Moriles is located in the south of the province of Córdoba, in a region known as Southern Campiña Cordobesa. This rural territory shares its surroundings with cities of great historical value, such as Aguilar de la Frontera, Monturque, and Puente Genil (Lacort et al., 1994; Cortés, 2015; Medina-Luque et al., 2024). Additionally, the municipality stands out for its gentle topography, with some notable elevations surrounding its urban core. Among these are Cerro de la Teja, at 427 meters above sea level, and Cerro del Lagar de Casablanca, at 421 msnm (Lacort et al., 1994; Medina-Luque et al., 2024).
Archaeological evidence in the territory is abundant, as Lacort and colleagues (1994) indicate in their publication based on surveys conducted at the beginning of the 1990s. However, no significant human occupation evidence dating back to the Paleolithic period was found during these efforts, although some archaeological pieces were later discovered on the surface (Medina-Luque et al., 2024).
The aim of this work is the techno-typological analysis of two artifacts associated with the Lower Paleolithic, one of the most characteristic cultural periods in human evolution. For this purpose, classification methods established by Altamirano et al., 2021 and Caro et al., 2023 were followed.
Description and analysis
Firstly, we found a triangular point made of flint that is very worn due to erosion over time. This tool was crafted from a pebble using a hard hammer, a technique requiring great skill and precision. The flakes were extracted and shaped bifacially, meaning they were removed from both sides of the pebble, which allowed for greater efficiency in its use (Fig. 2).
Secondly, a bifacial tool made of quartzite was found, also severely worn. This artifact was crafted from a pebble and a hard hammer as well. The flaking is bifacial, leaving an unworked part that serves as a grip (Fig. 3). This bifacial flaking technique not only provided cutting edges on both sides but also allowed for prolonged and versatile use of the tool. The symmetrical shape and continuous edge of the bifacial likely made it useful for cutting and scraping, serving as an essential tool for subsistence.
Both tools, by their flaking technique and characteristics, clearly belong to the Lower Paleolithic in the context of technology known as Acheulean. In the Iberian Peninsula, this technology spans a broad chronological range from 600,000 to 150,000 years BP. This technology is characterized by the production of large bifacial tools and is associated with early hominids that inhabited Europe and Africa. Detailed analysis of these pieces not only helps identify their chronology but also provides a better understanding of the technical skills and adaptation strategies of hunter-gatherer societies at the time. The presence of these tools in Moriles adds a new dimension to our understanding of the dispersal and activities of Acheulean communities in the Southern Campiña Cordobesa region.
Functionality and provenance
Acheulean stone tools have been a subject of study since the beginnings of archaeology due to the valuable information they provide about hunter-gatherer societies from the past. Determining the exact functionality of these artifacts is complex, but it is known that both pieces found in Moriles could serve multiple tasks. These multifunctional tools, similar to modern Swiss Army knives, were used for cutting meat, bones, and vegetables, carving wood, perforating and scraping hides, among other activities. This versatility reflects the adaptability and ingenuity of prehistoric communities in exploiting natural resources.
The provenance of these pieces suggests they come from river terraces along the Río Genil, a strategic area for hunter-gatherer societies. River zones not only offered biotic resources such as meat and fish but also abiotic ones like quartzite and flint, essential materials for tool-making. These materials were found in nodules and shaped to produce functional artifacts.
Previous research in the region corroborates the importance of these materials. In Cueva del Ángel (Lucena, Córdoba), up to 50 bifaces have been located (Barroso et al., 2012), and in Montilla (Córdoba) two Paleolithic stone pieces from river terraces were found. These findings highlight the significance of Río Genil's river terraces as a resource source and their role in the subsistence of Lower Paleolithic communities. Continued archaeological research in these contexts can provide deeper understanding of adaptation and survival strategies of our ancestors.
Conclusions
The techno-typological analysis of tools found in Moriles provides a detailed view of human activity during the Lower Paleolithic in Southern Campiña Cordobesa. The flint and quartzite pieces, crafted using bifacial techniques, reveal high levels of skill and adaptation by hunter-gatherer societies to their environment. These multifunctional tools reflect not only Acheulean technology but also the ability of these communities to exploit available resources on river terraces along the Río Genil. The presence of these artifacts in Moriles, alongside similar findings in Lucena and Montilla, suggests a more extensive occupation of the region during this period.
This study underscores the importance of continuing archaeological research in the area, as each new discovery contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of Prehistory in Andalusia. Future surveys and analyses may reveal more about settlement dynamics and subsistence strategies of our ancestors, enriching knowledge of the historical and cultural heritage of the region.
Bibliography
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