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Polyhedrons, spheroids and bolas (PSBs) are present in lithic series from the Lower Palaeolithic onwards and are found in several regions of the world. Nevertheless, very little is known about them. We propose here to summarise, illustrate and discuss the current state of our knowledge about these artefacts. Based on the available data in the literature and on our observations of several collections, we set up a database comprising 169 Palaeolithic assemblages with PSBs. Thanks to the statistical analysis of these data, we aim to highlight potential relationships between PSB characteristics (e.g., quantity, raw material) and assemblage composition and context, according to regions and chrono-cultural attributions. We also aim to discuss the question of artefacts from possible independent local histories, especially in Northwest Europe, where these objects are scarce. Our study concludes that hard stones (stones with high resistance to a physical constraint) available locally were generally selected to produce PSBs. Soft sedimentary rocks are suitable for their manufacture, and were selected too, whereas siliceous materials were left aside. We hypothesise that the scarcity of PSBs in Northwest Europe could result from a combination of cultural and environmental factors: it could be part of a regional tradition, influenced by the abundance of siliceous materials in the environment. In this region where the lithic production is widely made of flint, even though other materials were available, objects made from hard stones are scarce, resulting in a toolkit with only rare PSBs and cleavers. Was flint too brittle for the functions of PSBs? Raw materials of PSBs are often similar to those of heavy-duty tools in assemblages, which could provide other clues about their functions (e.g., tasks requiring a resistance to shocks). It is possible that their raw materials partly conditioned their final shape. PSBs can comprise a wide variety of artefacts, that for some could have change of status (e.g., from cores to percussive tools), diffused, adapted but also reinvented over two million years.

ResumenLa abundancia de testimonios paleolíticos en la región sur de Madrid, ha sido una constante dentro de las investigacione sobre el Pleistoceno de la zona. La ausencia durante mucho tiempo de una adecuada política de excavaciones y sondeos que permitieran contextualizar estos conjuntos, obliga en ocasiones a recurrir a procedimientos imaginativos a la hora de comprender la génesis de este tipo de depósitos superficiales. En este trabajo, mediante el empleo de SIG realizamos un ensayo de aplicación para el conjunto Paleolitico Medio del Camino de Samedina, estableciendo más que probables relaciones entre los depósitos industriales y posibles paleocauces en la zona. Plabras clave: SIG, Pleistoceno, Paleolítico, prospección AbstractThe abundance of paleolíthic testimonies in the South region of Madrid, has been a constant within the Pleistocene research of the Zone. Sometimes the absence during long suitable time of political of excavations and soundings that allowed to understand the origin of these sets, forces to resort to imaginative procedures at the time of including/understanding the genesis of this type of superficial deposits. In this work, by means of the GIS use, we made a test of application for the Camino de Salmedina Middle Paleolithic site, establishing more than probable relations between the possible industrial deposits and old streams in the zone. Key words: GIS, Pleistocene, Palaeolithic, survey INTRODUCCIÓNDesde hace más de un siglo, es conocida la riqueza paleolítica de la región madrileña merced a una tan extensa como antigua bibliografía . El desarrollo de la investigación en este campo dentro de nuestra región, ha sido sin embargo muy poco continuo y se ha caracterizado por continuas aceleraciones y desaceleraciones, siguiendo en muchos casos el estado anímico de los propios investigadores. En la actualidad, disfrutamos de un momento álgido en el que proliferan numerosas iniciativas y actuaciones de campo, sin que por el momento ello se plasme en la bibliografía, con la publicación de nuevos yacimientos.El estudio del yacimiento del Camino de Salmedina es una pieza más del enorme rompecabezas que forman un sin fin de conjuntos, cuyo estudio puede no aportar, desde un punto de vista antropológico o tecnológico, información trascendente en el desarrollo histórico humano, pero que sin embargo, requiere como todo testimonio arqueológico, de la justa y necesaria atención. LA PROBLEMÁTICA DE LOS YACIMIENTOS PALEOLÍTICOS EN SUPERFICIE: INTERPRETA-CIÓN Y TIPOSLa mayoría de los yacimientos en superficie han sido objeto de limitada atención por parte de los investigadores, dado su escaso atractivo para el estudio, la elevada alteración y las limitaciones interpretativas (Vega Toscano, 1988).