project workshop
Theoretical basis of the project and relevant literature (V.Bērziņš).
Project group meeting.

27.05.2022.
Project workshop
Application of photogrammetry, reflective transformation imaging and confocal imaging in the documenting of archaeological artefacts (M.Kalniņš, V.Visocka, V.Bērziņš)

Photo: V.Visocka

03.01.2022
Project implementation begins.

Project summary

Proceeding from investigation into the processing of materials widely utilized in the Stone Age of the Eastern Baltic region – bone/antler, flaked stone, amber and ceramics – we will assess ancient artefact production technologies within a much-needed wider perspective, embracing: 1) intersections between different technologies, 2) the context of landscape and resource exploitation, and 3) the social milieu in which technologies were practiced.

We will conduct museum artefact studies on major Stone Age assemblages from the environs of Lake Burtnieks in N Latvia, Lake Lielais Ludzas in E Latvia and coastal W Latvia (including the internationally famous sites of Zvejnieki, Riņņukalns and Sārnate), involving macro- and microscopic examination, 2D/3D image processing, archaeological experiments and a suite of analytical methods (elemental/phase analysis of materials; zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry; ceramic petrography; morphological analysis of sand grains in ceramics; radiocarbon dating).     
   Crucially important for achieving a broader view of ancient technologies will be regular joint seminars, permitting our experts studying the technologies of specific materials to share methodology, results and interpretations, and prepare joint articles, thus fostering very close and purposeful collaboration to establish a cross-material platform for technology studies and simultaneously forging a strong research team for further projects.
  • Work package 1: Osseous materials
  • Work package 2: Lithics
  • Work package 3: Amber
  • Work package 4: Pottery
  • Work package 5: Intersecting technologies
  • Work package 6: Technologies in the landscape
  • Work package 7: Technologies in social context
  • Work package 8: Public outreach

Essential data

  • Project no. lzp-2021/1-0119, Skills in synergy, crafts in context: an integrated study of eastern Baltic Stone Age technologies
  • Funded by the Latvian Council of Science
  • Implementation period: 3 January 2022 - 30 December 2024
  • Implemented by: University of Latvia
    (at the university's Institute of Latvian History)
  • Project total costs:  € 299 999.70


Research team

Principal investigator:
Valdis Bērziņš, Senior Researcher

Lead participants:
Ilga Zagorska, Senior Researcher

Participants:
Tomas Rimkus, Senior Expert
 
Student participants:
Agnese Čakare, Senior Specialist
Vanda Haferberga, Research Assistant
Mārcis Kalniņš, Researcher
Aija Macāne, Research Assistant
Artis Kons, Researcher

Publications and other outputs

Scientific articles

Bērziņš, V. 2023. A closer look at wound cord: technical analysis of Neolithic pottery decoration from Latvia. Documenta Praehistorica 50. https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.50.16

Čakare, A. 2023. Eksperimentālā pieeja neolīta dzintaru apstrādes procesu izzināšanā: Siliņupes apmetnes piemērs. Jauno vēsturnieku zinātniskie lasījumi VIII. Starpdisciplināri pētījumi Latvijas vēsturē / The Scholarly Readings of Young Historians VIII. [Rīga]: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 45.-54. lpp.
https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/64914

Lõugas, L., Bērziņš, V. 2023. Natural History and Exploitation of the Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena Linnaeus, 1758) during the Neolithic (ca. 4000–2000 cal. BC) in the Eastern Baltic. Animals 2023: 13(5), 909
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13050909

Abstracts

Bērziņš, V. 2024. Aptītās auklas ornaments uz neolīta keramikas – tehnika un konteksts. Latvijas Universitātes 82. starptautiskās zinātniskās konferences sekcija. Prasmes, vide, sabiedrība: tehnika tradicionālās kopienās. Sekcijas programma un tēzes. Sast. V.Bērziņš, V.Haferberga, A. Karlsone. Rīga: LU Latvijas vēstures institūts, 9. lpp. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/65430

Čakare, A. 2023. An experimental approach to the study of amber processing in the Neolithic. In: 29th EAA Annual Meeting. Queen's University Belfast. Belfast, Northern Ireland, 30 August - 2 September 2023. Abstract Book, p. 1131-1132. 
https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2023/Programme.aspx?Program=3#Program

Čakare, A. 2023. Under a microscope: analysis of East Baltic Neolithic amber pendants from the Siliņupe site (Latvia), 4th millennium BC. In: XX UISPP World Congress. West University of Timișoara. Timișoara, Romania, September 5-9, 2023. Abstract Book, p. 373.

Čakare, A. 2023. Flaking, shaving and scraping: an experimental approach to the study of amber processing on the coastal Neolithic Siliņupe site. In: Technologies of the Stone Age: The Coastal Dimension. PrehCOAST network workshop. Riga, Latvia, 6–8 June 2023. Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia. Programme and Abstracts. Riga: Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia, p. 18. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/61947

Čakare, A. 2024. Dzintara virsmas apstrādes tehnikas un to pielietojums Latvijas teritorijā akmens laikmetā. Latvijas Universitātes 82. starptautiskās zinātniskās konferences sekcija. Prasmes, vide, sabiedrība: tehnika tradicionālās kopienās. Sekcijas programma un tēzes. Sast. V.Bērziņš, V.Haferberga, A. Karlsone. Rīga: LU Latvijas vēstures institūts, 5. lpp. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/65430

Haferberga, V. 2024. Piekraste un iekšzeme: neolīta keramikas izgatavošanas tehnoloģiskie aspekti. Latvijas Universitātes 82. starptautiskās zinātniskās konferences sekcija. Prasmes, vide, sabiedrība: tehnika tradicionālās kopienās. Sekcijas programma un tēzes. Sast. V.Bērziņš, V.Haferberga, A. Karlsone. Rīga: LU Latvijas vēstures institūts, 9. lpp. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/65430

Kalniņš, M. 2023. Flint and the sea: local flint raw materials on the Stone Age coastal sites in Latvia. In: Technologies of the Stone Age: The Coastal Dimension. PrehCOAST network workshop. Riga, Latvia, 6–8 June 2023. Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia. Programme and Abstracts. Riga: Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia, p. 16. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/61947

Kalniņš, M. 2024. Krama apstrādes tehnoloģijas un izejmateriāli mūsdienu Latvijas teritorijā cauri gadu tūkstošiem. Latvijas Universitātes 82. starptautiskās zinātniskās konferences sekcija. Prasmes, vide, sabiedrība: tehnika tradicionālās kopienās. Sekcijas programma un tēzes. Sast. V.Bērziņš, V.Haferberga, A. Karlsone. Rīga: LU Latvijas vēstures institūts, 8. lpp. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/65430

Macāne, A. 2024. Dzīvnieku zobu piekariņu izgatavošana un izmantošana akmens laikmetā. Latvijas Universitātes 82. starptautiskās zinātniskās konferences sekcija. Prasmes, vide, sabiedrība: tehnika tradicionālās kopienās. Sekcijas programma un tēzes. Sast. V.Bērziņš, V.Haferberga, A. Karlsone. Rīga: LU Latvijas vēstures institūts, 5.-6. lpp. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/65430

Macāne, A., Nordqvist, K. 2023. Amber, waterways and inter-regional contacts in the eastern Baltic Sea area in the 4th–3rd millennium BC. In: Technologies of the Stone Age: The Coastal Dimension. PrehCOAST network workshop. Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia. Riga, Latvia, 6–8 June 2023. Programme and Abstracts.  Riga: Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia, p. 11. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/61947

Macāne, A., Rimkus, T., Kalniņš, M., & Zagorska, I. 2023. Synergy of Stone Age technologies: new research on slotted bone points from Latvia. Abstract Book. Kiel Conference. Scales of Social, Environmental & Cultural Change in Past Societies. Kiel University, March 13–18, 2023. [Kiel]: [Kiel University]. https://macau.uni-kiel.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/macau_derivate_00004643/KC-Book-of-Abstracts-2023-WEB-1.pdf

Rimkus, T., Iršėnas, M., Butrimas, A., Mannermaa, K., Zagorska, I. Introducing elks: Final Palaeolithic and the earliest Mesolithic Eurasian elks and their significance in the Eastern Baltic hunter-gatherer societies.  In: 29th EAA Annual Meeting. Queen's University Belfast. Belfast, Northern Ireland, 30 August - 2 September 2023. Abstract Book, p. 872.
https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2023/Programme.aspx?Program=3#Program

Visocka, V., Bērziņš, V., Kons, A. 2023. Technological aspects and provenance of Middle and Late Neolithic coastal pottery: a case study of Siliņupe and Slocene settlements. In: EAA 2023 Belfast. Weaving Narratives. Abstract Book. 29th EAA Annual Meeting. 30th August - 2nd September, p. 898. ISBN: 978-80-88441-05-2.
https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2023/Programme.aspx?Program=3#Program

Visocka, V., Bērziņš, V. 2023. Use and re-use: human interaction with pottery production materials in a coastal area of present-day Latvia. A case study of Siliņupe and Slocene settlements. In: Technologies of the Stone Age: The Coastal Dimension. PrehCOAST network workshop. Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia. Programme and Abstracts. Riga, Latvia, 6–8 June 2023. Riga: Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia, p. 19. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/61947

Visocka, V., Bērziņš, V., Kons, A. Insights on Neolithic pottery technology and provenance from petrographic and WD-XRF studies: a case study of Siliņupe and Slocene settlements. Ceramic Petrology Group Annual Meeting (11.11.2022, online) https://www.ugent.be/lw/img/archeologie/nieuwsitems/cpg-2022/cpg-2022-book-abstracts-final

Zagorska, I., Macāne, A., Kalniņš, M. 2024. Par kādu unikālu akmens laikmeta medību rīku. Latvijas Universitātes 82. starptautiskās zinātniskās konferences sekcija. Prasmes, vide, sabiedrība: tehnika tradicionālās kopienās. Sekcijas programma un tēzes. Sast. V.Bērziņš, V.Haferberga, A. Karlsone. Rīga: LU Latvijas vēstures institūts, 6. lpp. https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/65430


Master's thesis defended on project theme

Čakare, A. 2022. Experimental Approach in the Study of Neolithic Amber-Working Processes. University of Latvia. Faculty of History and Philosophy.
https://dspace.lu.lv/dspace/handle/7/61708 

Databases and datasets

Bērziņš, V. Data on wound cord impressions in Neolithic pottery from Latvia. Zenodo https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8129223

Videos

Bērziņš, V. Gliemeņu čaulas senajā keramikā - Mussel shells in ancient pottery. Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEnIMfDBmMw

 Last updated: 06.03.2024    Webmaster: V.Bērziņš