A micro-invasive approach using INAA for new insights into Palaeolithic flint archaeological artefacts

Abstract

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of small flakes from the same flint fragment of archeological artefacts from Palaeolithic sites (''Abrigo de la Quebrada'', ''Cova de les Cendres'' and ''Cova Negra''), and geological sources (Chelva, Valencia, and Alcoi, Alicante) from the eastern Spain, was performed. The chemical contents of 27 elements were obtained. Ga, Ce, Nd, Yb, Zr and Hf were discarded due to high variations within the same fragment. The identification of chemical fingerprints within hetero- geneous flint fragments was able to differentiate flint types and variants (''Domeno'' and ''Serreta''), contributing to provenance and human mobility in ancient times.