Flint as raw material in prehistoric times: Cantabrian Mountain and Western Pyrenees data

Tarriño, Antonio; Elorrieta, Irantzu; García‐Rojas, Maite

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.10.061

Cited by 55 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…In the following, we will refer to the studied area as the BCB to account for the relevance and central location of this area in the studied dataset. The studied cherts appear as irregular, ellipsoidal or botryoidal nodules embedded within marls, limestones and turbidite layers, although in some cases some laminar and massive-brechoid varieties are also found (Figure 3; Tarriño et al, 2015). These cherts are not related to the primary accumulation of silica-producing organisms such as radiolarians, sponges or diatoms, but to a secondary (early diagenetic) replacement of the host rock by dissolved silica that precipitates in the form of microcrystalline quartz (Olivares et al, 2009;Tarriño et al, 2015).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The studied cherts appear as irregular, ellipsoidal or botryoidal nodules embedded within marls, limestones and turbidite layers, although in some cases some laminar and massive-brechoid varieties are also found (Figure 3; Tarriño et al, 2015). These cherts are not related to the primary accumulation of silica-producing organisms such as radiolarians, sponges or diatoms, but to a secondary (early diagenetic) replacement of the host rock by dissolved silica that precipitates in the form of microcrystalline quartz (Olivares et al, 2009;Tarriño et al, 2015). Cherts formed in deep marine (abyssal) sedimentary environments (e.g., Artxilondo, Kurtzia, Bidache types) are composed mainly of α-quartz, whereas those formed in shallow marine settings (e.g., Urbasa) and continental environments (e.g., Ablitas, Loza, Treviño) are composed of both α-quartz and moganite (Olivares et al, 2009).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to further examine the potential of environmental magnetic parameters for assessing chert quality and distinguishing source areas, new studies of archeologically relevant regions are necessary. In this work we provide the first report of non-destructive environmental magnetic properties of raw chert samples collected in outcrops from the BasqueCantabrian, western Ebro and Aquitanian basins, and the western Pyrenees (Figure 1), a region characterized by a large number of archeological sites (see Tarriño et al, 2015). Previous studies of this kind in Spain are restricted to short publications and meeting presentations in which the magnetic properties of chert are not discussed in detail (Larrasoaña et al, 2010;Ortega et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Magnetic Properties of Cherts from the Basque-Cantabrian Basin and Surrounding Regions: Archeological Implications

et al. 2016

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We present the first rock magnetic study of archeologically-relevant chert samples from the Basque-Cantabrian basin (BCB) and surrounding regions, which was conducted in order to test the usefulness of non-destructive magnetic properties for assessing chert quality, distinguishing source areas, and identifying heated samples in the archeological record. Our results indicate that the studied BCB cherts are diamagnetic and have very low amounts of magnetic minerals. The only exception is the chert of Artxilondo, which has a median positive magnetic susceptibility associated with larger concentrations of magnetic minerals. But even in this case, the magnetic susceptibility is within the lower range of other archeologically-relevant cherts elsewhere, which indicates that the studied BCB cherts can be considered as flint. The similar median values for all magnetic properties, along with their associated large interquartile ranges, indicates that rock magnetic methods are of limited use for sourcing different types of flint except in some specific contexts involving the Artxilondo flint. With regards to the identification of chert heating in the archeological record, our results indicate only a minor magnetic enhancement of BCB natural flint samples upon heating, which we attribute to the low amount of non-silica impurities. In any case, the diamagnetic behavior of most BCB natural flints, along with the local use only of the Artxilondo type, suggests that any flint tool within the core of the BCB with positive magnetic susceptibility values is likely to have been subjected to heating for improving its knapping properties. Further studies are necessary to better identify the type, origin and grain size of magnetic minerals in BCB natural flints, and to apply non-destructive magnetic properties to flint tools in order to identify the use of heat treatment in the BCB archeological record.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Magnetic Properties of Cherts from the Basque-Cantabrian Basin and Surrounding Regions: Archeological Implications

et al. 2016

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“…In the present study, we have characterised the chert pertaining to the Vegamián Fm., one of the siliciclastic formations that fall within the wide 'Carboniferous black chert' group (sensu Tarriño et al 2015), from the central zone of the Cantabrian Mountains. These cherts are suitable for lithic knapping, are suitably sized and have conchoidal fractures, despite the presence of fracture planes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lithic raw materials exploited by humans during prehistory in the Palaeozoic area of the Cantabrian Mountains are mostly unknown (Arias Cabal et al 2009;Tarriño et al 2015). With the aim of determining the socio-economic relationship these prehistoric groups had with the environment they lived in, we have been undertaking research aimed at characterising fine-grained siliceous raw materials in the west-central area of the Cantabrian Mountains (in the north of the Iberian Peninsula).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chert from the Vegamián Formation: A new raw-material supply source in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain) during prehistory

Alonso

Tarriño-Vinagre

Neira-Campos

et al. 2016

JLS

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Abstract:This work provides the keys to the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of black chert from the Vegamián Fm. This formation crops out throughout the whole of the Cantabrian Zone (of Palaeozoic age), one of the geological zones of the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain). The geographical distribution of this formation is very wide, surfacing in the provinces of León, Asturias, Palencia and Cantabria.This variety of chert had been included within the group generically known as 'black chert', a macrogroup including different types of chert that appear in different Palaeozoic formations in the area and which share a characteristic black colour at the macroscopic level. The characterisation presented here has enabled us to distinguish it from other varieties. In this study, Vegamián chert has been divided into two different groups depending on their textural, mineralogical, geochemical and thermal propierties. Type 1, the most suitable for knapping, is characterized by high content in silica (>97%), laminated matrix and, occasionally, ghost of radiolarians.In addition, the characteristics specific to this chert make it suitable for lithic knapping processes. To confirm its use by prehistoric populations, this chert will be compared to that found in two Mesolithic sites, the caves of La Uña and El Espertín (León, south versant of the Cantabrian Mountains), the raw materials from which are currently under study.

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Quartzite procurement in conglomerates and deposits: Geoarchaeological characterization of potential catchment areas in the central part of the Cantabrian Region, Spain

et al. 2021

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Raw material characterization in Paleolithic archaeology has widened our knowledge of Middle Paleolithic societies. Procurement of raw material, specifically flint, has allowed the tracing of the mobility of both stones and people, as well as selective processes to obtain specific types or even extraction activities. The analysis of quartzite has also developed in recent years, providing an opportunity to better understand prehistoric societies. This study characterizes the procurement strategies implemented by Middle Paleolithic people in the mountainous region of the Picos de Europa. To this end, we present a comprehensive characterization of potential catchment areas: massive outcrops, conglomerates, and river deposits. The exploitation of quartzite at the sites of El Habario and El Arteu allows us to understand the territorial management of this mountainous area through the combination of selective processes and mobility mechanisms in lower and middle altitudes. These perspectives enable us to view the mountainous region not as a barrier but as an environmental mosaic managed by Middle Paleolithic groups. This study shows strategies that bring together direct and embedded procurement based on both intensive and extensive searches. These discourses are more closely related to the daily life of people than those only considering the mobility of people and objects.

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Flint as raw material in prehistoric times: Cantabrian Mountain and Western Pyrenees data

Cited by 55 publications

References 6 publications

Magnetic Properties of Cherts from the Basque-Cantabrian Basin and Surrounding Regions: Archeological Implications

Magnetic Properties of Cherts from the Basque-Cantabrian Basin and Surrounding Regions: Archeological Implications

Chert from the Vegamián Formation: A new raw-material supply source in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain) during prehistory

Quartzite procurement in conglomerates and deposits: Geoarchaeological characterization of potential catchment areas in the central part of the Cantabrian Region, Spain

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