Research Associate WP4 – Study of cultural objects ERC-724046- SUCCESS The earliest migration of Homo sapiens in southern Europe. Understanding the biocultural processes that define our uniqueness. http://www.erc-success.eu/ https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/giulia.marciani
The Middle Palaeolithic Oscurusciuto rock shelter opens in the Pleistocene calcarenites in the ra... more The Middle Palaeolithic Oscurusciuto rock shelter opens in the Pleistocene calcarenites in the ravine of Ginosa, about 20 km from the Ionic coast. The research that the University of Siena has been carrying out since 1998 has brought to light a stratigraphic sequence about 6 meters thick, made out of sub-horizontal layers with a dominant sandy-silty matrix [lJ [2J [3J. The collapse of the shelter's vault (large blocks can be observed along the stratigraphy) resulted in the erosion of some of the deposit. As a consequence, this is narrower in the upper layers, whereas in the lower ones the exposed surface reaches an extension of 60 square meters. The upper part of the stratigraphy (base ofSU 1) yielded a 14C date 008.500 ± 900 BP (AMS, Beta 181165; cal 42.975 ± 788 BP). A further post quem chronological marker is represented by a thick layer of tefra (SU14) attributed to the Mount Epomeo Green Tufffrom Ischia (R. Sulpizio pers. comment), dated to about 55 kyrs BP. This volcanic l...
Applicazioni tecnologiche allo studio di contesti paleolitci e mesolitici iitaliani, 2017
Lo studio mediante sistemi GIS del comportamento neandertaliano in Italia centro-meridionale e un... more Lo studio mediante sistemi GIS del comportamento neandertaliano in Italia centro-meridionale e una delle linee di ricerca dell’U.R. di Preistoria e Antropologia (DSFTA) dell’Universita di Siena. Protocolli analitici multidisciplinari integrati sono attualmente adottati sui contesti stratigrafici di Grotta Grande e Riparo il Molare (San Giovanni a Piro, SA; Ronchitelli et al. 2011, Boscato et al. 2002), Riparo l’Oscurusciuto (Ginosa, TA; Marciani et al. 2016, Spagnolo et al. 2016) e Grotta dei Santi (Monte Argentario, GR; Spagnolo 2017). Le caratteristiche di tali siti offrono la possibilita di osservare i fenomeni insediativi in una prospettiva multi-scalare: dall’alta risoluzione temporale alla lettura diacronica dei processi storici, dall’intra-site alla scala geografica territoriale. Le strategie insediative dei cacciatori-raccoglitori neandertaliani sono argomento di un intenso dibattito scientifico che vede attivi, su vari livelli, studiosi afferenti a diverse discipline. Questo, oltre ad evidenziare la vastita della problematica, mostra altresi la necessita di adottare metodi di studio sempre piu integrati. La dimensione contestuale e multi-scalare della Spatial Archaeology diviene pertanto un ambiente ideale in cui realizzare l’integrazione dei risultati della Ricerca preistorica. A scala intra-site nel campione finora indagato e stato possibile cogliere diversi modi di gestione degli accampamenti. Questo, se da un lato potrebbe essere espressione di variabili genuinamente spaziali (es. superficie indagata rispetto all’accampamento), in taluni casi sembrerebbe piuttosto riflettere strategie insediative differenti (es. occupazioni brevi vs occupazioni protratte nel tempo). Il grado di “visibilita archeologica” delle aree di attivita e direttamente proporzionale alla risoluzione temporale dei contesti, per cui living floors e short palimpsests offrono letture molto piu chiare rispetto ai palinsesti lunghi. D’altro canto, la disponibilita di serie stratigrafiche articolate in diversi livelli di occupazione, spesso con un eccellente stato di conservazione, e un fattore-chiave per cogliere continuita e discontinuita dei modelli insediativi. Le fluttuazioni di tali cambiamenti, oltre ad esprimere forme di adattamento ai contesti ambientali locali, costituiscono una sorta di proxy delle strutture sociali e di uno dei silenziosi motori della Storia: il rapporto dialettico tra “memoria del gruppo” e “Longue duree”. A scala geografica territoriale, infine, le analisi spaziali, integrate con i parametri paleoambientali, i dati tecno-economici dei complessi litici e le composizioni tassonomiche degli insiemi faunistici, offrono un contributo alla definizione delle strategie di mobilita e alla ricostruzione dei “play ranges” dei gruppi di cacciatori-raccoglitori. GIS potentialities in reconstructing social structures and economic and settling strategies in Mousterian sites of Central-Southern Italy The study of Neandertal behaviour in Central-Southern Italy using GIS systems is one the research topics explored by the R.U. of Prehistory and Anthropology (DSFTA) of the University of Siena. Multidisciplinary and integrated analytic protocols have been applied in a number of stratigraphic contexts of Central-Southern Italy: Grotta Grande and Riparo del Molare (MIS 5; San Giovanni a Piro, SA; Ronchitelli et al. 2011, Boscato et al. 2002), Riparo l’Oscurusciuto (MIS 3; Ginosa, TA; Marciani et al. 2016, Spagnolo et al. 2016) and Grotta dei Santi (MIS 3; Monte Argentario, GR; Spagnolo 2017). These sites are particularly suitable for being observed under a multi-scale perspective: from the high-resolution diachronic reading of historical processes to the intra-site investigation at a territorial scale. Settling strategies of Neandertal hunter-gatherers are the pivot around which a lively scientific debate has developed among scholars of different disciplines, highlighting the magnitude of the problem in terms of involved research fields. As a consequence increasingly integrated methodologies of study are needed. Thus, the contextual multi-scale dimension of Spatial Archaeology is becoming the ideal “scenario” where the integration among single results of prehistoric research can occur. According to investigations carried out at an intra-site scale, the different organization of space in Neandertal camps of the examined sample is probably the expression of merely spatial variables (e.g. size of the investigated area), even if, sometimes, it seems to actually mirror real differences in settling strategies (e.g. brief vs. long occupations). As expected, the degree of “archaeological visibility” of the activity areas is directly proportional to how much the contexts under study lasted in time. Consequently, living floors and short-lived palimpsests can be obviously read more clearly than long-lasting palimpsests. Moreover, the availability of stratigraphic sequences with several occupational layers, often very well…
The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in the Ginosa ravine (Taranto, Apulia), is a very importan... more The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in the Ginosa ravine (Taranto, Apulia), is a very important site for the understanding of Neandertal subsistence and settlement strategies in Southern Italy. The deposit, about 6 m thick and with a base of 60 m2 , is made up of several levels Middle Palaeolithic in age (fig. 1). The series so far investigated (between SU 1 and SU 15) ranges between 42,724±716 cal BP (Beta 181165 AMS) (SU 1) and 55 ± 2 kyrs (40Ar/39Ar) (SU 14 – tephra identified as the Mount Epomeo Ischia green tuff; Allen et alii 2000). Such a chronological interval is crucial in European prehistory as it falls upon the period of disappearance of Homo neanderthalensis and of the dispersal of the first groups of Anatomically Modern Humans. Excavations and studies on the Oscurusciuto Shelter are being led by the Unità di Ricerca di Preistoria e Antropologia of the Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente of the University of Siena (Boscato, Ronchitelli 2008; Villa et alii 2009; Boscato et alii 2011; Ronchitelli et alii 2011; Spagnolo et alii 2015). The study comprises: taxonomic and taphonomic investigations on faunal remains, analysis of lithic production through a technological and techno-functional approach, micromorphological analyses of hearths and assessment of the spatial meaning of these features. The aim of this work is to individuate, from a diachronic point of view, the continuities and discontinuities inside the lithic techno-complexes, the site space management and the mobility patterns within the territory. Such objectives are reached by a multidisciplinary approach. The different datasets which have been gathered are statistically elaborated within a GIS platform in order to determine the modalities of space management. The different datasets which have been gathered are statistically elaborated within a GIS platform in order to determine the modalities of space management. The application of the RMU method (lithic raw material units), on technological and spatial bases, allows the recognition of single activities (Marciani 2013; Spagnolo 2013; Spagnolo et alii 2015). This research comprises the integrated study of the lower section of the series so far investigated in the Shelter: SU 15, SU 14, SU 13 and SU 11. These stratigraphic units are particularly interesting for the reconstruction of Neandertal behaviour, given that each of them shows peculiarities in terms of structural elements, spatial management, type of occupation and lithic production systems. SU 15 is a living floor in which a phase of abandonment is recorded and is sealed by the deposition of the SU 14 tephra. This surface is characterized by stone alignments which define two possible structures. SU 14 (fig. 2) is an almost sterile layer about 60 cm thick, made of volcanic ashes. Traces of a short frequentation can be seen only few centimetres under the top of the layer. SU 13 is a short palimpsest which represents the first stable re-colonization of the site after the environmental impact created by volcanic ash deposition. In this layer, 10 aligned hearths were found which divide up the site into areas devoted to different activities. The overlying SU 11 is a palimpsest about 30 cm thick, characterized by the superimposition of tens of hearths. The results of these studies will bring important and useful advances in research on the behavioural and settlement features of Neandertals, particularly at this time when there are many Italian and international projects which face these questions by means of different and innovative approaches
The period of the last Middle Palaeolithic (between 60,000 and 40,000 years BP) is crucial in pre... more The period of the last Middle Palaeolithic (between 60,000 and 40,000 years BP) is crucial in prehistory, as it encompasses the period of the demise of Homo neanderthalensis and of the diffusion of groups of Homo sapiens in Eurasia. In order to understand this decisive period it is necessary to comprehend the real identity or identities of the last Neanderthals, which could be done studying their material culture. Incidentally the most abundant cache available to archaeological assessment is lithic material. Indeed, due to their durability, flaked lithic artefacts are the most abundant traces of past behaviour; they are preserved not only as tools but they also preserve upon them traces of the actions that have been carried out on them. Understanding technical objects means not seeing them only as simple utilitarian objects, a means through which an aim is realized, but also considering the object as a depositary of a human reality a bearer and custodian of deeper knowledge regardin...
Grotta dei Santi-GDS é um sítio préhistórico do Paleolítico Médio, situado na região da Toscana (... more Grotta dei Santi-GDS é um sítio préhistórico do Paleolítico Médio, situado na região da Toscana (Itália Central). Apresenta vestígios da ocupação neandertalense entre 50.000 e 40.000 anos antes do presente. Por sua importância no panorama paleolítico italiano, o Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche della Terra e dell’Ambiente-Unità di Ricerca di Preistoria e Antropologia dell’Università di Siena (Itália), há mais de dez anos, conduz as pesquisas, escavações e ações de valorização patrimonial com a finalidade de aprofundar o conhecimento sobre o comportamento neandertal na região e também valorizar um sítio que, por sua própria importância científica e localização, se apresenta como único em seu gênero. Neste capítulo, apresentamos o projeto desenvolvido no sítio GDS com foco numa gestão integrada do território.
The Oscurusciuto rock shelter (Ginosa, Puglia, southern Italy) is a Middle Palaeolithic site char... more The Oscurusciuto rock shelter (Ginosa, Puglia, southern Italy) is a Middle Palaeolithic site characterized by a significant stratigraphy made up by several anthropic levels. The stratigraphic unit 13, consisting of a sandy compact deposit mixed with pyroclastic sediment, is a short palimpsest situated on a layer of tephra, identified as Mt. Epomeo green tuff (dated Ar/Ar ~ 55 ka BP). From a technological point of view, the aims of the production were backed flakes, convergent flakes, and other flakes obtained by means of a Levallois debitage, plus (less represented) bladelets produced by an additional volumetric reduction system. Our aim in this research was to examine a selection of the above-mentioned target objects produced by debitage in order to understand the manufacture and life-cycle of each single tool from a dynamic perspective. We integrated techno-functional and use-wear analyses: the first was implemented to globally comprehend each tool, identifying each single techno-...
The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in southern Italy (Puglia), has yielded a long Middle Pala... more The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in southern Italy (Puglia), has yielded a long Middle Palaeolithic stratigraphy rich in lithic assemblages, fireplaces and faunal remains, attesting Neanderthal occupation during the MIS 3. This paper is focused on the stratigraphic unit 13, consisting of a sandy compact deposit mixed with pyroclastic sediment above a thick level of tephra-US 14, identified as Mt. Epomeo green tuff (dated Ar/Ar ~ 55 ka).Level 13 represents the first stable human occupation after the deposition of tephra. Our goal was to examine the lithic assemblage of this stratigraphic unit by means of an interdisciplinary approach (technology, RMU, refitting program) in order to identify the economic behaviour and technical strategies of Neanderthals occupying the stratigraphic unit 13 of Oscurusciuto.The technical strategies applied indicate fragmentation of the reduction processes, as well as probable events of importation and exportation of objects. The lithic material we...
Journal of anthropological sciences = Rivista di antropologia : JASS, 2018
The Uluzzian techno-complex is commonly considered to be a "transitional industry" most... more The Uluzzian techno-complex is commonly considered to be a "transitional industry" mostly on the basis of some inferred characteristics such as a chiefly flake-based production, a small amount of Upper Palaeolithic-like tools and a combination of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic elements both in the toolkit and in the technical systems. Following its discovery, the Uluzzian was identified as the Italian counterpart of the French Châtelperronian and attributed to Neandertals. However, a study issued in 2011 has established the modern character of the two deciduous teeth found in 1964 in the Uluzzian deposit of Grotta del Cavallo, fostering renewed interests to the Uluzzian culture, which real nature is almost unknown to the international scientific community. Here we provide preliminary results of the study on the lithic assemblage from the earliest Uluzzian layer and on backed pieces from the whole Uluzzian sequence of Grotta del Cavallo (Apulia, Italy), the type site of the ...
Abstract The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in the ravine of Ginosa (Taranto), is one of the ... more Abstract The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in the ravine of Ginosa (Taranto), is one of the key sites for the study of Neanderthal groups in Southern Italy. The rich stratigraphic sequence of the site, which is ascribable entirely to the Middle Palaeolithic, is rich in anthropic remains and combustion structures, attesting occupation by Neanderthals during MIS 3. This paper is focused on the study of Stratigraphic Unit (SU) 13, made up of a compact sandy sediment mixed with pyroclastic sediment derived from the underlying tephra level (SU 14). The latter has been identified as Monte Epomeo green tuff (dated Ar/Ar 55 ± 2 ka). The first stable human occupation of the shelter after tephra deposition is represented by unit 13. Our aim here is that of separating the Stratigraphic Unit into its main components so as to obtain a high temporal resolution on the activities which took place in this SU, and to reconstruct the individual events which formed the palimpsest. In order to fulfil these objectives, a multidisciplinary approach was needed through which data could be integrated from the microstratigraphy of the hearths; from the technological study of the lithic industries; from the individuation of the Raw Material Units (RMUs); from refitting and co-joining and from spatial analysis (GIS science/tool). The integration of these analytical methods reveals that SU 13 of the Oscurusciuto rock shelter was the product of a series of events ascribable to a short time span. This layer was formed by sediment aggradation and cementation (e.g., brecciation) processes. Human activities contributed to the sediment build up with the introduction of wood ash, lithic raw materials and bones. The results show the importance of using integrated research methods in order to identify short anthropic events within a palimpsest.
The Middle Palaeolithic Oscurusciuto rock shelter opens in the Pleistocene calcarenites in the ra... more The Middle Palaeolithic Oscurusciuto rock shelter opens in the Pleistocene calcarenites in the ravine of Ginosa, about 20 km from the Ionic coast. The research that the University of Siena has been carrying out since 1998 has brought to light a stratigraphic sequence about 6 meters thick, made out of sub-horizontal layers with a dominant sandy-silty matrix [lJ [2J [3J. The collapse of the shelter's vault (large blocks can be observed along the stratigraphy) resulted in the erosion of some of the deposit. As a consequence, this is narrower in the upper layers, whereas in the lower ones the exposed surface reaches an extension of 60 square meters. The upper part of the stratigraphy (base ofSU 1) yielded a 14C date 008.500 ± 900 BP (AMS, Beta 181165; cal 42.975 ± 788 BP). A further post quem chronological marker is represented by a thick layer of tefra (SU14) attributed to the Mount Epomeo Green Tufffrom Ischia (R. Sulpizio pers. comment), dated to about 55 kyrs BP. This volcanic l...
Applicazioni tecnologiche allo studio di contesti paleolitci e mesolitici iitaliani, 2017
Lo studio mediante sistemi GIS del comportamento neandertaliano in Italia centro-meridionale e un... more Lo studio mediante sistemi GIS del comportamento neandertaliano in Italia centro-meridionale e una delle linee di ricerca dell’U.R. di Preistoria e Antropologia (DSFTA) dell’Universita di Siena. Protocolli analitici multidisciplinari integrati sono attualmente adottati sui contesti stratigrafici di Grotta Grande e Riparo il Molare (San Giovanni a Piro, SA; Ronchitelli et al. 2011, Boscato et al. 2002), Riparo l’Oscurusciuto (Ginosa, TA; Marciani et al. 2016, Spagnolo et al. 2016) e Grotta dei Santi (Monte Argentario, GR; Spagnolo 2017). Le caratteristiche di tali siti offrono la possibilita di osservare i fenomeni insediativi in una prospettiva multi-scalare: dall’alta risoluzione temporale alla lettura diacronica dei processi storici, dall’intra-site alla scala geografica territoriale. Le strategie insediative dei cacciatori-raccoglitori neandertaliani sono argomento di un intenso dibattito scientifico che vede attivi, su vari livelli, studiosi afferenti a diverse discipline. Questo, oltre ad evidenziare la vastita della problematica, mostra altresi la necessita di adottare metodi di studio sempre piu integrati. La dimensione contestuale e multi-scalare della Spatial Archaeology diviene pertanto un ambiente ideale in cui realizzare l’integrazione dei risultati della Ricerca preistorica. A scala intra-site nel campione finora indagato e stato possibile cogliere diversi modi di gestione degli accampamenti. Questo, se da un lato potrebbe essere espressione di variabili genuinamente spaziali (es. superficie indagata rispetto all’accampamento), in taluni casi sembrerebbe piuttosto riflettere strategie insediative differenti (es. occupazioni brevi vs occupazioni protratte nel tempo). Il grado di “visibilita archeologica” delle aree di attivita e direttamente proporzionale alla risoluzione temporale dei contesti, per cui living floors e short palimpsests offrono letture molto piu chiare rispetto ai palinsesti lunghi. D’altro canto, la disponibilita di serie stratigrafiche articolate in diversi livelli di occupazione, spesso con un eccellente stato di conservazione, e un fattore-chiave per cogliere continuita e discontinuita dei modelli insediativi. Le fluttuazioni di tali cambiamenti, oltre ad esprimere forme di adattamento ai contesti ambientali locali, costituiscono una sorta di proxy delle strutture sociali e di uno dei silenziosi motori della Storia: il rapporto dialettico tra “memoria del gruppo” e “Longue duree”. A scala geografica territoriale, infine, le analisi spaziali, integrate con i parametri paleoambientali, i dati tecno-economici dei complessi litici e le composizioni tassonomiche degli insiemi faunistici, offrono un contributo alla definizione delle strategie di mobilita e alla ricostruzione dei “play ranges” dei gruppi di cacciatori-raccoglitori. GIS potentialities in reconstructing social structures and economic and settling strategies in Mousterian sites of Central-Southern Italy The study of Neandertal behaviour in Central-Southern Italy using GIS systems is one the research topics explored by the R.U. of Prehistory and Anthropology (DSFTA) of the University of Siena. Multidisciplinary and integrated analytic protocols have been applied in a number of stratigraphic contexts of Central-Southern Italy: Grotta Grande and Riparo del Molare (MIS 5; San Giovanni a Piro, SA; Ronchitelli et al. 2011, Boscato et al. 2002), Riparo l’Oscurusciuto (MIS 3; Ginosa, TA; Marciani et al. 2016, Spagnolo et al. 2016) and Grotta dei Santi (MIS 3; Monte Argentario, GR; Spagnolo 2017). These sites are particularly suitable for being observed under a multi-scale perspective: from the high-resolution diachronic reading of historical processes to the intra-site investigation at a territorial scale. Settling strategies of Neandertal hunter-gatherers are the pivot around which a lively scientific debate has developed among scholars of different disciplines, highlighting the magnitude of the problem in terms of involved research fields. As a consequence increasingly integrated methodologies of study are needed. Thus, the contextual multi-scale dimension of Spatial Archaeology is becoming the ideal “scenario” where the integration among single results of prehistoric research can occur. According to investigations carried out at an intra-site scale, the different organization of space in Neandertal camps of the examined sample is probably the expression of merely spatial variables (e.g. size of the investigated area), even if, sometimes, it seems to actually mirror real differences in settling strategies (e.g. brief vs. long occupations). As expected, the degree of “archaeological visibility” of the activity areas is directly proportional to how much the contexts under study lasted in time. Consequently, living floors and short-lived palimpsests can be obviously read more clearly than long-lasting palimpsests. Moreover, the availability of stratigraphic sequences with several occupational layers, often very well…
The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in the Ginosa ravine (Taranto, Apulia), is a very importan... more The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in the Ginosa ravine (Taranto, Apulia), is a very important site for the understanding of Neandertal subsistence and settlement strategies in Southern Italy. The deposit, about 6 m thick and with a base of 60 m2 , is made up of several levels Middle Palaeolithic in age (fig. 1). The series so far investigated (between SU 1 and SU 15) ranges between 42,724±716 cal BP (Beta 181165 AMS) (SU 1) and 55 ± 2 kyrs (40Ar/39Ar) (SU 14 – tephra identified as the Mount Epomeo Ischia green tuff; Allen et alii 2000). Such a chronological interval is crucial in European prehistory as it falls upon the period of disappearance of Homo neanderthalensis and of the dispersal of the first groups of Anatomically Modern Humans. Excavations and studies on the Oscurusciuto Shelter are being led by the Unità di Ricerca di Preistoria e Antropologia of the Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente of the University of Siena (Boscato, Ronchitelli 2008; Villa et alii 2009; Boscato et alii 2011; Ronchitelli et alii 2011; Spagnolo et alii 2015). The study comprises: taxonomic and taphonomic investigations on faunal remains, analysis of lithic production through a technological and techno-functional approach, micromorphological analyses of hearths and assessment of the spatial meaning of these features. The aim of this work is to individuate, from a diachronic point of view, the continuities and discontinuities inside the lithic techno-complexes, the site space management and the mobility patterns within the territory. Such objectives are reached by a multidisciplinary approach. The different datasets which have been gathered are statistically elaborated within a GIS platform in order to determine the modalities of space management. The different datasets which have been gathered are statistically elaborated within a GIS platform in order to determine the modalities of space management. The application of the RMU method (lithic raw material units), on technological and spatial bases, allows the recognition of single activities (Marciani 2013; Spagnolo 2013; Spagnolo et alii 2015). This research comprises the integrated study of the lower section of the series so far investigated in the Shelter: SU 15, SU 14, SU 13 and SU 11. These stratigraphic units are particularly interesting for the reconstruction of Neandertal behaviour, given that each of them shows peculiarities in terms of structural elements, spatial management, type of occupation and lithic production systems. SU 15 is a living floor in which a phase of abandonment is recorded and is sealed by the deposition of the SU 14 tephra. This surface is characterized by stone alignments which define two possible structures. SU 14 (fig. 2) is an almost sterile layer about 60 cm thick, made of volcanic ashes. Traces of a short frequentation can be seen only few centimetres under the top of the layer. SU 13 is a short palimpsest which represents the first stable re-colonization of the site after the environmental impact created by volcanic ash deposition. In this layer, 10 aligned hearths were found which divide up the site into areas devoted to different activities. The overlying SU 11 is a palimpsest about 30 cm thick, characterized by the superimposition of tens of hearths. The results of these studies will bring important and useful advances in research on the behavioural and settlement features of Neandertals, particularly at this time when there are many Italian and international projects which face these questions by means of different and innovative approaches
The period of the last Middle Palaeolithic (between 60,000 and 40,000 years BP) is crucial in pre... more The period of the last Middle Palaeolithic (between 60,000 and 40,000 years BP) is crucial in prehistory, as it encompasses the period of the demise of Homo neanderthalensis and of the diffusion of groups of Homo sapiens in Eurasia. In order to understand this decisive period it is necessary to comprehend the real identity or identities of the last Neanderthals, which could be done studying their material culture. Incidentally the most abundant cache available to archaeological assessment is lithic material. Indeed, due to their durability, flaked lithic artefacts are the most abundant traces of past behaviour; they are preserved not only as tools but they also preserve upon them traces of the actions that have been carried out on them. Understanding technical objects means not seeing them only as simple utilitarian objects, a means through which an aim is realized, but also considering the object as a depositary of a human reality a bearer and custodian of deeper knowledge regardin...
Grotta dei Santi-GDS é um sítio préhistórico do Paleolítico Médio, situado na região da Toscana (... more Grotta dei Santi-GDS é um sítio préhistórico do Paleolítico Médio, situado na região da Toscana (Itália Central). Apresenta vestígios da ocupação neandertalense entre 50.000 e 40.000 anos antes do presente. Por sua importância no panorama paleolítico italiano, o Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche della Terra e dell’Ambiente-Unità di Ricerca di Preistoria e Antropologia dell’Università di Siena (Itália), há mais de dez anos, conduz as pesquisas, escavações e ações de valorização patrimonial com a finalidade de aprofundar o conhecimento sobre o comportamento neandertal na região e também valorizar um sítio que, por sua própria importância científica e localização, se apresenta como único em seu gênero. Neste capítulo, apresentamos o projeto desenvolvido no sítio GDS com foco numa gestão integrada do território.
The Oscurusciuto rock shelter (Ginosa, Puglia, southern Italy) is a Middle Palaeolithic site char... more The Oscurusciuto rock shelter (Ginosa, Puglia, southern Italy) is a Middle Palaeolithic site characterized by a significant stratigraphy made up by several anthropic levels. The stratigraphic unit 13, consisting of a sandy compact deposit mixed with pyroclastic sediment, is a short palimpsest situated on a layer of tephra, identified as Mt. Epomeo green tuff (dated Ar/Ar ~ 55 ka BP). From a technological point of view, the aims of the production were backed flakes, convergent flakes, and other flakes obtained by means of a Levallois debitage, plus (less represented) bladelets produced by an additional volumetric reduction system. Our aim in this research was to examine a selection of the above-mentioned target objects produced by debitage in order to understand the manufacture and life-cycle of each single tool from a dynamic perspective. We integrated techno-functional and use-wear analyses: the first was implemented to globally comprehend each tool, identifying each single techno-...
The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in southern Italy (Puglia), has yielded a long Middle Pala... more The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in southern Italy (Puglia), has yielded a long Middle Palaeolithic stratigraphy rich in lithic assemblages, fireplaces and faunal remains, attesting Neanderthal occupation during the MIS 3. This paper is focused on the stratigraphic unit 13, consisting of a sandy compact deposit mixed with pyroclastic sediment above a thick level of tephra-US 14, identified as Mt. Epomeo green tuff (dated Ar/Ar ~ 55 ka).Level 13 represents the first stable human occupation after the deposition of tephra. Our goal was to examine the lithic assemblage of this stratigraphic unit by means of an interdisciplinary approach (technology, RMU, refitting program) in order to identify the economic behaviour and technical strategies of Neanderthals occupying the stratigraphic unit 13 of Oscurusciuto.The technical strategies applied indicate fragmentation of the reduction processes, as well as probable events of importation and exportation of objects. The lithic material we...
Journal of anthropological sciences = Rivista di antropologia : JASS, 2018
The Uluzzian techno-complex is commonly considered to be a "transitional industry" most... more The Uluzzian techno-complex is commonly considered to be a "transitional industry" mostly on the basis of some inferred characteristics such as a chiefly flake-based production, a small amount of Upper Palaeolithic-like tools and a combination of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic elements both in the toolkit and in the technical systems. Following its discovery, the Uluzzian was identified as the Italian counterpart of the French Châtelperronian and attributed to Neandertals. However, a study issued in 2011 has established the modern character of the two deciduous teeth found in 1964 in the Uluzzian deposit of Grotta del Cavallo, fostering renewed interests to the Uluzzian culture, which real nature is almost unknown to the international scientific community. Here we provide preliminary results of the study on the lithic assemblage from the earliest Uluzzian layer and on backed pieces from the whole Uluzzian sequence of Grotta del Cavallo (Apulia, Italy), the type site of the ...
Abstract The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in the ravine of Ginosa (Taranto), is one of the ... more Abstract The Oscurusciuto rock shelter, located in the ravine of Ginosa (Taranto), is one of the key sites for the study of Neanderthal groups in Southern Italy. The rich stratigraphic sequence of the site, which is ascribable entirely to the Middle Palaeolithic, is rich in anthropic remains and combustion structures, attesting occupation by Neanderthals during MIS 3. This paper is focused on the study of Stratigraphic Unit (SU) 13, made up of a compact sandy sediment mixed with pyroclastic sediment derived from the underlying tephra level (SU 14). The latter has been identified as Monte Epomeo green tuff (dated Ar/Ar 55 ± 2 ka). The first stable human occupation of the shelter after tephra deposition is represented by unit 13. Our aim here is that of separating the Stratigraphic Unit into its main components so as to obtain a high temporal resolution on the activities which took place in this SU, and to reconstruct the individual events which formed the palimpsest. In order to fulfil these objectives, a multidisciplinary approach was needed through which data could be integrated from the microstratigraphy of the hearths; from the technological study of the lithic industries; from the individuation of the Raw Material Units (RMUs); from refitting and co-joining and from spatial analysis (GIS science/tool). The integration of these analytical methods reveals that SU 13 of the Oscurusciuto rock shelter was the product of a series of events ascribable to a short time span. This layer was formed by sediment aggradation and cementation (e.g., brecciation) processes. Human activities contributed to the sediment build up with the introduction of wood ash, lithic raw materials and bones. The results show the importance of using integrated research methods in order to identify short anthropic events within a palimpsest.
Victor Paz, Helen Lewis, Wilfredo Ronquillo, Emi Robles, Jane Carlos, Myra Lara, Omar Choa , Arch... more Victor Paz, Helen Lewis, Wilfredo Ronquillo, Emi Robles, Jane Carlos, Myra Lara, Omar Choa , Archie Tiauzon, Shawn O’Donell, Vito Hernandez, Deo Cuerdo, Jun Cayron, Gez Foster, Giulia Marciani, Wilhelm Solheim II with contributions from Noel Amano, Bea Fereras, Janine Ochoa
As part of the Paleolithic archeology, new research questions are focused on the reconstruction o... more As part of the Paleolithic archeology, new research questions are focused on the reconstruction of the past activities at high spatial and temporal resolution, through the palimpsest dissection in their smallest time units. The analysis of the spatial dimension of data, collected and studied by specialists of different academic fields, is a key factor to understand these archaeological contexts. The current strategies of spatial archeology have led to the development of increasingly integrated analytical modules for the treatment of data achieved from these studies. In this paper we submit the analytic model adopted for the study of two Middle Palaeolithic contexts in Southern Italy: Molare Rockshelter (Scario – SA) and Oscurusciuto Rockshelter (Ginosa – TA). We integrated data from GIS computations with 3D data elaborated using Image-based 3D modeling technique. The GIS is an essential tool, able to interface with each other different kinds of data, derived from interdisciplinary studies. First of all we have studied the taphonomic data, in order to demonstrate the non-random or anthropogenic nature of the spatial distribution of the archaeological finds, and the contexts good state of preservation (chi-square, physical state of the finds, refitting pattern, absence of water flow evidence, etc.). Then, we have studied these spatial arrangements (cluster analysis, kernel density analysis, correlation analysis, etc.) to identify the structures (both visible and latent). Contextual analysis is therefore essential to reconstruct past ways of life, especially when dealing with the complex dynamics of the Paleolithic sites. An accurate documentation of the distinctive features of the context, including the morphology of the surfaces, contributes significantly to the understanding of these dynamics. Image-based 3D modeling technique allows to obtain 3D models of the investigated areas, achieving a high level of details and precision; these models can be imported into GIS platforms, enhancing its analytic potential. In particular, it is possible to deduce a number of traces of human activities, which can be recognized by centimeter-scale changes in the elevation of surfaces, as for example the arrangement of living floors and the accumulation of remains in different areas.
The Middle Palaeolithic Oscurusciuto rock shelter opens in the Pleistocene calcarenites in the ra... more The Middle Palaeolithic Oscurusciuto rock shelter opens in the Pleistocene calcarenites in the ravine of Ginosa, about 20 km from the Ionic coast. The research that the University of Siena has been carrying out since 1998 has brought to light a stratigraphic sequence about 6 meters thick, made out of sub-horizontal layers with a dominant sandy-silty matrix [1] [2] [3]. The collapse of the shelter’s vault (large blocks can be observed along the stratigraphy) resulted in the erosion of some of the deposit. As a consequence, this is narrower in the upper layers, whereas in the lower ones the exposed surface reaches an extension of 60 square meters. The upper part of the stratigraphy (base of SU 1) yielded a 14C date of 38.500 ± 900 BP (AMS, Beta 181165;cal 42.975 ± 788 BP). A further post quem chronological marker is represented by a thick layer of tefra (SU14) attributed to the Mount Epomeo Green Tuff from Ischia (R. Sulpizio pers. comment), dated to about 55 kyrs BP. This volcanic layer seals a palaeosurface (SU15) placed at a depth of about 3 meters from the top of the deposit. The specific interest of this palaeosurface, exposed over an area of 18 square meters, is given by the presence of stone alignments referable to two possible structures, alongside large quantities of lithic and faunal remains. The first structure comprises a 2 meters wide semicircle standing against the north wall of the shelter and formed by small clusters made of 3-4 stones each. The archaeological remains are more abundant between the stones, along the perimeter of the structure, and outside it. In correspondence with the stones, the palaeosurface is characterized by a slight but clear relief. The second structure is by the side of the previous one and has similar dimensions. Its perimeter is raised and encloses a depressed area with few anthropic remains. The external area is characterized by abundant fragments of long bones from large ungulates, lithic remains and some stones which do not appear to be structured. The preliminary study of bones, mostly fragments of diaphysis and portions of mandibles and maxillaries, has allowed to determine the presence of at least one fallow deer and a minimum number of 5 individuals of aurochs of different ages. The lithic industry, like in the other levels of the sequence, shows an exploitation of local raw materials (jasper, flint and quarzarenite pebbles of different dimension and shapes) for the production of mostly elongated blanks through a unipolar Levallois modality. Apparently there is not any relevant technical investment for the transformation of the blanks by means of retouch. A 3D modelling of the surface has been made with a digital photogrammetric technique. 120 pictures have been taken around the selected area. From these, a three-dimensional model with high resolution texture has been elaborated. The resulting digital surface can be used for many analyses, among which the automatic generation of orthophotos, crossing sections, DEM and areas computation. A geo-database for the management and analysis of spatial data (both at the macro and micro levels) was also created. In the context of the micro-level, the vectorial mapping of the archaeological remains and of the structures through photogrammetry is ongoing. The gathering of the quantitative data (in relation to the lithic industries and to the faunal remains) and data elaboration through the geo-database, will allow to obtain important information for the understanding of the wide behavioural variability expressed by Neanderthal groups in relation to territory management, technology and, particularly, to the organization and use of the living space. The SU 15 of Oscurusciuto is a highly interesting archaeological evidence to grasp the cultural complexity of Neanderthals.
The Italian Peninsula seems to be playing an important
role in the debate on the cultural occurre... more The Italian Peninsula seems to be playing an important role in the debate on the cultural occurrences connected to Neanderthals. Its particular geographical position, as a peripheral appendix of the European continent, gives origin to a territory constrained in a long and narrow strip of land which, differently from the vast plains of Northern Europe, acts as a cul de sac in the population dynamics of humans and animals. At the same time, the highly variable and fragmented landscapes, sprouting from a great geomorphological variety (Apennine Chain - coastal areas), create the conditions for a wide range of resources and for a mosaic-like peopling of the Peninsula. From a chronological standpoint too, a narrowing of the time range of Neanderthal record is observable, particularly in Southern Italy. This is defined, in comparison to the wider European context, by a late appearance of Levallois in lithic industries (OIS 5) and by an early arrival of the first cultures connected to Homo sapiens (Uluzzian, about 45-44 kyrs BP). For this reason, the study of Neanderthal communities who occupied Southern Italy during that time span provides a very interesting viewpoint for the understanding of their actual variability and complexity. Over the last decade, Middle Palaeolithic research in Italy has experienced an important methodological renewal thanks not only to the diffusion of technological approach in lithic studies, but also to the broader attention paid to behavioural expressions of these human groups: exploitation strategies of the territory and of the mineral and food resources, spatial organization, mobility within territories, stone tool production, fire technology, symbolic expressions, etc. Investigations carried out by Research Unit in “Prehistory and Anthropology” of the University of Siena fit within this framework of methodological renewal and focus the on key sites located in different regions of Central- Southern Italy. This work wants to present and compare the results obtained over the last few years from the sites of Cala dei Santi (Southern Tuscany), Castelcivita, Molare and Grotta Grande (Campania), Oscurusciuto and Santa Croce (Apulia), with the aim of shedding light on Neanderthals’ behavioural variability.
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shelter’s vault (large blocks can be observed along the stratigraphy) resulted in the erosion of some of the deposit. As a consequence, this is narrower in the upper layers, whereas in the lower ones the exposed surface reaches an extension of 60 square meters. The upper part of the stratigraphy (base of SU 1) yielded a 14C date of 38.500 ± 900 BP (AMS, Beta 181165;cal 42.975 ± 788 BP). A further post quem chronological marker is represented by a thick layer of tefra (SU14) attributed to the Mount Epomeo Green Tuff from Ischia (R. Sulpizio pers. comment), dated to about 55 kyrs BP. This volcanic layer seals a palaeosurface (SU15) placed at a depth of about 3 meters from the top of the deposit. The specific interest of this palaeosurface, exposed over an area of 18 square meters, is given by the presence of stone alignments referable to two possible structures, alongside large quantities of lithic and faunal remains. The first structure comprises a 2 meters wide semicircle standing against the north wall of the shelter and formed by small clusters made of 3-4 stones each. The archaeological remains are more abundant between the stones, along the perimeter of the structure, and outside it. In correspondence with the stones, the palaeosurface is characterized by a slight but clear relief. The second structure is by the side of the previous one and has similar dimensions. Its perimeter is raised and encloses a depressed area with few anthropic remains. The external area is characterized by abundant fragments of long bones from large ungulates, lithic remains and some stones which do not appear to be structured. The preliminary study of bones, mostly fragments of diaphysis and portions of mandibles and maxillaries, has allowed to determine the presence of at least one fallow deer and a minimum number of 5 individuals of aurochs of different ages. The lithic industry, like in the other levels of the sequence, shows an exploitation of local raw materials (jasper, flint and quarzarenite pebbles of different dimension and shapes) for the production of mostly elongated blanks through a unipolar Levallois modality. Apparently there is not any relevant technical investment for the transformation of the blanks by means of retouch. A 3D modelling of the surface has been made with a digital photogrammetric technique. 120 pictures have been taken around the selected area. From these, a three-dimensional model with high resolution texture has been elaborated. The resulting digital surface can be used for many analyses, among which the automatic generation of orthophotos, crossing sections, DEM and areas computation. A geo-database for the management and analysis of spatial data (both at the macro and micro levels) was also created. In the context of the micro-level, the vectorial mapping of the archaeological remains and of the structures through photogrammetry is ongoing. The gathering of the quantitative data (in relation to the lithic industries and to the faunal remains) and data elaboration through the geo-database, will allow to obtain important information for the understanding of the wide behavioural variability expressed by Neanderthal groups in relation to territory management, technology and, particularly, to the organization and use of the living space. The SU 15 of Oscurusciuto is a highly interesting archaeological evidence to grasp the cultural complexity of Neanderthals.
role in the debate on the cultural occurrences connected
to Neanderthals. Its particular geographical position,
as a peripheral appendix of the European continent,
gives origin to a territory constrained in a long and narrow
strip of land which, differently from the vast plains
of Northern Europe, acts as a cul de sac in the population
dynamics of humans and animals.
At the same time, the highly variable and fragmented
landscapes, sprouting from a great geomorphological
variety (Apennine Chain - coastal areas), create the conditions
for a wide range of resources and for a mosaic-like
peopling of the Peninsula. From a chronological standpoint
too, a narrowing of the time range of Neanderthal
record is observable, particularly in Southern Italy. This is
defined, in comparison to the wider European context,
by a late appearance of Levallois in lithic industries (OIS 5)
and by an early arrival of the first cultures connected to
Homo sapiens (Uluzzian, about 45-44 kyrs BP).
For this reason, the study of Neanderthal communities
who occupied Southern Italy during that time span provides
a very interesting viewpoint for the understanding
of their actual variability and complexity. Over the last
decade, Middle Palaeolithic research in Italy has experienced
an important methodological renewal thanks
not only to the diffusion of technological approach in lithic studies, but also to the broader attention paid to
behavioural expressions of these human groups: exploitation
strategies of the territory and of the mineral and
food resources, spatial organization, mobility within territories,
stone tool production, fire technology, symbolic
expressions, etc.
Investigations carried out by Research Unit in “Prehistory
and Anthropology” of the University of Siena fit within
this framework of methodological renewal and focus
the on key sites located in different regions of Central-
Southern Italy.
This work wants to present and compare the results obtained
over the last few years from the sites of Cala dei
Santi (Southern Tuscany), Castelcivita, Molare and Grotta
Grande (Campania), Oscurusciuto and Santa Croce
(Apulia), with the aim of shedding light on Neanderthals’
behavioural variability.