Characterization of the use-wear and residues resulting from limestone working. Experimental approach to the parietal art of La Viña rock shelter (La Manzaneda, Asturias, Spain)

Abstract

The Palaeolithic rock engravings that are located along the Nalón river basin in Northern Spain (central area of Asturias) have been studied from various perspectives (morphology, depth, style, manual range), but no use-wear studies on the stone tools used to produce such engravings have ever been undertaken. This paper aims to explore a new approach to this type of incisions based on use-wear analysis of experimental lithic tools used to engrave limestone blocks and slabs. Our results show that the use-wear traces generated by engraving limestone are welldeveloped and can be defined with specific criteria. The principal objective of this study was to provide the first experimental reference collection of use-wear resulting from engraving limestone using flint and quartzite experimental tools to compare with the traces that appear on tools in the archaeological record in contexts with parietal and portable art and, more specifically, to add a new approach to the multidisciplinary study of the La Viña rock shelter.

Traceological analysis of lithics from the Camel Site, al-Jawf, Saudi Arabia: an experimental approach to identifying mineral processing activities using silcrete tools

“…A comparison with traceological studies conducted on Palaeolithic sites in Western Europe, however, may present some, albeit tenuous comparison. Of specific interest is the study conducted by López-Tascón et al (2020), who have conducted experiments with the friction of stone against stone. The focus of their experimental protocol has been laid on the longitudinal engraving motions, a specific function of the archaeological case study addressed by the authors, the Palaeolithic site of La Viña Rockshelter in central Asturias (Spain).…”