Santander, February 19th-22nd 2008 - Aranzadi

The use of marine shell in Cingle Vermell and Roc del Migdia (Vilanova de Sau, Barcelona, Spain), two prehistoric sites in the western Mediterranean. First approach
Cardiidae and some only fragments. are represented by broken valves
de some The shell perforated ornaments gastropod from Cingle and Vermell scaphopod inclu-
shells. Trivia Ornamental monacha, pieces Cyclope, are made Nassarius from sp. shells and of
cimens, Dentalium. having Of particular 2 perforations interest each, are the and Triviaspe-
theCyclope pellucida (4 individuals), perforated some of
a distinct zone of the shell, as well one of the in
Dentaliumand tus. The ornaments the perforated are characterised Nassarius by perforationpension
and system it may be or, that in the they case formed of Trivia part sp., of a they sus-
incrassa-
may example, have as been ethnographic fixed to another usages) object because (leather traces
repeated lines polish between movement and around over surface. holes indicates (Fig.
for
2).
141
Figure 3.
photo at 40x
The
and
specimens
60x.
of Nassarius incrassatusandDentaliumsp. Detail
Figure 2. Ornaments from Cingle Vermell.
Figure 4. Perforated Cyclopesp. with abrasive traces at 80x.
distinguish Using a the binocular different microscope techniques it is used possible in production
Nassarius of incrassatusbears the ornaments. The irregular specimen perfora-
of
to
tion made (3mm by controlled x 3mm) percussion. with rectangular A trace product tendency,
abrasion is visible around the edge of the perforation(?).The
signs of suspension, Dentalium with vulgare erosive specimen edges and shows
of
sive traces in the surface (Fig. 3). The Dentalium abra-
shells such use. from Roc del Migdia also show evidence of
perforations The specimens in the body of whorl, Cyclope above pellucida the aperture. present
The tionality holes and are were irregular using but two show techniques: rectangular abrasion inten-
against cussion. another (Fig. 4). The hard situation material of and the holes controlled may suggest
suspension: small gastropods could be
per-
suspended
similar examples by a string have or thread been studied like pendants. from Abric Some
Cativera (El Catllar, Tarragona) (Estrada, 2004). de
similarity: The specimens they are more of or Trivia less monachashow the same size great
the holes are situated in the same zone, forming and
parallel duo. Perforations are irregular but with a circular
abrasive intentionality movement (2mm and controlled x 2mm), percussion. made by initial
a
can observe use traces around the siphonal canal We
and connected between with the a string. holes, This suggesting indicates that that they the were
were suspended, alternatively they may have been shell
fixed to clothing. (Fig. 5).
clearly The similar shell ornaments to ornamental from types Cingle described Vermell are
France and the north of the Iberian peninsula during
the period Epipalaeolithic,. have been found Similar at artefacts Abric de from la Cativera the same
Catllar, Tarragona), Balma de la Griera (Calafell, (El
Tarragona) and Balma del Gai (Moià, Barcelona).
MUNIBE Suplemento - Gehigarria 31, 2010
S.C. Aranzadi. Z.E. Donostia/San Sebastián