THE EXPLOITATION OF LOCAL LITHIC RESOURCES DURING THE LATE PREHISTORY OF NORTHWEST IBERIAN PENINSULA

Abstract

This paper explores the basic characteristics affecting the mechanical behavior of non-flint rocks, such as quartz and slate, during knapping. The impact of some of these features, such as anisotropy, cleavage, and the morphostructure on the selection and exploitation processes of quartz and slate is addressed through the analysis of the flaked assemblages of five Late Prehistory sites from NW Iberia. We suggest that the presence of characteristics providing a more homogeneous and controllable mechanical behavior would have had a significant role on the selection and exploitation of these raw materials. Also, certain traits a priori considered as non-suitable might be contemplated as rather advantageous for the knapping.

Keywords:

• NW Iberia
• Quartz
• Slate
• Anisotropy
• Cleavage
• Morphostructure

Acknowledgements

CRR is a MEC Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar (FMECD-2011/11122244). This work would not have been possible without A. Feal-Pérez, R. Blanco-Chao, J. Baena Preysler, D. Martín Puig, F. Cuartero Monteagudo, and A. Risco. Our gratitude to all of them. We also want to thank the reviewers for their comments and the Editor of Lithic Technology, Grant McCall, for his patience and understanding.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Carlos Rodríguez-Rellán

Carlos Rodríguez-Rellán has a Ph.D. with Honors from the Santiago de Compostela University (Spain); Post-doctoral Scholar Fernand Braudel-IFER Programme, Foundation Maison des sciences de l’homme (Paris, France); Fulbright Visiting Scholar (2012-2014) at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Arizona State University, USA). His PhD Thesis dealt with the study of lithic industries made on “non-traditional” raw materials, such as slate, rock crystal and quartz during the Late Prehistory of Northwestern Spain. His work has focused on the definition of some of the mechanical characteristics of these raw materials and their impact during the knapping. His research interests have also been focused on the study of the prehistoric rock art of Galicia (Northwestern Spain), where he has taken part in several surveys and research grants trying to define the relationship between open-air rock art and the surrounding landscape. He is also interested in Geographic Information Systems and in Agent-Based Modeling and their application to Archaeology.

Ramón Fábregas Valcarce

Ramón Fábregas Valcarce was a Fleming Scholar at the UCL (London) and earned his PhD at the UNED (Madrid) as well as Reader at the Universities of Santiago de Compostela and Vigo. He has been Professor of Prehistory at the University of Santiago de Compostela since 2000. His areas of interest include: Neolithic and Copper Age of Iberia; Rock Art; Lithic studies.

Correspondence to: Ramón Fábregas Valcarce, Dpto. Historia I. Facultade de Xeografía e Historia, University of Santiago de Compostela, Praza da Universidade, 1, Santiago de Compostela 15782, Spain. Email: [email protected]