Cal Sitjo: A new Mesolithic to Neolithic sequence in a chert-rich region (Sant Martí de Tous, NE Iberia)

Cal Sitjo is a new archaeological sequence located in a chert-rich region of the NE Iberian Peninsula, in the town of Sant Martí de Tous (Anoia, Barcelona). The area has undergone significant anthropisation and several archaeological sites (e.g., Vilars de Tous), quarries and workshops for the exploitation of chert (e.g., La Guinardera) have been documented, corresponding to different periods. The abundance of chert made this region an almost obligatory passageway for hunter-gatherer communities such as those occupying the nearby cliffs of Cinglera del Capelló (Capellades), located at a direct distance of 15 km, as well as an ideal settlement for later farming communities. Discovered in 2019, the first excavation campaign was carried out in the fall of 2020. Dates have been obtained from a known sequence of around 8 m, providing a chronological framework that ranges from the Mesolithic to the Middle Neolithic. The preliminary results of this excavation have brought to light lithics, ceramics and charcoals from the Neolithic levels (Levels 3 and 4), and faunal, lithic and charcoal remains from the Mesolithic levels (cleaning section). Our preliminary results confirm that this sequence is an ideal location for a diachronic study of the evolution from the last hunter-gatherers to the first farmers, from a paleoenvironmental and technological perspective, as well as in terms of chert management and distribution in a territory with a great abundance of this raw material. Cal Sitjo es una nueva secuencia arqueológica situada en el en el municipio de Sant Martí de Tous (Anoia, Barcelona) al NE de la Península Ibérica en una región rica en sílex. La zona ha sufrido una importante antropización y se han documentado diversos yacimientos (p. ej., Vilars de Tous), canteras y talleres de explotación de sílex (p. ej., La Guinardera), correspondientes a diferentes épocas. La abundancia de sílex hizo de esta región un lugar de paso casi obligado para comunidades cazadoras-recolectoras como las que ocupaban los cercanos acantilados de la Cinglera del Capelló (Capellades), situados a una distancia en línea recta de 15 km, así como un asentamiento ideal para comunidades agrícolas posteriores. Descubierto en 2019, la primera campaña de excavación se realizó en otoño de 2020. Se han obtenido dataciones por radiocarbono a partir de una secuencia conocida de unos 8 m, proporcionando un marco cronológico que va desde el Mesolítico hasta el Neolítico Medio. Los resultados prelimin