Landscapes of Acquisition and Mobility: Sourcing Raw Lithic Materials and Their Distribution in Central Cyprus

Summary

Making use of several long-term survey projects in central Cyprus, the connection between chert sources, find spots and sites are analyzed using chemical and spatial analyses to examine the relationship between mobility and community structure. The Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) of some 150 samples shows that distinct types of chert were preferred, primarily Lefkara translucents. Spatial analyses investigate the associations between particular chert outcrops, small lithic scatters and larger settlements based on this chemical analysis. Results demonstrate clear links between chert sources, lithic scatters and sites highlighting how early settlers used resources as they settled new landscapes. We see that people were willing to travel greater distances to access desired cherts. It is likely that other activities were embedded in these journeys, which would provide not only access to preferred cherts but to a hinterland rich in animals, edible plants, fuel and water. Based on the hierarchy of site sizes, ranging from isolated finds, small scatters and up to sites of several hectares, we may also be seeing a range of site use, from casual discard to seasonal resource exploitation and longer term habitation.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 22710