International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis

International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis

Use-Wear 2012

Edited by

João Marreiros, Nuno Bicho and Juan Gibaja Bao

International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis: Use-Wear 2012 Edited by João Marreiros, Nuno Bicho and Juan Gibaja Bao This book first published 2014 Cambridge Scholars Publishing Lady Stephenson Library, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2PA, UK British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Copyright © 2014 by João Marreiros, Nuno Bicho, Juan Gibaja Bao and contributors All rights for this book reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. ISBN (10): 1-4438-6816-7 ISBN (13): 978-1-4438-6816-7

TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction .............................................................................................. xiv Part I: Methods Chapter One ................................................................................................. 2 A Specialized Occupation Despite Appearances. Function of the Buhot Late Glacial Site (Calleville, North-western France) Jérémie Jacquier Chapter Two .............................................................................................. 13 Use-Wear Characterization through Confocal Laser Microscopy: The Case of Wild vs Domestic Cereal Harvesting Polish J.J. Ibáñez, J.E. González-Urquijo and J. Gibaja Chapter Three ............................................................................................ 24 Glossy Tools: Innovations in the Method of Interpretation of Use-Wear Produced by Plant Processing Davide d’Errico Chapter Four .............................................................................................. 35 Turning the Wheel on Lithic Functionality Telmo Pereira, Rui Martins and João Marreiros Chapter Five .............................................................................................. 45 Experimental Program for the Detection of Use Wear on Quartzite Victoria Aranda, Antoni Canals and Andreu Ollé Chapter Six ................................................................................................ 56 Micro-residues on Stone Tools: Morphological Analysis, Interpretation and Challenges H.J. Geeske Langejans and Marlize Lombard Chapter Seven ............................................................................................ 66 Management of Heated Bladelets in the Southern Chassey Culture: Use-Wear Analysis and Efficiency Test Loïc Torchy

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Chapter Eight ............................................................................................. 80 Ornaments and Use-Wear Analysis, Methods of Study Applied to the Adaïma Necropolises Mathilde Minotti Chapter Nine .............................................................................................. 90 “Cereal polish”: Diagnosis, Challenge or Confusion Maria Gurova

Chapter Ten ............................................................................................. 103 Ten Years of Use-Wear Analysis of Early Neolithic Macrolithic Tools from North-Western Europe: Limits and Contribution Caroline Hamon Chapter Eleven ........................................................................................ 116 The Effects of Cleaning on Surface Roughness: Evaluating Sample Preparation Using Use-Wear Quantification Danielle Macdonald and Adrian Evans Chapter Twelve ....................................................................................... 124 Use-Wear Analysis on Quartz and Quartzite Tools Methodology and Application: Coudoulous I (Midi-Pyrénées, France) Flavia Venitti Part II: Hunter-Gatherers Chapter Thirteen ...................................................................................... 140 New Functional Data concerning Middle Palaeolithic Bifaces from Southwestern and Northern France Emilie Claud

Chapter Fourteen ..................................................................................... 152 Use of Middle Palaeolithic Tools in San Quirce (Alar del Rey, Palencia, Spain) Ignacio Clemente-Conte, J. Carlos Díez Fernández-Lomana and Marcos Terradillos Bernal Chapter Fifteen ........................................................................................ 162 Flint Workshop or Habitat? Technological and Functional Approaches towards the Interpretation of Site Function in Bergerac Region Early Aurignacian Joseba Rios-Garaizar and Iluminada Ortega Cordellat

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Chapter Sixteen ....................................................................................... 173 The Camp of Upper Palaeolithic Hunters in Targowisko 10 (S Poland) Bernadeta Kufel-Diakowska and Jarosław Wilczyński Chapter Seventeen ................................................................................... 183 The Contribution of Traceology and Lithic Technology in the Study of the Socio-economic Capsian of SHM-1 (Hergla, Tunisia) Rym Khedhaier El Asmi, Simone Mulazzani and Lotfi Belhouchet Chapter Eighteen ..................................................................................... 198 Typology versus Function: Technological and Microwear Study of Points from a Federmesser Site at Lubrza (Western Poland) Jacek Kabaciński, Iwona Sobkowiak-Tabaka and Małgorzata Winiarska-Kabacińska Chapter Nineteen ..................................................................................... 213 Use-Wear Analysis of a Set of Geometric Projectils from the Mesolithic Context of Cocina Cave (Eastern Spain) Oreto García Puchol, Niccolò Mazzucco, Juan F. Gibaja Bao and Joaquim Juan Cabanilles Chapter Twenty ....................................................................................... 224 Late Mesolithic Notched Blades from Western Europe and North Africa: Technological and Functional Variability Bernard Gassin, Juan Francisco Gibaja, Pierre Allard, Toomaï Boucherat, Émilie Claud, Ignacio Clemente, Colas Gueret, Jérémie Jacquier, Rym Khedhaier, Grégor Marchand, Niccolò Mazzucco, Antoni Palomo, Unai Perales, Thomas Perrin, Sylvie Philibert, Amelia Rodríguez and Loïc Torchy

Chapter Twenty One ................................................................................ 232 Experimentation and Functional Analysis of the Backed Point Tools from the Castello’s Shelter at Termini Imerese (PA, Italy) Preserved from the Museo delle Origini (Rome) Stefano Drudi Chapter Twenty Two ............................................................................... 241 Functional Analysis of a Magdalenian Site from the Spanish Northern Meseta: A Case Study of Endscrapers from La Peña de Estebanvela (Ayllón, Segovia) Ignacio Martín Lerma and Carmen Cacho Quesada

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Chapter Twenty Three ............................................................................. 256 The Proto-Aurignacian “Knives” of the Riparo Mochi (Balzi Rossi, Italy) Stefano Grimaldi Chapter Twenty Four ............................................................................... 270 A Microwear Analysis of Handaxes from Santa Ana Cave (Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain) Andreu Ollé, Josep Maria Vergès, Luna Peña, Victoria Aranda, Antoni Canal and Eudald Carbonell Chapter Twenty Five ............................................................................... 279 Stone Tool Hafting in the Middle Palaeolithic as Viewed through the Microscope Veerle Rots Chapter Twenty Six ................................................................................. 294 Lithic Technology and Tool Use in the North American Archaic: Bridging Technologies, Plants, and Animals April K. Sievert and Melody K. Pope Chapter Twenty Seven............................................................................. 302 Lithic Use-Wear Analysis from the Early Gravettian of Vale Boi (Southwestern Iberia) João Marreiros, Juan Gibaja and Nuno Bicho

Chapter Twenty Eight .............................................................................. 321 Integrated Functional Studies of Badegoulian Lithic Industry: Preliminary Results of Le Péhau (Coimères, France) Amaranta Pasquini, Gilles Monin and Paul Fernandes Chapter Twenty Nine .............................................................................. 331 Human Occupation of the High-Mountain Environments: The Contribution of Microwear Analysis to the Study of the Cova del Sardo Site (Spanish Pyrenees) Niccolò Mazzucco, Ignacio Clemente and Ermengol Gassiot

Chapter Thirty ......................................................................................... 342 Wood Technology of Patagonian Hunter-Gatherers: A Use-Wear Analysis Study from the Site of Cerro Casa de Piedra 7 (Patagonia, Argentina) Laura Caruso Fermé, Ignacio Clemente, Sylvie Beyries and Maria Teresa Civalero

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Chapter Thirty One .................................................................................. 352 Unmodified Quartz Flake Fragments as Cognitive Tool Categories: Testing the Wear Preservation, Previous Low Magnification Use-Wear Results and Criteria for Tool Blank Selection in Two Late Mesolithic Quartz Assemblages from Finland Noora Taipale, Kjel Knutsson and Helena Knutsson Chapter Thirty Two ................................................................................. 362 A Consideration of Burin-Blow Function: Use-Wear Analysis of Kamiyama-Type Burin from the Sugikubo Blade Assemblage in North-Central Japan Akira Iwase Chapter Thirty Three ............................................................................... 375 The Two Faces of Resharpening: Management and Use of Resharpening Flakes in the Middle Paleolithic at Cueva Morín Talía Lazuén Chapter Thirty Four ................................................................................. 389 Looking for the Use and Function of Prismatic Tools in the Mesolithic of the Paris Basin (France): First Results and Interpretations Caroline Hamon and Sylvain Griselin Chapter Thirty Five ................................................................................. 398 Semi-product, Waste, Tool… Are We Sure? Functional Aspect of Stone Age Morphological Flint Tools Grzegorz Osipowicz Chapter Thirty Six ................................................................................... 430 The History of One Arrowhead from a Peat Bog Site in Central Russia (Technological and Use-Wear Studies) Natalia Skakun Mikhail Zhilin Vera Terekhina

Part III: Projectile Technology Chapter Thirty Seven ............................................................................... 442 The Functionality of Palmela Points as Throwing Weapons and Projectiles: Use-Wear Marks Carmen Gutiérrez Sáez, Ignacio Martín Lerma and Alba López del Estal Charles Bashore Acero

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Chapter Thirty Eight ................................................................................ 457 Arrowheads without Traces: Not Used, Perfect Hit or Excessive Hafting Material? Yvonne Lammers-Keijsers, Annemieke Verbaas, Annelou van Gijn and Diederik Pomstra Chapter Thirty Nine ................................................................................. 466 Projectile Experimentation for Identifying Hunting Methods with Replicas of Upper Palaeolithic Weaponry from Japan Katsuhiro Sano and Masayoshi Oba Chapter Forty ........................................................................................... 479 Possibilities of Identifying Transportation and Use-Wear Traces of Mesolithic Microliths from the Polish Plain Katarzyna Py ewicz and Witold Gru d Chapter Forty One ................................................................................... 488 Use and Maintenance of Leaf-Shaped Points in the Late Upper Paleolithic in the Japanese Islands Takuya Yamaoka Chapter Forty Two .................................................................................. 500 Projectiles from the Last Paleolithic Hunter-Gatherers in the Eastern Cantabrian Region: Azilian Backed Points at the Site of Santa Catalina Jesús González-Urquijo, Juan José Ibáñez and Eduardo Berganza Part IV: Bone Technology Chapter Forty Three ................................................................................ 512 Two Experimental Programs to Study the Bone Tools from the Middle Paleolithic Hunter-Gatherers Millán Mozota Chapter Forty Four .................................................................................. 521 All the Same, All Different! Mesolithic and Neolithic “45° Bevelled Bone Tools” from Zamostje 2 (Moscow, Russia) Yolaine Maigrot, Ignacio Clemente Conte, Evgeny Gyria, Olga Lozovskaya and Vladimir Lozovski

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Chapter Forty Five ................................................................................... 531 Recovering the Oldest Bone Tool Assemblage from Low Paraná Wetland Natacha Buc Chapter Forty Six .................................................................................... 539 Traces on Mesolithic Bone Spatulas: Signs of a Hidden Craft or Post-Excavation Damage? Sara Graziano Chapter Forty Seven ................................................................................ 551 Bone Tools Use-Wear in an Early Formative Pastoralist Site of Northern Chile: Weaving and Piercing at the Dawn of Herds Boris Santander Chapter Forty Eight ................................................................................. 561 Atypical Use of Bone Objects of Known Forms from Some East European Upper Paleolithic Sites Natalia B. Akhmetgaleeva Part V: From the Neolithic to the Iron Age Chapter Forty Nine .................................................................................. 572 Investigating Neolithic Activities: The Contribution of Functional Analysis to the Reconstruction of Settlements’ Economy in Central-Southern Italy Cristiana Petrinelli Pannocchia Chapter Fifty ............................................................................................ 584 The Use of Flint Artifacts from Early Neolithic Levels at Atxoste (Basque Country): An Interpretation of Site Function through Use-Wear Analyses Unai Perales Barrón, Juan José Ibáñez Estévez and Alfonso Alday Ruiz Chapter Fifty One .................................................................................... 597 Use-Wear Analysis of Chipped Stone Assemblages from Neolithic Burial Caves in Portuguese Estremadura: The Case of Bom Santo (Lisbon) Juan Francisco Gibaja and António Faustino Carvalho Chapter Fifty Two ................................................................................... 607 Comparative Analysis of Shell Tools from Two Neolithic Sites in NE Iberia: La Draga and Serra del Mas Bonet (Girona) I. Clemente-Conte, D. Cuenca-Solana, M. Oiva-Poveda, R. Rosillo-Turrà and A. Palomo-Pérez

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Chapter Fifty Three ................................................................................. 619 Investigating Pottery Technological Patterns through Macrowear Analysis: The Chalcolithic Village of Maccarese-Fiumicino (Italy) Vanessa Forte Chapter Fifty Four ................................................................................... 630 Experimental Approach to Use-Wear Damage on Limestone Tools Comparing with Flint Tools Laura Hortelano Piqueras and Paula Jardón Giner Chapter Fifty Five .................................................................................... 642 Use-Wear Analysis of Early Neolithic Lithic Industry of Peiro Signado: A Pioneer Implantation in South of France Sylvie Philibert, François Briois and Claire Manen Chapter Fifty Six ..................................................................................... 652 A Neolithic Sickle Haft from Costamar (Castellón, Spain) Juan F. Gibaja, Juan José Ibáñez, Enric Flors and Oreto García Chapter Fifty Seven ................................................................................. 660 The Perforation of Pottery using Seashells: An Experimental Approach Renaud Gosselin Chapter Fifty Eight .................................................................................. 672 Beyond Chaves: Functional Analysis of Neolithic Blades from the Ebro Valley Rafael Domingo Martínez Chapter Fifty Nine ................................................................................... 682 Lithic Functional Studies in Ireland: A Case Study from Early Neolithic Rectangular Timber Houses Sol. Mallía-Guest Chapter Sixty ........................................................................................... 693 The Materiality of Funnelbeaker Burial Practices: Evidence from the Microscope Annelou Van Gijn Chapter Sixty One ................................................................................... 702 Funerary Adornments: Objects Belonging to the Living or to the Dead? A Few Examples from the Romanian Eneolithic Monica Margarit

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Chapter Sixty Two ................................................................................... 714 Associating Residues and Wear Traces as Indicators of Hafting Methods: A View from the Chipped Stone Industries from the Island of Gavdos, Crete Eleni Chriazomenou, Christina Papoulia and Katerina Kopaka

Chapter Sixty Three ................................................................................. 727 Raw Material Selection for Pounding and Grain Processing in the Single Grave Culture of the Netherlands: The Site of Mienakker Virginia Garcia-Diaz

Chapter Sixty Four .................................................................................. 736 What are Prehistoric Tools with Very Rounded Edges Doing in Iron Age Storage Pits? Renaud Gosselin

Chapter Sixty Five ................................................................................... 745 Flint Blade Use-Wear in Late Neolithic/Chalcolithic Collective Burials: Data from Pastora Cave (Eastern Spain) Oreto García Puchol, Juan Francisco Gibaja Bao, Joaquim Juan Cabanilles and Sarah B. McClure

Chapter Sixty Six ..................................................................................... 755 Technology and Function of the Chalcolithic Dagger from Cabezos Viejos (Archena, Murcia, Spain) C. Gutiérrez Sáez, I. Martín Lerma, J.A. Marín de Espinosa and J. Lomba Maurandi

Chapter Sixty Seven ................................................................................ 764 First Results on Use-Wear Analysis over Several Early Neolithic Contexts from Northwest Africa Amelia Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Jörg Linstädter, Juan F. Gibaja, Manuel Rojo, Ines Medved, Rafael Garrido, Antoni Palomo, Antonio F. Carvalho, Iñigo García and Cristina Tejedor

Contributors ............................................................................................. 772

CHAPTER SIXTY SIX

TECHNOLOGY AND FUNCTION OF THE CHALCOLITHIC DAGGER

FROM CABEZOS VIEJOS (ARCHENA, MURCIA, SPAIN)

C. GUTIÉRREZ SÁEZ,1 I. MARTÍN LERMA,2

J.A. MARÍN DE ESPINOSA3

AND J. LOMBA MAURANDI2

1Dpt. de Prehistoria y Arqueología. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain).

carmen.gutierrez@uam.es 2Dpt. de Prehistoria, Arqueología, Hª Antigua, Hª Medieval y CC.TT.

Historiográficas. Universidad de Murcia (Spain).

ignacio.martin@um.es; jlomba@um.es 3Sílex, Arqueología y difusión de Patrimonio S.L. Apd. De Correos 62.

Murcia (Spain). info@tallarsilex.com

Abstract

The Chalcolithic collective burial from Cabezos Viejos (Archena,

Murcia) contained the remains of 23 individuals in two chambers, A and B. Burial goods are unequally present, B chamber featuring better quality and more abundant items than A chamber. A knife/dagger from B chamber, of exceptional size and quality, shows signs of careful technical elaboration procedures that might suggest its foreign origins. Use-wear analysis results indicate a multiple use in different activities.

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Keywords: Chalcolithic, Collective Burial, Lithic technology, Use-Wear Analysis, Flint Dagger.

1. The site

Cabezos Viejos (Lomba and Zapata, 2005) is a southeast oriented cave, originated from a fissure in a gypsum-dominated geological setting, featuring extended visibility over the Segura river valley. The cave has a main chamber and a lateral chamber, close to the entrance. It remained hidden until 1995, when earthmoving works accidentally destroyed the ceiling. Subsequent weathering of the cave’s sediments exposed the archaeological remains. After a short plundering episode over a limited area, the site was fully excavated between 2001 and 2003.

A MNI of 21 individuals was unearthed at Cabezos Viejos, distributed over two different areas, designated A and B. The main chamber and entrance (A) features an oval-shaped surface of 5,5 m2, 3,80 m long and with a maximum width of 1,95 m. An artificial trimming of the gypsum strata bound this area on the left side and by natural, vertical rock walls on the right. Remains of at least 14 individuals were found in this area. The second chamber (B) is a small lateral area close and to the right of chamber A, featuring a square surface of 2,5m2, entirely bounded by vertical rock walls. It contained the remains of 7 individuals.

The joint space of both chambers is approximately 8 m2. Human remains were arranged in different ways: flexed in primary position; flexed but relocated; partially or completely mixed up; or in clusters of selected skeletal remains. A number of burials include a set of elements, interpreted as burial goods: 32 knifes or blades (mostly unretouched), 41 arrow heads and 2 daggers (flint); 16 axes and 2 adzes (polished stone); 25 flat bone rods; 7 unperforated wild boar canine and a minimum of 11 necklaces, three of which include crescent-shaped ornaments made from shell. No metallic or ceramic elements whatsoever were found.

The arrangement of human remains led to the identification of certain patterns, which in turn led to the definition of several series of inhumations, characterized by the close spatial relation of their components. Furthermore, there was a clear correlation between such groupings, on one side, and the richness of the burial goods and the social distances they indicate on the other.

Nowadays, the surroundings of the site show a high degree of anthropization due to the presence of agricultural and industrial structures and facilities. The landscape has been strongly modified, and so far we couldn’t find any remains of the settlement that must have originated the

Technology and Function of the Chalcolithic Dagger from Cabezos Viejos 757

burials. The only reference of any interest is a saltwater source located close to a small ridge, within a 15 minute walking distance from the burial. Up until 40 years ago, this source generated a wet area where a number of aquatic plants thrived. Today, all that is gone and barely recognizable in the landscape.

2. Tool study

The object of this study is a foliate (166 x 53 x 9,5 mm) that stands out among the burial goods. Its beauty and size, and the fact that no similar specimens have been found in nearby contexts to this date, leads us to assuming that this is an item of remarkable relevance.

The raw material source is yet unknown, as no petrological studies have been carried out so far. But we do know that no production areas specializing in this type of artefact have ever been found in the territory that currantly constitutes the Region of Murcia. Based on the available data, we would have to refuse its local origin, though we cannot disregard the possibility that future works might identify areas with lithic resources suitable for the production of this type of tools.

2.1. Technological study

The technological approach suggests that the tool was made on a large flake or tab. The chaîne opératoire starts by sketching the tool, using direct percussion to shape out the initial morphology of the bifacial preform. Some hinged scars are produced during this stage, both on the upper and lower surfaces.

Polishing comes next, but only in the central area, parallel to the longitudinal axis of symmetry and also on both surfaces. The knapper might have used polishing as a technical resource to achieve a constant thickness along the tool’s full length. Under the metallographic microscope, we could observe a flat, matte polish with abundant striations. The orientation of these striations changes along the central portion of the tool, from parallel to the central axis (Figure 1.8) to perpendicular and oblique. Certain parts even show a criss-cross of two or three orientations (Figure 1.7), which indicates a back and forth motion in different directions. On some zones, striations and linear traces seem to suggest a coarse grain abrasive, some type of mineral material judging from the flat texture of the polish. However, we wouldn’t rule out a final polishing stage using some soft material such as leather, considering the matte and a slightly greasy aspect of some parts (Figure 1.12).

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The tool’s final morphology was achieved by means of bifacial pressure retouch over the entire contour of the tool, creating convergent edges with a pointed distal end and a rounded proximal end. Retouch tends to be short; longer retouch can be found in some parts, never reaching beyond the longitudinal axis of symmetry. It is generally a low angle retouch, being semi-abrupt on the distal end only. The diversity of the identified flaking types and the presence of semi-abrupt retouch on the distal end might be a consequence of rejuvenation throughout the tool’s use. In morphological terms, retouch is mostly parallel or, to a lesser extent, sub-parallel.

The production of this type of leaf-shaped tools, with all their morphological and technical variants, has been documented in European Final Neolithic and Chalcolithic contexts. The sources of prior technical knowledge are studies such as those carried out by Ontañon et al. (1999), Plisson (2002), or Vaquer and Vergély (2006).

2.2 Functional analysis

This flint knife/dagger features complex functional evidence, since different, often overlapping types of marks are present. Use-wear analysis results from different tool parts are the following:

2.2.1. Distal part

The right lateral edge shows a poorly developed, compact shinny polish on some parts of both faces, which indicates work on hard materials like bone (Figures 1.2, 5). A further, intercalated type of more diffuse, grayish polish is related to soft materials like meat and/or hide. The scarce striations and linear traces are parallel or show a low oblique angle, suggesting a longitudinal cutting action. Light edge-rounding is also present, as a discontinuous soft polish that covers the distal third of the tool, indicating low intensity work. This might be interpreted as animal products processing, whereby the active edge has contact with hide, meat, viscera, sinew and also bone. Thus, the tool might be defined as a “butchering knife”. In the opposite part, the left lateral edge, we observed the same type of marks, only more intense, which would indicate more use. The distal apex barely shows any marks, apart from some undefined brightness on high areas. Together with the presence of abrupt retouch flaking, this might result from a rejuvenation of the tip during butchery activities (Figure 1.1).

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2.2.2. Medial part

Left edge. As we approach the medial part, the former marks are replaced by new evidence. Quite different marks were identified here, on both faces of both lateral edges. On a few portions along the edge there is a first type of discontinuous, very thick polish that causes edge-rounding on those portions. Abundant striations cross this polish, parallel to the edge. Considering its texture, thickness and striations this might well be the so called cereal polish (Figures 1.9, 10, 11). However, its matte appearance and the coarseness of some portions keep us from specifying any further than contact with soft vegetal material. We observed a second type of polish, intercalated and covering wider portions of the tool’s medial part, coarse and grayish but not as compact, featuring abundant parallel linear traces and strong edge-rounding (Figure 1.3). This polish affects more extended, higher areas close to the edge, reaching inner areas as well, and is more continuous along the edge.

Both types of polish can be seen on the right lateral edge as well, though not so intensely. Furthermore, the first type of polish only exists on a few high areas close to the edge (Figure 1.6). The two types of polish are present on the lateral part, even if not continuously, but hardly appear on the cutting edge. This can be due to the fact that on a fairly large section of the left side the raw material is coarse grained and might have slowed the development of marks.

The second type of polish is not unlike the one observed on the tool’s central portion, originated by intense technological polishing. The similarity lies mostly on the grayish shade and the abundance of linear traces. However, there are several differences:

• Both polish and edge-rounding are less developed on the central

portion than on the other four faces of the lateral edges. This is not in agreement with the possibility that lateral marks were a consequence of central polishing.

• Linear traces are also more continuous and homogenous on the lateral edges.

• The orientation of linear traces and striations is not the same. On the edges, linear elements are homogenous and strictly parallel to the edge, whereas on the central portion they are rather well defined, low angle oblique striations, criss-crossed by other perpendicular striations (Photos 54 y 55).

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• On the other hand, both the texture and extent of linear traces indicate thicker and coarser abrasive materials on the central portion than on the lateral edge.

On the medial portion, more intense marks on the lateral edges seem to

be related to a specific use and not originated by technical procedures involved in the technological central polishing. We would offer the following interpretation: along its medial portion, the knife was initially used to cut vegetal materials – first type of polish, possibly obliterated by rejuvenation, to a considerable extent. Further on, the knife was used again to cut a more flexible material, like relatively dry hide; this masked part of the former marks. The abrasive aspect of polish on this medial portion might result from cutting the vegetal stems close to the ground, causing the introduction of abrading particles. Yet, we cannot rule out the use of added abrasives during hide-working. On this part of the tool, the left edge also shows more intense use than the right one.

Now, the intermittence of marks along most of the edge, which affects al three documented activities – butchering, soft vegetal and dry hide cutting – suggest several rejuvenation episodes, the remaining evidence being the result of prior uses. This fact is supported by the weak presence of polish on the cutting edges, where only a poorly defined shine is visible. The sole exception is a small section of the medial part’s left lateral edge, where polish marks show a longer sequence and higher intensity on the cutting edge (Figure 1.4).

2.2.3. Proximal part

A large portion of this part features less sharp edges and a change in

the rock’s texture, which becomes coarser and thicker-grained. This might partly compromise the functional effectiveness of this particular section of the tool. The entire proximal perimeter shows only undefined shine and areas of flat, grayish polish, along with a lighter and more compact one, the latter only on higher zones. On occasions, these marks are associated with chaotically distributed striations. This set of traces can be interpreted as hafting evidence, resulting from contact with hard materials like wood or bark.

The whole tool, including the hafted area, shows small residues of a red colouring material. The amounts are very small and so widely distributed that we cannot link them to a specific use, as no significant concentrations exist anywhere on the tool. It might even be due to the sedimentary context it was unearthed from.

Technology and Function of the Chalcolithic Dagger from Cabezos Viejos 761

3. Discussion

This type of large blades or daggers is well known in French and, to a lesser extent, Spanish bibliography. Several functional studies have been carried out at other sites, due to the interest raised by such items. Concerning daggers, the work by Charavines and Portalban, in Plisson et al. (2002: 801-805) documents cutting of two different vegetal materials – one of which was not identified during experimentation – total or partially covered by the use of a flexible, abrasive material, possibly hide. This material is usually associated to a longitudinal activity but the diversity of traces makes it very difficult to pinpoint a single origin. Likewise, the study on large blades found in funerary contexts from Catalonia by Terradas et al. (2005: 356) points out a frequent use on cereal, along with dry hide, for a significant part of the collection. Butchering work – one blade from Cabana Arquetas – as well as scraping mineral materials – one blade from the Pericot dolmen -is less frequent.

The renowned Garma dagger, with a halberd like typology, also featured evidence of a double use: leather or dry hide cutting on one side and possibly butchering on the other (Ontañón et al. 1999: 223).

All of these tools share two very common characteristics – their multiple use in different activities, involving different materials, cereal and dry hide cutting being usual; and rejuvenation, which accounts for an intense use of the tools.

The Cabezos Viejo dagger shares these characteristics, showing several use cycles, as a butchering knife on its sharper end and as a cutting implement for cereal and dry hide on its middle section. As far as the Chalcolithic of southeast Iberia is concerned, this is an exceptional item, due to its dimensions and fine technology, as central polishing is not a common technical resource in this context.

Like other exceptional grave goods, this type of tool may be considered a prestige object. We consider that such prestige derives not just from its technical and morphometric character but also from the wide range of functional possibilities allowed for by its configuration, range that was widely exploited by its users.

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Figure 1. Technological and use-wear marks of the chalcolithic dagger from Cabezos Viejos (Archena, Murcia)

References

Lomba, J., Zapata, J. 2005. “El enterramiento múltiple de Cabezos Viejos (Archena, Murcia). Reflexiones sobre secuencias funerarias calcolíticas”, AnMurcia 21, 9-38.

Ontañón Peredo, R., González Urquijo, J.E., Ibáñez Estévez, J.E:, Arias Cabal, P.1999.“El puñal de sílex calcolítico de la Garma A (Omoño, Cantabria)”, Sautuola 6, 219-226.

Plisson, H.; Mallet, N.; Bocquet, A. &Ramseyer, D. 2002. “Utilisation et rôle des outils en sílex du Grand-Preeignydans les villages de Charavines et de Portalban (Néolithique final)”, Bull. de la Société Préhistorique Française 99 (4), 793-811.

Terradas, X.; Palomo, A.; Gibaja, J.F. ; Clop. X. 2005. “Primeros resultados sobre el estudio de grandes láminas procedentes de contextos funerarios del nordeste de la Península Ibérica”. En P. Arias Cabal, R. Ontañón Peredo, C. García-Moncó Piñeiro (ed): III Congreso del Neolítico en la Península Ibérica. Universidad de Cantabria, 349-357.

Vaquer J., Vergély H., 2006. L’utilisation du silex en plaquettedans le

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néolithique final et le chalcolithique du sud du massif central aux Pyrénées. Matériaux et productions lithiques taillées remarquables dans le néolithique et le chalcolithique européen: diffusions et usages (6ème-3ème millénaire av. J.c.), Carcassonne 2003, 175-204.