Middle Palaeolithic flint procurement in Central Mediterranean Iberia: Implications for human mobility

Eixea, Aleix; Roldán, Clodoaldo; Villaverde, Valentín; Zilhão, João

doi:10.2218/jls.v1i1.783

Cited by 26 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…8) during the late Middle Palaeolithic of Western Europe (Turq et al, 1990;Palma di Cesnola, 1996;Bourguignon, 1997;Finlayson et al, 1998;Slimak, 2001;Soressi, 2002;J€ oris, 2004;Porraz, 2005;Richter, 2006;Zilhão, 2006;Zilhão and Villaverde, 2008;Wragg Sykes, 2010;Leb egue, 2012;Thi ebaut et al, 2012;Ruebens, 2013;Eixea et al, 2014). Certain techno-complexes are relatively well-defined geographically and chronologically.…”

Section: Regional Techno-complexesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Middle Palaeolithic assemblages with flake cleavers in the western Pyrenees: The Vasconian reconsidered

Deschamps¹

2017

Quaternary International

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a b s t r a c tThe analysis of several lithic assemblages with flake cleavers and bifaces from sites attributed to MIS 5 and 3 in the western Pyrenees provides the basis for a new chronological and typo-technological characterisation of the region's late Middle Palaeolithic record. Previously assigned to the Vasconian based strictly on typological criteria, a certain degree of variability evident between the analysed assemblages likely indicates different occupation types. However, broad typo-technological traits reflecting a common regional tradition can be identified and are discussed against the backdrop of the regional diversity and cultural geography of late Middle Palaeolithic industries dated to around 50 ka BP. This 'regionalisation' of lithic techno-complexes may also have important ramifications for the socioeconomic organisation and demographic dynamics of late Middle Palaeolithic human groups.

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Section: Regional Techno-complexesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Middle Palaeolithic assemblages with flake cleavers in the western Pyrenees: The Vasconian reconsidered

Deschamps¹

2017

Quaternary International

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“…The sampling of the available primary and secondary sources of raw materials used somehow during Prehistoric times have been shown to be a fundamental tool to infer a multiplicity of features in hominine behaviour such as mobility (Crandell, et al 2013;Eixea et al 2014), acquisition areas (Aubry et al 2004;Barberena et al 2011;Crandell, et al 2013;Dawson et al 2012;Messineo & Barros 2015;Roldán et al 2015;), territory and networks (Aubry et al 2012;Djindjian et al 2009 resource management (Messineo & Barros 2015), lithic technology (Beck et al 2002;Pereira & Benedetti 2013), adaptation (Brown 2011) and, possibly, cognition (Mcbrearty & Brooks 2000). Despite the effort made during the last three decades (Aubry, et al 2001;2004;Bicho 1994;Aubry & Igreja 2008;Aubry & Sampaio 1997;Pereira et al 2015a;2015b;2015c;Santos 2005;Shokler 2002;2007;Thacker 2001;Veríssimo 2004;, Portugal lacked the existence of an institutional infrastructure that hosted geological samples representable of the variety of raw materials existent in this territory and that could have been used in the past by human groups.…”

Section: Why?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Presenting LusoLit: A lithotheque of knappable raw materials from central and southern Portugal

Pereira

Farias

Paixão

2016

JLS

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Abstract:The knowledge of where past human populations collected their raw materials to produce stonetools is crucial to understand subjects such as their territoriality, mobility, decision-making, range of acquisition, networks and, eventually, to infer their cognitive abilities and the adaptations to new environments, landscapes and territories. Therefore, the creation of lithic reference collections (lithotheque) is of utmost importance.In geological terms, Portugal is a highly complex and diversified region, with a plethora of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks dated from Proterozoic to present days. Such diversity might have influenced considerably the human decision-making on the choices of raw material and it might be one of the major reasons for the diversity seen throughout the diachrony of its archaeological record. Thus, sampling, cataloguing and mapping the raw material diversity in a territory with such variability allows to enrich the knowledge about it and, consequently to build stronger inferences about past human behaviour with more detail and less bias.In order to help the archaeological and anthropological research to better understand such archaeological record and past human behaviour in this territory, we started a reference collection for this region host in the University of Algarve: the LusoLit. Though in its early stages, this collection has already several hundred chert samples from Central and Southern Portugal. In this early stage, the raw material that we start collecting was chert because it is the least ubiquitous through the landscape and, consequently, that can provide better information.

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“…In this paper we confined our attention to the case of flint, which may vary in such characteristics as traits of cortex, color, unique patterns, visible fossils, and subcortical layers. Ideally, this stage of analysis serves as a platform for further petrographic and/or geochemical analyses (Eixea, Roldán, Villaverde, & Zilhão, ; Ekshtain, Malinsky‐Buller, Ilani, Segal, & Hovers, ; Gurova et al, ), which aimed at accurately identifying the geologic sources of the archaeological types. However, for reasons of time, money, and practicality, large numbers of artifacts often can only be dealt with in this simple and visual manner, and since the human eye is a limited and subjective tool, some inconsistencies in classification may arise.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blind test evaluation of consistency in macroscopic lithic raw material sorting

Agam

Wilson

2018

Geoarchaeology

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Most archaeological lithic raw material studies depend upon a macroscopic classification. However, since the human eye is a limited tool, some inconsistencies in classification may arise. Thus, a process for evaluating and increasing the reliability of macroscopic classification is needed. We present the results of a blind test designed to evaluate consistency in macroscopic lithic materials analysis, based on archaeological material taken from the Acheulo‐Yabrudian site Qesem Cave (Israel), focusing on interobserver error, aimed at identifying consistencies and weaknesses within our own study scheme. Twelve students, with various degrees of experience and familiarity with the Qesem material, sorted 100 randomly selected flint pieces into flint types, based on a previously established database, after a brief tutorial process. In addition, the authors, LW and AA, performed the same test. We then compared the results, using LW's results as an anchor. Our results show that experience affects the consistency in classification, demonstrating that it is an acquired skill. Furthermore, the blind test allowed us to identify weaknesses within the classification scheme. We suggest that blind tests should be regularly used to check accuracy and reproducibility of results and to assess the definitions set by the analyst, allowing fine‐tuning and calibration of the classification process.

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Middle Palaeolithic flint procurement in Central Mediterranean Iberia: Implications for human mobility

Cited by 26 publications

References 2 publications

Late Middle Palaeolithic assemblages with flake cleavers in the western Pyrenees: The Vasconian reconsidered

Late Middle Palaeolithic assemblages with flake cleavers in the western Pyrenees: The Vasconian reconsidered

Presenting LusoLit: A lithotheque of knappable raw materials from central and southern Portugal

Blind test evaluation of consistency in macroscopic lithic raw material sorting

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