Fingerprinting pre-historical symbolic artefacts by a non-destructive methodological approach

A contribution to the discussion about Vila Nova de São Pedro (VNSP) as a production centre of symbolic lithic artefacts, the origin of raw materials, as well the comparison with similar artefacts from other Chalcolithic sites are the major goals. For the first time, non-destructive analytical methods were employed to obtain a detailed chemical characterization of these remarkable artefacts. The results point to its production mainly with local raw material. This work enhances the understanding of the trade routes of raw materials and objects from the “production centre” of VNSP during the Chalcolithic.