Analytical techniques applied to the study of the composition and source of archaeological sylex in the central region of the spanish mediterranean

Abstract

In this work flint samples from the archaeological site “Abrigo de la Quebrada” (Chelva, Valencia) and geological outcrops from the same area we are analyzed and compared with archaeological flint from “Cova Negra” (Xativa, Valencia), “Cova de les Cendres” (Moraira, Alicante) and outcrops from other areas of the central Mediterranean region Spain. The analytical protocol: macroscopic characterization (color, texture, inclusions, grain size, etc.), Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), it has proven to be adequate to discriminate between local flint (Domeño type) and allochthonous flint, showing that the complementarity of these techniques is suitable for the study of this material and to correlate the raw material sources and the mobility of human groups.