Engraved Schist Plaques

Le site de plein-air solutréen supérieur de Landry à Boulazac, près de Périgueux en Dordogne a été fouillé par l'Inrap au cours d'une opération de fouille archéologique préventive durant l'hiver 2011-2012. Localisé à moins de 200 m au sud de la rivière l'Isle, il a livré dans deux niveaux stratifiés les vestiges de campements de chasseurs solutréens, conservés dans des limons éoliens sur près de 300 m², au sein d'une séquence chrono stratigraphique datée par luminescence stimulée optiquement (OSL) entre 27 000 ans et 16 000 ans. Dans les deux niveaux, seuls les objets lithiques étaient conservés, les éventuels déchets et objets en matières organiques ayant été détruits par les processus post-dépositionnels. C'est dans le niveau inférieur qu'ont pu être mis au jour, outre un poste de débitage, quelques nucléus laminaires très élaborés et des outils sur lame en silex, un remarquable dépôt de neuf plaquettes de schiste gravées de motifs figuratifs et géométriques dont trois étaient posées face incisée tournée vers le sol. Dans le niveau supérieur, agencé en secteurs d'activités différenciés de production, de transformation et de consommation lithique, ce sont des blocs de dolérite qui présentent des incisions fonctionnelles ou des gravures de motifs géométriques organisés. Landry constitue l'un des premiers sites de plein-air du Solutréen supérieur ayant livré des plaquettes et blocs gravés alors qu'en contexte karstique, ce type de gravures n'est pas inconnu. Mots-clés : Solutréen supérieur, site de plein-air, mobilier lithique gravé, gravures.

The Upper Solutrean open air site of Landry (Boulazac, Dordogne, France), a hunters'camp revealing mobile art. The Upper Solutrean open air site of Landry at Boulazac, near Perigueux in Dordogne, was excavated by the Inrap during a rescue archaeological mission which took place during the winter of 2011-2012. Located less than 200 m to the south of the Isle River, it yielded the remains of Solutran hunter camps in two stratified levels, contained within aeolian silt deposits over nearly 300 m², within a chronostratigraphic sequence dated by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) between 27,000 and 16,000 years. In both levels, only lithic objects remained, eventual organic material objects and waste products having been destroyed by post-depositional processes.

In 2015 ritual complex Har Chuluut 1 was investigated by A. Kovalev and Ch.Munhbayar in Bayan-Olgii aimag of Mongolia. This site belong to Chemurchek (Qiemuerqieke) cultural phenomenon (26-18 c. BC). During the excavation "treasure" of 79 engraved and not-engraved stone plaques was found. The closest analogies of these engraved plaques are engraved anthropomorphic plaques from megalithic monuments of the Iberian Peninsula (31-27 c. BC.), as well as statues-menhirs of Sion-Aosta type (29-27 c. BC.), which supports the hypothesis of Western European origin of Chemurchek phenomenon. Similar anthropomorphic engravings on pebbles and slate plates, according to the author, were distributed in the Sayan-Altai region as result of expansion of cultural traditions of  Chemurchek people (Kovalev A. 2010).
В 2015 году А.А.Ковалевым и Ч.Мунхбаяром в Баян-Ульги аймаке Монголии был исследован ритуальный комплекс Хар чулуут 1, относящийся к чемурчекскому культурному феномену (XXVI-XVIII вв. до н.э.). При раскопках был обнаружен «клад» из 79 каменных пластинок, многие из которых были украшены гравированными изображениями. Ближайшими аналогиями найденным миниатюрам являются гравированные каменные пластинки из мегалитических памятников Иберийского полуострова (XXXI-XXVII вв. до н.э.), а также антропоморфные стелы типа Сьон-Аоста (XXIX-XXVII вв. до н.э.), что подтверждает гипотезу западноевропейского происхождения чемурчекского феномена. Схожие гравировки на гальках и сланцевых пластинках, по мнению автора, распространяются в Саяно-Алтае в результате воздействия культурных традиций пришлого чемурчекского населения.

Medieval and post-medieval sites sometimes yield inscriptions or engravings, usually on slates. This medium
appears to have been used opportunistically for playful or pedagogical purposes rather than for formal
writing and illustration as slates are used today. This article is intended to initiate the study of this type of
artifact that often escapes the attention of material culture specialists.

This paper presents the engraved schist plaques collected in Castelo de Pavia, a typical Chalcolithic settlement (potentially fortified) in Alentejo. The problematics of the presence of these elements in residential contexts has already been presented by the authors to the XIX International Rock Art Conference – IFRAO 2015; however, the identification of other elements from this settlement in the reserves of the National Archaeological Museum (Lisbon), after the redaction of that contribution and thus not included in it, justifies their individual publication, as an addition to that first text.

Cherchez la femme! Iconography and imagetics on the engraved schist plaques of the Megalithism of Southwest Iberia.

The engraved schist plaques are perhaps one of the most original artistic manifestations of the Iberian megalithic communities, with their diffusion focus apparently centered on the area of Alentejo – being assumed to be the element that characterizes the megalithic group that develops in the Southwest Iberia since the last centuries of the 4th millennium BCE onwards. More or less naturalistic, more or less schematic, one single idea seems to influence the design of the engraved schist plaques: the depiction of a symbolic entity related to a conception of death/regeneration/fertility. They are usually engraved with geometric decorative patterns, although there are also specimens which present some attributes clearly anthropomorphic, related to the distinguishing symbolism of the Neolithic Great Goddess. Thus, despite some new interpretative readings about the significance of these artefacts, the consensus seems to be held still on the fact that they depict a representative female deity of the magical-symbolic culture of the Late Neolithic/Chalcolithic communities of Southwest Iberia. And, in this case, using a well-known adagio from Gallic lands, if something is not as obvious as it should be at first glance, the answer lies on one single imperative: cherchez la femme!

The "megalithic necropolis" of Lapas was identified and excavated in the mid 30s of the last century, in what may be considered as one of the first interventions of Rescue Archaeology held in Portugal. At the time, it was not defined to what kind of monument it corresponds, although some remains still present in the area (and the geological context) suggest that this would be an artificial cave excavated in the soft limestone formations. If that were so, it is - together with the artificial caves of Ribeira Branca and the recently identified and excavated in the area of Convento do Carmo, with which it shares the same geographical unit - the northernmost examples of this kind of monuments in Portuguese territory. It is expected to concur, with this contribution based on the analysis of the votive plaques here collected, for a better definition of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic burial practices in the Estremadura Limestone Massif.

Cherchez la femme! Iconography and imagetics on the engraved schist plaques of the Megalithism of Southwest Iberia.

The engraved schist plaques are perhaps one of the most original artistic manifestations of the Iberian megalithic communities, with their diffusion focus apparently centered on the area of Alentejo – being assumed to be the element that characterizes the megalithic group that develops in the Southwest Iberia since the last centuries of the 4th millennium BCE onwards. More or less naturalistic, more or less schematic, one single idea seems to influence the design of the engraved schist plaques: the depiction of a symbolic entity related to a conception of death/regeneration/fertility. They are usually engraved with geometric decorative patterns, although there are also specimens which present some attributes clearly anthropomorphic, related to the distinguishing symbolism of the Neolithic Great Goddess. Thus, despite some new interpretative readings about the significance of these artefacts, the consensus seems to be held still on the fact that they depict a representative female deity of the magical-symbolic culture of the Late Neolithic/Chalcolithic communities of Southwest Iberia. And, in this case, using a well-known adagio from Gallic lands, if something is not as obvious as it should be at first glance, the answer lies on one single imperative: cherchez la femme!

This paper presents the study of two engraved schist plaques collected in the cave of Buraca da Moura (Torres Novas, Portugal). By the analysis of their specific morphological and typological features, we seek to fit both specimens into the funerary practices of the Late Neolithic/Chalcolithic communities of the Estremadura Limestone Massif (in the so-called “cave megalithism”) and in the rituals therewith associated. It were used herein the descriptive criteria defined within the PLACA-NOSTRA project, an ongoing research vector directed specifically to the study of these artifacts, trying to frame these two exemplars into the symbolic material culture of the ancient peasant communities of southwestern Iberian peninsula.

This paper presents a set of engraved schist plaques collected in a megalithic monument in the North Alentejo region, designated as dolmen of Herdade da Lameira, and donated to the Portuguese National Archaeological Museum in the late 19th century. It is referred that the estate of Lameira is located in the parish of Aldeia da Mata, municipality of Crato – however, it is located in the administrative space of Alter do Chão. Thus, it is presented here the study of these engraved schist plaques that show some interesting features, grouping them in the context of the megalithism of North Alentejo according to their specific features.

Based on the engraved schist plaques recovered in the dolmen 1 of Cavaleiros (Montargil, Ponte de Sôr), this paper aims to discuss concepts related with the study of those artifacts, such as antropomorphism and geometrism. More or less naturalists, more or less schematique, only one single conception seems to influence the design of these symbolic artifacts. Some elements in which this study is based present two specific characteristics within the universe of the engraved schist plaques: the antropomorphic contour and the oculated figuration – which could enable their inclusion in the ensemble of the "notable" engraved schist plaques of the southwestern Iberia, legitimizing its rigorous study.

The engraved schist plaques of the artificial caves of Tojal da Vila Chã (Carenque) and necropolis of Baútas (Mina, Amadora).

The artificial rock-cut caves necropolis of Tojal de Vila Chã, Carenque, includes four monuments excavated in 1932 by Manuel Heleno. Also situated in the vicinity is the largely unknown necropolis of Baútas, possibly a small-sized hipogeum of undetermined type that, on chronological and cultural terms, is associated with the group of Tojal de Vila Chã.
Amongst the collection of artefacts, most of which has never been studied before, were found a small group of engraved schist plaques (six) from the artificial rock-cut caves, and another from the Baútas necropolis. Although quite damaged, they form an interesting group, particularly nº 42791, from Cave 1. This plaque presents a range of problematic readings concerning its engraving and iconographic scheme. The contours of the motifs, for example, are engraved with a deeper, neater line than the fill, the latter executed with a tool that must have been guided with little pressure. The representation of the Head is also unusual, corresponding to the concept of an isolated Head integrated in a unique field of triangles, naturally readapted to the areas laterally adjacent to it. These, and other situations, justified a prolonged analysis of the artefact and a deconstruction of its engraving process, in a proposed reconstruction of what the plaque may have been in its entirety.
The artificial rock-cut cave necropolis of Tojal de Vila Chã and the monument of Baútas were constructed in an area of abundant and diverse settlements like Baútas, Espargueira or Serra das Éguas, whose study is even less complete. However, their existence indicates the strong presence in the region of human communities, during the transition from the 4th to the 3rd millennium and throughout the first half of the latter.
It is important, once again, to stress that the engraved schist plaques are in a minority amongst the group of votive artefacts from the artificial rock-cut caves, where votive limestone artefacts predominate. In the case of Tojal de Vila Chã, the context of their discovery also seems significant. They were mostly found in the Corridor or in the connecting area between the latter and the Chamber, indicating that they were introduced into it in a moment that was posterior to the construction and initial use of these monuments.

Key-words: Copper Age; megalithism; magical-religious subsystem; engraved schist plaques; Lisbon peninsula.

Regarding the reuse of some engraved schist plaques of Évora region.

The «PLACA NOSTRA» team presents a study concerning engraved schist plaques, most of which were never studied before, from megalithic monuments in the region of Évora (Antas da Mitra, Anta Grande do Zambujeiro, Tholos do Escoural, Anta 1 do Paço).
These plaques illustrate an important situation: the re-utilisation of older plaques, engraved, cut and polished anew. There are several possible explanations for their existence:
1. From a pragmatic prespective, what determines their re-use is less effort involved in the re-utilisation of a broken plaque, eventually dissociated from its original context, rather then the manufacture of a new one;
2. Another interpretation may consider the fact that, the original symbolism of the older plaque may be transported into a new symbolic action, giving rise to a new magical-religious situation.