Casa Montero is a mining complex located outside Madrid (Spain), dated from the Early Neolithic (c. 5400–5000 cal bc). An area of some 4 ha has been investigated and some 4000 shafts recorded, of which 324 have been excavated. The characterization of its raw flint materials and the establishment of its diagnostic features are indispensable in the reconstruction of the distribution of the mine's products beyond the immediate site. This work reports the geological study of the mine's Miocene flint layers and their petrological characterization. Archaeological samples from the mine's shafts were classified according to macroscopic features and petrological characteristics.
We present a comprehensive and interpretative overview of the evidence recovered at the mining field of Casa Montero (Madrid, Spain). We describe the technical and social aspects of flint mining in the specific historical context of central Iberia's Early Neolithic societies. Combination of all the evidence allows us to suggest that mining at the site was probably a generational phenomenon, where the acts of gathering in order to perform a collective action served as a basis for binding new political relations beyond each individual group. Strategic, tactical, and logistic preconditions were required for those gatherings, including the ability and capacity to convene, design, and organize an orderly set of actions such as those deployed at the flint mine. As with other Neolithic mining sites in Europe, understanding these social preconditions are important if archaeologists are to move beyond describing the formal and technical variability of the mines.
RESUMEN
Presentamos una revisión de conjunto e interpretativa de las evidencias recuperadas en la mina de sílex de Casa Montero (Madrid, España). Describimos los aspectos técni-cos y sociales de la minería del sílex en el contexto históri-co específico de las sociedades del Neolítico
In this work, we present the preliminary data we have obtained in the Neolithic flint quarry of Pozarrate, currently under archaeological works. We want to put forward an update about the sedimentary fillings of one of the crescent-shaped dump quarries (6000–5600 BP). It is located at the Sierra de Araico-Cucho (Treviño, northern Spain). In this region, Tertiary carbonated terrains which host important silicifications called Treviño flint (Tarriño, A. (2006). El sílex en la cuenca vasco-cantábrica y Pirineo Navarro. Caracterización y su aprovechamiento en la Prehistoria. Monografía 21, Museo Nacional y Centro de Investigación de Altamira. Madrid: Ministerio de Cultura) are outcropped. The procurement of these silicifications by prehistoric populations was motivated by the good quality of this raw material for knapping. Currently, it constitutes one of the few Neolithic known flint mines of the Iberian Peninsula, understood as places of exploitation of flint with landscape modifications. Some instruments related to prehistoric quarry works have been recovered, such as picks, maces, and hammers made of flint, dolerite, and deer antler.
Studies on Pozarrate material remains have been conducted in an interdisciplinary way, in order to have a better understanding of the prehistoric mining processes. Several methodologies are being used in the study of the lithic industries, including flint characterization, procurement, typological, typometrical, technological, and functional approaches. We have obtained the initial data about extraction, selection, management, and use processes of the flint and dolerite assemblages. Deer antler remains have recently undergone a restoration process and preliminary data have been offered. Moreover, an experimental approach has been applied to clarify specific archaeological issues and technical solutions for quarrying using dolerite maces.
ResumenDurante los últimos años y gracias a la estrecha colaboración del Departamento de Prehistoria y Arqueología, la empresa Argea S.L y la Dirección General de Patrimonio de la Comunidad de Madrid, se viene desarrollando un modelo mixto de formación e investigación en el yacimiento paleolítico de Los Ahijones (Vicávaro-Madrid) en el que los alumnos de prácticas de campo del Máster de Arqueología y Patrimonio de nuestra Universidad participan activamente. En este trabajo presentamos tanto las metodologías docentes aplicadas en dicho yacimiento, como los resultados preliminares de la investigación resultado de las campañas de 2013-15. Los datos obtenidos muestran la enorme y compleja actividad de talla que los grupos achelenses pusieron en práctica en las zonas del interfluvio Jarama-Manzanares a lo largo de la segunda mitad del Pleistoceno medio.Palabras clave: Achelense, interfluvio, Ahijones, talleres, sílex.
AbstractDuring the last years, thanks to the collaboration between the Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, Argea S.L company and the Direccción General de Patrimonio of the Community of Madrid, a mixed model of practical learning and research has been developed in the Paleolithic site of Los Ahijones (Vicávaro-Madrid). In that site, the students of the Master of Archaeology and Heritage of our University practice fieldwork methodologies and actively participate in the general research. In this contribution, we present the teaching methods applied in the field, as well as some data obtained in the research from the 2013-15 campaigns. The preliminary results demonstrate the enormous and complex activity developed by acheulian groups in the interfluvial areas of the Jarama and Manzanares rivers during the second half of Middle Pleistocene.
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