LITHIC TECHNOLOGY DURING THE TARDIGLACIAL IN CENTRAL PORTUGAL: THE EXAMPLE OF ABRIGO 1 DE VALE DE COVÕES (SOURE)

Abstract

The rock shelter 1 of Vale de Covões was identified, by T. Aubry, in 2001, and in that same year, to assess the stratigraphy, a 1m2 test pit was carried out as part of an extensive project on the prehistoric occupation of the Sicó Massif. The identification of levels preliminarily attributed to the Magdalenian and to the Gravettian, motivated an 8m2 excavation in 2004. Whitten this article we present the description and our interpretation on the technology of the lithic artefacts recovered in the stratigraphic units 3 and 4 of this rock shelter. A charcoal collected in the stratigraphic unit 4 allowed to obtain a date of 10 020 ± 40 BP (Cal 9769-9367 BC) in convergence with the chrono-cultural attribution to the Late Magdalenian. These studies, on the lithic industry, were carried out in the framework of an academic work. The faunal analysis, geo-archaeological studies and dating, for the complete sequence, are still undergoing.