The Lithic Assemblage of Level J

Abstract

We present in this chapter the lithic assemblage of level J. Bearing in mind the temporal issues involved in the interpretation of archeological assemblages, we have organized this chapter according to two different analytical levels. On the one hand, we have studied the technological and functional characteristics of the assemblage-as-a-whole, paying special attention to raw material provisioning, knapping strategies and tool manufacture. Raw material provisioning was basically local, although the nearest materials were not the most exploited. Core reduction strategies show a high variability due to the dominance of expedient criteria aimed at the production of small flakes. Finally, tool manufacture was characterized by the clear dominance of denticulates and notches, which were used at different tasks, but especially at hideworking. On the other hand, the second analytical level is focused on the event level and tryes to identify as much single technical episodes as possible. This approach is based on refitting and the identification of Raw Material Units. The spatial distribution of these events allows discussing the temporal dynamics in the formation of the lithic assemblages, highlighting the time-dependent nature of assemblage variability.