Use-wear analysis of Neolithic polished axes and adzes: The site of “Bòbila Madurell-Can Gambús-1-2” (Northeast Iberian Peninsula)

Abstract

Abstract This paper reports the results of the functional study of the polished adzes and axes found at the Neolithic site of “Bobila Madurell-Can Gambus-1-2” (Catalonia, Northeast of the Iberian Peninsula). Use-wear methodology was adapted to achieve this objective through an Experimental Programme and the identification of wear patterns corresponding to different possible economic activities hypothesized after reviewing the ethnographic data. The main aim of this research is to provide a better understanding of the productive processes carried out using stone axes and adzes, the differential raw material management, and the social distribution of those tasks and goods among the site population. Given that the site includes an extensive funerary record, the regularities and singularities of the tools as a part of the grave goods associations will also be investigated and explained.