Activity patterns at large prehistoric sites are often difficult to interpret, as they frequently combine productive, domestic and funerary components. Valencina, the largest of the Copper Age mega-sites in Iberia, has proved particularly challenging in this regard. Macrolithic tool assemblages have been generally neglected in these debates but can provide specific insight into the nature and patterning of activities. In this study, 185 grinding tools from seven separate excavations across this 450 ha mega-site were subjected to multiple lines of analysis including quantification, morphology, raw material, use-wear and depositional context. A surprising feature of this assemblage is the high degree of fragmentation, with more than half of the items representing less than 25% of the original artefact and only a small minority of them (< 10%) complete. The absence of intact quernstones is particularly striking. The results indicate a ritualization of deposition at Valencina, and throw new light on the interpretation of this complex site. Furthermore, they emphasize the central role that grinding technology should play in future discussion of European prehistoric mega-sites.

大型史前遗址的活动模式往往难以解释，因为它们经常将生产、家庭和丧葬等部分结合在一起。瓦伦西纳是伊比利亚最大的铜器时代巨型遗址，事实证明在这方面特别具有挑战性。在这些争论中，大型石器工具组合通常被忽视，但它可以提供对活动的性质和模式的具体见解。在这项研究中，对这个占地 450 公顷的巨型场地的七个独立发掘的 185 个研磨工具进行了多方面的分析，包括量化、形态、原材料、使用磨损和沉积背景。该组合的一个令人惊讶的特点是高度分散，超过一半的物品只占原始文物的不到 25%，而且只有一小部分 (< 10%) 是完整的。尤其引人注目的是缺少完整的方石。研究结果表明瓦伦西纳沉积的仪式化，并为解释这个复杂的遗址提供了新的线索。此外，他们强调磨削技术在欧洲史前巨型遗址的未来讨论中应发挥的核心作用。