The published evidence on lithic raw material procurement in prehistoric times that has been gathered since the nineteenth century is presented in many languages, and is available in both local and international journals. Nowadays, it appears quite overwhelming, almost impossible, to grasp the full extent of research regarding this topic. Publications on methodological grounds or on the synthesis of specific geographical areas have inevitably provided limited scope for reflection and discussion. This volume offers a reference that can provide the 'raw material' for scholars interested in furthering their understanding of prehistoric economic strategies of lithic procurement and exploitation. It is the result of several years collecting bibliographical references. Publications ranging from a simple mention of a few raw materials present at a specific site to detailed studies of lithic sourcing and procurement strategies or the geo-archaeological assessment of chert available in a particular region, have been taken into consideration.

This collective volume offers a variety of perspectives which come together to offer a comprehensive picture of chert procurement and exploitation in Prehistory in the Near East and the Levant. The contributions include geoarchaeological and geological surveys, mapping chert sources and quarry sites, placed in the broader context of lithic resources and exploitation in the region; case studies of specific sites; and the characterization of chert samples and archaeological finds through macroscopic, mineralogical and petrographic analysis. They also offer studies of the raw material selection and chaîne opératoire involved in lithic production using siliceous rocks, offering insights into the development of lithic technology and tool use in the region, from the earliest evidence through to the role of flint and chert in the technological and economic systems of Neolithic farming communities.

This collection presents state-of-the-art approaches to the use of inorganic raw materials in the period known as prehistory. It focuses on stone-tools, adornments, colorants and pottery from Europe, America and Africa. The chapters intimately merge archaeology, anthropology, geology, geography, physics and chemistry to reconstruct past human behaviour, economy, technology, ecology, cognition, territory and social complexity. The book represents a framework of raw material investigation for those working in science, regardless of the time period, region of the world or materials they are studying.

Essential overview of American Indian societies during the Archaic period across central North America.

This volume examines patterns of flint procurement and exploitation at the Acheulo-Yabrudian site Qesem Cave, Israel. The results show how flint had a major impact on early human decision-making and social and cultural lifeways during the Late Lower Paleolithic of the Levant.