Maria Mântua
Universidade de Lisboa, Geoarchaeology, Graduate Student
- Archaeology, Rock Art (Archaeology), Lithic Technology, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Lithics, Hunters, Fishers and Gatherers' Archaeology, and 7 moreArchaeological Fieldwork, Paleolithic Europe, Iberian Prehistory (Archaeology), Mesolithic Europe, Mesolithic/Epipalaeolithic Archaeology, Portuguese Archaeology, and Portugal (Archaeology)edit
Under Pressure. Flaked stone refittings in the context of emergency interventions: the example of the Tardiglaciar sites of Leiria area Facing always an emergency archaeological intervention as a scientific intervention, the... more
Under Pressure. Flaked stone refittings in the context of emergency interventions: the example of the Tardiglaciar sites of Leiria area
Facing always an emergency archaeological intervention as a scientific intervention, the application of the method of flaked stone refittings (understood as a key element in the comprehension of palaeo-human communities) reveals itself as a valid component in the definition of the excavated contexts. The works undertaken in the Tardiglacial sites of the area of Leiria have demonstrated the possibility of this relationship, with the articulation between emergency interventions and scientific analysis of the collected data. Thus, in view of an Archaeology that we still see as a Science, the method of flaked stone refittings appears as a frankly viable practice that can be included in the designated Preventive Archaeology.
Facing always an emergency archaeological intervention as a scientific intervention, the application of the method of flaked stone refittings (understood as a key element in the comprehension of palaeo-human communities) reveals itself as a valid component in the definition of the excavated contexts. The works undertaken in the Tardiglacial sites of the area of Leiria have demonstrated the possibility of this relationship, with the articulation between emergency interventions and scientific analysis of the collected data. Thus, in view of an Archaeology that we still see as a Science, the method of flaked stone refittings appears as a frankly viable practice that can be included in the designated Preventive Archaeology.
Research Interests:
The Amoreiras shell midden is located in the basin of the river Sado, in the south of Portugal. It was first discovered in the 30’s of the XX century but it wasn’t excavated until 1955, by Manuel Heleno. The site was re-excavated in 1985... more
The Amoreiras shell midden is located in the basin of the river Sado, in the south of Portugal. It was first discovered in the 30’s of the XX century but it wasn’t excavated until 1955, by Manuel Heleno. The site was re-excavated in 1985 and 1986 by José Morais Arnaud, and it’s a sample of the lithics recovered by this investigator that is presented here.
The techno-typological study of a sample of the lithic ensemble (281 artefacts) provided several conclusions, as follow: the dominant raw materials are siliceous rocks, used for the production of bladelets, and quartz, used primarily for the production of flakes. The siliceous rocks present several imperfections, such as geodes and cleavages; despite this fact, the cores were intensively used, showing that the knapping was made to profit as much as possible of the available raw-material. The debitage is primarily directed to the production of standardized bladelets, capable of being later retouched as geometric microliths, the most common tools in the sample. There is also a production of quartz flakes, probably used mainly as non retouched tools. The retouched index is extremely low, with very few tools present in the sample, composed mostly by debris.
The techno-typological study of a sample of the lithic ensemble (281 artefacts) provided several conclusions, as follow: the dominant raw materials are siliceous rocks, used for the production of bladelets, and quartz, used primarily for the production of flakes. The siliceous rocks present several imperfections, such as geodes and cleavages; despite this fact, the cores were intensively used, showing that the knapping was made to profit as much as possible of the available raw-material. The debitage is primarily directed to the production of standardized bladelets, capable of being later retouched as geometric microliths, the most common tools in the sample. There is also a production of quartz flakes, probably used mainly as non retouched tools. The retouched index is extremely low, with very few tools present in the sample, composed mostly by debris.