Asturian picks from the mesolithic shell midden of Mazaculos II (Northern Spain): a functional interpretation
[EN] The Asturian Mesolithic (Northern Iberia) has traditionally been characterized by the accumulation of huge shell heaps in caves and grottoes, as well as the finds of typical stone tools commonly called Asturian peaks. These products, made of quartzite, have specific and unique characteristics,...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | otro |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2018 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) |
| Repositorio: | DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:digital.csic.es:10261/174254 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/10261/174254 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Asturian Mesolithic “Asturian pick” Lithic tools |
| Sumario: | [EN] The Asturian Mesolithic (Northern Iberia) has traditionally been characterized by the accumulation of huge shell heaps in caves and grottoes, as well as the finds of typical stone tools commonly called Asturian peaks. These products, made of quartzite, have specific and unique characteristics, and from the very beginning of the Mesolithic research in this area, they have been considered an indicator of this chrono-cultural horizon. Over the past century, several hypotheses have been proposed to explain their purpose. In this work, we tested the hypotheses about the use of the Asturian peak using the experimental-trasological method on the experimental and archaeological tools found at the site of Masakoulos II (La Franca, Asturias, Northern Spain). The results obtained in the experimental analytical program showed that Asturian peaks were mainly used to collect shellfish, a key resource for this population in the Mesolithic. The results also showed the existence of a clear strategy in the selection of raw materials, features of the production process, reuse of broken tools in other activities and some other aspects related to the social organization of these mesolithic groups. |
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