Leitform (archeology)

An archaeological lead form is a characteristic object of an archaeological culture or group of forms, which is often the name of the culture. The principle of the archaeological lead form was derived in the 19th century from the lead fossils of paleontology . In 1861, the paleontologist Édouard Lartet created the first chronology system of the Stone Age based on key fossils.

As with fossils, key forms of archeology also require the type to be widely distributed on the one hand and a relatively short period of time on the other. These properties give them a chronological informational value.

Examples of archaeological key forms are:

• the wedge knife for the wedge knife groups
• the leaf tip for the leaf tip group
• the tulip cup for the Michelsberg culture
• the funnel cup for funnel cup culture
• the bell beaker for the bell beaker culture

literature

• Emil Hoffmann: Lexikon der Steinzeit (Munich 1999) p. 158. ISBN 3-406-42125-3 , p. 234