Neolithic Flint Mines Of Spiennes

Views:
4

Detail InformationEdit

The Neolithic flint mines of Spiennes are Europe’s largest and earliest neolithic mines, located close to Walloon village of Spiennes, southeast of Mons, Belgium. The mines were active during the mid and late Neolithic (4300-2200 BC). The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 2000.
It is well known for its flint mines, which are on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000. The entry on the list describes them as ” one of the largest and earliest concentration of ancient mines in Europe” and cites the level of human technological development they demonstrate as justification for their inclusion.
The mines cover some 100 hectares of downland near Mons in Belgium and are interesting for showing the transition between opencast and underground mining for the flint nodules. The nodules were extracted using flint picks. The stones were then knapped into rough-out shapes of axes, and finally polished to achieve the final state.
The rough-outs were exchanged over a wide area, about 150 kilometres (93 mi), and were often polished at their destination. Polishing strengthens the final product, making the axe-head last longer. The axes were used initially for forest clearance during the Neolithic period, and for shaping wood for structural applications, such as timber for huts and canoes.
The site is comparable with Grimes Graves and Cissbury in the United Kingdom, which were also sources of flint. Other hard rocks were used for making polished stone axes however. There are many locations in Britain where fine-grained igneous or metamorphic rocks were collected from screes or mined opencast, then roughed out locally before trading on to other parts of the country. Examples include the Langdale axe industry, Penmaenmawr and Tievebulliagh.

HistoryEdit

N.A.

Must SeeEdit

N.A.

Visiting TimeEdit

N.A.

Closed OnEdit

N.A.

Best Season to VisitEdit

N.A.

Best Time To VisitEdit

N.A.

Time Required for SightseeingEdit

N.A.

Ticket Required :N.A.Edit

Individual National Adult Rs. :N.A.

Kids Rs. :N.A.

Individual Foreigner Adult Rs. :N.A.

Kids Rs. :N.A.

Still Photo Camera Rs. :N.A.

Video Camera Rs. :N.A.

Guide Required :N.A.Edit

Approximate cost: N.A.

Dress Code (If Any) :N.A.Edit

Dress Require:N.A.

Restaurants NearbyAdd / Edit

  • N.A.; N.A.; Ph/M – N.A.; Food Serve – N.A.

How to ReachEdit

Taxi :N.A.

BUS :N.A.

Train :N.A.

Air :N.A.

Others :N.A.

Things to CarryEdit

N.A.

Safety / WarningEdit

N.A.

HelplineEdit

N.A.

Gallery