Lithic analysis of materials from Mujina Pećina

Karavanić, Ivor and Golubić, Vladimir and Kurtanjek, Dražen and Šošić, Rajna and Zupanić, Jožica. (2008). Lithic analysis of materials from Mujina Pećina. Vjesnik za arheologiju i povijest dalmatinsku, 101(1). pp. 29-58. ISSN 1845-7789

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Abstract

This article contains the results of typological, technological and petrographic analysis of lithics gathered during research conducted from 1995 to 2000 and an overview of chert deposits in the nearer and farther vicinity of the cave called Mujina Pećina at Kaštela. All lithics found in the layers of Mujina Pećina belong to the Mousterian material culture, so given this fact and the results of chronometric dating (45000-39000 years before the present), they can unambiguously be attributed to Neanderthals. This paper presents the results of detailed analysis of lithics from layers B and C and D1 and D2. All production phases were present at the site, which functioned as a workshop. Products are also present which testify to the use of the Levallois technique. The most frequent types of tools are partially retouched pieces and denticulates and notches. The Mousterian culture people temporarily residing in Mujina Pećina used the raw materials from the cave’s vicinity, but perhaps from farther afield as well (from Svilaja). The Neanderthals from Mujina Pećina successfully adapted the production of their tools to various types of the most easily available raw materials, which indicates the high degree of intelligence, social cohesion and adaptability of these people.

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