Reproduction of melting behavior for vitrified hillforts based on amphibolite, granite, and basalt lithologies

McCloy, John S.; Marcial, José; Clarke, Jack S.; Ahmadzadeh, Mostafa; Wolff, John A.; Vicenzi, Edward P.; Bollinger, David L.; Ogenhall, Erik; Englund, Mia; Pearce, Carolyn I.; Sjöblom, Rolf; Kruger, Albert A.

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-80485-w

Reproduction of melting behavior for vitrified hillforts based on amphibolite, granite, and basalt lithologies

Journal Article · Wed Jan 13 23:00:00 EST 2021 · Scientific Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80485-w· OSTI ID:1759149

McCloy, John S.; Marcial, José; Clarke, Jack S.; Ahmadzadeh, Mostafa; Wolff, John A.; Vicenzi, Edward P.; Bollinger, David L.; Ogenhall, Erik; Englund, Mia; Pearce, Carolyn I.; Sjöblom, Rolf; Kruger, Albert A.

Abstract

European Bronze and Iron Age vitrified hillforts have been known since the 1700s, but archaeological interpretations regarding their function and use are still debated. We carried out a series of experiments to constrain conditions that led to the vitrification of the inner wall rocks in the hillfort at Broborg, Sweden. Potential source rocks were collected locally and heat treated in the laboratory, varying maximum temperature, cooling rate, and starting particle size. Crystalline and amorphous phases were quantified using X-ray diffraction both in situ, during heating and cooling, and ex situ, after heating and quenching. Textures, phases, and glass compositions obtained were compared with those for rock samples from the vitrified part of the wall, as well as with equilibrium crystallization calculations. ‘Dark glass’ and its associated minerals formed from amphibolite or dolerite rocks melted at 1000–1200 °C under reducing atmosphere then slow cooled. ‘Clear glass’ formed from non-equilibrium partial melting of feldspar in granitoid rocks. This study aids archaeological forensic investigation of vitrified hillforts and interpretation of source rock material by mapping mineralogical changes and glass production under various heating conditions.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1759149

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1762402

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 11; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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