Les anneaux du Neolithique bas-normand et du nord-Sarthe: production, circulation et territoires

摘要

From the great corpus of archaeological pieces from Basse-Normandie we propose to examine the consumption - manufacture, use and spread -of early Neolithic stone rings. Firstly, we present the typology, fabrication methods and petrographic analysis results, visible to the naked eye and in thin sections, which reveal the stones used by the Neolithic craftsmen. Secondly, the results will be compared with the intention of under standing the role of the stone materials in the choice of the various shaping techniques and in the typology! Then a geographical factor, enabling the analysis of the rings' distribution, depending on their typology and material, the location of the workplace and the system of exchanges, is introduced. We also analyse other raw materials in order to understand the exchange systems. All the information reveals the complexity of the exchange system: there are several systems, several sites each with a different status, and several territories. Finally, we synthesize the chronological aspects which reveal an evolution in the rings' form and in production methods.