Callaï pearl
Callaïs pearls are small pearls made from green minerals that belong to the burial objects of Neolithic megalithic tombs in certain regions of France , Spain and Portugal .
designation
In 1864, the French mineralogist Damour analyzed a pearl from the Mané-er-Hroëck burial mound near Locmariaquer (Brittany). He gave the mineral the name Callaïs, based on the term Kalláïnos used by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis historia . The pearl was made of variscite . In general, however, the name of Pliny the Elder was referred to as turquoise . In the German language, the term Kallait was previously used as a synonym for turquoise. In archeology, the name Callaïs for green pearls from megalithic systems has been used to this day.
material
Analyzes in the 1970s have shown that the pearls labeled Callaïs consist partly of variscite, partly of turquoise, and more rarely of sericite , malachite and probably other minerals. So it is not clear from the literature which material is involved. The name Callaïs must therefore be retained for all pearls for which the material has not yet been determined.
distribution
The distribution of Callaïs pearls shows three clear focal points: the narrow region around Carnac in Brittany (France), Catalonia (Spain) and the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain). In other regions they are much rarer.
literature
F.-H. Forestier, B. Lasnier and J. L'Helgouach: A propos de la "Callaïs". Découverte d'un gisement de variscite à Pannecé (Loire-Atlantique). Analysis de quelques «perles vertes» neolithiques. Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française 70, 1973, pp. 173 - 180 PDF file 9.64 MB (French)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Francis Chantret, Armel Guillemaut and Jean Guilaine: Analyzes de quelques perles méridionales s "Callais". Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française 67, 1970, pp. 216 - 219. PDF file (812 kB; French)