Trying to introduce some quantitative approaches on the study of prehistoric raw material sourcing

Abstract

We usually use the study of quarrying activities to characterise the nature of flint procurement, the goals followed in its exploitation as well as those strategies developed in flint extraction, attempting to determine the chronology of quarrying works. Besides, by means of archaeometric criteria we try to establish some petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical features in order to track the distribution of the sourced raw material throughout prehistoric times. In 2015 we started the archaeological excavation of Montvell Quarries (Castelló de Farfanya, NE Iberia). These quarries were opened in Montvell Hills in order to extract many flint nodules from limestone attributable to the Castelltallat Formation (Ebro Basin). There are some reasons supporting an Early Neolithic chronology for these quarries. Due to the vertical outcropping of limestone layers, the prehistoric communities that sourced this place dismantled the limestone strata by means of steps or small platforms dug in the rock surface. On the one hand, these trimmed off surfaces can be quantified in order to estimate the removed volume of rocks. On the other hand, according to the reduced number of limestone layers offering flint nodules we can also make estimations on the frequency of flint nodules within these limestone layers. All in all, we would like to use this case study to introduce some quantitative approaches related to the quarrying activities and the obtained products.