Assessing the cultural and social value of Neolithic stone bracelets in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

The emergence of farming societies in the western Mediterranean (c. 6000–5500 cal. BC) coincides with an increase in the presence of ornamental objects. Among these, stone bracelets stand out as markers of significant technological complexity, associated with large distribution networks. This paper presents an analysis of manufacturing waste and finished objects (1679 pieces) from 128 archaeological sites in the Iberian Peninsula. The raw materials, typological distribution, and biography of these bracelets is used to reconstruct cultural identities and to explore their social value within different regional groups. This is supported by chronological contextualization, based on stratigraphy and radiocarbon dates. It is argued that the stone bracelets represent a chronological indicator of the Early Neolithic and evidence of exchange between different social groups in the Iberian Peninsula.