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- A multi-technique approach to characterization: the Sant Martí de Tous chert as a prehistoric resource for the NE of the Iberian PeninsulaPublication . Gómez de Soler, Bruno; Soto, María; Carrancho, Ángel; Gispert-Guirado, Francesc; Mommsen, Hans; Morales, Juan Ignacio; del Pozo, Alicia Muñoz; Roldán, Clodoaldo; Eixea, Aleix; Chacón, M. Gema; Soares-Remiseiro, Miguel; Vallverdú, JosepThe Sant Genis Formation is located in the NE of the Iberian Peninsula (Catalonia, Spain) and is dated to the Priabonian (upper Eocene), being part of the evaporitic formations of the margin of the Ebro Basin. It is formed by a succession of sandy lutites, occasional limestone layers, marls, and local stratified gypsum and cherts, including the Sant Marti de Tous chert. The Sant Marti de Tous chert type is confirmed by its abundance at specific locations within the territory (NE Iberian Peninsula). This is an important raw material procurement area, as evidenced by the presence of this chert in the main prehistoric sites of the region (e.g., Abric Romani) and the constant discovery of new sites in the area around the Sant Genis Formation, especially from the Neolithic period onwards (e.g., Cal Sitjo, La Guinardera Nord workshop). All these features, together with the great heterogeneity of the Cenozoic evaporitic cherts, prompted us to carry out a multi-proxy characterization for obtaining a valid criterion by which to identify this chert in the archaeological record. This very heterogeneity hampers the macroscopic characterization of archaeological cherts (e.g., at Abric Romani), but through petrographic analysis we have been able to identify their origins and, albeit to a lesser extent, their lithostratigraphic unit of provenance within the formation. The complementary mineralogical and geochemical techniques applied in this study show that, although it is difficult to establish an exact origin, through intensive sampling and criteria such as the differential presence of Fe and Ca, some differences among the siliceous varieties within a formation can be detected.
- Integrating musealized archaeological sediment collections into current geoarchaeological analytical frameworks for sustainable research practicesPublication . Costanzo, Stefano; Pappalardo, Marta; Starnini, Elisabetta; Rossoni-Notter, Elena; Notter, Olivier; Moussous, Abdelkader; Soares Remiseiro, Miguel; Soares-Remiseiro, Miguel; Fermo, Paola; Cremaschi, Mauro; Zerboni, AndreaWe present a review of the latest framework achievements in geoarchaeological sciences applied to microstratigraphic and biomolecular studies of prehistoric archaeological contexts, highlighting the importance of musealized archaeological stratigraphies. We assess how today's scientific and technological accomplishments can be tailored for archaeological human ecology studies with analytical ensembles that provide unprecedented results. Sampling and processing workflows originating from resin consolidation and thin section micromorphology of undisturbed blocks of archaeological soils and sediments, guarantee subsampling accuracy at the micrometre scale granting access to individual components otherwise impossible to target: the achievable information yield makes even the smallest soil samples potential sources of pioneering discoveries. Yet, archaeological excavations are still the primary mode of retrieving new soil samples. We argue that, when dealing with archaeological sites that were excavated and partially musealised in the past, the exploration of related museum collections should be prioritized as perspective source of new study samples. Analysing old and potentially very informative samples, with an approach that we define as "Green Archaeology ", may represent a source of well-structured primary data as well as a means for planning new excavations, delivering novel discoveries while safeguarding site integrity and promoting Third Mission valorisation of sites and heritage dormant collections.