Beyond the flint: quartzite tools in the middle Paleolithic quarries of the central Iberia

In recent decades, the interfluvial region of Madrid has yielded significant archaeological evidence dating to the Lower and Middle Paleolithic. Excavations conducted on the plateaus between the Manzanares and Jarama rivers (Madrid, Spain) indicate that these sites were primarily devoted to the procurement and processing of flint. During the Acheulean period, lithic production focused predominantly on the manufacture of bifacial tools, whereas in the Mousterian period there was a clear shift toward Levallois core reduction strategies. This interfluvial landscape is characterized by the presence of numerous outcrops of medium- to high-quality Miocene flint, which were intensively exploited over prolonged periods. Within this resource-rich environment, many excavated quarry sites provide valuable insights not only into lithic technological practices but also into the social dimensions of production, including skill transmission and recycling behaviors. The archaeological record reflects a systematic acquisition of raw materials, blanks, preforms, and finished tools, closely linked to complementary activities carried out in nearby fluvial settings. In these areas, quartzite—transported from the banks of the Jarama River—was commonly employed as hammerstones and, we assume, also as heavy-duty percussion tools for flint extraction. Moreover, a secondary quartzite-related chaîne opératoire has been identified in both Acheulean and Mousterian assemblages. This paper presents a selection of representative large artifacts, accompanied by preliminary functional analyses and interpretative remarks. It further discusses the significance of these exceptional tools and their relationship to a secondary chaîne opératoire within the broader framework of regional flint availability and exploitation.