The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Selection of flint nodules, first step of the chaîne opératoire: data from ST6 Neolithic mine (Spiennes, Belgium)

Neolithic miners at Spiennes (Belgium) demonstrated a nuanced approach to flint nodule selection, prioritizing blocks with minimal flaws such as extensional fractures. Analysis of shaft ST6, exploited between 4200-3600 BCE, revealed variability in selection criteria across mined beds, suggesting adaptive strategies based on raw material quality. The presence of hammerstones and roughouts within the mine raises intriguing questions about potential underground knapping activities, challenging assumptions about Neolithic tool production practices.

Cattelain, L., Collet, H., Collin, J.-P., Hennebert, M., & Woodbury, M. (2024). The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Selection of flint nodules, first step of the chaîne opératoire: data from ST6 Neolithic mine (Spiennes, Belgium). Anthropologica Et Praehistorica. https://doi.org/10.57937/AP.2023.011