• Flint – no ordinary stone
• Flint – strike, punch, press
• A life on the move
• Home comfort under a rock overhang – Plan de Frea
• The carbon-14 method  
    

Flint – no ordinary stone

Flint is a stone of organic origin, consisting in part of the skeletons and shells of siliceous sponges and diatoms. It is a very hard material whose cleavage properties can be precisely calculated. Cleavage of flint also results in razor-sharp edges. It was precisely these properties that made flint the most important raw material of the European Stone Age – a raw material from which people made tools and weapons for thousands of years.
 

Flint – strike, punch, press

Toolmakers in the European Stone Age used a variety of techniques to work flint. The starting point of production was always a core of rock from which flakes or blades were separated. These were later worked into implements such as the chisel-shaped arrowhead from Plan de Frea.
In order to produce flakes of relatively large surface area it was sufficient to strike the surface of the core directly with a hammerstone. To make blades, on the other hand, it was advantageous to use an intermediate piece of antler or wood. In this punch or chiselling technique the blow is delivered with a mallet. This made it possible to work the core more precisely.
Pressure techniques were used for further working of the flakes and blades.
With the aid of a retoucher of stone, antler, or bone, it was possible for example to make tiny notches so as to prepare the edges of the implements for shafting.
Using implements made in this way, hunters were able to carve up the meat of their prey, cut through tendons, and flesh hides (photo sequence). Flint tools were also used for working wood to make arrow shafts, bows, and spears. Mit den fertigen Geräten konnte man das Fleisch der Jagdbeute zerlegen, Sehnen durchtrennen oder Felle schaben. Auch bei der Holzbearbeitung zur Herstellung von Pfeilschäften, Bögen oder Speeren kamen die Silexgeräte zum Einsatz.
 

A life on the move

The fact that their life was based on hunting meant that the Mesolithic people of the Alpine region had to change their place of residence on a regular basis. The clans spent the winters in low-lying valleys and in the lower parts of the mountains. In the summer they often followed their prey into the high mountains. They preferred to set up their dwellings near springs, streams, and lakes.
As abodes they used rock overhangs under which they built dugouts. At higher altitudes the families built simple protective walls or tents out of branches, twigs, and leather. Such outdoor abodes and hunters’ resting places were situated on mountain ridges and passes, from where the movements of game could be observed.
 

Home comfort under a rock overhang – Plan de Frea

For thousands of years Mesolithic hunting groups moved up to the high mountains of the Alps each year during the summer months. One of their destinations was the large rock at Plan de Frea. The almost level meadow is situated just below Groedner Joch at an altitude of 1900 metres.
The shelters below the mighty rock served as dwellings for over 2000 years. Additional protection was provided by wattle walls. To this end large branches or tree trunks were leaned against the rocks and their ends were wedged into post holes in the ground. The wattle itself, a kind of wickerwork, consisted of branches and twigs. The dwelling thus constructed was slightly below ground level. This pit dwelling served as a place to sleep and provided protection from wild animals and storms. Cooking was done at a simple fireplace.
 

The carbon-14 method

The carbon-14 method makes it possible to determine the absolute age of organic materials such as wood and bones. All organisms take up 14C, a radioactive form of carbon, throughout their lifetime. When the organism dies, uptake of 14C ceases and the unstable radioactive form of carbon starts to disintegrate. Since the half-life of 14C is known, the period of time that has elapsed since the organism died can be calculated.