Red deer exploitation strategies during ancient Neolithic in central-Adriatic Italy: the case of Colle Santo Stefano (Abruzzes)

Abstract

International audienceIn this paper we present the results of an integrated approach combining zooarchaeological, technological and macroscopic use-wear analyses carried out on the osseous material assemblage of Cervus elaphus recovered in the Early Neolithic site of Colle Santo Stefano (Italy). This study, inedited for the Neolithic Italian contexts, seeks to examine the available data on red deer exploitation strategies in order to highlight the relationship between animal acquisition for alimentary consumption and its treatment and transformation for domestic purposes by the first agro-pastoral societies. Despite the limited sample, the results obtained allowed to define not only alimentary-technical imbrication but also the existent relationship with the other techno-complexes recovered in the site