1,721,026 research outputs found
Il Cavallo e l’Uro: le prede dei cacciatori neandertaliani nella Grotta di Santa Croce di Bisceglie (BT)
No full textThe excavations
of the University of Siena (1998-2011) in the external area of Grotta di Santa Croce (Bisceglie - BT) brought to light a
series of sandy-silty stratigraphic units which yielded a lot of Middle Palaeolithic animal bones and lithics, predominantly
characterized by the occurrence of discoid production systems. These units were covered by layers containing small
quantities of Aurignacian and Gravettian materials. In this paper we present data on faunal remains from the Mousterian
layers analyzed so far. This research outcomes confirm in some respects previous analyses. Only one out of the 638
identified samples belongs to Cervus elaphus. The rest is represented by horse and aurochs bones, whereas carnivores
are completely absent. Killings mainly addressed towards adult individuals of Equus ferus and Bos primigenius are
also confirmed. Bone sample is mainly composed of constantly fractured limb bones and isolated teeth. Articulations,
phalanges, tarsal and carpal bones are scarcely represented. Missing skeletal parts were probably left at the killing sites
or used as food or fuel. In spite of the abundance of isolated teeth, horse incisors and canines as well as aurochs incisors
and premolars are only occasionally present
L'Uomo e la Iena macchiata. Tafonomia su resti di ungulati del Gravettiano antico di Grotta Paglicci (Rignano Garganico - FG)
No full textThis paper presents a taphonomic study on ungulate bones from two Ancient Gravettian levels of Grotta Paglicci (Rignano Garganico – FG). The analysis of the determined remains and of the large amount of undeterminate fragments was obtained through the individuation of the cutmarks made by stone tools, of the tooth marks produced by carnivores and through the estimation of the degree of bone fragmentation. In addition to an abundant material resulting from the human occupation of the cave, level 23c presents several distinctive features attesting to the presence of the spotted hyena: gnawed and regurgitated bones of ungulates, coprolites, skeletal parts of Crocuta. The comparison between the sample contained in this level and another one recovered in level 22f, which displays only traces of anthropic action like hunting and butchering processes, shows the subordinate role of the hyena in the formation of the bone accumulation in the level 23c
Homo neanderthalensis e Homo sapiens: lo sfruttamento delle parti scheletriche degli ungulati
No full textAnalysis of ungulate bones recovered from some upper and middle Palaeolithic sites of South Italy show differences in the presences of anatomical elements, probably due to different types of exploitation of the skeletal portions between H. neanderthalensis e H. sapiens. Differences, combined with the lack of clear evidences of carnivore activities, concern specially limb bones of small sizes (carpals, tarsals, phalanges, sesamoides), and long bones epiphysis. These skeletal parts result rare in middle Palaeolithic deposits whereas are abundant, in particular the phalanges, in upper Palaeolithic ones. Observations of unidentified bone fragments indicate that, during middle Palaeolithic, in this sites, marrow extraction regarded essentially the treatment of long bones. First and second phalanges were not very used for this practice, while they were often fragmented by Sapiens. Lack of these bones among Neandertal’s meal remains, allow to formulate the hypothesis that these were destroyed probably during their utilisation as fuel
Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition in Southern Italy: Uluzzian macromammals from Grotta del Cavallo (Apulia)
No full textA taphonomic study of macromammal remains found in Uluzzian layer EIII5 of Grotta del Cavallo (Apulia,
southern Italy) was conducted to obtain information about exploitation of animal resources in this
period. The Uluzzian is a distinctive culture characterizing the MiddleeUpper Palaeolithic transition in
Italy. Comparison of the sample analyzed with Mousterian assemblages from sites in the same region
showed significant differences in skeletal part frequencies, whereas similarities were found with data of
Gravettian and Epigravettian samples discovered in other Apulian sites. These results suggest probable
changes in the management of carcasses by prehistoric hunters living in the region
3D digital microscopy and taphonomy: two examples from Palaeolithic sites (Grotta dei Santi – Grosseto and Grotta Paglicci - Foggia)
Full text linkL’Unità di Ricerca di Ecologia Preistorica dell’Università di Siena sta portando avanti un ampio studio volto alla realizzazione di nuove metodologie di analisi tafonomiche, condotte attraverso l’utilizzo della microscopia digitale 3D. Le modificazioni sulle superfici ossee (scores, punctures, cut marks, alterazioni chimiche) possono essere infatti analizzate da un punto di vista morfometrico permettendo l’individuazione di caratteri diagnostici che possono essere elaborati statisticamente, evitando l’esclusivo utilizzo di osservazioni soggettive. In questo contributo vengono presentati alcuni dati riguardanti strie di macellazione ottenute in prove sperimentali, strie provocate da carnivori moderni e tracce rilevate su resti di macromammiferi provenienti da due siti paleolitici: la Grotta dei Santi (Grosseto) e Grotta Paglicci (Foggia). Lo scopo è quello di mettere a confronto tracce lasciate da diversi agenti e capire, testando il metodo su campioni archeologici, verso quale direzione possa essere sviluppato questo tipo di ricerca in modo da favorire in futuro una migliore interpretazione di alcune evidenze tafonomiche.The Research Unit of Prehistoric Ecology of the University of Siena is testing the potentiality of a digital microscope that captures 3D images of the bone surface. The aim of this research is to develop new methods for understanding the origin of different bone modifications (e.g. scores, punctures, cut marks, chemical corrosion) using morphometry. It allows to find diagnostic criteria that can be processed through statistics, avoiding the exclusive use of subjective observations. In this paper different bone modifications have been analysed: cut marks produced during butchery experiments, modern tooth marks and striae located on macromammal remains coming from two Palaeolithic sites: Grotta dei Santi (Grosseto) and Grotta Paglicci (Foggia). The aim is to compare bone modifications of different origin and to test the method on archaeological samples, in order to understand how this can be employed to better interpret the taphonomic evidences in future works
Il deposito musteriano del Riparo l'Oscurusciuto (Ginosa – TA): la fauna a grandi mammiferi delle UUSS 1÷9
No full textOscurusciuto rock shelter, located in the ravine of Ginosa (TA), contains a Middle Palaeolithic deposit of more than five meters
thick and about 60 meters wide. Researches, begun in 1998, have highlighted a series of stratigraphic units particularly rich in lithic and
faunal remains with some well-preserved fi replaces. Bones recovered fr om upper units of the stratigraphic sequence are result of Neanderthal
hunting and comprise almost exclusively ungulate remains; only two elements belong to carnivores (lion and wolf). In units 9 ÷ 4 the
macromammal assemblages are characterized by a dominance of aurochs in association with red deer, fallow deer, roe deer and rare horse
and caprines (ibex and chamois). In the units (3 ÷ 1) a signifi cant decline in aurochs is accompanied with an increase in horse and red deer.
Skeletal part fr equencies suggests that skulls and limbs of killed animals were selectively transported to the shelter. In most of the units small
bones as phalanges, sesamoides, carpals and tarsals are scarce or absent. Numerous burnt fr agments testify use of bones as fuel. Analysis of
some samples of unidentifi able bones provides further informations regard the exploitation of skeletal parts
Modalità di sfruttamento delle parti scheletriche di Bos primigenius nel Paleolitico medio e superiore della Puglia: Grotta di Santa Croce (Bisceglie, Bari) e Grotta delle Mura (Monopoli, Bari)
No full textL’esame dei resti di uro rinvenuti in due unità stratigrafiche del Paleolitico medio della Grotta di Santa Croce a Bisceglie (US 535, 546) e nello strato 3 dell’Epigravettiano finale della Grotta delle Mura a Monopoli mette in luce modalità diverse di sfruttamento di questo grande bovide. Nel primo sito i resti rinvenuti sono relativi quasi totalmente ad individui adulti. Le parti scheletriche riguardano soprattutto una buona quantità di frammenti di diafisi di ossa lunghe. Sono frequenti i denti isolati fra i quali mancano gli incisivi, mentre sono scarsi i frammenti di epifisi e ossa di piccole dimensioni come falangi, sesamoidi, carpali e tarsali. Questi elementi sono invece frequenti nella Grotta delle Mura dove si registra una buona presenza di individui giovani. Lo studio del materiale non determinabile a livello tassonomico ha permesso di completare il quadro sulle presenze scheletriche e sul generale sfruttamento delle ossa. Ulteriori dati sono emersi dall’analisi delle parti parzialmente combuste. Nel confronto tra alcuni siti del Paleolitico medio e superiore del Sud Italia queste differenze, osservate anche nei resti di altri ungulati, testimoniano una diversa gestione delle ossa animali da parte del Neandertal e del Sapiens, legata al recupero del midollo e al probabile utilizzo delle ossa come combustibile
Morphometrical Analysis on Cut Marks Using a 3D Digital Microscope
No full textMicroscopic analysis represents a powerful tool for understanding taphonomy. Our work, as in other studies, aims to identify the origin of different kinds of marks on bones. In this paper, we test the application of a HIROX Digital Microscope KH-7700. This microscope captures 3D images of the bone surface, thus bringing into focus the whole section of striations. This enables the direct observation of their shape from several points of view and the relatively rapid procurement of a variety of measurements (e.g. depth, breadth, angles). This technology has been applied to several butchery experiments, in which both stone and metal tools have been used to produce cut marks on skeletal elements. The morphometrical parameters presented in this paper enabled the correct identification of the different origins of experimental striations and were further tested on two archaeological sets of cut marks inflicted by both metal blades and flint flakes or tools. Therefore, the obtained experimental records constitute a useful database for archaeological remains. The morphometrical parameters developed and implemented in this study represent objective criteria for identifying the origin of cut marks which can be processed through statistical analysis. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
La grotta, ricovero di uomini e animali: il caso Paglicci (Rignano Garganico - FG)
No full textIl presente lavoro propone uno studio tafonomico su resti ossei di ungulati relativi a due livelli del Gravettiano antico di Grotta Paglicci (Rignano Garganico – FG). L’analisi delle parti ossee determinate e della grande massa di frammenti indeterminati è stata basata sull’individuazione delle tracce lasciate da strumenti litici e dalla masticazione di carnivori e sulla stima del grado di frammentazione. Il livello 23c, oltre a contenere materiale di chiara derivazione antropica, presenta evidenti tracce di frequentazione della iena macchiata: ossa di ungulati rosicate e parzialmente digerite, coproliti, ossa di Crocuta. Il confronto dei resti di questo livello con quelli di 22f, legato all’esclusiva attività di caccia e di macellazione dell’uomo, ha permesso di chiarire il ruolo subordinato avuto dalla iena nella formazione dell’accumulo osseo del livello 23c
Le parti mancanti: faune del Paleolitico Medio nel deposito esterno della Grotta di Santa Croce, Bisceglie (BA)
No full textThe research which has been conducted since 1998 in the outside area of Santa Croce cave led to the discovery of a Middle Palaeolithic deposit rich in lithic industry and animal bones. This paper deals with the results obtained from the study of faunal remains recovered from two stratigraphic units: U.S. 525 and U.S. 535, closely related each other. Analysis of data shows the presence of only two species: Equus ferus and Bos primigenius, typical of grassland and forest-grassland. This particular faunal association, poor in taxa, is related to geomorphology of the territory and dry climate. The scarcity of juvenile elements belonging to horse and cattle in the sample, is probably the result of a hunting selection by humans. The study of bone fragments, both these identified taxonomically and a sample of unidentified remains, revealed an absence or a feeble presence of skeletal elements like ribs, vertebrae, epiphyses of long bones, carpals, tarsals, sesamoids and phalanges. If the scarcity of vertebrae, ribs and epiphyses is common in Middle and Upper Palaeolithic deposits, the very low quantity of small sized limb bones shows peculiar exploitation strategies of the skeletal material by Neandertals. Comparisons with other Italian sites confirms different modalities regarding the use of bones between Middle and Upper Palaeolithic
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