Absolute Chronology for the Beaker Culture Site of Coval Simó (Mallorca, Balearic Islands)

Radiocarbon dating of Coval Simó, a rockshelter in Mallorca's Serra de Tramuntana, reveals early human occupation linked to the Bell Beaker culture and undecorated pottery users between 2300–1900 cal BC. This site, preserved by a rockslide, offers an exceptional record of short-lived sedimentary layers, providing direct evidence of early island metallurgy through smelting slags from local copper minerals. The study used taxonomically identified bone fragments for dating, cross-referencing results from two laboratories to establish a precise chronological horizon. This research advances understanding of Neolithic-to-Bronze Age transitions in the Balearic Islands, particularly in metalworking practices and cultural dynamics.

Coll, J., & Ramis, D. (2014). Absolute Chronology for the Beaker Culture Site of Coval Simó (Mallorca, Balearic Islands). Radiocarbon, 56(2), 439–450. https://doi.org/10.2458/56.17450