Abstract
This work provides the keys to the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of black chert from the Vegamián Fm. This formation crops out throughout the whole of the Cantabrian Zone (of Palaeozoic age), one of the geological zones of the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain). The geographical distribution of this formation is very wide, surfacing in the provinces of León, Asturias, Palencia and Cantabria.This variety of chert had been included within the group generically known as ‘black chert’, a macrogroup including different types of chert that appear in different Palaeozoic formations in the area and which share a characteristic black colour at the macroscopic level. The characterisation presented here has enabled us to distinguish it from other varieties. In this study, Vegamián chert has been divided into two different groups depending on their textural, mineralogical, geochemical and thermal propierties. Type 1, the most suitable for knapping, is characterized by high content in silica (>97%), laminated matrix and, occasionally, ghost of radiolarians. In addition, the characteristics specific to this chert make it suitable for lithic knapping processes. To confirm its use by prehistoric populations, this chert will be compared to that found in two Mesolithic sites, the caves of La Uña and El Espertín (León, south versant of the Cantabrian Mountains), the raw materials from which are currently under study.
Highlights
The lithic raw materials exploited by humans during prehistory in the Palaeozoic area of the Cantabrian Mountains are mostly unknown (Arias Cabal et al 2009; Tarriño et al 2015)
To contrast the use of potential raw materials with those used by humans, we are studying the lithic industries from two Mesolithic sites: La Uña and El Espertín caves (León, in the Riaño area) (Fuertes Prieto 2004; Fuertes Prieto et al 2010; Herrero 2014; Neira et al 2015)
We have characterised the chert pertaining to the Vegamián Fm., one of the siliciclastic formations that fall within the wide ‘Carboniferous black chert’ group, from the central zone of the Cantabrian Mountains
Summary
The lithic raw materials exploited by humans during prehistory in the Palaeozoic area of the Cantabrian Mountains are mostly unknown (Arias Cabal et al 2009; Tarriño et al 2015). With the environment they lived in, we have been undertaking research aimed at characterising fine-grained siliceous raw materials in the west-central area of the Cantabrian Mountains (in the north of the Iberian Peninsula). This will allow us to complete the potential lithological base of this area and of available local resources so that the sourcing patterns by prehistoric populations of both local and exogenous raw materials can be analysed. To contrast the use of potential raw materials with those used by humans, we are studying the lithic industries from two Mesolithic sites: La Uña and El Espertín caves (León, in the Riaño area) (Fuertes Prieto 2004; Fuertes Prieto et al 2010; Herrero 2014; Neira et al 2015)
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