El proceso de producción lítica en las sociedades prehistóricas. Reflexiones desde una perspectiva de género

Abstract

In this paper the author argues for a more social and gender –based approach to the analysis of the proces-ses of manufacture, use and deposition of lithic ma-terial. Using the chaîne opérateur perspective a study of lithic production is presented based on a series of actions that express and reaffirm gender identity and social relations. The study emphasizes the collaborati-ve nature of tasks related to extraction and transport of stone material with reference to ethnographic resear-ch. In addition, the role of female labour in quarrying work in prehistoric communities is demonstrated by using examples of osteopathologies from skeleton ma-terial. Finally, the author suggests the need for more attention to be directed at the role of children in lithic manufacturing processes.