Lithic elements were classified according to their raw material: the most exploited one is obsidian (98,6%), followed by a very small percentage of flint. Furthermore, the presence on the field of a very large percentage of different extrusive volcanic rocks (basalt, andesite) is noteworthy. To our knowledge, they were not used to produce tools. The presence of cortex was systematically recorded according to what percentage of the cortical lithic was cortex. Twenty obsidian flakes were taken for sample from chosen contexts (loci: 0229, 0239, 0260, 0314, 0349, 0406, 0437, 0503, 0708, 0714) in order to verify their chemical composition and provenance. They will be analysed by Bernard Gratuze of CNRS IRAMAT LA-ICP-MS (Orléans), who already analysed 30 samples collected during the 2018 field season, outlining a multisource scenario for the Tsiteli Gorebi 5 site.
Obsidians and flint tools were classified into the following types: flakes tools, blades tools (Fig. 16b, c, d, f), bladelets tools, points (Fig. 16a), cores (Fig. 16e), pièces esquilleés, microborers, drills, and scrapers. We have also distinguished the debitage elements into debris (angular shatter, not discernible elements), chips (flaked pieces < 10 mm in largest dimension), flakelets (small flakes 10-20 mm in largest dimension), flakes ( ≥ 20 mm in largest dimensions), blades (flaked pieces ≥ 20 mm in largest dimensions that have length: width ratio ≥ 2:1), bladelets (flaked pieces 10-20 mm in largest dimension that have length: width ratio ≥ 2:1), and primary elements (flakes with at least 30% dorsal surface cover and less than three dorsal negatives).
Additionally, in order to better understand the technology applied, we have described the flake termination types based upon Cotterell and Kamminga (1987): feathered, hinge, step or plunging. We have also observed some knapping features (like bulb shape, presence of lipping, and scars) and platform preparation, morphology and shape. The tool’s retouch was described following Laplace’s terminology (Laplace 1968: 24-32), using the following categories: Morphology: scaled retouch, stepped retouch, sub-parallel retouch, parallel retouch; Extent: short retouch, long retouch, invasive retouch, covering retouch; Position: direct retouch, inverse retouch, alternate retouch, bifacial retouch; Delineation: linear retouch, denticulate; Localisation: lateral or side retouch (left, right, bilateral), transverse retouch (distal, mesial, or proximal).
In the field season 2018 material, we found 86 tools (79 in obsidian and 7 in chert) and 572 debitage elements (567 in obsidian and 5 in flint). Among the debitage elements, we could distinguish 50 debris, 108 chips, 251 flakelets, 136 flakes, 11 bladelets, 13 blades and 3 primary elements, while tools are represented by 7 flint blade tools and 79 obsidian tools, distinguished in: 8 flake tools, 31 blades tools, 7 bladelets tools, 2 points, 19 cores, 1 pièces esquilleés, 1 microborer, 5 drills, 1 flake point, and 4 scrapers.
The area excavated during the 2019 field season was larger than the previous one and consequently also the lithic finds were much more abundant. The debitage elements consist of 1219 artefacts (1207 in obsidian and 12 in flint) and 112 tools (109 in obsidian and in 3 flint).
Among the debitage, we have 97 debris, 79 chips, 585 flakelets, 357 flakes, 45 bladelets, 56 blades. The flint finds consist of 1 core and 2 blades. The 109 obsidian tools include 17 flake tools, 42 blade tools, 1 bladelet tool, 2 points, 34 cores, 3 pièces esquilleés, 3 drills and 7 scrapers. Many of the finds came from surface or mixed layers and only relatively few came from undisturbed layers and pits dated to the Chalcolithic period. In spite of this, it is clear that they originally belonged to the Chalcolithic settlement. The study and comparison with other sites of the same period, which will be undertaken in the next future, will allow us a better understanding and contextualisation of the assemblage.
