engleski

Exploring Sources of Knappable Materials as a Starting Point for Locating Pre-Neolithic Open- Air Sites in Dalmatia

Even though Neolithic sites around Šibenik have been relatively well studied, reports about sources of rocks suitable for making stone tools in that area have been practically nonexistent. Several such sources were discovered during the summer of 2016, all of them different in terms of quality and geological age. The finds include chert nodules embedded in Eocene foraminifera limestone on slopes around the Danilo polje, bedded Jurassic cherts in the village of Baljci near the spring of the River Čikola, and lenses of chert and silicified tuff at Zelovske staje on the eastern slopes of Mt. Svilaja. Besides the possibility of comparing the raw material with known lithic assemblages, these finds also provide an opportunity for locating pre- Neolithic open-air sites. For periods before the invention of pottery, recognition of such sites results primarily from the presence of stone artefacts at the earth's surface. Depending on the subsistence strategy, the proximity of raw materials from which the artefacts are commonly made can be an essential factor for archaeological visibility. Besides the availability of stone, landscape analysis should also include potential availability of food, terrain, water sources, karst landforms etc. Based on the principles discussed in the text, the existence of surface finds might be expected in areas geographically related to the Danilo polje. In the case of discovery of a distinct Mesolithic assemblage, a comparison could be made with the local Neolithic stone tool industry in a non-cave context.

chert, raw material source, Dalmatia

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