Santander, February 19th-22nd 2008 - Aranzadi

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174 RUTH MAICAS & AIXA VIDAL Almizaraque and Rambla de Huéchar, where Siret himself identified the abrasion of part of the spira to make some kind of horns or trumpets. Moreover, he also found some fragments cut out from the big gastropod showing an important abrasion in their external surface and tiny unidentified particles on both surfaces. These cuts take advantage of the natural curve of the mollusc shell, a technique that provides both a small concavity and a flat area that facilitates the addition of a handle to the object, making it a sort of vessel or spoon. At the same time, this handle area shows the undulated natural form of the gastropod, which could be also useful as an imprecise scraper. Moreover, some shell fragments that present a small surface worked in a rounded form perpendicular to the object axis may also have functioned as burnishers in pottery decoration. Finally, due to their natural morphology, Scaphopoda specimens found in these prehistoric sites may only be postulated as mollusc beads. 4. BEADS AND PENDANT WITH GEOMETRIC PARAMETERS The breaking and abrasion by sea phenomena can form natural “beads”, such as the small cupules from Conus. Most frequently, though, the beads have experienced important transformations, making it very difficult to recognize their original forms. The modifications sometimes show simple geometric patterns; thus, they could be classified according to their appearances. In Southeast Iberia, the most frequent shape of shell materials is the discoidal bead, first analysed by Siret (Maicas 2007: 24). 5. SUMMARY Abrasion is the most frequent manufacturing technique found in these assemblages. We observe percussion and grooving too, as well as combinations of different techniques in the same objects. For the preparation of holes, the use of both flint and metal drills can be identified, according to the period. Marks of flint drills are easily recognized by their conical shape and clear parallel striation. Metal drills, on the other hand, produce rather cylindrical profiles and plain walls (Barciela 2004: 562). So far, the aesthetic value of these molluscs is impossible to assess in prehistoric societies, but colour was most probably important in this aspect (for a different discussion of the role of colour in the selection of raw materials, see Roberts 2008). It is likely that the presence of a crackled transparent substance over the surfaces -probably resinobserved both on Glycymeris sp. and Conus mediterraneus shells was related to the interest in intensifying the original colour of the shell. The time spent in manufacturing either an ornament or any other non-utilitarian object is important from a modern perspective, but it may not be the same parameter for prehistoric societies, making it difficult to evaluate their significance in their original systemic contexts. Social identity as a symbol, quality of handicraft, size, colour and resource availability are some of the aspects that may determine whether an object is accessible or not. In this situation, molluscs directly recovered and used without any intentional modification may have been available for all the members of a community; taxonomic selection, on the other hand, may indicate a previously assigned value, which determines the sense of gathering them. The presence of sea molluscs frequent in inland sites some 60km from the sea (30 out of 35 graves from Alto Almanzora) suggests some kind of exchange relationship. The differences in shell material percentages between Neolithic and Chalcolithic assemblages further show at least a change in the social value of these items. The concentration of Conus and Columbella shells in Almizaraque suggests the existence of a workshop, possibly with a production similar to those in Egypt or the Near East. Since Siret’s first finding of these workshops in Los Toyos (Siret and Siret 1890) the reports of different manufacture loci have increased, suggesting basically domestic and scarcely specialized production (Pascual 2005: 284). Among Southeastern Iberian organic artefacts, shell was the most abundant material during the Neolithic, although it continued to be significant during the next period, especially in Millares’ graves. As the recovery of shell in coastal sites is quite frequent and non-specific, it may have been an easily accessible raw material for ornaments and small utilitarian objects. Then, why is the percentage of shell objects higher at Neolithic than at Chalcolithic sites? Is it just a mirror of the increasing social differentiation in Chalcolithic societies? The existence of new and exotic materials had probably devaluated the ornamental role of the humble local shell; however, it seems to have retained its importance for utilitarian uses. Many authors have considered the social value of adornments; the collections we discussed, however, present the serious drawback of lacking a detailed context of finding. Furthermore, MUNIBE Suplemento - Gehigarria 31, 2010 S.C. Aranzadi. Z.E. Donostia/San Sebastián
More than food: beads and shell tools from late prehistory in the Spanish Southeast 175 the broad chronological frame considered would lead to different interpretations for the many cases. Basically the social value of these objects is testified by their continual use during a long time period, the imitation of some types (such as the deer canines), and their medium- and longdistance trade. Its use, however, should not have been restricted to a ritual sphere as they were probably present in daily life as well as in special occasions and burials. Some other shell artefacts, like spoons and vessels, are more easily identified with daily maintenance activities. Nevertheless, their activities probably exceeded the mere feeding and storage functions, further considering social or ritual representational functions, like the body use of colorants identified in human remains, probably represented here in the small vessels with the remains of these materials. These aspects of shell technology provide “food for thought” and postulate new questions that will demand further work in the future. 6. BIBLIOGRAPHY BADUEL, N. 2005 “La question des palettes et du fard”. Dossiers d’Archeologie, 307: 44–51. BARCIELA, V. 2004 “Los elementos de adorno sobre soporte malacológico de El Cerro de El Cuchillo (Almansa, Albacete): Una aproximación tecnológica”. En Hernández, L. & Hernández, M. (Eds.) En tierras valencianas y zonas limítrofes. Valencia: 559–565. BAR-YOSEF, D. (ed.) 2005 Archaeomalacology. Molluscs in former environments of human behaviour. Proceedings of 9 th Conference of International Council of Archaeozoology. Oxbow Books. Oxford. CONNAN, J.; KAVAK, O.; AKIN, E.; YALÇIN, M.N.; IMBUS, K. & ZUMBERGE, J. 2006 “Identification and origin of bitumen in Neolithic artefacts from Demirköy Höyük (8100 BC): Comparison with oil seeps and crude oils from southeastern Turkey”. Organic Geochemistry, 37 (12): 1752–1767. GIMBUTAS, M.; WINN, S. & SHIMBUKU, D. 1989 Achilleion, A Neolithic Settlement in Thessaly, Greece (6400-4600 BC). Monumenta Archaeologica 14. Institute of Archaeology. University of California, Los Angeles. MAICAS, R. 1999 “La industria ósea neolítica del Sureste: Avance preliminar” Saguntum Extra-2. 151–156. 2007 Industria ósea y funcionalidad: Neolítico y Calcolítico en la Cuenca de Vera (Almería). Bibliotheca Praehistorica Hispana. CSIC. Madrid. PASCUAL, J. L. 1998 Utillaje óseo, adornos e ídolos neolíticos valencianos. Diputación Provincial de Valencia. Valencia. 2005 “Los talleres de cuentas de Cardium en el Neolítico peninsular”. En: Avias, P; Ontañon, R. & Garcia-Moncó, C. (Eds.): III Congreso de Neolítico de la Península Ibérica, III PC, Monografías 1. Santander: 277–286. PERDIKARIS, S.; BROWN, J.; SIMPSON, I.; MURPHY, R.; McGOVERN, T.; LOOK, C. & BROWN, M. 2008 “Interdisciplinary, International Collaboration: Archaeological Investigations in Barbuda, West Indies”. Proceedings of the VI World Archaeological Congress. ROBERTS, B. 2008 “Metallurgical Innovations and Material Traditions: Understanding the Earliest Metal Objects and Metal Production in Europe”. Proceedings of the VI World Archaeological Congress. RUIZ, M. 1999 “Los artefactos y arteusos malacológicos de Gatas”. En: Proyecto Gatas. 2. La dinámica arqueológica de la ocupación prehistórica. Arqueología monografías. Junta de Andalucía. Consejería de Cultura. Sevilla: 361–387. SHERRATT, A. 1997 Economy and Society in Prehistoric Europe. Changing Perspectives. Edinburgh University Press. Edinburgh. SCHIFFER, M. 1972 “Archaeological context and systemic context”. American Antiquity 37: 156–165. SIRET, H. & SIRET, L. 1890 Las primeras edades del metal en el Sudeste de España. Barcelona. VIDAL, A. & MALLÍA. M. S. 2008 “Good Manners at the Table: A Survey of Spoons in Prehistoric Western Europe”. Proceedings of the VI World Archaeological Congress. VITALES, T. 2008 “Shells, Rituals, Identities: Melo Shell Artifacts as Cultural Identity Markers”. Proceedings of the VI World Archaeological Congress. WHITTLE, A. 2003 The Archaeology of People. Dimensions of Neolithic Life. Routledge. London. LUJÁN, A. 2004 “Consideraciones sobre el aprovechamiento de restos malacológicos durante la Edad del Bronce en el Levante peninsular”. En Hernández, L. & Hernández, M. (Eds.): En Tierras valencianas y zonas limítrofes. Valencia: 91-97. MUNIBE Suplemento - Gehigarria 31, 2010 S.C. Aranzadi. Z.E. Donostia/San Sebastián
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SUPLEMENTO - GEHIGARRIA 31 Not only
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Not only Food. Marine, Terrestrial
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10 ESTEBAN ÁLVAREZ-FERNÁNDEZ, E.
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12 ESTEBAN ÁLVAREZ-FERNÁNDEZ, E.
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Not only Food. Marine, Terrestrial
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Radiocarbon dating of shell carbona
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20 KATERINA DOUKA, THOMAS F. G. HIG
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Marine shell beads from the Gravett
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30 CRISTINA SAN JUAN-FOUCHER & PASC
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Upper Paleolithic ornament seashell
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38 ANTONIO J. RODRÍGUEZ-HIDALGO, A
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MUNIBE(Suplemento/Gehigarria) - nº
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The personal ornaments made from mo
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Magdalenian marine shells from El H
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60 MIGUEL ÁNGEL FANO & ESTEBAN ÁL
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From the Mediterranean sea to the S
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Shell beads in the Pre-Pottery Neol
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Lost in the mountains? Marine ornam
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102 JORGE MARTÍNEZ-MORENO, RAFAEL
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New data on Asturian shell midden s
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112 F. IGOR GUTIÉRREZ & MANUEL GON
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Page 178 and 179: Oysters ancient and modern: potenti
Page 180 and 181: 178 GREG CAMPBELL The author assess
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224 EMILIANO R. MELGAR In addition,
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The Maya nacreous shell garment of
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228 HORTENSIA DE VEGA, EMILIANO R.
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Malacological Material from Pezuapa
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238 HERVÉ V. MONTERROSA & REYNA B.
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Specialized Shell Object Production
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Of Shell and Sand: Coastal Habitat
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274 ISABEL C. RIVERA-COLLAZO the an
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276 ISABEL C. RIVERA-COLLAZO Figure
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280 ISABEL C. RIVERA-COLLAZO GASTRO
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Molluscs as sedimentary components.
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The U.S. Freshwater Shell Button In
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Santander, February 19th-22nd 2008 - Aranzadi

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