Petrology and Provenance of Lithic Raw Materials used to knap stone: A Case Study From the Inner Ionian Sea

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Published: Feb 24, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/bgsg.19655
Keywords:
Patina Chert Knapped Stone Palaeolithic Neolithic Bronze Age Silica Diagenesis Lithic Provenance Lithology Ionian Sea
Andreas Magganas
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Nena Galanidou
University of Crete
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7119-8825
Petros Chatzimpaloglou
University of Cambridge
Marianna Kati
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Giorgos Iliopoulos
University of Patras
Athanassios Katerinopoulos
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Abstract

This paper examines the lithology and raw material provenance of knapped stone artifacts recovered from prehistoric sites on Meganisi in the course of the Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago survey. Research was twofold: in the field to map the geology of the island and collect raw material samples, and in the laboratory to conduct a petrological study using LM, XRD, SEM and ICP-MS techniques. The greater part of the materials used to produce stone tools consists of almost pure SiO2, bedded or nodular cherts mainly of Malm–Turonian and Eocene ages. The cherts were collected by prehistoric knappers from local sources. Patinas present on the artifacts are relatively enriched in calcite material of incomplete silica diagenesis and subsequently a product of late weathering and alteration.

Article Details
  • Section
  • Petrology and Mineralogy
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Author Biographies
Andreas Magganas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Dept. of Geology and Geo-environment
Nena Galanidou, University of Crete

Dept. of History & Archaeology

 

Petros Chatzimpaloglou, University of Cambridge
Dept. of Archaeology
Marianna Kati, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Dept. of Geology and Geo-environment
Giorgos Iliopoulos, University of Patras
Dept. of Geology
Athanassios Katerinopoulos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Dept. of Geology and Geo-environment
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