Lithic Raw Materials in Prehistory

This volume emerges from the stimulating session “Lithic Raw Materials in Prehistory: Methods, Practice and Theory” held at the 27th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists (Kiel, 2021). It brings together diverse international perspectives and methodological approaches to explore the multifaceted topic of lithic raw material procurement, distribution, and its significance in reconstructing past human behaviour. Lithic materials – among the earliest cultural resources in human history – offer a unique lens into prehistoric economies, production strategies, mobility, and social organization. Through cutting-edge analytical techniques, including petrographic and geochemical methods, the contributions in this volume move beyond traditional macroscopic analyses, marking a significant shift in archaeological research. Divided into two sections, the first presents methodological advances in raw material characterization (with a focus on chert and flint), while the second showcases case studies ranging from Middle Palaeolithic France to Neolithic Alps and Corded Ware battle-axes in Finland. Together, these contributions underscore the growing importance of provenance studies in archaeology and advocate for an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to lithic resource management. This volume not only reflects the dynamic evolution of lithic studies but also serves as an invitation to scholars – emerging and established – to further unravel the complexity of prehistoric economic systems through collaborative, fundamental research.