Use of quartz and rock crystal in andalusian Late Prehistory. Status of the issue and analysis of a cultural phenomenon

Abstract

Given  the  lack of  studies  which  tackle  this issue,  this  work  aims  to  provide a  synthetic and updated view of the impact and use contexts from the fourth to the second milennia BCE in the current Andalusian  territory  of  quartz  prisms  and  rock  crystal  as  well  as  other  elements  made  from  this mineral.  Through  the  analysis  of  its  use  patterns  we  may  notice  that  it  acquires  an  evident  and important funerary simbolism from the prehistoric societies, with a great impact both on a geographic level  and  a  temporal  one.  Moreover,  a  notable  number  of  non-funerary  contexts  is  also  taken  into account,  where  rock  cristal  chippings  and  other  significative  elements  may  offer  a much  more complete  reading  of  its  articulation  within  networks  of  interaction  and  the  role  played  by  this  raw material.