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Riassunto - Grotta Rutina e una piccola cavita situata in localita Bocca di Valle (Guardiagrele, Chieti). I depositi, scavati tra il 2003 e il 2004, contengono resti faunistici associati a industria litica di tecnica Levallois. L’insieme... more
Riassunto - Grotta Rutina e una piccola cavita situata in localita Bocca di Valle (Guardiagrele, Chieti). I depositi, scavati tra il 2003 e il 2004, contengono resti faunistici associati a industria litica di tecnica Levallois. L’insieme faunistico e dominato dagli ungulati sopratutto camoscio, seguiti dai carnivori, principalmente orsi delle caverne, mentre sono poco rappresentati i grandi roditori e i lagomorfi. L’analisi tafonomica ha evidenziato il cattivo stato di conservazione delle superfici ossee, tuttavia sono state riscontrate alcune tracce di sfruttamento antropico della carcassa animale. Summary - Faunal remains of the Mousterian site of Grotta Rutina (Abruzzi). Grotta Rutina is a small cavity located in hamlet of Bocca di Valle (Guardiagrele, Chieti). Deposits, dug between 2003 and 2004, contain faunal remains associated with Levallois lithic implements. Faunal assemblage is characterised by the dominance of ungulate species, mainly chamois; followed by carnivores , mos...
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ABSTRACT Castel di Guido is a typical Middle Pleistocene elephant site where intentionally fragmented bones of elephant and of other large mammals were found together with Acheulean biface-like industry, including bifaces made of various... more
ABSTRACT Castel di Guido is a typical Middle Pleistocene elephant site where intentionally fragmented bones of elephant and of other large mammals were found together with Acheulean biface-like industry, including bifaces made of various stone types and of elephant bone, associated with flint tools on pebbles and flakes. Following a first interpretation of the evidence, the site represented a single and short phase of use, and elephants, horses, aurochs and few other species were killed and butchered on site, or partly brought to the site to be butchered after having been killed elsewhere. The bones were intentionally fractured for marrow extraction and left to “season” before being used as raw material for artefact production. Further evidence deriving from more recent studies suggests that the site lasted for much longer time and is in fact an intricate palimpsest of several phases of human use and partial reworking.
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The use of bone as raw material for implements is documented since the Early Pleistocene. Throughout the Early and Middle Pleistocene bone tool shaping was done by percussion flaking, the same technique used for knapping stone artifacts,... more
The use of bone as raw material for implements is documented since the Early Pleistocene. Throughout the Early and Middle Pleistocene bone tool shaping was done by percussion flaking, the same technique used for knapping stone artifacts, although bone shaping was rare compared to stone tool flaking. Until recently the generally accepted idea was that early bone technology was essentially immediate and expedient, based on single-stage operations, using available bone fragments of large to medium size animals. Only Upper Paleolithic bone tools would involve several stages of manufacture with clear evidence of primary flaking or breaking of bone to produce the kind of fragments required for different kinds of tools. Our technological and taphonomic analysis of the bone assemblage of Castel di Guido, a Middle Pleistocene site in Italy, now dated by 40Ar/39Ar to about 400 ka, shows that this general idea is inexact. In spite of the fact that the number of bone bifaces at the site
had been largely overestimated in previous publications, the number of verified, humanmade bone tools is 98. This is the highest number of flaked bone tools made by pre-modern hominids published so far. Moreover the Castel di Guido bone assemblage is characterized by systematic production of standardized blanks (elephant diaphysis fragments) and clear diversity of tool types. Bone smoothers and intermediate pieces prove that some features of Aurignacian technology have roots that go beyond the late Mousterian, back to the Middle Pleistocene. Clearly the Castel di Guido hominids had done the first step in the process of increasing complexity of bone technology. We discuss the reasons why this innovation was not developed. The analysis of the lithic industry is done for comparison with the bone industry.
had been largely overestimated in previous publications, the number of verified, humanmade bone tools is 98. This is the highest number of flaked bone tools made by pre-modern hominids published so far. Moreover the Castel di Guido bone assemblage is characterized by systematic production of standardized blanks (elephant diaphysis fragments) and clear diversity of tool types. Bone smoothers and intermediate pieces prove that some features of Aurignacian technology have roots that go beyond the late Mousterian, back to the Middle Pleistocene. Clearly the Castel di Guido hominids had done the first step in the process of increasing complexity of bone technology. We discuss the reasons why this innovation was not developed. The analysis of the lithic industry is done for comparison with the bone industry.
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CT-scan analyses were carried out on limb bones of straight-tusked elephants (Palaeoloxodon antiquus) from the Middle Pleistocene site of Castel di Guido (Italy), where bifaces made of elephant bone were found in association with lithics... more
CT-scan analyses were carried out on limb bones of straight-tusked elephants (Palaeoloxodon antiquus) from the Middle Pleistocene site of Castel di Guido (Italy), where bifaces made of elephant bone were found in association with lithics and a large number of intentionally modified bone remains of elephants and other taxa. CT-scans show that marrow cavities are present within the limb bones of this taxon.
Though rather small compared to the size of the bones, these cavities suggest that bone raw material procurement may not have been the unique goal of intentional elephant bone fracturing, and the marrow may also have been extracted for consumption.
Though rather small compared to the size of the bones, these cavities suggest that bone raw material procurement may not have been the unique goal of intentional elephant bone fracturing, and the marrow may also have been extracted for consumption.
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The Bone Industry of Castel di Guido (Rome): taphonomic analysis of bifaces and minimally modified toos - During the Middle Pleistocene the Latium region was characterised by the production of tools made on long bones diaphyses of... more
The Bone Industry of Castel di Guido (Rome): taphonomic analysis of bifaces and minimally modified toos - During the Middle Pleistocene the Latium region was characterised by the production of tools made on long bones diaphyses of straight-tusked elephant. In particular Castel di Guido is known as the richest site in highly modified bone artefacts, i.e. Acheulean-type bifaces. These show compelling evidence of manufacture, whereas less elaborate specimens, that is pieces bearing minimal traces of modification provide only ambiguous evidence of being tools. A number of natural processes, occurring during the life of an animal or after its death, can produce pseudo-tools and mimic human-made objects; in particular non-anthropic modifications, such as trampling by animals and gnawing by large carnivores, can produce pseudo-retouch. Moreover fractures on bones could represent a mere by-product of marrow extraction by hominins. In order to distinguish between pseudo-tools and tools, an integrated method based on taphonomic observations, actualistic data, microscopic studies of possible evidences of manufacture and use, and experimental replication of the purported tools must be adopted.
This paper presents a taphonomic analysis of part of the Castel di Guido bone tools collection. A range of variables, some of them already used in the study of the associated fossil assemblage, were recorded. These are: the frequency of species, animal size, type of bones used (body parts and portions), fracturing patterns, degree of weathering and abrasion, evidence of taphonomic modifications due to biological non anthropic agents, and possible evidence of manufacture and/or use. Morphometric data were collected with calipers and included, when possible, the length, width and thickness of each object. The aim is to document bone surface modifications, and to identify unworked or minimally modified bone tools. Among these tools there is a newly-discovered type: outils intermédiaires (intermediate tools). The use-wear study is at a preliminary stage and several possible wear traces were observed.
This paper presents a taphonomic analysis of part of the Castel di Guido bone tools collection. A range of variables, some of them already used in the study of the associated fossil assemblage, were recorded. These are: the frequency of species, animal size, type of bones used (body parts and portions), fracturing patterns, degree of weathering and abrasion, evidence of taphonomic modifications due to biological non anthropic agents, and possible evidence of manufacture and/or use. Morphometric data were collected with calipers and included, when possible, the length, width and thickness of each object. The aim is to document bone surface modifications, and to identify unworked or minimally modified bone tools. Among these tools there is a newly-discovered type: outils intermédiaires (intermediate tools). The use-wear study is at a preliminary stage and several possible wear traces were observed.
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Field investigations at Castel di Guido revealed a Middle Pleistocene open-air site containing macro-faunal remains associated with Acheulean industry. The large majority of the remains lay at the bottom of a depressed area, which... more
Field investigations at Castel di Guido revealed a Middle Pleistocene open-air site containing macro-faunal remains associated with Acheulean industry. The large majority of the remains lay at the bottom of a depressed area, which probably evolved into a low energy freshwater basin after the deposition of the assemblage. To quantify the importance of the natural processes compared to the anthropogenic ones in the formation of the site, a full taphonomic analysis of the macromammal assemblage was carried out. A geoarchaelogical study, together with a taphonomic analysis of the lithic and bone implements, is ongoing. This paper discusses the results of the study of elephant bones. The taphonomic analysis has documented traces of different modifying agents on the specimens, indicating the important role of syn-and post-depositional factors in the accumulation and modification of bones. Nevertheless, evidence of utilization of carcasses for subsistence and for tool production was detected. The study provides new data for the exploitation of elephants by hominins during the Lower Palaeolithic.
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Analisi dei materiali (ceramica, intonaco e fauna) di una struttura infossata rinvenuta nel sito di Colle Santo Stefano di Ortucchio (L'Aquila -Abruzzo).
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Archaeological evidences of the sacri ce and a complete or partial burial of a horse into a pit located apart om the knight but close to his grave, widespread during the “age of migrations” (5th-7th centuries) in several transalpine... more
Archaeological evidences of the sacri ce and a complete or partial burial of a horse into a pit located apart om the knight but close to his grave, widespread during the “age of migrations” (5th-7th centuries) in several transalpine graveyards and up to now known only in the north-east of Italy, were recently brought to light also in the north-west regions, om two di erent longobard cemeteries located near Torino: the large graveyard characterized by lined graves in Collegno, and the “ex Villa Lancia” area of Testona. is last cemetery is also characterised by the presence of the burial of two dogs.