Lithic production from local raw materials during Late Paleolithic/Mesolithic period in Bohemia: Example of exploitation of the rock crystal at Soutice 1 (Benešov District)

Abstract

On site production from local raw material has its specific characteristics.Rock crystal and quartz are raw materials, which were widely used duringprehistory. However, an example of their exploitation at the proximity of thesource was missing from the Czech Republic. The article discusses attributesof the lithic production from local raw materials using the example of rockcrystal. There is a presentation of the lithic collection from the site ofSoutice 1 (Central Bohemia), which was recently discovered at the confluenceof the rivers Sázava and Želivka. The site was discovered by surface surveyduring 2023. More than 500 lithic pieces were collected. The assemblage isdominated by rock crystal. The site is situated in archaeologically understud-ied area. One of the origins of this raw material often seen in this region isthe area of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.