Abstract
The Calabria region of Southern Italy is rich in mineralisation. Unfortunately, no consistent data are available about mineral exploitation in the later prehistoric periods. The Grotta della Monaca mine in Calabria is a prehistoric site that is characterised by the mineralisation of iron ores (such as goethite) and copper carbonates (malachite and azurite). For this reason, the site provides an exceptional opportunity to study a prehistoric mine in which several minerals were exploited during the late Neolithic and early Chalcolithic. In this study, we present the results of an experimental protocol and use-wear analysis conducted using macro-lithic tool replicas to extract mineral resources. The experimental test aimed at reconstructing the function of grooved stone tools found at Grotta della Monaca. Use-wear observation, through a combined low- and high-power approach on experimental and archaeological objects, allowed us to define different extraction techniques and methods of mineral treatments. These data enhance our understanding and reconstruction of the chaîne opératoires, economic choices, and cultural aspects that characterised prehistoric miners in Southern Italy.
Highlights
IntroductionPrehistoric exploration of mineral resources can be related to increasing demand for raw materials by ancient human groups (Binder et al 2013)
The study of prehistoric mining practices can enhance our understanding of ancient communities’ socio-economic and Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.Piazza Umberto I, 1, 70121 Bari, Italy 5 Paris1-Panthèon Sorbonne University, UMR 8215 – Trajectories, Paris, France 6 Department of Classics, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy cultural complexity and organisation
We focus on the prehistoric mine Grotta della Monaca in Calabria, Italy, where evidence of iron ore and copper carbonate exploitation was found (Larocca 2005)
Summary
Prehistoric exploration of mineral resources can be related to increasing demand for raw materials by ancient human groups (Binder et al 2013). Techno-economy models (Binder et al 2013; Stöllner 2003) can help illuminate behaviours related to prehistoric social activities, including mining dynamics. Through their technical choices, individuals express their intention. For this reason, the succession of actions is simultaneously the result of technical, social, and cultural choices (Lemonnier 1992, 2010; Pfaffenberger 1998)
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