Prehistoric exploitation of minerals resources. Experimentation and use-wear analysis of grooved stone tools from Grotta della Monaca (Calabria, Italy)

Abstract

The Calabria region of Southern Italy is rich in mineralisation. Unfortunately, no consistent data are available about mineral exploitation in the later prehistoric periods. The Grotta della Monaca mine in Calabria is a prehistoric site that is characterised by the mineralisation of iron ores (such as goethite) and copper carbonates (malachite and azurite). For this reason, the site provides an exceptional opportunity to study a prehistoric mine in which several minerals were exploited during the late Neolithic and early Chalcolithic. In this study, we present the results of an experimental protocol and use-wear analysis conducted using macro-lithic tool replicas to extract mineral resources. The experimental test aimed at reconstructing the function of grooved stone tools found at Grotta della Monaca. Use-wear observation, through a combined low- and high-power approach on experimental and archaeological objects, allowed us to define different extraction techniques and methods of mineral treatments. These data enhance our understanding and reconstruction of the chaîne opératoires, economic choices, and cultural aspects that characterised prehistoric miners in Southern Italy.

The Middle Paleolithic ground stones tools of Nesher Ramla unit V (Southern Levant): A multi-scale use-wear approach for assessing the assemblage functional variability

“…Adams (2014). d) Use-wear imaging: This step of the analysis combines low and high-power microscopy (Adams et al, 2009;Dubreuil et al, 2015;Dubreuil & Savage, 2014;Fullagar, 2014;Hayden, 1979;Keeley, 1974Keeley, , 1980Rots, 2013;Bofil et al, 2013;Hayes et al, 2018;Caricola et al, 2020). The first phase is based on macro-observation with a stereo microscope (ZEISS Stemi 305) and microscopic observation using a portable microscope (Dino-Lite Edge AM7915MZT) (see acquisition settings in SOM 1).…”

First Bronze Age Human Mitogenomes from Calabria (Grotta Della Monaca, Southern Italy)

“…Grotta della Monaca is a karstic cave located in Sant’Agata di Esaro at 600 m above sea level, close to the Esaro river (Cosenza, northwestern Calabria, Southern Italy) ( Figure 1 ). The cave has a long human history [ 20 , 24 , 25 ] due to mining activities that began during the Upper Paleolithic period and intensified during the Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic period [ 26 ]. The cave partially changed its role during the MBA, when the deepest areas were used as burial grounds [ 27 , 28 ].…”

Estudio de las huellas de uso y aplicación de análisis químicos no destructivos sobre un macroútil procedente del yacimiento de Hort de Cortés-Volcán del Faro (Cullera, València)

“…Los resultados de la aplicación de todos estos estudios revelan que los útiles macrolíticos se pueden asociar a técnicas de procesamiento aplicadas a una gran variedad de materiales y recursos, tanto inorgánicos como orgánicos. Dentro de la aplicación a procesos de trabajo relacionados con materiales inorgánicos, diferentes estudios han mostrado un uso relacionado con la talla lítica o con la explotación de recursos minerales (Caricola et al, 2020). Por ejemplo, en el trabajo de Vadillo et al, (2019) se observa el uso de algunas herramientas alargadas y redondeadas como percutores para la obtención de productos microlaminares.…”