Rock grinding equipment (EMR) in the northwest Iberian: Towards a territorial characterization

Abstract

This study presents the results of a systematic analysis of more than 170 sites with Rock-Cut Grinding Equipment (EMR) located in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula, examined in recent years. Until now, the lack of detailed studies has hindered the understanding and contextualization of these assemblages, despite their significance for the knowledge of the Recent Prehistory of this region. Their relevance lies both in their connection to representational spaces and in their uniqueness within the Iberian context. In this study, a typological analysis of EMR has been carried out in relation to the production of millstones and mortars, examining their territorial distribution in the region. To achieve this, photogrammetry has been used as the primary research tool, allowing the acquisition of volumetric and morphometric data from 1,144 structures, comprising 502 millstones and 642 mortars. The main results of the techno-morphological analysis reveal the existence of a technical convention and an Operational Sequence in the manufacture of these structures. Additionally, up to four distinct EMR typologies have been identified, establishing relationships between artifact components (millstones and mortars), as well as variations in their size and working volume.