Santander, February 19th-22nd 2008 - Aranzadi

Technology, production and use of malacological ornaments and tools at the prehistoric site of Can Roqueta (Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain)
Figure 2.
ted with individual
Perforated
2 in Glycymerissp.made CRCRV255.
by abrasive technique associa-
4. EARLY BRONZE AGE (from 2300 to 1300 cal. BC)
nium During and 2nd the millennium) Early Bronze there Age was (late an increase 3rd millen-
more or less permanent habitation areas, and long in
duration llic production. settlements. Changes It was in the the beginning funerary of context, metadence
like collective of profound burials social in hypogeumgraves, transformation, are distinguished
communities, groups which with implied social a differences high pressure within on environment, resources, etc. the
evi-
during The the continuous Early Bronze settlements Age (2,000-1,400 in Can BC) Roqueta
so concentrated that they involve a diversity are
structures like storage pits, dwelling “huts” and of
overall complex graves and burials.
increase This in period the morphological was also characterized variety and the by procedurements.
Bivalves to transform (Cerastoderma shells, basically glaucum in orna-
an
Glycymerissp.), gastropods (Stramonita haemastoma,
(Dentalium Charonia vulgare) lampas) were the chosen and scaphopods
and
that finality. The study of prehistoric ornamentation species for
attributes atCan Roquetaevidences in individual graves the and non we standardized
discern that the same ornamental type could was also
repeated from one grave to another, so one serial not
ornament (Oliva 2004, is 2006). exclusive The to variability one collective in ornamental burial
issues shows technologically old procedures and
149
is forated represented shells and by bone gastropods, V-perforated buttons, per-
cardium3
dentalium beads, Glycymeris pendants, beads,
rings or bracelets. The manufactured metallic bronze
objects Bones and in marine Can Roqueta malacology are were smaller still and the basic rare.
raw material to produce ornamental items.
Roquetaare The ornamental over 400 example cardiumbeads of shell forming used in necklaces
excavated and grave bracelets containing arms 10 and skeletons. ankles in The an
Can
tomb ker ceramics, architecture evidences of CRTR151, that these with beads epi-bell may bea-
ancient reminiscence of the Chalcolithic period,
and 1745 the cal. radiocarbon BC)4confirms date this of (Carlús 3,530±40 et al. BP in press). (1963-
The and beads show are great very similarity small (4-8 amongst mm max. each diameter)
Most of them are 5 mm in diameter and are 1-2mm other.
wide (Fig. 3).
were Beads, also associated pendants and with perforated buried individuals gastropods
CRII459 (above), where nearly 20 polished circular in
the cardiumbeads chest of 2 and individuals, two pendants buried were in a found collective over
tomb of different with another sizes, with 24 skeletons. irregular outlines All these and beads erosion are
surfaces. made from The one beads face, probably have a central with a perforation,
tool. Their size is larger than the beads flint recovered drilling
in production CRTR151 of and these the beads edges was are regular very irregular. and follows The
a trolled pattern fracture noted of in our valves experimental to get process: initial pre-form, a con-
polishing central hole the with outline a stone surfaces, point or and flint perforating drill (or perhaps
concentric a bronze circular point way. in historic Our experimental chronologies) process in a
also fixed noted over a that surface the circular to ensure pre-form a successful needs to hole, stay
and all its finally surfaces the circular (Oliva 2002, form 2004a). is finished by polishing
object Cardium from the circular Ancient beads Neolithic, are an an example ornamental
which is the site of Barranc d’en Fabra (Amposta, of
Tarragona) continue to with be found 1500 until cardium the 3rd beads. millennium, Small beads
groups of cardium beads have been found in when
rary caves like Cova de les Aigües de fune-
Brics
3Cardiumused as a generic name because Cerastoderma or Acanthocardiaidentification is a difficult task when the object is highly manufacturated.
4Laboratory: UBAR-863 Calibration data set: intcal04.14c (Mestres, 2006).
MUNIBE Suplemento - Gehigarria 31, 2010
S.C. Aranzadi. Z.E. Donostia/San Sebastián