The material provenance of stone artefacts from the Novooleksandrivka kurgan

Purpose. To establish the origin of the rocks used to produce ancient stone tools and goods found as a result of Novooleksandrivka Kurgan “Sura-Oba” excavations (Dnipropetrovsk Region, Ukraine). Methodology. The research was carried out using the method of petrographic analysis of the materials of stone artefacts in thin sections. The chemical composition of the studied rocks was determined using X-ray fluorescence analysis. The obtained data was compared to the features of similar rocks from different occurrences, using thin sections of rocks from natural outcrops and previously studied stone artefacts, as well as the data of geological reports and appropriate literature. Findings. Thirteen stone artefacts, represented by an altar stone, hammerstones, whetstones, a hammer-axe and different polyfunctional tools found in the burials of the Novooleksandrivka Kurgan “Sura-Oba” dated back to the Chalcolithic, Bronze Age and Early Iron Age were analyzed. As a result of the conducted research, it was ascertained that sandstones, granite, amphibolite, quartz rock, dolerite-basalt, actinolitite, and epidosite represent their materials. Most of the studied collection samples have similar analogues among the rocks found in the Middle Dnipro Area and may be of local provenance. The specimen of dolerite-basalt microporphyry may originate from the East Azov Sea Area, and the oligomictic sandstone, most likely, was delivered from the occurrences of the Donets Coal Basin Carboniferous system. Originality. For the first time, stone tools and goods discovered during the excavations of the “Sura-Oba” mound in the village of Novooleksandrivka were studied using petrographic analysis; the probable places of their origin were established. Practical value. The results obtained can be used in conducting research on history and archaeology, as well as in popular science works and excursion activities.