The cupmarks as diachronic phenomenon linked to the territory: the Trentino Alto - Adige

I massi coppella ti rappresentano un fenomeno ancora da c omprendere appieno. Attribuire loro una cronologia è spesso impossibile e affidata solo ad indizi indiretti come la prossim ità con depositi archeologici o gli strum enti impiegati. Anche la funzionalità del manufatto è affatto chiara. Per di piiì non si p resta a int erpretazioni univoche, né di piccola scala, valide per la maggior parte di esse o per una regione allargata. ll Trentino - Alto Adige conf erma purtroppo questo quadro ma è un'area interessante per la ricerca. Le coppelle sono diffuse in regione ma raggrupp at e in aree che sembrano c ircoscritte; tr a queste delle aree vuote. Per citare alcuni addensamenti: Val di Sol e - Pejo - Val di Non; Val di Cembra; alta Valsugana; Val di Fiemme; V alle dei Laghi -Arco, Pinzalo per il Trentin o e in Alto Adig e le si trova in media Val Venosta - Val Senales - Fosse; Velturno; conca di Bressanone; Val Passiria; Val d'Ultimo, Val d'Isarco; Val Pusteria; Val Badia; Valle dell'Adige. La tipometri a è piuttosto articolata: coppelle singole, multiple, canalett e, croci, trie, geometrie, vaschette, piedi, ecc. A volte associate con incisioni f igurative, altre volte a depositi arche ologici. Il lavoro che si va ad esporre tenta di mettere in correlazio ne questo fenomeno con le litologie affioranti per evidenziare i problemi di conservazione o di riconoscibilità, oppure eventuali selez ioni del supporto da incidere. Ciò introduce ad una analisi del fenomeno come testimonianza d ella frequentazione del territorio che può essere compresa tramite l'esame dei massi sotto l'aspetto della loro promin enza, visibilità, altitudine, la vic inanza con vie di transito, con le ar ee di attività, con le alture, i crinali, i fondovalle, limite del bosco, ... L'analisi, ancora in buona parte in itinere, non si può esimere dal tentare una collocazi one cronologica delle evidenze che aiuterebbe la lettura diacronic a di un fenomeno complesso e articolato di frequentazione del territorio

The ‘Hidden Foods’ project: new research into the role of plant foods in Palaeolithic and Mesolithic societies of South-east Europe and Italy

The ‘Hidden Foods’ project is a new research programme aimed at reconstructing the importance of plant foods in prehistoric forager subsistence in Southern Europe, with a particular focus on Italy and the Balkans. The role of plant foods in pre-agrarian societies remains one of the major issues of world prehistory. Popular narratives still envisage ancient foragers as primarily ‘meat-eaters’, mainly as a consequence of the poor preservation of plant remains in early prehistoric contexts, and due to the employment of methods particularly focused on the contribution of animal protein to human diet (e.g. isotope analysis) (e.g. Bocherens 2009; Jones 2009; Richards 2009). Recently, new methods applied to archaeological evidence have provided a different understanding of hunter-gatherer dietary preference and interaction with the environment. Harvesting and processing might not have been the sole prerogative of agricultural societies, and plant foods seem to have played an important role amongst hunter-gatherers (e.g. Revedin et al. 2010

Investigating the diet of Mesolithic groups in the Southern Alps: An attempt using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses

Stable isotopic data (δ13C; δ15N) were obtained from Mesolithic human and faunal remains from north- eastern Italy in order to document the human diet and provide information on the relationship between landscape use and subsistence strategies. The bone samples were from an adult female individual (Early Mesolithic, Late Sauveterrian) buried at Vatte di Zambana (Trento), an adult male (Late Mesolithic, Castelnovian) buried at Mondeval de Sora (Belluno), and an adult female from Mezzocorona Borgonuovo (Trento). For the latter, the stratigraphic position of the burial pit and evidence of the associated ritual suggest a Mesolithic attribution. Carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) stable isotope compositions of human bone collagen were compared with those of animal remains from different taxa found in stratigraphic association with the burial. The isotopic data and the Bayesian model developed from the latter and from data in the literature indicate a very significant proportion of terrestrial resources in the protein fraction of the human diet, particularly from red deer compared to other ungulates and potentially from freshwater fish and small mammals. These results add to the information provided by zooarchaeological studies and reopen the debate on the role of secondary resources such as chamois, ibex, small mammals and fish, such as pike, in the diet of these mobile human societies. However, as this is a preliminary study based on a very small sample size, interpretations should be considered with caution.Les compositions isotopiques en carbone et en azote (δ13C ; δ15N) ont été mesurées sur des restes osseux humains et animaux du Mésolithique dans le nord-est de l’Italie afin de documenter l’alimentation de ces dernières communautés de chasseurs-cueilleurs et les liens entre l’environnement et les stratégies de subsistance. Les restes osseux analysés proviennent d’une femme adulte (Mésolithique ancien, Sauveterrien récent) inhumée à Vatte di Zambana (Trento), d’un homme adulte (Mésolithique récent, Castelnovien) inhumé à Mondeval de Sora (Belluno) et d’une femme adulte du site de Mezzocorona-Borgonuovo (Trento). La position stratigraphique de la sépulture à Mezzocorona-Borgonuovo ainsi que les pratiques funéraires suggèrent une attribution au Mésolithique. Les ratios isotopiques du carbone et de l’azote du collagène osseux des sujets humains ont été comparés avec ceux d’animaux de différentes espèces associés stratigraphiquement aux sépultures. Les résultats isotopiques ainsi qu’un modèle bayésien, réalisé à partir de ces données et celles de la littérature, indiquent une contribution très significative des protéines animales du milieu terrestre, et surtout la consommation importante de cerfs par rapport aux autres ongulés, ainsi qu’un rôle potentiel des poissons d’eau douce et de petits mammifères. Ces données complètent les informations apportées par les études archéozoologiques et relancent la discussion sur le rôle secondaire que peuvent avoir le chamois, l’ibex, les petits mammifères et les ressources aquatiques, comme le brochet, dans la subsistance de ces nomades. Cette étude reste toutefois préliminaire et le faible corpus d’échantillons analysés nous amène à considérer ces interprétations avec prudence

Fréquentation anthropique et utilisation des ressources des territoires alpins au Tardiglaciaire Würmien

The southern slopes of Oriental Alps between the Padanian-Venetian-Friuolian Plain and the alpine watershed delivered a good number of the Late Wurmian sedimentary deposits. These discoveries permit to reconstruct not only the different stages of human penetration from the valleys but also their strategies applied for exploration of the pre-alpine and alpine environments. The recent research caried on high plateaux of « Sette Comuni » and Consiglio increased our knowledge concerning these problems. It is because of the discovery of glacio-lacustrine and pit deposits (Palughetto, 1 040 m above the Consiglio), sites with well preserved living floors, evident structures and faunal remains (Abri Dalmeri, 1 240 m above the « Sette Comuni » high plateau and Abri Cogola 1 000 m above the Valdastico Valley), as well as open air sites showing manipulations connected with local lithic raw materials (Val Lastori, 1 060 m above the « Sette Comuni » plateau). The study of lithic assemblages permits to frame the hypothesis concerning the possibility of reciprocal relations between inhabitants of different environmental areas. Moreover, it is possible for some sites to assign the chronology by radiocarbon analysis. All these data let us to state that : – the (re)settlement of Late Epigravetian hunters occupying alpine territory along the valley began during the temperate interstadial Bolling-Alleröd and continued up to the Dryas III ; – during the same time period the settlement system developed connecting the valley and the mountainous region 1 000-1 500 m of altitude ; – judging from the specialised lithic assemblages known from the mountains it is possible to separate several hunting sites (Tschonsloan, 1 850 m in Siousi Alps) ; – some mountain sites show specialisation in obtaining nodules of flint good for knapping and production of pre-cores and blades for exportation ; – the inhabitants of Abri Dalmeri – the site dated to Alleröd, were specialised in ibex hunting. Finally, the thorough techno-morphological examination of lithic assemblages dated to Dryas III permits to make the hypothesis concerning the transition of the Late Epigravetian to the Early Sauveterrian, well proved for the Adige Valley and in the lower and middle high mountains (Casera Davià, 1 045 above the Consiglio) but especially well documented for the middle high and high mountains (Frea IV, 1 930 m in the Dolomites).Le versant méridional des Alpes Orientales, entre la plaine padane-vénitienne-frioule et la ligne alpine de partage des eaux a fourni bon nombre de dépôts sédimentaires du Tardiglaciaire würmien, permettant de reconstituer non seulement les différentes étapes de pénétration anthropique de la zone alpine à partir des vallées mais également les stratégies d'exploitation des ressources des territoires montagnards des Préalpes et des Alpes. Les recherches les plus récentes menées sur les hauts plateaux des « Sette Comuni » et du Cansiglio viennent encore enrichir ce cadre déjà notoire, grâce à la découverte de dépôts glacio-lacustres et tourbeux en altitude (Palughetto, 1 040 m sur le Cansiglio), de sites aux sols d’habitats bien conservés, avec des structures évidentes et des restes fauniques (Abri Dalmeri, 1 240 m sur les hauts plateaux des « Sette Comuni » : Abri La Cogola, 1 000 m amorce de vallée Valdastico) et de sites de plein air fonctionnellement orientés dans la gestion des matières premières lithiques locales (Val Lastari, 1 060 m sur les hauts plateaux des « Sette Comuni »). L’étude des matériaux lithiques a permis de formuler des hypothèses sur de possibles rapports existant entre les diverses zones géographiques. En outre, quelques sites ont pu être datés avec la méthode du radiocarbone. L’ensemble de ces données permet de préciser que : – le (re)peuplement des chasseurs de l’Epigravettien récent du territoire alpin le long de la vallée a débuté au cours de l’interstade tempéré de Bölling-Alleröd et s’est poursuivi jusqu’au Dryas récent ; – à cette même période, se développe un système d’occupation articulé entre la vallée et la montagne à partir de sites compris entre 1 000 et 1 500 m d’altitude ; – à partir de ces gisements de montagne, il est également d’individualiser sur la base d’ensemble lithique spécialisé, quelques haltes de chasse (Tschonstoan, 1 850 m dans les Alpes de Sioisi) ; – certains sites de montagne sont spécialisés dans l’acquisition et la gestion de blocs de silex aptes à la taille ainsi que dans la confection de prénucleus et de supports laminaires destinés à l’exportation ; – en ce qui concerne un site daté de l’Alleröd (Abri Dalmeri), la chasse y est essentiellement orientée vers l’abattage de bouquetins. Enfin, l’approfondissement de l'étude techno-morphologique des ensembles lithiques datés du Dryas récent suggère des hypothèses sur la transition de l’Epigravettien récent au Sauveterrien ancien, bien documentée dans la vallée de l’Adige et dans la moyenne et basse montagne (Casera Davià, 1 045 m sur le haut du Cansiglio) mais surtout sur la moyenne et haute montagne (Frea IV, 1 930 m dans les Dolomites).Broglio Alberto, Dalmeri Giampaolo, Peresani Marco. Fréquentation anthropique et utilisation des ressources des territoires alpins au Tardiglaciaire Würmien. In: Préhistoire de l’Europe : des origines à l’Âge du Bronze. Actes du 125e Congrès national des sociétés historiques et scientifiques, « L’Europe », Lille, 2000. Paris : Editions du CTHS, 2003. pp. 385-386. (Actes du Congrès national des sociétés savantes, 125

Ground stone tool production and use in the Late Upper Palaeolithic: The evidence from Riparo Dalmeri (Venetian Prealps, Italy)

The site of Riparo Dalmeri yielded numerous flint, bone, and shell artifacts, as well as faunal and botanical remains, which are evidence of the Late Upper Palaeolithic (or Late Epigravettian culture, ca. 16,000-12,000 CAL B. P.) occupation of the Alps region. The importance of the site is related to the discovery of 267 stones painted with anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, and geometric designs. Here we report on ground stone tools from Riparo Dalmeri investigated by means of an integrated technofunctional and experimental approach to reconstruct their production and use. The results support the hypothesis that the ground stone artifacts were employed in specialized activities (e. g., hide treatment, flintknapping) as well as in the production of some of the painted stone artifacts.The site of Riparo Dalmeri yielded numerous flint, bone, and shell artifacts, as well as faunal and botanical remains, which are evidence of the Late Upper Palaeolithic (or Late Epigravettian culture, ca. 16,000– 12,000 CAL B.P.) occupation of the Alps region. The importance of the site is related to the discovery of 267 stones painted with anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, and geometric designs. Here we report on ground stone tools from Riparo Dalmeri investigated by means of an integrated technofunctional and experimental approach to reconstruct their production and use. The results support the hypothesis that the ground stone artifacts were employed in specialized activities (e.g., hide treatment, flintknapping) as well as in the production of some of the painted stone artifacts

Riparo Gaban: the Mesolithic layers

International audienceThe paper presents the results of the archaeological investigation in the Mesolithic layers at Riparo Gaban, in the Conca of Trento, northem Italy. Riparo Gaban is a small rock-shelter multilayer site, presenting part of a local cultural sequence: Sauveterrian-Castelnovian-Early Neolithic. Similar sites are known from Romagnano III and Pradestel

Riparo Gaban: the Mesolithic layers

International audienceThe paper presents the results of the archaeological investigation in the Mesolithic layers at Riparo Gaban, in the Conca of Trento, northem Italy. Riparo Gaban is a small rock-shelter multilayer site, presenting part of a local cultural sequence: Sauveterrian-Castelnovian-Early Neolithic. Similar sites are known from Romagnano III and Pradestel

Exploitation of faunal resources at Riparo Gaban (Trento, Italy) during the Late Mesolithic period: preliminary results of archaeozoological and taphonomical analysis

Sfruttamento delle risorse animali al Riparo Gaban nel Mesolitico: risultati preliminari delle analisi archeozoologiche e tafonomiche - Riparo Gaban rappresenta uno dei principali siti di riferimento per lo studio del processo di neolitizzazione nelle Alpi e dà il nome al gruppo presente in Trentino durante la diffusione della nuova economia produttiva, alla fine del VI millennio BC cal. Gli scavi condotti da Bernardino Bagolini dal 1971 al 1979 nei sett. I-V hanno messo in luce una sezione stratigrafica che documenta una frequentazione, con alcune lacune, dalla fine del IX alla metà del II millennio a.C. cal. I reperti più noti sono senz’altro gli oggetti di alto valore artistico portati alla luce nei livelli del Mesolitico (Sauveterriano e Castelnoviano) e Neolitico che sono realizzati su osso, palco e pietra. L’insieme faunistico analizzato proviene dai livelli castelnoviani (Settore IV US E1-4) e si caratterizza per un elevato grado di frammentazione a causa della fratturazione intenzionale per l’estrazione del midollo. Gli animali maggiormente rappresentati sono cervo, cinghiale e capriolo seguiti da una sporadica presenza di stambecco e camoscio. I mammiferi selvatici di piccole dimensioni ed i carnivori sono scarsamente. Qui, vengono presentati i risultati preliminari delle analisi tafonomicheper ricostruire le modalità di sfruttamento delle carcasse animali.Riparo Gaban is a rockshelter located at about 270m a.s.l., near Trento, in a narrow lateral valley on the left bank of river Adige, Northern Italy. This site gives name to the so called “Gaban group” occupying Trento area during the spread of neolithisation, at the end of the VI millennium cal BC. Despite some gaps, the excavations by Bernardino Bagolini in sectors I to V from 1971 to 1979, revealed an impressive stratigraphic series attesting several occupations from late IX to mid-II millennium cal BC. The best known finds unearthed in Mesolithic (Sauveterrian and Castelnovian) and Neolithic layers are undoubtedly object of high artistic value, and realised on bone, antler, and stone. The analysed faunal assemblages derive from Castelnovian levels (IV Sector US E1-4) and are characterised by a high degree of fragmentation due to intentional bones fracturing for marrow extraction.The faunal remains belong mostly to ungulates: red deer, boar and roe deer are the most common species followed by a sporadic presence of ibex and chamois. Small wild mammals and carnivores are poorly attested in all layers. This study reports preliminary taphonomical results of Castelnovian faunal assemblages, in order to identify modifications related to the exploitation of animal carcasses