Call for contributions EAA2022, Borderline lithics: from spatial patterns to social processes during the European neolithization (original) (raw)
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NEANDERTHALS AMONGST NEANDERTHALS IN CENTRAL-SOUTHERN ITALY
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.
UISPP XVIIIe Congrès Paris - XVIIIe UISPP CONGRESS Paris 4-9 June 2018
You are warmly invited to take part in the XVIIIe Congrès de l'UISPP, which will be held in Paris, France, from 4th to 9th June 2018 The general theme held for the congress is : ADAPTATION AND SUSTAINABILITY OF PREHISTORIC AND PROTOHISTORIC SOCIETIES CONFRONTED TO CLIMATE CHANGE As for each UISPP World Congress, the Congress is open to all other sessions, regardless of the general theme above, which may be proposed in the context of the call for sessions. 119 session will take place during this week with more than 1700 scientific papers or posters. Conferences will be given at the Musée de l'Homme on sunday (3rd & 9th June) and at the Institut de Paléontologie Humaine each evening. All informations are here : https://uispp2018.sciencesconf.org/
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.
A POISONED CHALICE: INVESTIGATING THE PRESENCE OF POISONS ON PALEOLITHIC ARROWS
Ethnographic documentation tells us that very often hunters poison their weapons with toxic substances.The ease with which poisons can be obtained from plants and animals, and the benefits arising from their application on throwing weapons (a safe distance from the hunter’s prey, killing large size prey relatively quickly) suggests that this practice could be widespread among prehistoric hunters.In particular, the poisonous substances can incapacitate the animal, irrespective of whether the weapon causing a mortal wound: this is crucial for the recovery of meat and furs in good conditions. In this paper we present the development of a method for the detection of toxic substances on European Upper Paleolithic stone and bone points. This research is part of a wider project on the analysis of residues on the prehistoric projectile points in collaboration with the Dept. of Chemical and Forensic Sciences of the Northumbria University, Newcastle. The investigation makes use of mass spectrometric analysis to establish the presence/absence of potentially toxic substances even after thousands of years. The plants of the Ranunculaceae family, particularly monkshood, as well as other common toxic plants such as hemlock or andstrychnos toxiferia (curare) are those on which we have more historical information and form the basis of this work. Using a completely non-invasive method, samples were taken from the ethnographic materials preserved in the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology of Cambridge (UK), and samplings are scheduled at the Pitt Rivers Museum of Oxford (UK) and Museo Etnografico Pigorini of Roma (Italy). The method preview the research of the toxic molecules starting from the present plants and working backwards through the study of the historical and ethnographic weapons.
Antlers as raw materials in the Iron Gates Mesolithic
Osseous raw materials had important role in everyday activities in most Mesolithic communities. As flint industry, bone industries also create distinctive technocomplexes and display regional, chronological and cultural characteristics. In this paper will be analysed the use of antlers as the raw material in the Iron Gates Mesolithic – methods of raw material acquiring, manufacturing techniques, tool types and modes of use and discard of antler objects. The Iron Gates hinterlands, where large populations of cervids lived and were hunted, offered a possibility of easy acquiring of antlers, which were abundantly used in all settlements. Both shed and unshed antlers were used, from red and roe deer, and the used techniques included grooving, use of abrasive wet fibres, chopping, scraping, etc. Main tool types were chisels, wedges and percussion tools. Harpoons were rare, however, the preserved specimen from Kula demonstrates it was carefully made, by a skilful artisan. Antlers also had a symbolic meaning, as sometimes they were placed in graves (both unworked antlers and antler tools), related to the symbolic meaning ascribed to deer.