A pedra polida e afeiçoada do sítio do Neolítico médio da Moita do Ourives (Benavente, Portugal)

Abstract

Presentation of the polished and ground stone tools artefacts from Neolithic site of Moita do Ourives. It corresponds to a low number of artifacts in poor preservation condition and high degree of fragmentation, making the typological and functional classification quite difficult. The tools production is based mainly on locally available raw materials, such as quartzite, sandstone and quartz (85% of the all set). Exogenous raw materials (amphibolite and granite), possibly obtained more than 40km from the site, represent 15% of the recovered elements. The results of this study allow, together with the analysis of other material culture elements, a reflection on the functionality of this settlement, as well as the mobility and socioeconomic activities of the communities of the Middle Neolithic in the Western Iberia.