par Collet, Hélène;Collin, Jean-Philippe 
Référence Prehistoric Flint Mines in Europe, Archaeopress, page (103-130)
Publication Publié, 2023-11
Référence Prehistoric Flint Mines in Europe, Archaeopress, page (103-130)
Publication Publié, 2023-11
Partie d'ouvrage collectif
| Résumé : | The Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes are listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2000 and are a particularly outstanding illustration of the mining phenomenon developed in North-Western Europe at the end of the fifth millennium BC. The early discovery of the site in the second half of the 19th century with an extent of over 100 hectares, the use of sophisticated mining and knapping techniques, the extraction of impressive flint slabs lying 15 to 16 metres beneath the surface, an exploitation that endured for nearly 2000 years and the presence of an enclosed settlement in the direct vicinity of the mines are all elements that explain the scientific interest of this site. Ongoing archaeological research on the site, carried out thanks to the continuous investment of the Public Service of Wallonia, is yielding a great deal of new data which are currently being studied. |
