Geochemical and Petrographic Analyses on Middle and Upper Palaeolithic Cherts from the Central Region of Mediterranean Iberia

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the geochemical and petrographic characterization, along with the macroscopic observations, of several cherts from the central region of the Mediterranean Iberia. To determine the microfacies and microtextural features, thin-section samples were analyzed using polarizing light microscopy (PLM) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM/EDX). Geochemical analyses were performed using instrumental neutron activation analyses (INAA). With the data, multivariate statistical analysis by means of hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal components analysis (PCA) was applied to the chemical variables to identify clusters among the chert samples. The results showed different geochemical features between cherts concerning major, minor, and trace elements. Archaeological samples from different sites demonstrated lithic raw material circulation and, thus, human mobility in the central region of Mediterranean Iberia during the Middle and Upper Paleolithic.

KEYWORDS:

• Geochemistry
• petrography
• chert
• Middle and Upper Paleolithic
• Valencian country

Acknowledgments

A.E. was supported by the 2018 Leonardo Project for Researchers and Cultural Creators, BBVA Foundation. Thank you to Miguel Ángel Bel and Álvaro Martínez-Alfaro for their help during the fieldwork. We acknowledge Prof. Miriam Cobianchi from the University of Pavia (Italy) for her useful contribution and discussion concerning micropaleontological issues.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The research carried out for this paper has benefited from the following: “Síntesis del Paleolitico medio y superior en Valencia y Murcia: aspectos cronológicos, paleoambientales, económicos y culturales” (HAR2017-85153-P/MICINN), “El pasado lejano: aproximación a la conducta y la ocupación del territorio en el paleolítico valenciano” (PROMETEO/2017/060), and “Caracterización tecnológica y funcional de los elementos líticos apuntados durante el Paleolítico medio en la región central del mediterráneo ibérico” (GV/2021/054).

Notes on contributors

Aleix Eixea

Aleix Eixea (Ph.D. 2015, Universitat de València) is an Assistant professor in the Departament de Prehistòria, Arqueologia i Història Antiga at the Universitat de València. His research focuses on Middle and Upper Palaeolithic lithic technology, raw material characterization and microspatial analysis. The main aim of his work is to reconstruct the settlement patterns and occupation dynamics along Mediterranean Iberia.

Clodoaldo Roldán

Clodoaldo Roldán is full time Associate Professor at the Applied Physics Department of the Valencia University, founder member of the Materials Science Institute (ICMUV) where he is head of the Archaeometry Unit, and Technical Director of the Environmental Radioactivity Laboratory (LARAM-UV). His research interests have been focused on the characterization of archaeological and cultural heritage objects (lithic, pigment, metal, ceramic, glass, etc.) by means of physical and chemical techniques. Moreover, he has developed lines of research related to medical physics, nuclear techniques and Monte-Carlo simulations applied to the characterization of radioactive sources, the study of proton activation of gamma rays space detectors, and the control and measurement of the environmental radioactivity.

Valentín Villaverde

Valentín Villaverde is full Professor in the Departament de Prehistòria, Arqueologia i Història Antiga at the Universitat de València. Director of the Research Group de Prehistory of the Occidental Mediterranean (PREMEDOC-GIUV-2015-213). His research interests have been focused on Middle and Upper Palaeolithic Archaeology, Palaeolithic Art and Economy and mobility of human Palaeolithic groups in the Mediterranean Iberia.

Isabel Días

Isabel Dias is since 2005 responsible for the luminescence dating laboratory of the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, and her main role includes the coordination of research and services activities in various domains (i.e. Cultural Heritage and Earth Sciences), as well as, the laboratory maintenance and equipment upgrading, and promotion of new areas of application, and the responsibility of technician's activities. She has been the coordinator researcher, responsible in IST-ITN and / or team member of projects funded by the European Commission, Foundation for Science and Technology, GRICES / CSIC / CNRS, Feder, EDIA, CRUP, International Atomic Energy Agency, Portuguese Institute of Archaeology, as well as other public or private institutions, and services.

Isabel Prudêncio

Isabel Prudêncio, Coordinator Researcher of the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, is the Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Engineering of IST, member of the Board of Directors of the European Nuclear Education Network Aisbl, and the counterpart of Portugal at the International Atomic Energy Agency for the international technical cooperation programs aiming transferring nuclear technologies for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage to Member States. She is the coordinator of the Thematic Strand “Earth Systems, Radioactivity and Cultural Heritage” of the Center for Nuclear Sciences and Technologies (C2TN). She has been working in the development and application of nuclear analytical techniques (NATs) and radiation-based methods in Portugal, promoting interdisciplinary research projects - Geosciences, Environment and Cultural Heritage.

Rosa Marques

Rosa Marques, Auxiliar Researcher of the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, in the scientific area of Chemical and Radiopharmaceutical Sciences at the Department of Engineering and Nuclear Sciences (DECN), IST. She specializes in nuclear methods of chemical analysis, absolute dating, and gamma spectrometry, as well as geochemistry and mineralogy with application in Earth, Environment and Heritage Sciences Cultural. She has been in charge of the neutron activation analysis laboratory. Its functions have focused on the development, implementation and optimization of measurement conditions of various types of materials (geological, archaeological, lithic, among others) after irradiation. It has also optimized the use of existing gamma spectrometers in the laboratory for the measurement and determination of natural radionuclides (non-irradiated samples.

Dulce Russo

Dulce Russo, Technician of the Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, in the scientific area of Chemical and Radiopharmaceutical Sciences at the Department of Engineering and Nuclear Sciences (DECN), IST. She graduated in Environmental Science at the Aberta University, in Lisbon in 2022. She is a technician specializes in nuclear methods of chemical analysis, absolute dating, and gamma spectrometry, as well as geochemistry and mineralogy with application in Earth, Environment and Heritage Sciences Cultural.

Katalin Gméling

Katalin Gméling is senior scientist of the Centre for Energy Research in the Eötvös Loránd Research Network. Her research focus on non-destructive element analysis (PGAA), Neutron Activation Analysis, irradiation processes and activity measurements, gamma spectroscopy and peak fitting, data evaluation and interpretation and neutron flux measurements. Since 2019 she is handling Editor of the Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry.

Giovanni Cavallo

Giovanni Cavallo is a Ph.D. geologist specialized in mineralogy and petrography applied to cultural heritage. He is currently senior researcher at the University of Applied Sciences and Art of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) where he teaches Applied Petrography, Micro-invasive analysis of architectural surfaces, Properties and characteristics of natural stones. His main interests are related to archaeometry of historical and archaeological materials (natural and artificial stones, mineral pigments), with particular emphasis on aspects regarding their characterization, technology of production and provenance studies. As project manager and main scientific expert, he has been responsible for national and international projects in Switzerland, India, Georgia, Italy.

Sonia Murcia

Sonia Murcia is Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Valencia attached to the ICMUV Archaeometry Unit. She has developed lines of research related to, adaptation and application of Raman spectroscopy for the non-invasive examination of material objects of samples from the Historical, Artistic and Archaeological Heritage (manuscripts, paintings, sculptures, porcelain, glass, rock art, etc.). In recent years, she is involved in the Study and enhancement of Levantine Rock Art, based on the components of collections that cover a wide chronological period and that allow studying the evolution of materials and techniques used during the Neolithic. She is currently secretary of the ICMUV.