From Stone to Tool: How Raw Materials Influenced Upper Paleolithic Technology in Southwestern Iberia (Vale Boi)

• DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/wk8jm_v1
• Publication Date: 2025-04-17T19:31:26Z
• Authors: Joana Belmiro; Nuno Bicho; Xavier Terradas; João Cascalheira
• Keywords: Upper Paleolithic

The Upper Palaeolithic (UP) of westernmost Europe was marked by technological and cultural transformations abrupt climatic shifts. Iberian Peninsula, particularly southwestern Iberia, served as a refugia key eco-cultural niche, making it region for UP studies. Vale Boi, the only site in Iberia with nearly complete sequence, provides critical insights into technological, economical mobility patterns over time. This study examines lithic raw material procurement organisation at focusing on differences between local non-local cherts. We analysed chert assemblages from Gravettian, Proto-Solutrean, Solutrean levels, integrating previously published techno-typological macroscopic petrographic data. Our results indicate that cherts were intensively reduced. presence varied classes suggests not exclusively transported finished tools, instead highlighting their role versatile, transportable volumes. Gravettian occupations exhibited greater reliance cherts, suggesting short-term higher mobility, while Proto-Solutrean showed increased dependence materials, long-term occupations. These findings expand our understanding adaptations emphasizing complex resources settlement, social networks.