This article introduces a robust scientific methodological approach that has been effective on accurately sourcing prehistoric chert artefacts. The research focuses on the lithic assemblage of Skorba, a late Neolithic site of Malta, and local chert rock sources. This assemblage is mainly consisting of chert tools and artefacts, but the origin of the raw materials remains inconclusive. Although chert outcrops are reported on Malta, they have yet to be investigated and their petrological characteristics are unknown. Moreover, it was always assumed that nonlocal chert material has been only imported from Sicily. This, however, remains at a theoretical level and elaborate provenance research is necessary to test it. This archaeological background serves an excellent opportunity to employ an interdisciplinary methodology and address uncertainties that conventional archaeological practices seem unable to provide clear answers. This methodology includes geological techniques that focus on petrological and geochemical characteristics of chert formations. The collected results provide the necessary scientific evidence to connect some artefacts with their actual sources and provided useful information about the possible origin of others. This paper further aims to demonstrate the great prospects of this suite of techniques and its suitability for similar provenance studies of chert material worldwide.

中文翻译：

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一种在地中海地区采购t石文物的地球考古方法论：以马耳他新石器时代的斯科尔巴岛为例

本文介绍了一种稳健的科学方法论方法，该方法已有效地准确地采集了史前的石文物。该研究的重点是马耳他新石器时代晚期的Skorba的石器组合以及当地的硅质岩源。这种组合主要由石工具和人工制品组成，但原材料的来源仍然不确定。尽管关于马耳他的reported石露头已有报道，但尚未对其进行调查，其岩石学特征尚不清楚。此外，始终假定非本地的cher石材料仅从西西里岛进口。但是，这仍处于理论水平，需要进行详尽的出处研究以对其进行测试。这种考古学背景为采用跨学科方法论并解决传统考古实践似乎无法提供明确答案的不确定性提供了极好的机会。该方法论包括侧重于石岩层的岩石和地球化学特征的地质技术。收集的结果提供了必要的科学证据，将某些文物与其实际来源联系起来，并提供了有关其他文物可能来源的有用信息。本文进一步旨在证明这套技术的巨大前景及其在世界范围内对类似石英材料的起源研究的适用性。该方法论包括侧重于石岩层的岩石和地球化学特征的地质技术。收集的结果提供了必要的科学证据，以将某些文物与其实际来源联系起来，并提供了有关其他文物的可能来源的有用信息。本文进一步旨在证明这套技术的巨大前景及其在世界范围内对类似石英材料的起源研究的适用性。该方法论包括侧重于石岩层的岩石和地球化学特征的地质技术。收集的结果提供了必要的科学证据，将某些文物与其实际来源联系起来，并提供了有关其他文物可能来源的有用信息。本文进一步旨在证明这套技术的巨大前景及其在世界范围内对类似石英材料的起源研究的适用性。