Geoarchaeological review of the main flint outcrops in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula from the classical geological sources

This study presents the first comprehensive geoarchaeological synthesis and mapping of primary flint outcrops in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula, specifically across the Penibetic, Subbetic, and Campo de Gibraltar domains. Through a systematic review of classical geological literature and reinterpretation of existing cartography, we identify, characterise, and georeference the main flint-bearing formations over an area of nearly 7000 km 2 . Our approach integrates stratigraphic, lithological, and palaeoenvironmental data to refine the location, geological context, and petrographic characteristics of each outcrop. Key flint sources are mainly associated with Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous limestone and marl units, showing a diverse fossil content and varying degrees of diagenetic silicification. Notably, this work documents the existence of primary flint sources in the Campo de Gibraltar, previously considered absent, and proposes new hypotheses on their genesis and archaeological potential. The resulting map and dataset provide an essential foundation for future fieldwork, sampling strategies, and provenance studies, offering new perspectives on raw material availability, mobility, and prehistoric resource management in southern Iberia.