The zooarchaeology and taphonomy of large mammal remains from Grotta dell’Edera (Trieste Karst, n... more The zooarchaeology and taphonomy of large mammal remains from Grotta dell’Edera (Trieste Karst, northern Italy) are presented in this paper. A Mesolithic (Sauveterrian) Preboreal assemblage testifies to a first human occupation, followed by a second longer Sauveterrian frequentation from the Boreal until the beginning of the Atlantic. The last Mesolithic groups are represented by a Castelnovian assemblage, in which the bones of domesticates were detected with wild games remains. The presence of weathered bones in this layer indicates possible slow sedimentation, which may have led to the formation of a palimpsest, but more geoarchaeological data are needed to clarify this context. Neolithic and Eneolithic layers are characterized by an overwhelming presence of caprines and by an increase in the domestic pig and cattle through time. A number of caprine foetal remains points to the presence of individuals accumulated due to natural death and to the caution needed in evaluating caprine age profiles from sites used as stables.
The search for diagnostic criteria useful in hunting lesions identification is a new branch of in... more The search for diagnostic criteria useful in hunting lesions identification is a new branch of investigation. Though recently there has been an increase in studies focused on this issue, no experimental works exist that analyze marks left by backed, morphologically standardized lithic projectiles like those used by the hunter-gatherers that peopled a large part of Europe during the Late Glacial. As such, this paper aims to provide comparison data for identifying archaeological Late Epigravettian projectile impact marks. At the same time, the potential of 3D scanning microscopy to distinguish hunting injuries from other taphonomic marks is assessed. The morphometric analyses, based on the descriptive criteria developed from other recent studies, highlight the presence of peculiar features of experimentally produced drag and puncture marks. These data are interpreted as a result of the specific design of Late Epigravettian lithic projectiles. The outcomes of 3D digital analysis confirm the crucial role of this methodological approach in taphonomic study, offering new clues in PIMs (Projectile Impact Marks) archaeological identification and distinction from cut marks, carnivore tooth marks and corrosion cavities.
In this article we present evidence of the hard animal tissue exploitation at Paglicci Cave (Rign... more In this article we present evidence of the hard animal tissue exploitation at Paglicci Cave (Rignano Garganico, Foggia, southern Italy).
The analysis of the 104 bone and antler tools found in the Upper Palaeolithic sequence of the cave, as well as recent studies on faunal remains, have allowed us to reconstruct the choices made by the prehistoric hunters both in terms of hunting and exploitation of hard animal materials for tool fabrication. Most of the archeozoological sequence is characterized by the abundance of remains of species related to open or steppe environments, such as caprines (especially ibex), horses and aurochs.
Starting from Final Epigravettian (about 17.000 BP cal.) these taxa decrease in favor of deer, wild boar and hidruntinus, reflecting an important climatic change leading to more humid and temperate conditions. Only some hunted animals bones were chosen for making the tools: deer, horse, aurochs and wild boar. A noteworthy observation concerns the lack of an interconnection between the kinds of species represented in the faunal assemblages and those used for the production of bone (and antler) tools.
Even though the small number of pieces in each individual layer did not allow for statistical inferences, we could draw some interesting conclusions on the morpho-technological features of the artifacts, finding that some tool types appear to be linked to particular periods.
This paper focuses on the techno-functional study of a tool with a smooth end, typologically clas... more This paper focuses on the techno-functional study of a tool with a smooth end, typologically classifiable as spatula, made from a red deer metatarsal recovered at the early Mesolithic rock-shelter Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca. The site is located in the middle Adige Valley at Salurn/Salorno (South Tyrol – Northern Italy) and was dwelled by Sauveterrian hunter-gatherer-fisher-communities from the mid-9th to the mid-8th millennium cal. BC. Subsistence was based on the exploitation of wetland and valley bottom resources including an intense and at times specialized fishing activity. The identification of a probable harpoon fragment among the few but well preserved bone and antler artefacts detected at the site could in fact be part of fishing equipment. The main goal of this study was to recognize the specific use of the tool with a smooth end by means of use-wear analysis. It is quite difficult, indeed, to establish a specific function for this kind of tools as their morphological characters make them suitable for various tasks. A dedicated experimental program was developed to this scope, which involved manufacture and use of spatula replicas for different activities: fish scaling, beading fish heads, working tanned skin, net making, sewing reeds and working birch bark. The implementation of the experimental activity was also aimed at testing tool functionality in the course of the various tasks.
The comparison between archaeological and experimental use-wear seems to indicate that the bone tool from Galgenbühel was used as a needle for working vegetal material. On the other hand our experiments revealed a high functionality of this kind of tool also in beading fish heads, working tanned hide and bending birch bark
MicroCT imaging is increasingly used in paleoanthropological and zooarchaeological research to an... more MicroCT imaging is increasingly used in paleoanthropological and zooarchaeological research to analyse the internal microstructure of bone, replacing comparatively invasive and destructive methods. Consequently the analytical potential of this relatively new 3D imaging technology can be enhanced by developing discipline specific protocols for archaeological analysis. Here we examine how the microstructure of mammal bone changes after burning and explore if X-ray computed microtomography (microCT) can be used to obtain reliable information from burned specimens. We subjected domestic pig, roe deer, and red fox bones to burning at different temperatures and for different periods using an oven and an open fire. We observed significant changes in the three-dimensional microstructure of trabecular bone, suggesting that biomechanical studies or other analyses (for instance, determination of age-at-death) can be compromised by burning. In addition, bone subjected to very high temperatures (600°C or more) became cracked, posing challenges for quantifying characteristics of bone microstructure. Specimens burned at 600°C or greater temperatures, exhibit a characteristic criss-cross cracking pattern concentrated in the cortical region of the epiphyses. This feature, which can be readily observed on the surface of whole bone, could help the identification of heavily burned specimens that are small fragments, where color and surface texture are altered by diagenesis or weathering.
This study uses a combination of digital microscopic analysis and experimental archaeology to ass... more This study uses a combination of digital microscopic analysis and experimental archaeology to assess stone tool cut marks on animal bones. We used two un-retouched flint flakes and two burins to inflict cut marks on fresh, boiled, and dry ungulate bones. The experiment produced three series of three engravings on each bone with each of the experimental tools. The first series involved one single stroke; the second, two strokes in the same direction; and the third, multiple strokes using a to-and-fro movement. We analyzed the striations using a Hirox 3D digital microscope (KH-7700) and collected metric and profile data on the morphology of the cut marks. In order to describe the shape of each cross section, we calculated the ratio between the breadth at the top and the breadth at the floor of cut marks. Preliminary results show that both the tool type and the method of creating the cut mark influence the shape of the resulting groove. In our experiment, morphological parameters can be used to differentiate between marks produced using un-retouched flint flakes and those produced using burins. However, neither morphological nor morphometric analysis allows us to identify the mechanical motion used to produce the cuts, nor the state of the bone (fresh, boiled, or dry) at the moment of marking.
THE EXPERIMENT WAS ORGANIZED BY THE AUTHORS WITH P. CATTELAIN (UNIVERSITÉ LIBRE DE BRUXELLES/CEDA... more THE EXPERIMENT WAS ORGANIZED BY THE AUTHORS WITH P. CATTELAIN (UNIVERSITÉ LIBRE DE BRUXELLES/CEDARC, MUSÉE DU MALGRÉ-TOUT) AND TOOK PLACE NEAR THE RIO SECCO CAVE (FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, NORTHEASTERN ITALY) IN FIVE SEPARATE SHOOTING SESSIONS IN MAY 2011 (FOUR SESSIONS) AND OCTOBER 2011 (ONE SESSION). ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR BACKED POINTS WERE MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO THE DIFFERENT MORPHO-DIMENSIONAL TYPES IDENTIFIED IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSEMBLAGE (DUCHES AND PERESANI, SUBMITTED). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE POINTS WERE USED IN THE SHOOTING SESSIONS HAFTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. REGARDING THE TARGET, THE MOST APPROPRIATE SPECIES WOULD HAVE BEEN IBEX, WHICH IS THE DOMINANT GAME IN DALMERI ROCKSHELTER (FIORE ET AL., 1998). HOWEVER, SINCE IT WASN’T POSSIBLE TO RECOVER FRESH IBEX CARCASSES, WE USED FOUR YOUNG-ADULT FEMALE MOUFLONS (OVIS MUSIMON IN MAY) AND ONE SENILE FEMALE GOAT (CAPRA HIRCUS IN OCTOBER). THE ANIMALS WERE KILLED LESS THAN 2 H BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SESSION. THE CARCASSES WERE COMPLETE AND WERE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY TREATMENT SUCH AS FREEZING, SKINNING, EVISCERATION, PARTIAL DEFLESHING. THE CARCASSES WERE LOOSELY SUSPENDED IN A LIFELIKE POSITION TO A WOODEN BRACKET, WITH ONE SIDE FACING THE EXPERIMENTERS. THE SHOOTING DISTANCE VARIED FROM 10 TO 13 M; THESE DISTANCES WERE CONSIDERED CONSISTENT WITH ETHNOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON BOW HUNTING (CATTELAIN, 1997; 2004; CHURCHILL, 1993; ELLIS, 1997). IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH EACH ARROW IMPACT, THE ARCHERS DIDN’T SHOT MORE THAN 40 ARROWS ON A SINGLE CARCASS. TO BE MORE CONSISTENT WITH A REALISTIC HUNTING SITUATION, BESIDES, THE ARCHERS SOUGHT TO DIRECT THE PROJECTILES AT THE VITAL ORGANS OF HEART AND LUNGS AS A TRUE HUNTER WOULD HAVE DONE (CHURCHILL, 1993; NOE-NYGAARD, 1974). EACH IMPACT WAS PHOTOGRAPHED AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS WERE RECORDED ON A FORM. AFTER EACH DAILY SHOOTING SESSION THE CARCASS WAS PROCESSED IMMEDIATELY, IN ORDER TO RECOVER ALL POINT FRAGMENTS AND TO STUDY THE IMPACT TRACES ON THE BONES. THE BUTCHERY WAS CONDUCTED WITH STONE TOOLS, AND THE PROCESSED BONES WERE THEN BURIED IN NETS DIVIDED ACCORDING TO ANATOMICAL COMPARTMENTS. AFTER 9 MONTHS THEY WERE EXHUMED AND PROPERLY CLEANED BY BOILING IN WATER WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN ORDER TO DETACH THE REMAINING MEAT AND CARTILAGE. ONCE CLEANED, THE BONES WERE EXAMINED FIRST AT LOW MAGNIFICATION (10-20X) TO DISTINGUISH ANY POSSIBLE IMPACT’S EVIDENCE; THEN, EACH TRACE IDENTIFIED WAS ACCURATELY ANALYZED AND DOCUMENTED WITH TWO STEREOMICROSCOPE (LEICA S6D VERDE OUGH WITH MAGNIFICATION FROM 0.75X TO 70X; LEICA 125M WITH MAGNIFICATION FROM 0.7X TO 100X) AT THE ARCHAEOZOOLOGY AND TAPHONOMY LAB OF FERRARA UNIVERSITY (L.A.T.) AND MUSE; 3D IMAGES FROM SIENA UNIVERSITY, DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE FISICHE, DELLA TERRA E DELL’AMBIENTE.
Prehistoric dental treatments were extremely rare, and the few documented cases are known from th... more Prehistoric dental treatments were extremely rare, and the few documented cases are known from the Neolithic, when the adoption of early farming culture caused an increase of carious lesions. Here we report the earliest evidence of dental caries intervention on a Late Upper Palaeolithic modern human specimen (Villabruna) from a burial in Northern Italy. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy we show the presence of striations deriving from the manipulation of a large occlusal carious cavity of the lower right third molar. The striations have a "V"-shaped transverse section and several parallel micro-scratches at their base, as typically displayed by cutmarks on teeth. Based on in vitro experimental replication and a complete functional reconstruction of the Villabruna dental arches, we confirm that the identified striations and the associated extensive enamel chipping on the mesial wall of the cavity were produced ante-mortem by pointed flint tools during scratching and levering activities. The Villabruna specimen is therefore the oldest known evidence of dental caries intervention, suggesting at least some knowledge of disease treatment well before the Neolithic. This study suggests that primitive forms of carious treatment in human evolution entail an adaptation of the well-known toothpicking for levering and scratching rather than drilling practices.
The Palaeolithic sequence of Grotta Paglicci (Gargano promontory, Apulia, Southern Italy) is one ... more The Palaeolithic sequence of Grotta Paglicci (Gargano promontory, Apulia, Southern Italy) is one of the most important in the Mediterranean area: It comprises the whole Upper Palaeolithic cultural sequence known for the region, as well as Early Middle Palaeolithic and Lower Palaeolithic levels. These earlier phases are best represented in a collapsed room located outside the present-day cave (the so called “external rock shelter”). In this area, a new excavation, started in 2004, brought to light Middle Palaeolithic animal remains associated with evidence of spotted hyaena (SU 64 and 53). The spatial distribution analysis of remains from SU 53 revealed the presence of a bone accumulation area and a wider dispersal of hyaena coprolites. Three main ungulate species (aurochs, fallow deer and red deer) as well as carnivores (spotted hyaena, wolf, fox, wild cat and lynx) and lagomorphs have been identified. The majority of aurochs remains are located in the main accumulation; among these specimens, a complete metatarsal connected with three tarsal bones has been found; a talus and a complete tibia, probably belonging to the same limb, have also been identified. The multidisciplinary study carried out in this paper highlights a specific bone accumulation and scattering pattern in a spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) den. In addition, taphonomy of lagomorph remains indicates the presence of other depositional agents.
Riassunto-FRANCESCO BOSCHIN & MONIKA WEISSTEINER-Una casa datata alla prima età romana imperiale ... more Riassunto-FRANCESCO BOSCHIN & MONIKA WEISSTEINER-Una casa datata alla prima età romana imperiale scavata a Elvas presso Bressanone. Lo studio della fauna. I resti architettonici ei reperti recuperati, oggetto di questo contributo, provengono dagli scavi ...
X-ray microCT imaging offers the possibility to study age-related changes of bone microstructure.... more X-ray microCT imaging offers the possibility to study age-related changes of bone microstructure.
In the present paper we analyse the talus of 15 modern red foxes of different ages, from
2 months old to adulthood, to investigate the possibility of identifying their different ages at
death. Surface and volumetric variables describing bone properties are measured or evaluated
from the microCT images following three approaches: (i) the bone volume to total volume
ratio, quantified for the whole bones; (ii) two homologous subvolumes of trabecular tissue,
virtually extracted and analysed to evaluate trabecular bone structure; and (iii) the development
of the cortical region, deduced through the analysis of bone cross-sections. All
approaches yielded interesting information on bone development, and preliminary results
show that the third approach clearly allows us to discriminate among different age groups.
This is important both from a zooarchaeological and a palaeontological perspective, suggesting
that microCT imaging can be considered a new non-invasive tool to estimate the age at
death of animal remains, or to discriminate taxa characterized by a close morphology but
different adult body size.
The present taphonomic study investigates the role of a small carnivore, Felis silvestris, in the... more The present taphonomic study investigates the role of a small carnivore, Felis silvestris, in the subsistence strategies of Early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who inhabited the Eastern Alps during the Early Holocene. A reasonable amount of wild cat remains, some bearing cut marks, were recovered during the archaeological excavations of the rock shelter site Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca, located in South Tyrol (Adige Valley, Bolzano, Italy). The site was frequented from approximately 8500 to 7500 BC cal. by Sauveterrian groups whose economy was centered on the exploitation of nearby wetlands and the forested valley bottom and slopes. The fauna comprises abundant fish remains, molluscs, pond turtles as well as mammals, the latter dominated by the beaver, the wild boar and the red deer. In the reconstruction of hunter-gatherer subsistence strategies, it often thought that carnivores were exploited primarily for their fur. The present taphonomic study was carried out to verify if the exploitation of wild cat by Mesolithic groups was related to the procurement of additional resources. The analysis of the archaeological sample regarding skeletal frequencies and cut-mark distribution was integrated by an experimental work conducted on modern cats in order to reconstruct the chaîne opératoire adopted by man for the treatment of the carcasses. The 3D digital microscope analysis provided for each stria morphometrical parameters in order to identify the origin of cut marks. The anthropic traces found in the wild cat assemblage of Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca are only partly related to skinning. The localisation and the features of some marks attest disarticulation and therefore support the use of F. silvestris as food.
The zooarchaeology and taphonomy of large mammal remains from Grotta dell’Edera (Trieste Karst, n... more The zooarchaeology and taphonomy of large mammal remains from Grotta dell’Edera (Trieste Karst, northern Italy) are presented in this paper. A Mesolithic (Sauveterrian) Preboreal assemblage testifies to a first human occupation, followed by a second longer Sauveterrian frequentation from the Boreal until the beginning of the Atlantic. The last Mesolithic groups are represented by a Castelnovian assemblage, in which the bones of domesticates were detected with wild games remains. The presence of weathered bones in this layer indicates possible slow sedimentation, which may have led to the formation of a palimpsest, but more geoarchaeological data are needed to clarify this context. Neolithic and Eneolithic layers are characterized by an overwhelming presence of caprines and by an increase in the domestic pig and cattle through time. A number of caprine foetal remains points to the presence of individuals accumulated due to natural death and to the caution needed in evaluating caprine age profiles from sites used as stables.
The search for diagnostic criteria useful in hunting lesions identification is a new branch of in... more The search for diagnostic criteria useful in hunting lesions identification is a new branch of investigation. Though recently there has been an increase in studies focused on this issue, no experimental works exist that analyze marks left by backed, morphologically standardized lithic projectiles like those used by the hunter-gatherers that peopled a large part of Europe during the Late Glacial. As such, this paper aims to provide comparison data for identifying archaeological Late Epigravettian projectile impact marks. At the same time, the potential of 3D scanning microscopy to distinguish hunting injuries from other taphonomic marks is assessed. The morphometric analyses, based on the descriptive criteria developed from other recent studies, highlight the presence of peculiar features of experimentally produced drag and puncture marks. These data are interpreted as a result of the specific design of Late Epigravettian lithic projectiles. The outcomes of 3D digital analysis confirm the crucial role of this methodological approach in taphonomic study, offering new clues in PIMs (Projectile Impact Marks) archaeological identification and distinction from cut marks, carnivore tooth marks and corrosion cavities.
In this article we present evidence of the hard animal tissue exploitation at Paglicci Cave (Rign... more In this article we present evidence of the hard animal tissue exploitation at Paglicci Cave (Rignano Garganico, Foggia, southern Italy).
The analysis of the 104 bone and antler tools found in the Upper Palaeolithic sequence of the cave, as well as recent studies on faunal remains, have allowed us to reconstruct the choices made by the prehistoric hunters both in terms of hunting and exploitation of hard animal materials for tool fabrication. Most of the archeozoological sequence is characterized by the abundance of remains of species related to open or steppe environments, such as caprines (especially ibex), horses and aurochs.
Starting from Final Epigravettian (about 17.000 BP cal.) these taxa decrease in favor of deer, wild boar and hidruntinus, reflecting an important climatic change leading to more humid and temperate conditions. Only some hunted animals bones were chosen for making the tools: deer, horse, aurochs and wild boar. A noteworthy observation concerns the lack of an interconnection between the kinds of species represented in the faunal assemblages and those used for the production of bone (and antler) tools.
Even though the small number of pieces in each individual layer did not allow for statistical inferences, we could draw some interesting conclusions on the morpho-technological features of the artifacts, finding that some tool types appear to be linked to particular periods.
This paper focuses on the techno-functional study of a tool with a smooth end, typologically clas... more This paper focuses on the techno-functional study of a tool with a smooth end, typologically classifiable as spatula, made from a red deer metatarsal recovered at the early Mesolithic rock-shelter Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca. The site is located in the middle Adige Valley at Salurn/Salorno (South Tyrol – Northern Italy) and was dwelled by Sauveterrian hunter-gatherer-fisher-communities from the mid-9th to the mid-8th millennium cal. BC. Subsistence was based on the exploitation of wetland and valley bottom resources including an intense and at times specialized fishing activity. The identification of a probable harpoon fragment among the few but well preserved bone and antler artefacts detected at the site could in fact be part of fishing equipment. The main goal of this study was to recognize the specific use of the tool with a smooth end by means of use-wear analysis. It is quite difficult, indeed, to establish a specific function for this kind of tools as their morphological characters make them suitable for various tasks. A dedicated experimental program was developed to this scope, which involved manufacture and use of spatula replicas for different activities: fish scaling, beading fish heads, working tanned skin, net making, sewing reeds and working birch bark. The implementation of the experimental activity was also aimed at testing tool functionality in the course of the various tasks.
The comparison between archaeological and experimental use-wear seems to indicate that the bone tool from Galgenbühel was used as a needle for working vegetal material. On the other hand our experiments revealed a high functionality of this kind of tool also in beading fish heads, working tanned hide and bending birch bark
MicroCT imaging is increasingly used in paleoanthropological and zooarchaeological research to an... more MicroCT imaging is increasingly used in paleoanthropological and zooarchaeological research to analyse the internal microstructure of bone, replacing comparatively invasive and destructive methods. Consequently the analytical potential of this relatively new 3D imaging technology can be enhanced by developing discipline specific protocols for archaeological analysis. Here we examine how the microstructure of mammal bone changes after burning and explore if X-ray computed microtomography (microCT) can be used to obtain reliable information from burned specimens. We subjected domestic pig, roe deer, and red fox bones to burning at different temperatures and for different periods using an oven and an open fire. We observed significant changes in the three-dimensional microstructure of trabecular bone, suggesting that biomechanical studies or other analyses (for instance, determination of age-at-death) can be compromised by burning. In addition, bone subjected to very high temperatures (600°C or more) became cracked, posing challenges for quantifying characteristics of bone microstructure. Specimens burned at 600°C or greater temperatures, exhibit a characteristic criss-cross cracking pattern concentrated in the cortical region of the epiphyses. This feature, which can be readily observed on the surface of whole bone, could help the identification of heavily burned specimens that are small fragments, where color and surface texture are altered by diagenesis or weathering.
This study uses a combination of digital microscopic analysis and experimental archaeology to ass... more This study uses a combination of digital microscopic analysis and experimental archaeology to assess stone tool cut marks on animal bones. We used two un-retouched flint flakes and two burins to inflict cut marks on fresh, boiled, and dry ungulate bones. The experiment produced three series of three engravings on each bone with each of the experimental tools. The first series involved one single stroke; the second, two strokes in the same direction; and the third, multiple strokes using a to-and-fro movement. We analyzed the striations using a Hirox 3D digital microscope (KH-7700) and collected metric and profile data on the morphology of the cut marks. In order to describe the shape of each cross section, we calculated the ratio between the breadth at the top and the breadth at the floor of cut marks. Preliminary results show that both the tool type and the method of creating the cut mark influence the shape of the resulting groove. In our experiment, morphological parameters can be used to differentiate between marks produced using un-retouched flint flakes and those produced using burins. However, neither morphological nor morphometric analysis allows us to identify the mechanical motion used to produce the cuts, nor the state of the bone (fresh, boiled, or dry) at the moment of marking.
THE EXPERIMENT WAS ORGANIZED BY THE AUTHORS WITH P. CATTELAIN (UNIVERSITÉ LIBRE DE BRUXELLES/CEDA... more THE EXPERIMENT WAS ORGANIZED BY THE AUTHORS WITH P. CATTELAIN (UNIVERSITÉ LIBRE DE BRUXELLES/CEDARC, MUSÉE DU MALGRÉ-TOUT) AND TOOK PLACE NEAR THE RIO SECCO CAVE (FRIULI-VENEZIA GIULIA, NORTHEASTERN ITALY) IN FIVE SEPARATE SHOOTING SESSIONS IN MAY 2011 (FOUR SESSIONS) AND OCTOBER 2011 (ONE SESSION). ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR BACKED POINTS WERE MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO THE DIFFERENT MORPHO-DIMENSIONAL TYPES IDENTIFIED IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSEMBLAGE (DUCHES AND PERESANI, SUBMITTED). SUBSEQUENTLY, THE POINTS WERE USED IN THE SHOOTING SESSIONS HAFTED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. REGARDING THE TARGET, THE MOST APPROPRIATE SPECIES WOULD HAVE BEEN IBEX, WHICH IS THE DOMINANT GAME IN DALMERI ROCKSHELTER (FIORE ET AL., 1998). HOWEVER, SINCE IT WASN’T POSSIBLE TO RECOVER FRESH IBEX CARCASSES, WE USED FOUR YOUNG-ADULT FEMALE MOUFLONS (OVIS MUSIMON IN MAY) AND ONE SENILE FEMALE GOAT (CAPRA HIRCUS IN OCTOBER). THE ANIMALS WERE KILLED LESS THAN 2 H BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SESSION. THE CARCASSES WERE COMPLETE AND WERE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY TREATMENT SUCH AS FREEZING, SKINNING, EVISCERATION, PARTIAL DEFLESHING. THE CARCASSES WERE LOOSELY SUSPENDED IN A LIFELIKE POSITION TO A WOODEN BRACKET, WITH ONE SIDE FACING THE EXPERIMENTERS. THE SHOOTING DISTANCE VARIED FROM 10 TO 13 M; THESE DISTANCES WERE CONSIDERED CONSISTENT WITH ETHNOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON BOW HUNTING (CATTELAIN, 1997; 2004; CHURCHILL, 1993; ELLIS, 1997). IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH EACH ARROW IMPACT, THE ARCHERS DIDN’T SHOT MORE THAN 40 ARROWS ON A SINGLE CARCASS. TO BE MORE CONSISTENT WITH A REALISTIC HUNTING SITUATION, BESIDES, THE ARCHERS SOUGHT TO DIRECT THE PROJECTILES AT THE VITAL ORGANS OF HEART AND LUNGS AS A TRUE HUNTER WOULD HAVE DONE (CHURCHILL, 1993; NOE-NYGAARD, 1974). EACH IMPACT WAS PHOTOGRAPHED AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS WERE RECORDED ON A FORM. AFTER EACH DAILY SHOOTING SESSION THE CARCASS WAS PROCESSED IMMEDIATELY, IN ORDER TO RECOVER ALL POINT FRAGMENTS AND TO STUDY THE IMPACT TRACES ON THE BONES. THE BUTCHERY WAS CONDUCTED WITH STONE TOOLS, AND THE PROCESSED BONES WERE THEN BURIED IN NETS DIVIDED ACCORDING TO ANATOMICAL COMPARTMENTS. AFTER 9 MONTHS THEY WERE EXHUMED AND PROPERLY CLEANED BY BOILING IN WATER WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN ORDER TO DETACH THE REMAINING MEAT AND CARTILAGE. ONCE CLEANED, THE BONES WERE EXAMINED FIRST AT LOW MAGNIFICATION (10-20X) TO DISTINGUISH ANY POSSIBLE IMPACT’S EVIDENCE; THEN, EACH TRACE IDENTIFIED WAS ACCURATELY ANALYZED AND DOCUMENTED WITH TWO STEREOMICROSCOPE (LEICA S6D VERDE OUGH WITH MAGNIFICATION FROM 0.75X TO 70X; LEICA 125M WITH MAGNIFICATION FROM 0.7X TO 100X) AT THE ARCHAEOZOOLOGY AND TAPHONOMY LAB OF FERRARA UNIVERSITY (L.A.T.) AND MUSE; 3D IMAGES FROM SIENA UNIVERSITY, DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE FISICHE, DELLA TERRA E DELL’AMBIENTE.
Prehistoric dental treatments were extremely rare, and the few documented cases are known from th... more Prehistoric dental treatments were extremely rare, and the few documented cases are known from the Neolithic, when the adoption of early farming culture caused an increase of carious lesions. Here we report the earliest evidence of dental caries intervention on a Late Upper Palaeolithic modern human specimen (Villabruna) from a burial in Northern Italy. Using Scanning Electron Microscopy we show the presence of striations deriving from the manipulation of a large occlusal carious cavity of the lower right third molar. The striations have a "V"-shaped transverse section and several parallel micro-scratches at their base, as typically displayed by cutmarks on teeth. Based on in vitro experimental replication and a complete functional reconstruction of the Villabruna dental arches, we confirm that the identified striations and the associated extensive enamel chipping on the mesial wall of the cavity were produced ante-mortem by pointed flint tools during scratching and levering activities. The Villabruna specimen is therefore the oldest known evidence of dental caries intervention, suggesting at least some knowledge of disease treatment well before the Neolithic. This study suggests that primitive forms of carious treatment in human evolution entail an adaptation of the well-known toothpicking for levering and scratching rather than drilling practices.
The Palaeolithic sequence of Grotta Paglicci (Gargano promontory, Apulia, Southern Italy) is one ... more The Palaeolithic sequence of Grotta Paglicci (Gargano promontory, Apulia, Southern Italy) is one of the most important in the Mediterranean area: It comprises the whole Upper Palaeolithic cultural sequence known for the region, as well as Early Middle Palaeolithic and Lower Palaeolithic levels. These earlier phases are best represented in a collapsed room located outside the present-day cave (the so called “external rock shelter”). In this area, a new excavation, started in 2004, brought to light Middle Palaeolithic animal remains associated with evidence of spotted hyaena (SU 64 and 53). The spatial distribution analysis of remains from SU 53 revealed the presence of a bone accumulation area and a wider dispersal of hyaena coprolites. Three main ungulate species (aurochs, fallow deer and red deer) as well as carnivores (spotted hyaena, wolf, fox, wild cat and lynx) and lagomorphs have been identified. The majority of aurochs remains are located in the main accumulation; among these specimens, a complete metatarsal connected with three tarsal bones has been found; a talus and a complete tibia, probably belonging to the same limb, have also been identified. The multidisciplinary study carried out in this paper highlights a specific bone accumulation and scattering pattern in a spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) den. In addition, taphonomy of lagomorph remains indicates the presence of other depositional agents.
Riassunto-FRANCESCO BOSCHIN & MONIKA WEISSTEINER-Una casa datata alla prima età romana imperiale ... more Riassunto-FRANCESCO BOSCHIN & MONIKA WEISSTEINER-Una casa datata alla prima età romana imperiale scavata a Elvas presso Bressanone. Lo studio della fauna. I resti architettonici ei reperti recuperati, oggetto di questo contributo, provengono dagli scavi ...
X-ray microCT imaging offers the possibility to study age-related changes of bone microstructure.... more X-ray microCT imaging offers the possibility to study age-related changes of bone microstructure.
In the present paper we analyse the talus of 15 modern red foxes of different ages, from
2 months old to adulthood, to investigate the possibility of identifying their different ages at
death. Surface and volumetric variables describing bone properties are measured or evaluated
from the microCT images following three approaches: (i) the bone volume to total volume
ratio, quantified for the whole bones; (ii) two homologous subvolumes of trabecular tissue,
virtually extracted and analysed to evaluate trabecular bone structure; and (iii) the development
of the cortical region, deduced through the analysis of bone cross-sections. All
approaches yielded interesting information on bone development, and preliminary results
show that the third approach clearly allows us to discriminate among different age groups.
This is important both from a zooarchaeological and a palaeontological perspective, suggesting
that microCT imaging can be considered a new non-invasive tool to estimate the age at
death of animal remains, or to discriminate taxa characterized by a close morphology but
different adult body size.
The present taphonomic study investigates the role of a small carnivore, Felis silvestris, in the... more The present taphonomic study investigates the role of a small carnivore, Felis silvestris, in the subsistence strategies of Early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who inhabited the Eastern Alps during the Early Holocene. A reasonable amount of wild cat remains, some bearing cut marks, were recovered during the archaeological excavations of the rock shelter site Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca, located in South Tyrol (Adige Valley, Bolzano, Italy). The site was frequented from approximately 8500 to 7500 BC cal. by Sauveterrian groups whose economy was centered on the exploitation of nearby wetlands and the forested valley bottom and slopes. The fauna comprises abundant fish remains, molluscs, pond turtles as well as mammals, the latter dominated by the beaver, the wild boar and the red deer. In the reconstruction of hunter-gatherer subsistence strategies, it often thought that carnivores were exploited primarily for their fur. The present taphonomic study was carried out to verify if the exploitation of wild cat by Mesolithic groups was related to the procurement of additional resources. The analysis of the archaeological sample regarding skeletal frequencies and cut-mark distribution was integrated by an experimental work conducted on modern cats in order to reconstruct the chaîne opératoire adopted by man for the treatment of the carcasses. The 3D digital microscope analysis provided for each stria morphometrical parameters in order to identify the origin of cut marks. The anthropic traces found in the wild cat assemblage of Galgenbühel/Dos de la Forca are only partly related to skinning. The localisation and the features of some marks attest disarticulation and therefore support the use of F. silvestris as food.
Galgenbuhel/Dos de la Forca is an Early Mesolithic site located at Salorno (Bolzano, Italy, Alps)... more Galgenbuhel/Dos de la Forca is an Early Mesolithic site located at Salorno (Bolzano, Italy, Alps) and dated between approximately 8S00 and 7S00 BC cal. The subsistence economy of the hunter-gatherer groups was based on the exploitation of nearby wetlands and the forested valley bottom, Together with ungulates as wild boar, red deer and chamois, the fauna comprises small carnivores (wild cat, fox, pine marten, badger) and semi-aquatic mammals such as otter and beaver. The latter is the most abundant taxon and a reasonable amount of its remains bear cut marks. Anthropic traces are also present on bones of Fe/is silvestris, Martes martes, Lutra lutra and Lepus sp. A recent ly published paper about the wild cat remains of Galgenbuhel has demonstrated its exploitation not only for its fur but for nutritional purposes, too. We present the examination of the skeletal frequencies and the distribution of the anthropic traces on the bones belonging to the other small carnivores, rodents and lagomorphs. A 3D digital microscope analysis was performed in order to identify the origin of the cut ma rks. Results have allowed to reconstruct the chaine operatoire adopted by hunter-gatherers for the treatment of Castor fiber carcasses and to understand the role of each species in their subsistence strategies. The work is part of a research project (living near the water) finances by the Higher Education Support, Unive rsity and Research Office of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano
Digital imaging allows to collect and process morphometric quantitative data on archaeological fi... more Digital imaging allows to collect and process morphometric quantitative data on archaeological finds. The Research Unit of Prehistory and Anthropology of the University of Siena is currently developing new protocols for the analysis of bone modifications using a Hirox Digital Microscope KH-7700. This instrument captures 3D images of the observed surfaces enabling the direct observation of butchering marks, artistic engravings and non-anthropic evidences (for instance tooth marks) from several points of view; it also allows a rapid procurement of several quantitative data (linear and angular measurements) that can be processed through univariate and multivariate statistics. After the analysis of more than four hundred specimens, we are presenting in this paper the results of several case-studies from Italian Palaeolithic and Metal Age sites: we demonstrated that processing quantitative data it is possible to separate between butchering marks inflicted using stone and metal tools; to identify the kind of stone tool used to produce prehistoric artistic engravings; to separate between butchering marks and artistic engravings. All data coming from the analysis of archaeological specimens are compared with those obtained carrying out experimental proofs; it allows to corroborate our results. The encouraging obtained outcome confirms the validity of our protocols and the important role that computer applications and quantitative methods play for understanding prehistory.
The Early Mesolithic rockshelter site Gaigenbuhel/Dos de la Forca (Province of Bozen/Bolzano, Ita... more The Early Mesolithic rockshelter site Gaigenbuhel/Dos de la Forca (Province of Bozen/Bolzano, Italy, Eastern Alps) lies in the Adige/Elsch Va11ey at the foot of a steep rock face that borders the va11ey. It is located above a detritic cone near the wet environment in the va11ey bottom. The range of radiocarbon dating is betwt'en 926S ± 70 years BP uncal. (8425 - 8089 8C ca1.) and 8S60 ± 6S years BP unca1. (7705 -7478 BC caL), attesting that the si te was frequented by human groups between the final part of Preboreal and the midBoreal. Evidence of Cyprinid and Pike fishing and a great amount of beaver bones as well as presence of otter and Union testify an intense exploitation of wetland resources. Results of a taphonomic analysis conducted on Emys orbicularis remains are presented in this paper. Cut marks on limb bones testify the consumption of this reptile. Burned specimens related to this taxon are very common, more than ones related to other taxa. In particular most specimens related to the carapace and the plastron are carbonised or calcined. In phase 4 only the carapace fragments are burned, whilst plastron elements are not. It could indicate the cooking of turtles directly on hearths or that carapaces were used as vessels to cook or heat food or other substances.
In this work we tested the application of 3D microscopy
to technological analysis of artistic eng... more In this work we tested the application of 3D microscopy to technological analysis of artistic engravings on Palaeolithic mobiliary art objects. The aim of this research is to understand the technical and artistic procedures followed by prehistoric artists. Here we analysed an unpublished right mandible of Bos primigenius (auroch), coming from the portable art assemblage of Paglicci Cave (Foggia, Southern Italy). This site shows an artistic production of exceptional importance that offers an essential record about Paleolithic mobiliary art in Italy (from Gravettian to Final Epigravettian). The studied mandible, coming from Evolved Epigravettian layers, displays an engraved motif of difficult interpretation. Before studying the archaeological piece we produced an experimental programme in order to compare archaeological data with those obtained through replication under controlled parameters. We produced a set of experimental engravings on bone using burins and not retouched blanks. The experimental and archaeological engravings were analysed by means of a Hirox 3D Digital Microscope KH-7700.Cross sections from the median part of each groove have been observed and metrical parameters have been collected (depth, breadth at the floor and breadth at the top of the groove). In order to describe the shape of each cross section the ratio between the breadth at the top and the breadth at the floor, as well as the ratio between the breath at the top and the depth of cut marks have been calculated. Results of the analysis revealed that the overall contours of the figure was engraved first, while engraved lines inside were added afterwards. The experimental data pointed out that the morphometric analysis reveal no discriminating characters between the engravings produced by burins and those produced by not retouched blanks; on the other hand the micromorphological analysis showed a clearer context, where we can characterize the engravings produced by the two kinds of tool. The analysis of archaeological piece revealed a high homogeneity of the micromorphological and micromorphometrical data, feature which suggests the use of a single tool in the realization of the figure, probably a burin. In addition to it the morphometric data collected on the mobilary art object were compared with those collected on a sample of cut marks from the same site. Significant differences were found between the two samples: in particular the cut marks cross-sections are V-shaped, whilst the art object is characterised by U-shaped engravings. As regards the micro-morphological data, this research seems to give good indications for the detection of parameters that allow us to recognize the kinds of tool used for engraving. The application of 3D microscopy reveals new perspectives for the identification of techniques and gesture of prehistoric artists. Finally, the differences found between the art object and the cut marks are of great interest for developing protocols able to separate between butchering marks and engravings of dubious origin.
Digital microscopic analysis is here applied to the study of marks produced on bones by different... more Digital microscopic analysis is here applied to the study of marks produced on bones by different stone tools. Two unretouched flint flakes and two burins have been used to inflict cut marks on fresh, boiled and dry bone. Five striations have been produced for three times on each mate rial with each tool. First time single cut marks have been inflicted; second time each groove has been inflicted moving the hand two times in the same direction; third time each groove has been inflicted using the tool like a saw, moving the hand bidirectionally. Cross sections from the median part of each groove have been analysed using an Hirox 3D digital microscope (KH-7700) and metrical parameters have been collected (depth, breadth at the floor and breadth at the top of the groove). In order to describe the shape of each cross section the ratio between the breadth at the top and the breadth at the floor, as well as the ratio between the breath at the top and the depth of cut marks have been calculated. Preliminary results show that tool wear, bone conditions and the way in which cut marks were inflicted influence grooves shape. Large variability of the recorded parameters doesn't allow to discriminate between different stone tools and different actions.
Uploads
Papers by Francesco Boschin
are presented in this paper. A Mesolithic (Sauveterrian) Preboreal assemblage testifies to a first human occupation,
followed by a second longer Sauveterrian frequentation from the Boreal until the beginning of the Atlantic. The last
Mesolithic groups are represented by a Castelnovian assemblage, in which the bones of domesticates were detected with
wild games remains. The presence of weathered bones in this layer indicates possible slow sedimentation, which may
have led to the formation of a palimpsest, but more geoarchaeological data are needed to clarify this context. Neolithic
and Eneolithic layers are characterized by an overwhelming presence of caprines and by an increase in the domestic
pig and cattle through time. A number of caprine foetal remains points to the presence of individuals accumulated due
to natural death and to the caution needed in evaluating caprine age profiles from sites used as stables.
The analysis of the 104 bone and antler tools found in the Upper Palaeolithic sequence of the cave, as well as recent studies on faunal remains, have allowed us to reconstruct the choices made by the prehistoric hunters both in terms of hunting and exploitation of hard animal materials for tool fabrication. Most of the archeozoological sequence is characterized by the abundance of remains of species related to open or steppe environments, such as caprines (especially ibex), horses and aurochs.
Starting from Final Epigravettian (about 17.000 BP cal.) these taxa decrease in favor of deer, wild boar and hidruntinus, reflecting an important climatic change leading to more humid and temperate conditions. Only some hunted animals bones were chosen for making the tools: deer, horse, aurochs and wild boar. A noteworthy observation concerns the lack of an interconnection between the kinds of species represented in the faunal assemblages and those used for the production of bone (and antler) tools.
Even though the small number of pieces in each individual layer did not allow for statistical inferences, we could draw some interesting conclusions on the morpho-technological features of the artifacts, finding that some tool types appear to be linked to particular periods.
The comparison between archaeological and experimental use-wear seems to indicate that the bone tool from Galgenbühel was used as a needle for working vegetal material. On the other hand our experiments revealed a high functionality of this kind of tool also in beading fish heads, working tanned hide and bending birch bark
REGARDING THE TARGET, THE MOST APPROPRIATE SPECIES WOULD HAVE BEEN IBEX, WHICH IS THE DOMINANT GAME IN DALMERI ROCKSHELTER (FIORE ET AL., 1998). HOWEVER, SINCE IT WASN’T POSSIBLE TO RECOVER FRESH IBEX CARCASSES, WE USED FOUR YOUNG-ADULT FEMALE MOUFLONS (OVIS MUSIMON IN MAY) AND ONE SENILE FEMALE GOAT (CAPRA HIRCUS IN OCTOBER).
THE ANIMALS WERE KILLED LESS THAN 2 H BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SESSION. THE CARCASSES WERE COMPLETE AND WERE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY TREATMENT SUCH AS FREEZING, SKINNING, EVISCERATION, PARTIAL DEFLESHING. THE CARCASSES WERE LOOSELY SUSPENDED IN A LIFELIKE POSITION TO A WOODEN BRACKET, WITH ONE SIDE FACING THE EXPERIMENTERS. THE SHOOTING DISTANCE VARIED FROM 10 TO 13 M; THESE DISTANCES WERE CONSIDERED CONSISTENT WITH ETHNOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON BOW HUNTING (CATTELAIN, 1997; 2004; CHURCHILL, 1993; ELLIS, 1997).
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH EACH ARROW IMPACT, THE ARCHERS DIDN’T SHOT MORE THAN 40 ARROWS ON A SINGLE CARCASS. TO BE MORE CONSISTENT WITH A REALISTIC HUNTING SITUATION, BESIDES, THE ARCHERS SOUGHT TO DIRECT THE PROJECTILES AT THE VITAL ORGANS OF HEART AND LUNGS AS A TRUE HUNTER WOULD HAVE DONE (CHURCHILL, 1993; NOE-NYGAARD, 1974). EACH IMPACT WAS PHOTOGRAPHED AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS WERE RECORDED ON A FORM. AFTER EACH DAILY SHOOTING SESSION THE CARCASS WAS PROCESSED IMMEDIATELY, IN ORDER TO RECOVER ALL POINT FRAGMENTS AND TO STUDY THE IMPACT TRACES ON THE BONES. THE BUTCHERY WAS CONDUCTED WITH STONE TOOLS, AND THE PROCESSED BONES WERE THEN BURIED IN NETS DIVIDED ACCORDING TO ANATOMICAL COMPARTMENTS. AFTER 9 MONTHS THEY WERE EXHUMED AND PROPERLY CLEANED BY BOILING IN WATER WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN ORDER TO DETACH THE REMAINING MEAT AND CARTILAGE. ONCE CLEANED, THE BONES WERE EXAMINED FIRST AT LOW MAGNIFICATION (10-20X) TO DISTINGUISH ANY POSSIBLE IMPACT’S EVIDENCE; THEN, EACH TRACE IDENTIFIED WAS ACCURATELY ANALYZED AND DOCUMENTED WITH TWO STEREOMICROSCOPE (LEICA S6D VERDE OUGH WITH MAGNIFICATION FROM 0.75X TO 70X; LEICA 125M WITH MAGNIFICATION FROM 0.7X TO 100X) AT THE ARCHAEOZOOLOGY AND TAPHONOMY LAB OF FERRARA UNIVERSITY (L.A.T.) AND MUSE; 3D IMAGES FROM SIENA UNIVERSITY, DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE FISICHE, DELLA TERRA E DELL’AMBIENTE.
site of Paglicci (Southern Italy) showing interproximal grooves that are situated below the crown, on the root walls
just apical to the cementum–enamel junction. These grooves have been examined on a digitalmicroscopewhich
displays 3D images of the analysed surfaces. The images obtainedmade it possible to interpret these interproximal
grooves as tooth picking activities that can be interpreted as an attempt to alleviate sore gums. The comparison
with experimental images from available literature made it possible to form hypotheses concerning the
nature of the probes that might have been used by the humans. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In the present paper we analyse the talus of 15 modern red foxes of different ages, from
2 months old to adulthood, to investigate the possibility of identifying their different ages at
death. Surface and volumetric variables describing bone properties are measured or evaluated
from the microCT images following three approaches: (i) the bone volume to total volume
ratio, quantified for the whole bones; (ii) two homologous subvolumes of trabecular tissue,
virtually extracted and analysed to evaluate trabecular bone structure; and (iii) the development
of the cortical region, deduced through the analysis of bone cross-sections. All
approaches yielded interesting information on bone development, and preliminary results
show that the third approach clearly allows us to discriminate among different age groups.
This is important both from a zooarchaeological and a palaeontological perspective, suggesting
that microCT imaging can be considered a new non-invasive tool to estimate the age at
death of animal remains, or to discriminate taxa characterized by a close morphology but
different adult body size.
are presented in this paper. A Mesolithic (Sauveterrian) Preboreal assemblage testifies to a first human occupation,
followed by a second longer Sauveterrian frequentation from the Boreal until the beginning of the Atlantic. The last
Mesolithic groups are represented by a Castelnovian assemblage, in which the bones of domesticates were detected with
wild games remains. The presence of weathered bones in this layer indicates possible slow sedimentation, which may
have led to the formation of a palimpsest, but more geoarchaeological data are needed to clarify this context. Neolithic
and Eneolithic layers are characterized by an overwhelming presence of caprines and by an increase in the domestic
pig and cattle through time. A number of caprine foetal remains points to the presence of individuals accumulated due
to natural death and to the caution needed in evaluating caprine age profiles from sites used as stables.
The analysis of the 104 bone and antler tools found in the Upper Palaeolithic sequence of the cave, as well as recent studies on faunal remains, have allowed us to reconstruct the choices made by the prehistoric hunters both in terms of hunting and exploitation of hard animal materials for tool fabrication. Most of the archeozoological sequence is characterized by the abundance of remains of species related to open or steppe environments, such as caprines (especially ibex), horses and aurochs.
Starting from Final Epigravettian (about 17.000 BP cal.) these taxa decrease in favor of deer, wild boar and hidruntinus, reflecting an important climatic change leading to more humid and temperate conditions. Only some hunted animals bones were chosen for making the tools: deer, horse, aurochs and wild boar. A noteworthy observation concerns the lack of an interconnection between the kinds of species represented in the faunal assemblages and those used for the production of bone (and antler) tools.
Even though the small number of pieces in each individual layer did not allow for statistical inferences, we could draw some interesting conclusions on the morpho-technological features of the artifacts, finding that some tool types appear to be linked to particular periods.
The comparison between archaeological and experimental use-wear seems to indicate that the bone tool from Galgenbühel was used as a needle for working vegetal material. On the other hand our experiments revealed a high functionality of this kind of tool also in beading fish heads, working tanned hide and bending birch bark
REGARDING THE TARGET, THE MOST APPROPRIATE SPECIES WOULD HAVE BEEN IBEX, WHICH IS THE DOMINANT GAME IN DALMERI ROCKSHELTER (FIORE ET AL., 1998). HOWEVER, SINCE IT WASN’T POSSIBLE TO RECOVER FRESH IBEX CARCASSES, WE USED FOUR YOUNG-ADULT FEMALE MOUFLONS (OVIS MUSIMON IN MAY) AND ONE SENILE FEMALE GOAT (CAPRA HIRCUS IN OCTOBER).
THE ANIMALS WERE KILLED LESS THAN 2 H BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE EXPERIMENTAL SESSION. THE CARCASSES WERE COMPLETE AND WERE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY TREATMENT SUCH AS FREEZING, SKINNING, EVISCERATION, PARTIAL DEFLESHING. THE CARCASSES WERE LOOSELY SUSPENDED IN A LIFELIKE POSITION TO A WOODEN BRACKET, WITH ONE SIDE FACING THE EXPERIMENTERS. THE SHOOTING DISTANCE VARIED FROM 10 TO 13 M; THESE DISTANCES WERE CONSIDERED CONSISTENT WITH ETHNOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON BOW HUNTING (CATTELAIN, 1997; 2004; CHURCHILL, 1993; ELLIS, 1997).
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH EACH ARROW IMPACT, THE ARCHERS DIDN’T SHOT MORE THAN 40 ARROWS ON A SINGLE CARCASS. TO BE MORE CONSISTENT WITH A REALISTIC HUNTING SITUATION, BESIDES, THE ARCHERS SOUGHT TO DIRECT THE PROJECTILES AT THE VITAL ORGANS OF HEART AND LUNGS AS A TRUE HUNTER WOULD HAVE DONE (CHURCHILL, 1993; NOE-NYGAARD, 1974). EACH IMPACT WAS PHOTOGRAPHED AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS WERE RECORDED ON A FORM. AFTER EACH DAILY SHOOTING SESSION THE CARCASS WAS PROCESSED IMMEDIATELY, IN ORDER TO RECOVER ALL POINT FRAGMENTS AND TO STUDY THE IMPACT TRACES ON THE BONES. THE BUTCHERY WAS CONDUCTED WITH STONE TOOLS, AND THE PROCESSED BONES WERE THEN BURIED IN NETS DIVIDED ACCORDING TO ANATOMICAL COMPARTMENTS. AFTER 9 MONTHS THEY WERE EXHUMED AND PROPERLY CLEANED BY BOILING IN WATER WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN ORDER TO DETACH THE REMAINING MEAT AND CARTILAGE. ONCE CLEANED, THE BONES WERE EXAMINED FIRST AT LOW MAGNIFICATION (10-20X) TO DISTINGUISH ANY POSSIBLE IMPACT’S EVIDENCE; THEN, EACH TRACE IDENTIFIED WAS ACCURATELY ANALYZED AND DOCUMENTED WITH TWO STEREOMICROSCOPE (LEICA S6D VERDE OUGH WITH MAGNIFICATION FROM 0.75X TO 70X; LEICA 125M WITH MAGNIFICATION FROM 0.7X TO 100X) AT THE ARCHAEOZOOLOGY AND TAPHONOMY LAB OF FERRARA UNIVERSITY (L.A.T.) AND MUSE; 3D IMAGES FROM SIENA UNIVERSITY, DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE FISICHE, DELLA TERRA E DELL’AMBIENTE.
site of Paglicci (Southern Italy) showing interproximal grooves that are situated below the crown, on the root walls
just apical to the cementum–enamel junction. These grooves have been examined on a digitalmicroscopewhich
displays 3D images of the analysed surfaces. The images obtainedmade it possible to interpret these interproximal
grooves as tooth picking activities that can be interpreted as an attempt to alleviate sore gums. The comparison
with experimental images from available literature made it possible to form hypotheses concerning the
nature of the probes that might have been used by the humans. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In the present paper we analyse the talus of 15 modern red foxes of different ages, from
2 months old to adulthood, to investigate the possibility of identifying their different ages at
death. Surface and volumetric variables describing bone properties are measured or evaluated
from the microCT images following three approaches: (i) the bone volume to total volume
ratio, quantified for the whole bones; (ii) two homologous subvolumes of trabecular tissue,
virtually extracted and analysed to evaluate trabecular bone structure; and (iii) the development
of the cortical region, deduced through the analysis of bone cross-sections. All
approaches yielded interesting information on bone development, and preliminary results
show that the third approach clearly allows us to discriminate among different age groups.
This is important both from a zooarchaeological and a palaeontological perspective, suggesting
that microCT imaging can be considered a new non-invasive tool to estimate the age at
death of animal remains, or to discriminate taxa characterized by a close morphology but
different adult body size.
fox, pine marten, badger) and semi-aquatic mammals such as otter and beaver. The latter is the most abundant taxon and a reasonable amount of its remains bear cut marks. Anthropic traces are also present on bones of Fe/is silvestris, Martes martes, Lutra lutra and Lepus sp. A recent ly published paper about the wild cat remains of Galgenbuhel has demonstrated its exploitation not only for its fur but for nutritional purposes, too. We present the examination of the skeletal frequencies and the distribution of the anthropic traces
on the bones belonging to the other small carnivores, rodents and lagomorphs. A 3D digital microscope analysis was performed in order to identify the origin of the cut ma rks. Results have allowed to reconstruct the chaine operatoire adopted by hunter-gatherers for the treatment of Castor fiber carcasses and to understand the role of each species in their subsistence strategies. The work is part of a research project (living near the water) finances by the Higher Education Support, Unive rsity and Research Office of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano
by human groups between the final part of Preboreal and the midBoreal. Evidence of Cyprinid and Pike fishing and a great amount of beaver bones as well as presence of otter and Union testify an intense exploitation of wetland resources. Results of a taphonomic analysis conducted on Emys orbicularis remains are presented in this paper. Cut marks on limb bones testify the consumption of this reptile. Burned specimens related to this taxon are very common, more than ones related to other taxa. In particular most specimens related to the carapace and the plastron are carbonised
or calcined. In phase 4 only the carapace fragments are burned, whilst plastron elements are not. It could indicate the cooking of turtles directly on hearths or that carapaces were used as vessels to cook or heat food or other substances.
to technological analysis of artistic engravings on Palaeolithic
mobiliary art objects. The aim of this research is
to understand the technical and artistic procedures followed
by prehistoric artists. Here we analysed an unpublished
right mandible of Bos primigenius (auroch), coming
from the portable art assemblage of Paglicci Cave (Foggia,
Southern Italy). This site shows an artistic production
of exceptional importance that offers an essential record
about Paleolithic mobiliary art in Italy (from Gravettian to
Final Epigravettian). The studied mandible, coming from
Evolved Epigravettian layers, displays an engraved motif
of difficult interpretation. Before studying the archaeological piece we produced
an experimental programme in order to compare archaeological
data with those obtained through replication
under controlled parameters. We produced a set of
experimental engravings on bone using burins and not
retouched blanks. The experimental and archaeological
engravings were analysed by means of a Hirox 3D Digital
Microscope KH-7700.Cross sections from the median
part of each groove have been observed and metrical
parameters have been collected (depth, breadth at the
floor and breadth at the top of the groove). In order to
describe the shape of each cross section the ratio between
the breadth at the top and the breadth at the
floor, as well as the ratio between the breath at the top
and the depth of cut marks have been calculated.
Results of the analysis revealed that the overall contours
of the figure was engraved first, while engraved lines
inside were added afterwards. The experimental data
pointed out that the morphometric analysis reveal no
discriminating characters between the engravings produced
by burins and those produced by not retouched
blanks; on the other hand the micromorphological analysis
showed a clearer context, where we can characterize
the engravings produced by the two kinds of tool. The
analysis of archaeological piece revealed a high homogeneity
of the micromorphological and micromorphometrical
data, feature which suggests the use of a single tool in the realization of the figure, probably a burin. In
addition to it the morphometric data collected on the
mobilary art object were compared with those collected
on a sample of cut marks from the same site. Significant
differences were found between the two samples: in particular the cut marks cross-sections are V-shaped, whilst
the art object is characterised by U-shaped engravings.
As regards the micro-morphological data, this research
seems to give good indications for the detection of parameters
that allow us to recognize the kinds of tool used
for engraving. The application of 3D microscopy reveals
new perspectives for the identification of techniques
and gesture of prehistoric artists. Finally, the differences
found between the art object and the cut marks are of
great interest for developing protocols able to separate
between butchering marks and engravings of dubious
origin.