Magdalenian lithic tools from El Horno Cave (Ramales de la Victoria, Cantabria): a use-wear analysis perspective

Clemente-Conte, Ignacio; Fano, Miguel Angel. "Magdalenian Lithic Tools from El Horno Cave (Ramales De La Victoria, Cantabria): A Use-Wear Analysis Perspective". En: Gibaja, Juan F.; Marreiros, Joao; Mazzucco, Niccolo & Clemente, Ignacio (eds.). Hunter-Gatherers' Tool-Kit: A Functional Perspective. Newcastle upon Tyne : Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020, p. 28-48. ISBN 978-1-5275-4226-6.El Horno Clave is located in the middle River Asón valley (North Spain), at about 200 m above sea level and 20 km from the present coastline. A surface ara of 3.5 m2 was escavated there from 1999 to 2007. The intact part of the archaeological deposit (Levels 1, 2 and 3) yielded a series of remains which can be attributed to upper Magdalenian occupations. Fieldwork in 2000 and 2001 retrieved 1,724 lithics from intact levels. A sample of 503 objects, including ali the retouched pieces and the larger waste products, has been considered for the functional analysis. Taphonomic alterations are common, above ali in Level 2, but a wide range of activities has been identified: hunting with projectiles, processing hides and hard animal matter, butchery, and tasks involving wood and hard mineral substances. The observations that have been made show different situations, at least in Levels 1 and 2. Lithics from the first level seem to have been used mostly to obtain animal products (meat and skins), whereas in Level 2 the functional diversity is greater and tasks usually associated with stable settlements, like dry hide or leather processing, have been documented. Another interesting aspect of the assemblage from El Horno is related to the use-wear and probable residue corresponding to the hafting of the artefacts.The excavations in El Horno were funded by the Gouvernement of Cantabria and the Mirón Project. The present study received financial supportfrom the Human Sciences Department at the University of La RiojaPeer reviewe