Lithic Production in the Final Mesolithic in the Cantabrian Mountains: Levels III and IV at La Uña Cave (León, N Spain)

ABSTRACT

The lithic operational chains at the Mesolithic site of La Uña (León, N Spain) have been analysed and reconstructed through a joint study of the raw material provenance and technological characteristics of the assemblage. Differences in the management of each raw material have been observed, and three degrees of integrity of the chaîne opératoire (complete, incomplete and broken) have been differentiated. In addition, two main production targets have been identified: flakes and laminar blanks. Specific operational chains were followed to obtain each one. Differences between the raw materials have also been observed in the main production of blanks, with four groups: exclusively flakes, exclusively blade/bladelets, mixed with preference for blade/bladelets and mixed with preference for flakes.

KEYWORDS:

• Mesolithic
• raw material management
• lithic technology
• chaînes opératoires
• Cantabrian Mountains

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank to the editor and the two reviewers for their comments, which have helped to significantly improve this article.

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

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Notes on contributors

Diego Herrero-Alonso

Diego Herrero-Alonso Ph.D. in Prehistory and Antiquity Sciences from the University of Salamanca (Spain). The main line of research is the reconstruction of the lithic operational chains developed during the Mesolithic in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. The research is focused on lithic raw materials supply and their origin.

Natividad Fuertes-Prieto

Natividad Fuertes-Prieto senior lecturer of the University of León. Specialist in prehistoric lithic technology, especially the knapping processes and operational chains carried out during the Mesolithic in the north of the Iberian Peninsula.

Antonio Tarriño-Vinagre

Antonio Tarriño-Vinagre Researcher. His field of study focuses on the characteristics of flint to define its origin in prehistoric sites. Specialist in prehistoric mining.

Ana Neira-Campos

Ana Neira-Campos Professor at the University of León. Specialist in Mesolithic of the Cantabrian Region, especially in the reconstruction of the operational chains and the lithic typology.