Chert from the Vegamián Formation: A new raw-material supply source in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain) during prehistory
Keywords:
lithic raw materials, methodology, Carboniferous ‘Black chert’, Mesolithic, Cantabrian Mountains
Abstract
This work provides the keys to the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of black chert from the Vegamián Fm. This formation crops out throughout the whole of the Cantabrian Zone (of Palaeozoic age), one of the geological zones of the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain). The geographical distribution of this formation is very wide, surfacing in the provinces of León, Asturias, Palencia and Cantabria.
This variety of chert had been included within the group generically known as ‘black chert’, a macrogroup including different types of chert that appear in different Palaeozoic formations in the area and which share a characteristic black colour at the macroscopic level. The characterisation presented here has enabled us to distinguish it from other varieties. In this study, Vegamián chert has been divided into two different groups depending on their textural, mineralogical, geochemical and thermal propierties. Type 1, the most suitable for knapping, is characterized by high content in silica (>97%), laminated matrix and, occasionally, ghost of radiolarians.
In addition, the characteristics specific to this chert make it suitable for lithic knapping processes. To confirm its use by prehistoric populations, this chert will be compared to that found in two Mesolithic sites, the caves of La Uña and El Espertín (León, south versant of the Cantabrian Mountains), the raw materials from which are currently under study.
References
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Chung, F.H. 1974, Quantitative Interpretation of X-ray Diffraction Patterns of Mixtures. I. Matrix-Flushing Method for Quantitative Multicomponent Analysis. Journal of Applied Crystallography, 7(6): 519-525. doi:10.1107/s0021889874010375
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Evers, H.J. 1967, Geology of the leonides between the Bernesga and Porma Rivers, Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain. Leidse Geologische Medelingen, 41: 83-151. URL: http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/record/505813
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Kanis, J. 1955, Geology of the eastern zone of the Sierra del Brezo (Palencia-Spain). Leidse Geologische Medelingen, 21: 377-445. URL: http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/record/505760
Lobato, L., García-Alcalde, J.L., Sánchez de Posada, L.C., Truyols, J. & Rodríguez Fernández, L.R. 1979, Boñar (no.104, scale 1:50.000). Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Madrid. (in Spanish)
Marcos, A. 1967, Estudio geológico del reborde NW de los Picos de Europa (Región de Onís, Cabrales, Cordillera Cantábrica). Trabajos de Geología, 1: 39-46. (in Spanish) (“Geologic study of NW of Picos de Europa (Onís, Cabrales, Cantabrian Mountains”) URL: http://www.unioviedo.es/reunido/index.php/TDG/article/view/2656
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Martínez-Díaz, C. 1983, Carbonífero y Pérmico de España. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Madrid, 502 p. (in Spanish) (“Carboniferous and Permian of Spain”)
Munsell Color 2013, Munsell soil-color charts: with genuine Munsell color chips (2009 Edition). Grand Rapids, Minessotta.
Neira, A., Fuertes, N. & Herrero, D. 2015, The Mesolithic with geometrics south of the ‘Picos de Europa’ (Northern Iberian Peninsula): The main characteristics of the lithic industry and raw material procurement. Quaternary International, 402: 90-99. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.10.065
Randon, C. & Caridroit, M. 2008, Age and origin of Mississippian lydites: examples from the Pyrénées, southern France. Geological Journal, 43(2-3): 261-278. doi:10.1002/gj.1101
Rodríguez Fernández, L.R., García-Alcalde, J.L. & Menéndez-Álvarez, J.R. 1983, La sucesión del Devónico superior y Carbonífero inferior en el Sinclinal de Alba (León, N.O. de España). In: Dixième Congrès International de Stratigraphie et de Géologie du Carbonifère (instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Ed.), Madrid, p. 133-144. (in Spanish) (“The Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous succession in the Syncline Alba (León, N.O. of Spain)”)
Savage, J.F. & Boschma, D. 1980, Geological maps of the southern Cantabrian Mountains (Spain). Leidse Geologische Medelingen, 50(2): 75-114.
Straus, L.G., Clark, G.A., Ordaz, J., Suárez, L. & Esbert R. 1986, Patterns of lithic raw material variation at La Riera. In: La Riera Cave: Stone Age hunter-gatherer adpations in northern Spain (Straus, L.G. & Clark, G.A. Eds.), Anthropological Research Papers Vol. 36, Arizona State University, Tempe: p. 189-208.
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Tarriño, A. 1998, Rocas silíceas sedimentarias. Su composición mineralógica y terminología. Krei, 3: 143-161. (in Spanish) (“Sedimentary siliceous rocks: Mineralogical composition and terminology”) URL: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=2733229
Tarriño, A., Elorrieta, I. & García Rojas, M. 2015, Flint as raw material in prehistoric times : Cantabrian Mountain and Western Pyrenees data. Quaternary International, 364: 94-108. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.10.061
Wagner, R.H., Winkler Prins, C.F. & Riding, R.E. 1971, Lithostratigraphic units of the lower part of the carboniferous in northern Leon, Spain. Trabajos de Geología, 4: 603-663. URL: https://www.unioviedo.es/reunido/index.php/TDG/article/view/2688
Álvarez-Alonso, D., Andrés Herrero, M. de & Rojo Hernández, J. 2013, La captación de materias primas líticas durante el Paleolítico en el Oriente de Asturias y su caracterización litológica en la cuenca de los ríos Sella y Cares (Asturias, España). In: VIII Reunión de Cuaternario Ibérico, La Rinconada - Sevilla 2013 (Baena, R., Fernández, J.J. & Guerrero, I. Eds.), AEQUA, Sevilla: p. 296-299. (in Spanish) (“Lithic raw material procurement in the Palaeolithic of eastern Asturias and lithic characterization in the basin of Sella and Cares Rivers (Asturias, Spain)”)
Aramburu, C. & Bastida, F. 1995, Geología de Asturias. Ediciones TREA, Gijón, 313p. (in Spanish) (“Geology of Asturias”)
Arias Cabal, P., Fernández, P., Marcos, C. & Rodríguez, I. 2009, The elusive flint: raw materials and lithic technology in the Mesolithic of eastern Asturias, Spain. In: Mesolithic Horizons: Papers Presented at the Seventh International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe Belfast 2009 (Woodman, P. & Schulting, R., Eds.), Oxbow Books, Oxford: p. 860-672.
Bastida, F. (coord.) 2004, Zona Cantábrica. In: Geología de España (Vera, J.A. Ed.). Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Madrid: p. 25-49. (in Spanish) (“Cantabrian Zone”)
Chung, F.H. 1974, Quantitative Interpretation of X-ray Diffraction Patterns of Mixtures. I. Matrix-Flushing Method for Quantitative Multicomponent Analysis. Journal of Applied Crystallography, 7(6): 519-525. doi:10.1107/s0021889874010375
Comte, P. 1959, Recherches sur les terrains anciens de la Cordillère Cantabrique, Memorias del Instituto Geológico de España, Madrid, 440 p. (in French) (“Research on the old grounds of Cantabrian Mountains”)
Evers, H.J. 1967, Geology of the leonides between the Bernesga and Porma Rivers, Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain. Leidse Geologische Medelingen, 41: 83-151. URL: http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/record/505813
Fuertes Prieto, M.N. 2004, Estudio tecnológico de las industrias líticas del Paleolítico Superior y del Epipaleolítico de la cuenca del Duero. PhD Thesis, Faculty of Philosophy and Literature, University of León, León, 746 p. (in Spanish) (“Technological study of lithic industries of Upper Palaeolithic and Epipalaeolithic of Duero Basin”) URL: https://www.academia.edu/2013271/
Fuertes Prieto, M. N., Neira Campos, A., Gómez Fernández, F., Alonso Herrero, E. & Fernández Martínez, E. 2010, Caracterización de las materias primas líticas del yacimiento Mesolítico de El Espertín (León), In: Minerales y rocas en las sociedades de la Prehistoria (Domínguez-Bella, S., Ramos Muñoz, J., Gutiérrez López, J.M. & Pérez Rodríguez, M., Eds.), Grupo de Investigación HUM-440, Universidad de Cádiz, Cádiz: p.169-184. (in Spanish) (“Characterization of lithic raw materials from the Mesolithic site of ‘El Espertín’ (León, Spain)")
Fuertes-Prieto, M. N., Neira Campos, A., Fernández Martínez, E., Gómez Fernández, F. & Alonso Herrero, E. 2014, “Mucientes Chert” in the Northern Iberian Plateau (Spain). Journal of Lithic Studies, 1(1): 117-135. doi:10.2218/jls.v1i1.785
Fuertes Prieto, M. N., Neira Campos, A., Fernández Martínez, E., Gómez Fernández, F., Herrero Alonso, D. & Alonso Herrero, E. 2015, El «sílex» en el sector noroccidental de la Meseta norte : Recursos litológicos aprovechados en la Prehistoria. Férvedes, 8: 45-54. (in Spanish) (“The 'flint' in the northwestern sector of the northern Meseta: Lithological resources used in prehistory”)
Hatakeyama, T. & Liu, Z. 1998, Handbook of thermal analysis. John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, 452p.
Herrero, D. 2014, El nivel III de la cueva de La Uña (Acebedo, León): Análisis tecnológico de la industria retocada y aprovisionamiento de materias primas. CKQ (Estudios de Cuaternario / Kuaternario Ikasketak / Quaternary Studies), 4:15-26. (in Spanish) (“The layer III of La Uña cave (Acebedo, León): technology analysis of retouched industry and supply of raw materials”)
Julivert, M. 1971, Décollement tectonics in the Hercynian Cordillera of the northwest Spain. American Journal of Science, 270: 1-29. (in French) (“Variscan tectonics detachment in the Mountains of the northwest Spain”) doi:10.2475/ajs.270.1.1
Kanis, J. 1955, Geology of the eastern zone of the Sierra del Brezo (Palencia-Spain). Leidse Geologische Medelingen, 21: 377-445. URL: http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/record/505760
Lobato, L., García-Alcalde, J.L., Sánchez de Posada, L.C., Truyols, J. & Rodríguez Fernández, L.R. 1979, Boñar (no.104, scale 1:50.000). Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Madrid. (in Spanish)
Marcos, A. 1967, Estudio geológico del reborde NW de los Picos de Europa (Región de Onís, Cabrales, Cordillera Cantábrica). Trabajos de Geología, 1: 39-46. (in Spanish) (“Geologic study of NW of Picos de Europa (Onís, Cabrales, Cantabrian Mountains”) URL: http://www.unioviedo.es/reunido/index.php/TDG/article/view/2656
Martínez-Chacón, M.L., Menéndez-Álvarez, J.R., Sánchez de Posada, L.C. & Truyols, J. 1985, Aportaciones al conocimiento de la formación Ricacabiello (Carbonífero de la zona Cantábrica, N de España) y su contenido paleontológico. Trabajos de Geología, 15: 53-65. (in Spanish) (“Contributions to the knowledge of the Ricacabiello Formation (Carboniferous of the Cantabrian area, northern Spain) and its paleontological content”) URL: http://www.unioviedo.es/reunido/index.php/TDG/article/view/2797
Martínez-Díaz, C. 1983, Carbonífero y Pérmico de España. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Madrid, 502 p. (in Spanish) (“Carboniferous and Permian of Spain”)
Munsell Color 2013, Munsell soil-color charts: with genuine Munsell color chips (2009 Edition). Grand Rapids, Minessotta.
Neira, A., Fuertes, N. & Herrero, D. 2015, The Mesolithic with geometrics south of the ‘Picos de Europa’ (Northern Iberian Peninsula): The main characteristics of the lithic industry and raw material procurement. Quaternary International, 402: 90-99. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.10.065
Randon, C. & Caridroit, M. 2008, Age and origin of Mississippian lydites: examples from the Pyrénées, southern France. Geological Journal, 43(2-3): 261-278. doi:10.1002/gj.1101
Rodríguez Fernández, L.R., García-Alcalde, J.L. & Menéndez-Álvarez, J.R. 1983, La sucesión del Devónico superior y Carbonífero inferior en el Sinclinal de Alba (León, N.O. de España). In: Dixième Congrès International de Stratigraphie et de Géologie du Carbonifère (instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Ed.), Madrid, p. 133-144. (in Spanish) (“The Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous succession in the Syncline Alba (León, N.O. of Spain)”)
Savage, J.F. & Boschma, D. 1980, Geological maps of the southern Cantabrian Mountains (Spain). Leidse Geologische Medelingen, 50(2): 75-114.
Straus, L.G., Clark, G.A., Ordaz, J., Suárez, L. & Esbert R. 1986, Patterns of lithic raw material variation at La Riera. In: La Riera Cave: Stone Age hunter-gatherer adpations in northern Spain (Straus, L.G. & Clark, G.A. Eds.), Anthropological Research Papers Vol. 36, Arizona State University, Tempe: p. 189-208.
Suárez, A., Barba, P., Heredia, N., Rodríguez Fernández, L.R., Fernández, L.P., Alonso, E., Nozal, F. & Gallastegui, G. 1994, Mapa Geológico de la Provincia de León (escala 1:200.000). Instituto Tecnológico Geominero de España, Madrid, 180 p. (in Spanish) (“Geologic map of León province (scale 1:200.000)”)
Tarriño, A. 1998, Rocas silíceas sedimentarias. Su composición mineralógica y terminología. Krei, 3: 143-161. (in Spanish) (“Sedimentary siliceous rocks: Mineralogical composition and terminology”) URL: https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=2733229
Tarriño, A., Elorrieta, I. & García Rojas, M. 2015, Flint as raw material in prehistoric times : Cantabrian Mountain and Western Pyrenees data. Quaternary International, 364: 94-108. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.10.061
Wagner, R.H., Winkler Prins, C.F. & Riding, R.E. 1971, Lithostratigraphic units of the lower part of the carboniferous in northern Leon, Spain. Trabajos de Geología, 4: 603-663. URL: https://www.unioviedo.es/reunido/index.php/TDG/article/view/2688
Published
15-Sep-2016
How to Cite
Herrero-Alonso, D., Tarriño-Vinagre, A., Neira-Campos, A., & Fuertes-Prieto, N. (2016). Chert from the Vegamián Formation: A new raw-material supply source in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain) during prehistory. Journal of Lithic Studies, 3(2), 389-410. https://doi.org/10.2218/jls.v3i2.1449
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Section
ISKM 2015 - Barcelona - Research Articles
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