Spain’s national network of archaeological lithotheques is strengthened by a pioneering study recognising the contribution of LithIPHES
The publication, led by the LiotCAT network (CSIC–IMF) within the framework of the REDES project of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, highlights the IPHES-CERCA lithotheque as a key component of the country’s open science ecosystem
The lithotheque of the Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), known as LithIPHES, has been recognised in the first comprehensive study assessing the current state of archaeological lithotheques in Spain. The article, published in Open Archaeology under the title Archaeological lithotheques of siliceous rocks in Spain: First diagnosis of the lithotheque thematic network, is the result of an initiative coordinated by the LiotCAT network (CSIC–IMF) as part of the REDES project, aimed at establishing the foundations of a shared national infrastructure for the study of siliceous rocks of archaeological interest.
The study offers a detailed overview of the existing collections across the Iberian Peninsula and highlights both their diversity and common challenges. In this context, LithIPHES is recognised as a consolidated infrastructure, developed through an institutional strategy centred on open science and the responsible management of reference collections. Since its creation in 2017, the lithotheque has expanded and systematised a collection that now includes over three hundred samples from around eighty outcrops in central and southern Catalonia, along with additional specimens from other regions of the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa. This diversity enables precise characterisation of the geological variability of the territory and supports research on raw material procurement, prehistoric mobility and technological behaviour.
The study particularly emphasises the internal organisation of LithIPHES, the robustness of its inventory system, and the availability of support spaces and services —such as specialised laboratories, work rooms and qualified technical staff— which facilitate its use for research. These conditions, together with the development of a digital repository structured according to FAIR principles, have positioned the lithotheque as one of the collections best prepared to fully integrate into the future national network.
Nevertheless, the article stresses that the value of the project lies in the synergy between all participating lithotheques, coordinated by LiotCAT. The goal is to harmonise protocols, strengthen institutional cooperation and establish a shared framework that progressively facilitates open access to materials and data. LithIPHES contributes a consolidated trajectory and a work model aligned with these principles, but always as part of a collective structure designed to enhance the strengths of each centre.
A key resource for prehistoric archaeology
Lithotheques are essential tools for prehistoric archaeology, as they allow researchers to identify, compare and characterise the rocks used in stone tool production. Through these collections, it is possible to reconstruct social and economic networks, identify raw-material sources, analyse territorial movements and detect technological changes over time. The study now consolidates this knowledge within a coordinated national framework that promotes transparency, cooperation and scientific reproducibility.
An IPHES contribution with a forward-looking perspective
Looking ahead, LithIPHES will continue to expand its collection and improve its digital repository with the aim of progressively opening it to the international scientific community. Its integration into the national network promoted by LiotCAT represents an essential step towards a more collaborative archaeology aligned with current open-science standards. The recognition highlighted in this article also marks a turning point in the development of the lithotheque, reaffirming its commitment to quality, rigour and inter-centre cooperation.
Reference
Ortega, David, Arrizabalaga, Álvaro, Aura, Emili, Baena, Javier, Belmonte-Mas, Daniel, Brià, Judit, Domingo, Rafael, Domínguez-Bella, Salvador, Duarte-Matías, Elsa, Eixea, Aleix, Fuertes, Natividad, García-Puchol, Oreto, García-Simón, Luis M., Gómez de Soler, Bruno, Herrero-Alonso, Diego, de Lombera-Hermida, Arturo, Mangado, Xavier, Javier Molina-Hernández, Francisco, Morgado, Antonio, Orue, Iñigo, Ramírez-Amador, José L., Ramos-Muñoz, José F., de la Rasilla, Marco, Roqué, Carles, Sánchez de la Torre, Marta, Soto, María L., Tarriño, Antonio, Torres, Concepción and Terradas, Xavier (2025). Archaeological Lithotheques of Siliceous Rocks in Spain: First Diagnosis of the Lithotheque Thematic Network. Open Archaeology, vol. 11: 202250063. https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2025-0063