NEOLITHIC MATERIAL CULTURE IN LA SAFOR

1 In the most ancient phase of Neolithic the so-called cardial impressed ceramic prevails, in which decoration is made by means of impressions on clay still smooth with Cardium edule (cockle) shells. In this way geometric, symbolic and figurative motives were drawn.

2 Another kind of decoration that represents a high percentage of this first phase is in relief decorated ceramic, in which different elements, such as cords, buttons or tabs, are applied on the surface.

3 With the passing of time, cardial decortion tends to diminish, being the incise-impressed ceramic the prevailing one. This decoration is made on the jar without firing with several tools: punches, palette knives or not jagged shells.

4 Ceramics with combed decoration will take over in a later moment. The combing is made by trailing on smooth walls a similar object to a comb that leaves a series of very superficial reliefs similar to thin incisions.

5 Towards the end of Neolithic sgraphiated decoration ceramic appears. It is obtaind making some incisions on the piece with a sharp object, but the dfference respect from the other kinds of decoration is that here it is made once the container is dry or after firing it.

In La Safor there is a good simple of all these kinas of decoration, such as the cardial ceramic found in Cova de les Malladetes, in Cova Negra, in the one of Recambra and in the one of les Meravelles, among others. A lot of ceramic collections of the Llop and the Forat de l’Aire Calent caves, where there are examples of different decorations: cardial, in relief, impressed, incised, etc.

NEW TOOLS IN POLISHED STONE:
such as axes and adzes, googes and chisels, that were made by the polishing stone technique and that represented the kind of tool more abundant in the neolithic register in the area of Valencia.
Other instruments and engraved materials on stone are also part of the new tools, such as hammers and maces and loom counterweights.
THE HAND MILLS stand out above all: They were used to grind the cereals grains and occasionally for other kind of materials.

Despite these technological innovations, silex was still being carved, but it was basically used to make the sickle teeth that were used to cut the cereal by hand ant to make the arrow points, which acquired a greater perfection due to the generalization of the use of bows for hunting. A good example of this is shown in the pictorical representations of the Levantian cave paintings.

On worked stone, polished or not, ornament elements were also made, such as bracelets and necklace beads.

THE BONE WORKED:
The sedentary life of rural communities made easier a diversification of products manufactured from bones that were addressed to their domestic use, such as: spoons, tubes, punches, sewing needles, smoothing tools, chisels, spoonbills, etc. Some of them present light ornament incisions.

Many personal ornament objects were also made on bones, such as pendants, necklace beads, hairpins, etc. These were alternated and combined with ceramic elements, carved on stone, and others made over mollusc valves.