Béatrice BOUET-LANGLOIS NEW PALSTAVE HOARDS FROM ÎLE-DE-FRANCE Macroscopic, Technical and Typological Observations

Abstract

Two deposits of palstaves dating to the end of the Middle Bronze age were discovered in 2005-2006 in the forest of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines). The first deposit, which is probably not complete, contains four objects and the second, considered as being complete, contains 17 objects. They were both found about 5 km apart in a meander of the Seine in woodland. Of the 21 palstaves, 12 are considered as having been used. One palstave from each deposit has been cast from the same mould and 5 palstaves from the second deposit also derive from a same casting and have been identically hammered. A third deposit from Val-d’Oise will also be touched upon. Our study proposes a descriptive analysis using macroscopic observations and typological and technological remarks relating to each production stage.

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