洛南鸡眼窑绿松石矿业遗址的石锤

陕西洛南河口鸡眼窑洞穴所发现的亚腰形石锤困扰着学者对该遗址性质的判断。为解决该问题,笔者等进行了数次田野调查和实验室分析,发现该处石锤实为古代开采绿松石的工具,而非旧石器时代遗物。所发现的磨石和石球,可能为加工石锤的配套工具。对比国内外资料发现,青铜时代该类石锤基本处于古矿址周边,应是采矿所用,所以采矿石锤可成为判断矿业遗址时代的直接证据。鸡眼窑石锤基本属于青铜时代。与国内外其它矿业遗址出土的石锤相比,鸡眼窑石锤形体小巧窄长,应与绿松石矿脉的特性有关。

Stone mining hammers of Jiyanyao turquoise mining sites

The grooved-shaped stone hammers discovered at Jiyanyao site in Hekou village, Luonan County, Shaanxi Province, have made scholars puzzled about the cultural character of this site. To solve this problem, authors have conducted a series of archaeological surveys and laboratory analyses, finding that the hammers are actually not Paleolithic remains, but possible the ancient tools for mining turquoise. The grindstones and stone balls unearthed from the site might constitute a tool kit for processing stone hammers. By analyzing these stone hammers through typology, authors have divided them into two types, namely grooved-shaped hammers(Type A) and non-grooved-shaped hammers(Type B). It is likely that the groove was specially made for binding the stone hammer to the wooden handle tightly. The comparison of domestic and international stone hammers shows that this kind of hammers has generally been discovered in the surrounding area of ancient mines during the Bronze Age. Therefore, this kind of hammers should be a mining tool, and can be direct evidence for determining the date of mining sites. In general, the stone hammers from Jiyanyao site should belong to the Bronze Age. Compared with stone hammers from other sites, Jiyanyao stone hammers are smaller, more exquisite, and have a narrow and long shape. It is considered that this kind of specialty is relevant to the character of the turquoise lode.