Genesis, Provenance and Classification of Rocks within the Chert Group in Central Europe

Abstract

Raw material determination of prehistoric stone tools is a necessary analytical process towards a fuller understanding of prehistoric resource management. However, archaeologists face a terminological predicament when analysing raw material types present within lithic assemblages. This is chiefly due to the lack of a commonly accepted classification system, further exacerbated when working on an international scale. The principle reason for this situation is the fact that SiO2 modifications were never the main focus of earth sciences, sometimes resulting in imprecise definitions of such raw materials. The most important SiO2 raw materials used in prehistory for the production of chipped stone tools are silicites and thus part of the Chert Group, such as chert, flint, radiolarite, etc. This paper is a revised and extended version of a classification system for rocks within the Chert Group first published in 2010. The proposed classification system is based on archaeological, mineralogical and geological needs, and is intended to function as a manageable research tool for archaeologists working with lithic materials.