Petrographic and SEM‐EDX characterization of Mousterian white/beige chert tools from the Navalmaíllo rock shelter (Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

Studying lithic raw material sourcing, processing and distribution is helpful when trying to reconstruct the territory, ecology, and cultural practices of Neanderthal groups. The use of multiple methods in such analyses allows for more refined characterizations to be made, helping to distinguish between materials better than any single method. Although 85% of the raw materials making up the Mousterian assemblage at the Navalmaíllo Rock Shelter (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid Region of Spain) correspond to the available local geological resources, 10% is made of white/beige chert, which is not registered in regional geological cartography. Petrographic and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses were performed to determine the origin of this white/beige chert and thus shed light on the procurement strategies of the Neanderthal groups that occupied the rock shelter. The results show this chert to correspond to three different types of rock: quartz-kaolinite rocks from dykes, cretaceous marine cherts, and quartz fillings of cavities/fractures. These findings are in accordance with the geological features and formations present in the Lozoya valley, as recorded during a geoarchaeological survey, and indicate that the Neanderthals occupying the center of the Iberian Peninsula possessed a detailed knowledge of the landscape that allowed them to exploit its resources during MIS5a-early MIS4.

Preference for Porphyry: Petrographic Insights into Lithic Raw Material Procurement from Palaeolithic Kazakhstan

“…The geological reference samples were studied for direct comparison with the archaeological lithic artifacts (see for example Rybin et al 2018;Prieto, Yusta, and Arrizabalaga 2020;Favreau et al 2020;Abrunhosa et al 2020). Thin sections were investigated under plain parallel and cross-polarized light to characterize their mineralogical composition, matrix, crystal size, and shape.…”

The Occurrence of Lithic Raw Materials in the Western Part of Central Germany

“…Sieveking & Hart 1986) made it possible to combine different types of petrographic and geochemical analyses (e.g. Brandl 2016;Moreau et al 2016;Abrunhosa et al 2020; Sánchez de la Torre 2020). In the sense of an interdisciplinary and holistic approach, reference collections also give insights into the way in which human beings interacted with their environment (cf.…”

Lithic arrowheads: Siliceous raw material sources and technology in Southern Portugal

“…In Prehistory, raw material procurement strategies were constrained by the natural availability of a resource, the necessity or desirability shown by human populations and the cost of its obtainment and transport. Raw materials could be procured from local (<5 km radius), medium‐distance (5–20 km radius) or long‐distance (>20 km radius) sources (Abrunhosa et al, 2020; Bernard‐Guelle, 2008).…”

“…As such, emphasis has been given to chert sources that have been subjected to trace element and rare‐earth element (REE) analysis as the normalized elemental concentration presented within will be compared against the arrowheads analysed in this study. It is also important to note that exploitation of exhausted or currently unknown chert outcrops by Prehistoric populations cannot be excluded (Abrunhosa et al, 2020).…”

“…To answer these questions, analytical techniques have been increasingly used to study flaked stone artefact assemblages and to determine their provenance (Abrunhosa et al, 2020;Aubry et al, 2004Aubry et al, , 2012Bisson et al, 2011;Brandl et al, 2018;Burke et al, 2011;Bustillo et al, 2009;Gaspar, 2009;Gauthier et al, 2012; T. Pereira et al, 2016;Roldán et al, 2015;Speer, 2014;Van Calker, 2019;Veríssimo, 2004). The selection of raw materials used throughout time can show how human societies change and interact with the environment.…”