Experimental Archaeology Study on the Drilling Techniques of Neolithic Stone Bracelet from Purbalingga

Abstract

Abstract. The stone bracelet is a neolithic artifact crafted by drilling techniques. Traces of stone bracelet workshop activities in Central Java were found in Purbalingga, which is spread across the North Serayu Mountains between Kali Tungtunggunung and Kali Laban. This study is based on the previous research hypothesis, which states that the manufacture of stone bracelets is carried out by drilling techniques using bamboo wulung (Gigantochloa atroviolacea). This study aims to prove this hypothesis. An experimental archaeological approach by conducting drilling experiments using several drill bits: iron drills, masonry/concrete iron drills, iron drills for natural stone, and bamboo drills. Meanwhile, the abrasive materials used are water, river sand, and quartz sand. The analysis was carried out by comparing the morphological and morphometric traces of the workings between artifacts and experimental results, based on microscopic observations with a magnification of 20x to 200x. Compared to the other drilling bits and abrasive materials, the experimental study revealed that bamboo drill bits, with quartz-sand and water as additional gritty material, showed the closest similarity.

Enigmatic Perforated Stone Disk and Grooved Stones from Three Caves Sites in Sumatra

“…In contrast to the MSEA, perforated disks are hardly ever found in Insular Southeast Asia (ISEA). Perforated disks are occasionally associated with the production of semiprecious stone bracelets from the Javanese Late-Neolithic sites (Heekeren, 1972;Soejono et al, 1993;Sulistyarto et al, 2021) that are morphologically different to those found in MSEA sites. Perforated disks from the Javanese Neolithic sites are generally polished with a large hole in the center that appears to fit on the wrist.…”