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Published on: August 3, 2016
Neolithic trade routes re-aligned by oxygen isotope analyses
1Sub-department of Quaternary Research, University of Cambridge.
Nature
|December 12, 1970
Summary
Neolithic Spondylus shell ornaments traded in Europe originated from the Aegean Sea, not the Black Sea. This suggests a gift exchange system during the fourth millennium BC.
Area of Science:
- Archaeology
- Geochemistry
- Prehistory
Background:
- Spondylus shell ornaments were significant in Neolithic Europe.
- The origin of these shells has been debated, with the Black Sea and Aegean Sea as potential sources.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the geographical origin of Spondylus shells used in Neolithic ornaments.
- To understand the trade networks and exchange mechanisms of the fourth millennium BC.
Main Methods:
- Oxygen isotope analysis of Spondylus shells from Neolithic sites.
- Comparison of isotopic signatures with known marine environments.
Main Results:
- Oxygen isotope data indicate the Aegean Sea as the primary source.
- Shells found in the Balkans and Central Europe do not match Black Sea origins.
Conclusions:
- Neolithic Spondylus shell trade networks primarily linked the Aegean to Central Europe.
- The exchange of Spondylus shells may have functioned as a form of gift exchange, fostering social relationships.
