Landscape Analyses for Mobility and Raw Materials Procurement Strategies:The Acheulean Site of Santa Ana Cave in Calerizo de Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain.

Identifier:  TDX:2934

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2934

Authors:  Akintayo, Akinbowale Mark

Abstract:
This work presents a study of the provenance of quartzitic lithic materials from the cave of Santa Ana in Calerizo de Cáceres. Calerizo de Cáceres is a karstic system confined between quartzitic hills with abundant lithic materials and availability of surface and groundwater resources. Macroscopic or visual characterization of archaeological samples, as well as the geological sources was employed to determine the provenance of materials. Through comparison of results from characterization of archaeological materials using the results from those of the geological sources as references for source provisioning. Spatial analysis of location data collected during prospecting of the landscape as well as Digital Elevation Model of the area were used to analyze the movement pattern on the landscape from the site (Santa Ana Cave) to geological deposits of raw materials present within the studied landscape using Least-Cost Path (LCP) analysis in GIS. The results showed that both primary and secondary sources were exploited by prehistoric groups for raw materials procurement and the maximum distance travelled to acquire these materials do not extend beyond 15 km. A cluster of these sources were found to be located at distance of about 1.5 km from the Santa Ana Cave. Alluvial deposits were also exploited as fragments of rocks transported downslope from the quartzitic hills which surround the Calerizo de Cáceres.