Papers by Paolo Sferrazza
Lithic Technology, Apr 17, 2024
The archaeological site of Calicantone (Sicily, Italy) is known since the 1970s for its necropoli... more The archaeological site of Calicantone (Sicily, Italy) is known since the 1970s for its necropolis. In 2012, after a survey, archaeologists found close to the necropolis a bi-apsidal hut. The use-wear and technological analysis of the knapped lithic assemblage revealed the presence of artefacts crafted by specialists with advanced technical skills alongside expedient flake tool production. Some technological solutions, such as an obliquely-hafted long pressure-lever blade used as a sickle, are unprecedented for Sicily but find earlier comparisons in the east and north-west Mediterranean. This fact raises questions about the neolithisation in Sicily. Other solutions are novel and shed new light on the function of a particular tool typology, such as the bifacial cleaver used to scrape hides. Furthermore, the lithic assemblage exhibited peculiarities, such as the single functionality of the tools and their brief use, which could be correlated with communal funerary functions performed within the hut.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Apr 1, 2023
Today, the analysis of use-wear traces of archaeological artefacts uses both qualitative (traditi... more Today, the analysis of use-wear traces of archaeological artefacts uses both qualitative (traditional) and quantitative (innovative) techniques. However, quantitative analyses require time and huge economic resources. It is important to find quantitative solutions that do not have high costs and that allow qualitative analysis to be more robust. Furthermore, quantitative analysis with 2D techniques would facilitate the standardization of the terms used to discriminate and describe the different types of polish. The Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix is a 2D image analysis technique that provides quantitative data on image texture. Although quite common in other research fields, this technique has not been systematically applied in archaeological research. Unlike other quantitative approaches, this technique takes little time and has no cost, as it uses traditional 2D images. Furthermore, this method acts as a bridge between qualitative and quantitative analyses. In this first approach, four use-wear traces (unused, butchering, shell, wood, antler) on flint experimental samples were analysed with selections of square images of 300x300 and 600x600 pixels (30 for each contact material). This technique together with a learning algorithm called Support Vector Machine has proved effective in distinguishing and quantifying four types of use-wear traces.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2023
Today, the analysis of use-wear traces of archaeological artefacts uses both qualitative (traditi... more Today, the analysis of use-wear traces of archaeological artefacts uses both qualitative (traditional) and quantitative (innovative) techniques. However, quantitative analyses require time and huge economic resources. It is important to find quantitative solutions that do not have high costs and that allow qualitative analysis to be more robust. Furthermore, quantitative analysis with 2D techniques would facilitate the standardization of the terms
used to discriminate and describe the different types of polish.
The Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix is a 2D image analysis technique that provides quantitative data on image texture. Although quite common in other research fields, this technique has not been systematically applied in archaeological research. Unlike other quantitative approaches, this technique takes little time and has no cost, as it uses traditional 2D images. Furthermore, this method acts as a bridge between qualitative and quantitative analyses. In this first approach, four use-wear traces (unused, butchering, shell, wood, antler) on flint experimental samples were analysed with selections of square images of 300x300 and 600x600 pixels (30 for
each contact material).
This technique together with a learning algorithm called Support Vector Machine has proved effective in distinguishing and quantifying four types of use-wear traces.
Magro, M. T. et al (2021), Analisi multidisciplinari dei ritrovamenti di età neolitica di contrada Molona di Caltagirone (Catania): nuovi risultati e considerazioni. In Militello, P., Nicoletti, F., Panvini, R. (eds.), La Sicilia Preistorica. Dinamiche interne e relazioni esterne, pp 153-162., 2021
This contribution is aimed at presenting new results obtained from the multidisciplinary analysis... more This contribution is aimed at presenting new results obtained from the multidisciplinary analysis of a site investigated in the Molona district of Caltagirone (Catania, Sicily) in 2012, which showed a large area of human frequentation dating back to the Late Neolithic with abundant pottery (classifiable as Diana facies), lithic industry and animal remains. Excavations of the area yielded a pit grave containing two adult males. This multidisciplinary study includes both the examination of ceramic and lithic findings and, in particular, zooarchaeological, anthropological and isotopic (radiocarbon dating, paleo nutrition) analyses.
Clinical Anatomy, 2020
In this paper a case of podal osteochondroma from the prehistoric Hypogeum of Calaforno (Giarrata... more In this paper a case of podal osteochondroma from the prehistoric Hypogeum of Calaforno (Giarratana, RG, Sicily) is presented. Although the phalanx exhibiting the benign tumoral mass came from a context featuring several commingled remains, the very good state of preservation of this bone allowed us to study the neoplasm comprehensively by applying a multidisciplinary approach involving archeology, morphology, stereomicroscopy and radiology. The results from this very ancient specimen were discussed in the light of the available paleopathological literature and the clinical implications of such tumors for modern patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Clinical Anatomy, 2020
In this paper a case of podal osteochondroma from the prehistoric Hypogeum of Calaforno (Giarrata... more In this paper a case of podal osteochondroma from the prehistoric Hypogeum of Calaforno (Giarratana, RG, Sicily) is presented. Although the phalanx exhibiting the benign tumoral mass came from a context featuring several commingled remains, the very good state of preservation of this bone allowed us to study the neoplasm comprehensively by applying a multidisciplinary approach involving archeology, morphology, stereomicroscopy and radiology. The results from this very ancient specimen were discussed in the light of the available paleopathological literature and the clinical implications of such tumors for modern patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Early Bronze Age II (2600-2200 BCE) was a period in which exchanges and contacts began to int... more The Early Bronze Age II (2600-2200 BCE) was a period in which exchanges and contacts began to intensify and covered a great geographic space in a short time, thanks to technological development in the navigation (for instance, the introduction of the sail simplified the long distance travel). In this article, the exchanges in the Mediterranean Sea are observed through the circulation of the tankards in the second half of the 3rd millennium BCE. After a brief overview of the navigation and sail technology, the social dimension of these contacts is discussed. The relationship between the elites, the production of wine and the marine voyages are discussed in the second part of the article together with a list of different areas and settlements that show the presence of this particular kind of ceramic vessel throughout the Mediterranean basin from Anatolia to Sicily. Finally, in the third part, the circulation of tankards is associated with wine production, elites and feasts to demonstrate how all these arguments are important when facing prehistoric exchange, and how these contacts connected and influenced in many ways the ancient societies.
Mari was an ancient site located in Syria near a modern village called Tell Hariri. Inside the Ro... more Mari was an ancient site located in Syria near a modern village called Tell Hariri. Inside the Royal Palace, archaeologists have found many pieces of different wall paintings located mainly in Court 106 and in Hall 132. The wall painting inside the Hall 132 is the subject of this article, particularly the register in which the god Sin is seated on a throne carved in the mountain. Parrot, Margueron and Matthiae had studied this wall painting, but this registry is never clearly explained. But if we consider this registry like a visual representation of the ritual called “The Substitute King”, the meaning of the depiction becomes more clear. With this comparison each character, and all the iconographic oddities (for example the god Sin who is seated on a throne in a mountain in which usually is seated Shamash, the mace a symbol of royalty is in the hand of an “high priest” and so on), seem to be in the right place. Unfortunately this is the only known representation of the substitute king's rite and I could not do any comparison with other depictions that could strengthen this hypothesis.
Keywords: Mari, wall painting, substitute king, hall 132, royal palace"
Sicilian prehistory by Paolo Sferrazza
Rivista di Scienze Preistoriche, 2018
Abstract – Calicantone is an archaeological area belonging to the Parco Archeologico di Cava d’Is... more Abstract – Calicantone is an archaeological area belonging to the Parco Archeologico di Cava d’Ispica, a 13 km long canyon extening from the territory of Modica (RG) to that of Ispica (SR) in Soth-Eastern Sicily. The Archaeological Service of Ragusa/Parco Archeologico di Cava d’Ispica and the University of Catania undertook in 2012-2015 a research project which brought to a better knowledge of the local necropolis of rock-cut chamber tombs, to the identification of the village area (unfortunately in a now bilt area), an to the iscovery of a Bronze Age hut, located between the village an the necropolis. In this article the preliminary report of the excavation of the ht is presente. Three sbseqent phases have been iscovere: an occpation ientifie thanks to pole-posts (phase 0), the constrction of a smaller biapsial biling (phase I) an the final ht (phase II). In this final phase the ht was 12,5x4,5 meter, ha an elongate biapsial plan, oriente N-S, with the entrance locate in the eastern wall. The inner space was ivie into two sections, ifferentiate by the floor level, higher in the northern part e to a step in the rock, an an artificially mae, protring plat-form. Only few finings were fon in the sothern sector (two high peestal bowls, one clay “aniron” an a grop of spinle-whorls). Here a shallow basin, line with plaster, was g in the floor. Parallel to the short sie of the basin, the skeleton of a 10-14 years ol inivial has been fon. This sothern sector was probably se for rital or working activities. A hge qantity of vases was instea fon in the northern sector, which was probably a storage area: pithoi, olia, rinking an poring vases, high peestal bowls, together with clay horns, miniatre axes, small iols (?) an a necklace. Among the vases, the skeletons of at 3-4 inivials in ifferent postres have been fon, mainly concentrate (with the exception of two) in the northern apsis. Two more inivials lai along the western wall, an a frther one half insie an half otsie a pithos along the eastern wall. The isposal of the corpses an their position sggest that a sen an violent event broght to the estrction of the ht. Some final consieration will be mae abot the commnal (an fnerary?) fnction of the ht an the historical significance of this war event.
Nº12.Zk. (2022): ¿Menos da una piedra? by Paolo Sferrazza
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Papers by Paolo Sferrazza
used to discriminate and describe the different types of polish.
The Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix is a 2D image analysis technique that provides quantitative data on image texture. Although quite common in other research fields, this technique has not been systematically applied in archaeological research. Unlike other quantitative approaches, this technique takes little time and has no cost, as it uses traditional 2D images. Furthermore, this method acts as a bridge between qualitative and quantitative analyses. In this first approach, four use-wear traces (unused, butchering, shell, wood, antler) on flint experimental samples were analysed with selections of square images of 300x300 and 600x600 pixels (30 for
each contact material).
This technique together with a learning algorithm called Support Vector Machine has proved effective in distinguishing and quantifying four types of use-wear traces.
Keywords: Mari, wall painting, substitute king, hall 132, royal palace"
Sicilian prehistory by Paolo Sferrazza
Nº12.Zk. (2022): ¿Menos da una piedra? by Paolo Sferrazza
used to discriminate and describe the different types of polish.
The Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix is a 2D image analysis technique that provides quantitative data on image texture. Although quite common in other research fields, this technique has not been systematically applied in archaeological research. Unlike other quantitative approaches, this technique takes little time and has no cost, as it uses traditional 2D images. Furthermore, this method acts as a bridge between qualitative and quantitative analyses. In this first approach, four use-wear traces (unused, butchering, shell, wood, antler) on flint experimental samples were analysed with selections of square images of 300x300 and 600x600 pixels (30 for
each contact material).
This technique together with a learning algorithm called Support Vector Machine has proved effective in distinguishing and quantifying four types of use-wear traces.
Keywords: Mari, wall painting, substitute king, hall 132, royal palace"