engleski

Circulation of lithic raw material at the end of Pleistocene: the view from Kopačina Cave (island of Brač, Dalmatia, Croatia)

Lithic raw material provenance studies present valuable source of information about prehistoric hunter-gatherers’ territorial patterns, mobility, exchange and social networks. Here we present results about origin and circulation of lithic raw material used during Late Epigravettian in Kopačina Cave. Its lithic raw material economy is characterized by the exploitation of different cherts and radiolarites. Based on micro- and macroscopic analyses we propose probable sources for lithic production in Kopačina Cave. Cherts are both locally and regionally available, while radiolarites originate from more distant areas. Use of local sources is predominant in all phases. Use of regional sources shows a gradual trend of increase in frequency from the earliest to the latest phase, while use of extra-regional sources has an obvious drop in frequency from the eldest to the youngest phase. Temporal trends in lithic raw material use suggest certain continuity during the whole Epigravettian sequence. However, one can also observe changes in terms of larger exploitation areas and/or more intensive long-distance contacts in earlier Epigravettian phases in Kopačina than in the later ones. Origin and use of radiolarites in Kopačina’s Late Upper Paleolithic layers suggest movements of hunter-gatherers deeper in east Adriatic continental hinterland where up to now only a few traces of human settlements from Late Glacial have been found. Possible contacts with the west Adriatic coast are indicated by lithic raw material of several artifacts from the site.

Kopačina Cave, Late Epigravettian, lithic raw material economy, mobility, cherts, radiolarites

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