Taċ-Ċawla assemblage

The Taċ-Ċawla assemblage was collected during the excavation of 2014 and consists of 693 pieces in total of which 457 are chert, 111 obsidian and 125 “other” material. The examination suggests that the “other” material is mainly related to local limestone (possibly Coralline) and secondary calcite. The finds related with this excavation have initials TCC (Taċ-Ċawla) and further explanation of their coding is found in the Appendix (Table 6).

Focusing on the chert members of the assemblage, they are also divided into three main groups in terms of sources. The first group is mainly identified by brown colour shades (10YR 4/2, 6/2 and 2/2).

The artefacts of this group are further divided by the size of their grain (i.e. fine and medium) because the difference is so distinctive that it supports an origin from more than one source (see below). This type of material is used for a variety of artefacts and it is found in different shapes and sizes (Fig. 5.27a).

Most of the artefacts in this group have part of the cortex and most likely the outcrop of the chert rock is intercalated with another rock formation. There are only a few dark brown artefacts (e.g. S176/S100) in comparison with the assemblages of the Circle (e.g BR94/S1142/L1279) and Kordin (e.g. S68/L210).

Nonetheless, the macroscopic examination suggests a possible common origin of an artefact from the Circle (i.e. BR94/S1142/L1279) and a member of this group (i.e. S176/S100). However, the assemblage of Taċ-Ċawla has not presented any dark and translucent artefacts like the ones found in the Circle assemblage (e.g. BR89/S395/L449). Moreover, there are not any light brown artefacts similar to the ones reported in the Kordin assemblage (e.g. KRD15/S69/L211).

The second group includes artefacts with macroscopic features similar to the local chert sources (Fig. 5.27b). They are mainly identified from the characteristic brownish colour shades (Fig. 5.27b1,3,4 and 5) and the white spots on their surface (Fig. 5.27b1,2). In comparison with the other two assemblages, they are fewer in number and present less variety. The macroscopic characteristics of these artefacts are similar to those of a small outcrop in Gozo (Fig. 5.27b.2) or to the pale brown outcrop found on both Malta and Gozo (Fig. 5.27b5).

The final group includes all the multi-coloured and highly translucent artefacts that relate neither to the local resources nor to artefacts of the first group (Fig. 5.28). The only exception is one artefact (Fig. 5.28.2; TCC14/S193/L69) which has similarities with the distinct outcrop on Gozo (i.e. G2S6).

Although the members of this group present a variety of colours, they are all highly translucent, shiny and fine-grained. It is the fluctuation in these characteristics which does not allow any safe conclusion on their sources at this stage. Nevertheless, it is possible to record the similarities between them, the artefacts of the other assemblages and the chert formations of Sicily. Indeed, the macroscopic characteristics of the artefact S193/L69 are very similar to a comparative example from the Kordin assemblages (i.e. KRD15/S42/L304). There are some artefacts (e.g. TCC14/S103/L85, S252/L179, S275/L208) which have a yellowish colour, but the rest of their features put in doubt the prospect of a

105 common origin. However, these yellowish artefacts have many similarities with artefacts found in the Circle (e.g. BR89/S291/L334) and Kordin assemblages (e.g. KRD15/S144/L306). In terms of rock sources, there is an artefact (Fig. 5.28.3; TCC14/S460/L273) which looks similar to a chert outcrop found in West Sicily (S22). Finally, an artefact (Fig. 5.28.1; TCC14/S416/L178) has very similar macroscopic characteristics with outcrops in SE Sicily (S18 and S19) and an artefact (i.e.

BR91/S611/L712) of the Circle assemblage.

Figure 5-27: Artefacts related with the first (a) and second group (b) of raw materials.

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Figure 5-28: Foreign chert artefacts.

➢ Types of tools

Regarding the type of tools found in this Taċ-Ċawla assemblage, they are mainly debitage and flake tools. Some of them (n=5; 28%) can be further characterized as angular shatter because they do not present any additional features of flaking. The flake tools are the main type reported in this assemblage and, depending on the manufacturing process, are subdivided into different types. They are mostly unimarginally modified (e.g. S577/L131, S416/L178), but few have been modified on both their surfaces (e.g. S502/L301). These are characterized as biface tools¹¹ (e.g. TCC14/S275/L208, S37/L30), and because they lack any further characteristics, they are also considered unhafted¹² (Fig. 5.29).

Furthermore, the examination found scrapers (e.g. TCC14/S252/L179) but they are fewer in number than the other assemblages and especially in comparison with the Circle. Restricted also is the number of blades reported in the Taċ-Ċawla assemblage (e.g. TCC14/S595/L81, S103/L85), although the shatter and debris (e.g. TCC14/S460/L273) pieces may have come from broken blades.

11 An objective piece extensively modified by flakes removal across the facial surfaces. The two sides of these pieces are called faces and present evidence of flake removal. Some were primarily used as cores or sources for flakes. They may have been used as chopping or cutting tools. Others may be used for hafting or attachment to a handle to serve as a projecting point for arrows or spears (Andrefsky, 2005).

12 Biface tools that are missing the haft element (Andrefsky, 2005). This includes preforms, point tips and bifacial knives. The haft element, when reported, is at the lower part of the artefact and considered to be articulated with a shaft or handle (attached to another element).

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➢ Manufacturing techniques

The examination shows that the primary technique recorded on the artefacts of the Taċ-Ċawla assemblage is percussion flaking. The bigger pieces of the collection do not have any modifications, but some have indications of flakes being extracted from their surfaces. The medium and small artefacts present additional manufacturing techniques, which relate to the type of material. Most of the artefacts, especially the smaller ones, have their edges retouched, but to a lesser extent than the retouch reported for the Circle and Kordin artefacts.

The artefacts which are similar to the local chert have indications of secondary percussion flaking, mainly for extracting more flakes. This technique is found either on one or both sides of these artefacts and subsequently categorises them as unimarginal or bimarginal¹³. Further investigation has reported that the bimarginal artefacts present evidence of more than one stick points. The artefacts of the first group present additional secondary percussion, but this is for retouching of the artefacts and not for extracting more flakes. Some of these artefacts present an arris feature which has resulted from the secondary flaking (Fig. 5.29b). The edges of these artefacts have been further retouched with pressure flaking. Moreover, it is the first assemblage in which an artefact (TCC14/S502/L301) has demonstrated the serration¹⁴ feature (Fig. 5.30).

The artefacts included in the last group are mainly of small size and the manufacturing techniques are difficult to be identified, especially the primary flaking. Regardless of this, the examination has managed to record important information and the techniques employed on them. There are some artefacts which present the sticking point of the primary flaking in a different position from the secondary flaking. In addition, the secondary flaking has been mainly conducted by employing pressure (e.g. TCC14/S275/L208, S144) rather than percussion (e.g. TCC14/S577/L131, S416/L178). Pressure flaking is mainly used to retouch and re-sharpen the artefacts, which subsequently causes their reduction (e.g. TCC14/S275/L208). The only uncertainty lies in one artefact (i.e. TCC14/S144) which has indications of a successive flake removal from its surface. This is a rare characteristic which suggests consistency and accuracy into the manufacturing process. The artefact coded as S577/L131 also presents similar features, but the flakes are extracted with percussion and not with pressure. The flake extraction has created an arris on almost all the artefacts, but it is unclear which is the exact extraction method or the strike angle. Finally, the artefact coded as S103/L85 has been additionally reworked and the flat surface close to the pointed tip is polished¹⁵ (Fig. 5.29a).

13 A flake modified on both surfaces at the same location (e.g. top or bottom).

14 Consecutive small teeth or barbs on the edge of a blade formed by removing pressure flakes. Biface

serrations have flakes removed from both sides of the blade edge while uniface serrations have flakes removed from only one face of an edge.

15Polish could be created by interactions among processed substances and the rock, and by chemical interactions between water and silica contained in the processed cereals and in the sandstone grinding surfaces.

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Figure 5-29: Unhafted biface tool. The a shows the polish surface (green arrow) and b shows evidence of retouch (yellow arrow) and arris (purple arrow).

Figure 5-30: Bimarginal flake that exhibits serration at its edge.

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