THE LATEST PREPALATIAL PERIOD AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE FIRST PALACE AT PHAISTOS: A STRATIGRAPHICAND CHRONOLOGICAL RE-ASSESSMENT

The dating of the first palace at Phaistos has been particularly problematic because the architectural complex is comprised of two blocks that were set at different levels on the slope of the hill, and they have been dated to different ceramic phases due to the lack of accuracy in the selection of the relevant deposits, and a rather loose application of Evans’ chronological system. The materials retrieved from the sub-floor excavations that were conducted in the area between piazzale I and cortile 40 of the palace have proved to be a major problem. They consist of a few fully preserved vases that were found either on red floors and paved areas, or within stone or wood enclosures or within benches and apart from having been dated to different phases of the Early and Middle Minoan periods, have also been attributed either to structures that preceded the first palace or to the palace itself. This article aims to clarify the formation processes of these deposits and the relationship that they had with one other, and with those found beneath the southern block of the first palace, and to define their chronological position with reference to the settlement history of the site, as recently re-assessed by the author, and to the Knossian sequence

HUMAN REMAINS AT FN PHAISTOS: IDENTIFYING AND INTERPRETING PRACTICESOF DISPOSAL AND MANIPULATION OF THE DEADFROM AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

The human remains identified at FN Phaistos have so far received little attention, perhaps because they were considered too sparse to be conclusive for understanding the burial practices followed at the site. In fact, leaving aside the skeleton found within a burnt layer identified in Kouloura II, which probably represents a victim of the destruction that ended Phaistos III, only three cases might potentially represent a burial: the skeleton of a child, found in proximity to the 2nd base of the colonnade that runs along the western side of the central court of the palace; the skeleton found in proximity to room 22, near to a well that was constructed in the Hellenistic period; and the bones that were found in the rubbish dumped on the bedrock in the area of room 8.In this paper it will be argued (a) that although the principal place of disposal of the dead was not located on the hilltop, children and adults could be exceptionally buried within the settlement following different mortuary practices, primary for children and secondary for young adults and adults; and (b) that the cranium and long bones found near room 22 do not represent a proper burial inasmuch as they were not re-buried in a final resting place, but entered the archaeological record while they were in the process of being used by the living in the course of ceremonies that were held at a supra-household level and involved the use of red ochre, and the consumption of meat and drink

HAGHIA TRIADA NEL PERIODO ANTICO MINOICO

Over the last decade a great deal of attention has been paid to the Prepalatial evidence discovered in Haghia Triada since 1902: new excavations have been carried out, and old material has been the subject of new studies that will soon be published. Building on this new work, this paper attempts to outline the development of Haghia Triada from the EM I through the EM III. The final Neolithic pottery that was previously believed to be present is shown to be a mirage, and the local ceramic sequence is preliminarily defined (both by comparison between HaghiaTriada’sunstratified deposits and stratified deposits from Lebena and Phaistos, and by stylistic analysis of the individual wares). Once this chronology has been determined, attention is paid to the original context (domestic, funerary, ritual) and to the exact location of the ceramics within the archaeological site, in order to gain some basic information about the settlement: where it was located during the three phases, whether it was nucleated or dispersed, and how large it was; and about possible changes between the three phases, and the relationship between the settlement and funerary area

POTTERY PRODUCTION IN THE PREPALATIAL MESARA: THE ARTISANS’ QUARTER TO THE WEST OF THE PALACE AT PHAISTOS

Recent studies on Prepalatial ceramics, which have used integrated analytical approaches, have demonstrated that Prepalatial pottery exhibits many of the technical features used to indicate specialisation of production, and hints at large movements of products between different regions of the island. This reassessment has concentrated on pottery excavated at Knossos and has revealed that part of the drinking and serving vessels used at this site in EM IIA were manufactured in south central Crete, by several production groups that used similar raw materials and production techniques. The most remarkable discovery was that a good portion of the pottery traditionally considered to be one of the outcomes of the establishment of the palatial elites – Kamares ware – was also imported to Knossos from the western Mesara, and had the same fabric identified in the imports of the Prepalatial period. This acknowledgment led to the suggestion that Kamares ware, rather than being the product of workshops established with the First Palaces, developed within pre-existing production groups. Thus far however, apart from Patrikies whose identification as a workshop specialised in the production of teapots has been controversial due to the lack of kilns and of proper working areas, none of the other excavated sites in South Central Crete has proved to have been a pottery production centre in both the Pre and Protopalatial periods.The resumption of excavation in the area to the west of the West court of the palace at Phaistos allows a reconsideration of the issue of pottery production in south central Crete on the basis of the discovery that the pottery kiln attributed by Levi to the Neopalatial period had actually been built within the MM IIB period, in an area characterised by a large amount of misfired and vitrified vessels spanning from the EM IIA to MM IA periods

EVOLUZIONE DIAGENETICA DELLE SUCCESSIONI PANORMIDI DEL LIMITE TRIASSICO/GIURASSICO

Lo studio sedimentologico e stratigrafico di alcune sezioni del Triassico Superiore-Giurassico Inferiore del dominio Panormide (Sicilia), ha contribuito all’elaborazione di un dataset che consente di avanzare nuove considerazioni sulla complessa evoluzione di questo dominio paleogeografico in prossimità del limite T/J. Sono stati studiati in dettaglio tre principali settori lungo la porzione nord-occidentale della Sicilia, dai Monti di San Vito alle Madonie, attraverso i Monti di Palermo. Nel settore più occidentale presso Monte Sparagio (penisola di Capo San Vito), l’analisi delle microfacies ha consentito di posizionare il limite T/J all’interno di una spessa successione di cicli peritidali del Triassico Superiore-Giurassico Inferiore, sulla base della scomparsa di Triasina hantkeni e della comparsa di associazioni oligotipiche a Thaumapoporella parvovesiculifera e Aeolisaccus. Il passaggio appare continuo, non si evidenziano infatti discontinuità legate alla tettonica o alle variazioni del livello del mare. Evidenze di un abbassamento del livello del mare lungo questa sezione, sono state riconosciute ben al di sotto del limite T/J, all’interno della biozona a Triasina del Retico. Questo evento è evidenziato dalla presenza di uno spesso paleosuolo che ricopre una superfice carsificata correlabile lateralmente con una struttura interpretabile come una paleodolina. Inoltre, al sotto di questa superfice, si sviluppa un ampio sistema di grandi cavità paleocarsiche. Le cavità sono colmate da brecce da collasso formando, in alcuni casi, delle strutture tipo “breccia pipes”. Gli elementi della breccia derivano dall’host rock peritidale e sono circondate da una matrice siltosa policroma che rende questa breccia di particolare interesse ornamentale. L’emersione stimata della piattaforma è di circa 130 m, un valore che difficilmente può essere spiegato in termini di una variazione eustatica se si considera che il valore stimato da Hallam (2001) per la variazione Retica del l.m. è di circa 50 m. E’ quindi da considerare una possibile componente tettonica connessa al contemporaneo rifting della adiacente Tetide Alpina. I cicli triassici presenti in quest’area mostrano estesi fenomeni di dissoluzione stratale che chiaramente predatano la porosità “cavernus” come indicato dalla presenza, fra le brecce da collasso, di clasti derivanti da questi orizzonti. Tre diversi tipi di dissoluzione stratale sono stati riconosciuti: vug, biomoldic e “spongy-like”. Lo studio di questo tipo di dissoluzione risulta di particolare interesse per la formazione di porosità secondaria nei reservoirs carbonatici ed ha quindi costituito uno degli argomenti più approfonditi nello studio di dottorato. La comparazione morfologica delle cavità spony-like con simili strutture da dissoluzione presenti nelle piattaforme carbonatiche attuali, insieme ai dati geochimici, supporta l’influenza di una lente di acque di mixing per la formazione sia delle cavità spongy che della porosità vug e biomoldic. Il modello messo a punto implica la presenza di un apporto di acque dolci e di un’interazione tra le variazioni ad alta frequenza del livello del mare, responsabili della ciclicità peritidale e la tessitura delle facies subtidali. Durante le fasi di lowstand (con la conseguente formazione dei paleosuoli) un apporto di acque dolci, da una terra emersa vicina o dalle precipitazioni, interagisce con la lente freatica marina creando una lente di acque di mixing che staziona nei membri subtidali dei cicli. Il forte controllo tessiturale, dettato dalla bioturbazione, dal contenuto fossilifero o dall’assenza di entrambi, nelle facies subtidali risulta fondamentale nella determinazione della porosità risultante. In altre parole, quando la lente di mixing staziona in corrispondenza delle facies bioturbate, nelle quali si è creata una disomogeneità tessiturale fra sedimento originario e il riempimento delle cavità da bioturbazione, la dissoluzione risultante assume l’aspetto del pattern spongy. Nel caso della presenza di abbondanti gusci di bivalvi, la dissoluzione ad opera di acque di mixing crea una porosità di tipo biomoldic, mentre in assenza di un controllo tessiturale si sviluppa una porosità vug. Nelle aree di studio adiacenti (Monti di Palermo e Madonie) il limite tra i terreni triassici e giurassici è discontinuo. I depositi di scogliera del Norico-Retico presentano alcune cavità colmate da silt meteorici di età retica che indicano una breve fase di esposizione del margine di piattaforma seguita da un successivo annegamento. L’intensa frammentazione tettonica dimostrata da altri autori nel settore di Billiemi durante l’Hettangiano è responsabile della conversione del margine della piattaforma a scarpata. Si determina in questo modo una superfice di discontinuità che mette a contatto i depositi di scogliera con lembi discontinui di calcari bioclastici a brachiopodi del Pliensbachiano e/o con depositi pelagici ad ammoniti del Toarciano. La presenza di grandi volumi di depositi di scarpata dolomitizzati (Fm. Fanusi e Quacella Auct., nell’adiacente bacino Imerese, è qui interpretata come il risultato di ripetuti crolli da una scarpata a controllo tettonico impostatasi lungo il margine della piattaforma durante l’Hettangiano ed il Sinemuriano Questa ipotesi è anche supportata dalla presenza di sedimenti di differente facies ed età (tuttavia sempre del Giurassico Inferiore) che drappeggiano la scogliera come depositi di episcarpata.The stratigraphical and sedimentological study of uppermost Triassic-lowermost Jurassic sections belonging to the Panormide platform in Sicily, has provided an original dataset that allow to put forward some new considerations on the complex evolution of this paleogeographic domain across the T/J boundary. Three main sectors have been investigated in detail along a northern Sicily W-E transect from the San Vito Lo Capo Peninsula, via the Palermo Mountains, to the Madonie Mountains. In the westernmost sector, at Monte Sparagio (San Vito Lo Capo Peninsula), the microfacies analysis has allowed to place the T/J boundary across a thick undifferentiated succession made of Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic peritidal cycles, on the base of the last occurrence of Triasina hantkeni and the appearance of oligotypic facies with Thaumatoporella parvovesiculifera and Aeolisaccus. The transition appears fully conformable without any record of possible variations of the sedimentary regime (e.g. sea level fall, tectonic deformations) besides the faunal turnover. In this section evidence of a sea-level lowering are recognized well below the T/J boundary, roughly in the middle part of the Triasina zone, thus of the Rhaetian. This event is suggested by the presence of a particularly thick red paleosol that covers a karstified surface, laterally correlated with a structure that is interpreted as a paleosinkhole. Moreover an huge system of paleokarstic caves develops downward from this surface. The caves are filled up by collapsed breccias to form, in some parts “breccia pipes”. The breccia elements clearly derive from the peritidal host rock and are surrounded by polychrome silty matrices that rendered this breccia of great interest for ornamental purposes. The uplift of the platform can be estimated at about 130 m, a value that is difficult to explain only in terms of eustatic variation if we consider the estimated values (about 50 m) provided by Hallam (2001). So a tectonic forcing has to be considered possibly induced by the adjacent rifting of the Alpine Tethys. The Triassic cycles in this area show extensive phenomena of stratabound dissolution that clearly predate the cavern dissolution as indicated by the involvement of the latter in the collapse breccias that fills the paleocaves. Three main types of stratabound dissolution have been recognized: vug, moldic and “spongy-like”. The study of this type of dissolution is of particular interest for the diagenetic formation of the secondary porosity in carbonate reservoirs so it has been one of the main topic of the PhD. The morphological comparisons of the spongy-like cavities with recent similar dissolution patterns in modern carbonate platforms, coupled to the geochemical data, supports the influence of a mixing water lens for the formation of the spongy-like cavities but also for the vug and moldic stratabound porosity. The model put forward implies the presence of a fresh water supply in the area and an interaction between the high-frequency and low-amplitude sea-level fluctuations, responsible of the peritidal ciclicity, and the textural patterns of the subtidal facies. During the lowstand phases (and the subsequent formation of the Terra Rossa paleosols) a fresh-water supply, provided by adjacent exposed lands and/or by rainwaters, interacts with the phreatic marine lens giving rise to a thin mixing water lens floating on the phreatic marine zone and stationing in the subtidal member of the cycle. The strong textural control exerted by the bioturbation, by the fossil content or by the absence of both in a specific subtidal member is fundamental in determining the resulting solution patterns. In other words, when the mixing zone was stationed on the bioturbated mud, where a differential porosity and permeability existed, than dissolution preferentially assumed the spongy shape. In the presence of abundant mollusc shells, the dissolution operated by the mixing waters preferentially created biomoldic porosity, whilst without a strong macrotextural control a vuggy porosity could develop. In the adjacent study areas (Palermo and Madonie Mountains) the boundary between Triassic and Jurassic sediments is discontinuous. A drowning unconformity characterizes the marginal sector of the platform in which the reef complex is overlain by Pliensbachian pelagic limestones belonging to the “Rosso Ammonitico”. These data are indicative of a short subaerial exposure of the platform, during Rhaetian, and of a tectonic activity, along the platform margin, during Hettangian-Sinemurian times. These type of deformations are related to the rifting stages in the adjacent Alpine Tethys. The presence of a huge volume of slope dolomitized deposits (Fanusi and Quacella Formations Auct.), in the adjacent Imerese Basin account for a conversion of the reef complex, edging the platform, to a slope zone repeatedly affected by submarine collapses. This is also supported by the presence of sediment pockets (patches) of different facies and ages (however Early Jurassic) that drapes the reefs as epi-escarpment deposits

Changes in flavour influencing parameters of coldstored orange fruit

Orange fruits may undergo changes in sensory quality during prolonged cold storage, probably associated with decreased emission of those volatile compounds characterising aroma profile of fresh fruits, as well as with development of off-flavours. The purpose of this work was to evaluate modifications in aroma of two blood varieties (‘Tarocco’ and ‘Moro’) and a blond variety (cv. ‘Washington navel’) of orange fruit [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] after storage at 6 °C and 90-95 % RH during 60 days. Standard quality parameters (juice yield, TSS, TA, pH, vitamin C) in addition to anthocyanin content, volatile flavour compounds in fruit juice and biogenic amines) were determined during fruit storage. Moreover, the spoilage level was assessed by a sensory panel. GC-MS analysis showed the formation of detrimental volatile components such as p-vinylguaiacol and ethanol in blood varieties. In addition, oxidation products of limonene such as α-terpineol in both blood and blond varieties were identified. The predominant biogenic amine was putrescine in all cultivars. In fruit of the blood varieties its levels increased through storage time, the highest levels being present after 60 days of storage, while in fruit of the blond variety putrescine levels increased more slightly. These results are in accordance with those obtained by sensory evaluation that has shown an increase of off-flavours in the last period of storage for blood orange fruits

Depositional Setting, Diagenetic Processes, and Pressure Solution-Assisted Compaction of Mesozoic Platform Carbonates, Southern Apennines, Italy

Pressure solution processes taking place during diagenesis deeply modify the hydraulic properties of carbonates, affecting their mechanical layering and hence the dimension, distribution, and connectivity of high-angle fractures. The formation of stylolites is controlled by the texture of the host rock and therefore by the depositional environment and the diagenetic processes that involve it. This study reports the results of a multidisciplinary study carried out on a Jurassic–Cretaceous carbonate platform in southern Italy. The goal is to unravel the control exerted by single carbonate textures and specific diagenetic processes on the formation of bed-parallel stylolites. Microfacies analyses of thin sections are aimed at obtaining information regarding the composition and texture of the carbonates. Petrographic observations coupled with CL analyses are key to deciphering their diagenetic history. Results are consistent with carbonates originally deposited in a shallow-water realm in which carbonate mud is occasionally abundant. In this environment, early cementation inhibits their chemical compaction. In grain-supported facies, pressure solution is only localized at the grain contacts. During shallow burial diagenesis, precipitation of blocky calcite predates the formation of bed-parallel stylolites in the grain-supported facies. Contrarily, mud-supported facies favor chemical compaction, which results in stylolites showing a good lateral extension and thick sediment infill. A classification of different types of stylolite morphology is attempted in relation to facies texture. In detail, rougher morphology (sharp-peak) characterizes the stylolites nucleated in grain-supported facies, while smoother morphology (rectangular to wave-like) is observed in stylolites on mud-supported facies. Application of this knowledge can be helpful in constraining the diagenetic history of carbonate rocks cored from depth, and therefore predict the fracture stratigraphy properties of carbonates buried at depth

A benthic community biodiversity crisis documented on a Rhaetian carbonate succession from western Tethys (Sicily)

A biodiversity crisis in the benthic communities was detected on Rhaetian stratigraphic horizons from a western Tethyan carbonate platform. The studied succession consists of a continuous Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic peritidal limestone organized in shallowing upward cycles cropping out at Mt Sparagio (western Sicily). On the basis of abundance and diversity of the benthic communities in the subtidal facies, the studied section was divided into three informal units. Starting from the base, the Unit A contains very abundant and highly diverse fossiliferous assemblages of corals, very large megalodontoids (up to 40 cm) and large Triasina hantkeni (up to 1 mm) among other benthic foraminifera. Upward, Unit B is characterized by a reduction of biodiversity, abundance and shell size of megalodontoids that reach a dimension up to 15 cm and T. hantkeni is still present. The top of Unit B is recognized by a distinctive oolitic level. Up-section, after a barren interval rich in calcispherae, the absence of the benthic community documented in Units A and B and a bloom of the problematic alga Thaumatoporella parvovesiculifera characterize Unit C. Upward, the occurrence of rare specimens of the benthic foraminifer Siphovalvulina sp. indicates the gradual recovery of the Jurassic benthic community. The stable isotope analyses (C, O and S) seem to correlate to the biodiversity crisis between Unit A and Unit B. In detail, a negative trend of δ18Ocarb values, corresponding to an increase in temperature, matches with the drastic reduction both in dimension and diversity of the megalodontoid families between Units A and B. Between Unit B and C, across the Triassic/Jurassic boundary, a strong positive peak of both δ18Ocarb and δ34SCAS marks the biodiversity crises observed at the End Triassic Extinction, highlighting a close relationship between climatic changes and mass extinction events