Le Campaniforme et l'ambre : mythe ou réalité ?

Abstract

Résumé C'est en raison de leur large diffusion en Europe que les sorts de la culture campaniforme et de l'ambre se sont souvent trouvés liés dans la littérature archéologique. La première était en effet supposée responsable de la circulation du second réputé récolté sur les pourtours des mers Baltique et du Nord. Des recherches récentes menées dans un cadre européen sur l'ambre trouvé dans des contextes datables du Néolithique à l'Âge du Bronze, ont permis de déterminer avec plus de précision la quantité de matière utilisée par les Campaniformes. L'étude des formes de parure révèle, quant à elle, l'absence d'unité morphologique doublée d'un qualité d'exécution médiocre. Ces observations renforcées par la faible proportion de sites de cette culture contenant la précieuse résine fossile comparée à leur fréquence, incite à minimiser le rôle qu'on a voulu accorder à l'ambre dans la culture campaniforme.

Arrows of Power from Brittany to Denmark (2500–1700 BC)

“…Atlantic exchange networks are well known through a set of items which circulated or were copied over long distances. During the currency of Bell Beaker use, the distribution of maritime Bell Beakers decorated with shell impressions (Drenth & Salanova 2012), copper Palmela points (Harrison 1977; Labaune 2010), domed V-perforated buttons (Barge-Mahieu 1981), gold ornaments (Taylor 1980; Éluère 1982; Hernando Gonzalo 1983; Needham 2011; Nicolas et al 2013), and amber ornaments (du Gardin 1998) attest to contacts stretching from Portugal to Denmark, especially between the Tagus river and the Gulf of Morbihan. During the last quarter of the 3rd millennium, gold lunulae (Taylor 1970) and long, arsenical copper daggers (Needham 2000b; Nicolas 2016a) attest to the maintenance of these exchange networks.…”

What linked the Bell Beakers in third millennium BC Europe?

“…However, its impact must not be exaggerated: on the one hand, the number of finds during the BB period is low (e.g. six occurrences in France: du Gardin 1998); on the other, the variety of manufactured products indicates that amber was processed on a local basis in each region, and that there was a chain of small active production and distribution networks (du Gardin 1998).…”

For Whom the Bell Tolls: Social Hierarchy vs Social Integration in the Bell Beaker Culture of Southern France (Third Millennium bc)

“…While ornaments played a crucial role in marking clear-cut personal and group identities during the Late Neolithic, the Bell Beaker culture marks a radical shi� in body ornament procedures and techniques of self-presentation. In contrast to the impressive variety of beads, animal teeth and other materials previously favoured, people now use a more restricted range of ornaments, of which the V-perforated bu�on, made of bone, stone, calcareous or amber, is the best known (Courtin 1974, 279-85;Barge 1982, 170-75;Gardin 1998). Although some other types are recognized, such as perforated shells (Barge 1982, 190-99), there is an overall decrease in types of ornaments.…”