Flint tools processing and use in northeastern Bulgaria at the end of Late Neolithic

A Late Neolithic settlement, chronologically related to the Boyan-Bolintineanu culture, with a considerate collection was found in 2003 during excavations of a Thracian fortress of IV-III BC in the archaeological reserve of Sboryanovo, northeastern Bulgaria. The total number of flint objects discovered to date is 1628. Over 90% of the raw flint is yellowish-grayish spotted flint with many inclusions, cracks and defects, apparently originating from small nodules collected on the surface and in the riverbeds. The remainder is typical Ludogorian (Balkan) honey-colored flint with excellent quality characteristics. The overall ratio of waste production: tools is typical for the Neolithic and Chalcolithic settlements in the area. The type of tools, use-wear traces, methods of treatment and the raw material used are specific for the Neolithic period. The analysis of the raw material used and the method of processing indicated trends in production, resulting in the subsequent bloom of flint industry in the Chalcolithic of the Balkan-Danubian region.