Use-wear analysis of lithic tools from the megalithic cemetery of Panoría (Granada, Spain)

Bibliographic Data

ID6415463
AuthorsJuan F Gibaja (Institución Milá y Fontanals de Investigación en Humanidades, corresponding author), Gonzalo Aranda-Jiménez (Universidad de Granada), Margarita Sánchez-Romero (Universidad de Granada), Miriam Vílchez-Suárez (Universidad de Granada), Paula Becerra-Fuello (Universidad de Granada), Marta Díaz-Zorita Bonilla (Universidad de Granada), Lara Milesi-García (Universidad de Málaga)
Year2025
Volume18
Issue1
Publication date2025-12-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeological and Anthropological Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1866-9557 • E-ISSN: 1866-9565
PublisherSpringer Nature (PUBLISHER • SG)
DOI10.1007/s12520-025-02374-5
OpenAlexW7113899598
LanguageEN
References cited26

In southeastern Iberia use-wear analyses have not been explored as a proxy for a better understanding of the social, economic and cultural meanings of prehistoric lithic tools. The recent excavation of nine dolmens in the Panoría cemetery (3600 − 2100 cal BC), four of them largely undisturbed, offers an excellent opportunity for a fine-grained study of lithic grave goods. Blades, arrowheads and geometric microliths were the types of objects selected to be deposited at the Panoría dolmens. Use-wear analysis shows the deposition of blades previously used in farming and textile activities or with no evidence of use but in optimal working conditions. Arrowheads and microliths use-wear indicate their use as projectiles. However, some arrowheads are also found without use-wear, probably having been specifically crafted for ritual purposes, especially those with extremely developed barbs. Cross-referencing lithic typology, frequency and use-wear from each tomb with the osteological analysis reveals a positive correlation between the activities identified by the blade use-wear analysis and the intense physical effort evidenced by musculoskeletal stress markers. In contrast, there is a negative correlation between the projectiles and traumatic injuries. Lithic tools found at Panoría can be linked to different social realms, from daily activities to more restricted ritual purposes

Blade (archaeology · Excavation · Lithic technology · Megalith · Osteology · Prehistory · Archaeological and Geological Studies · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

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