Preliminary data on lithological resources in southern Alicante (Spain): The veleta flint and the example of the Middle Palaeolithic Bardissa (Hondón de las Nieves) catchment and carving area.

This paper presents the preliminary results of the geoarchaeological survey carried out in the south of the province of Alicante, including the regions of Camp d'Alacant, Medio y Bajo Vinalopó and Bajo Segura. The objective has focused on documenting the siliceous resources, mapping a total of 19 geological units; 12 corresponding to primary flint and 7 to detritic formations containing varied lithologies, both local and allochthonous. The first results indicate that one of the lithological resources of highest quality and use during the Pleistocene was the Veleta-type flint, whose primary outcrops are confined to the Hondones basin. A high level of collection and carving activity is being documented there, which allows us to obtain new data on the occupation of this geographical area during the Middle Palaeolithic.