In Sardinia, the evolution of the coastal landscape was important for the development of prehisto... more In Sardinia, the evolution of the coastal landscape was important for the development of prehistoric and historical settlements and for intercultural exchanges with the civilizations in the Mediterranean area. In particular, the sea level changes and the relative coastline evolution have directly influenced the choice of strategic landing places and control of the territory. This paper reports on the preliminary results of a multidisciplinary, geoarchaeological and archaeological study aimed at the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Sant' Imbenia Nuragic site (Middle Bronze Age-Iron Age), in the northwest coast of Sardinia. The site lies closed to the shoreline in the middle of the Porto Conte bay between the promontories of Capo Caccia at west and Punta Giglio at east. For centuries, the Porto Conte bay represented a safe landing place. The morphological context of the bay is characterised by a deep ria dominated by high limestone cliffs, interrupted locally by small bay...
Sardinia is characterized by spectacular granite landscapes with superimposed scenic landforms. I... more Sardinia is characterized by spectacular granite landscapes with superimposed scenic landforms. In the eastern part of the island, the granite reliefs consist of mountain massifs and plateaux separated by metamorphic reliefs and limestone plateaux. Granite landscapes show peculiar landforms such as inselbergs, tors and tafoni and diverse erosion microforms. In the extraordinary landscape of Gallura region, wide flat areas with outcropping rocks, vast extensions of isolated rock blocks and inselberg-type dome-shaped reliefs show evidence of a long period of intense weathering. Scenic landforms characterize the spectacular landscape of Sarrabus region, where differential erosion processes have selected the numerous dikes which have conditioned the orientation of the reliefs and coastal landforms. Many archaeological remnants can be found in most granite regions of Sardinia emphasizing the deep bond between man and the physical environment.
The interaction of human dispersal patterns with landscape features can in many cases provide use... more The interaction of human dispersal patterns with landscape features can in many cases provide useful information on the sustenance strategies of past communities. Mapping the present landscape is a necessary step in recognizing the nature, impact, and diffusion of the processes which drive the behaviour of past populations and modify palaeolandscapes. We constructed a map of the land units in the southwestern corner of Sardinia and compared them with the distribution of known Bronze Age megalithic towers called nuraghes. The vast majority of nuraghes are near the plains or at mid elevations close to the river network, in areas with the highest landscape diversity. The occurrence of nuraghes also seems to be related to elevated outcrops giving the advantage of a raised position and stable foundations. Denudation processes, Late Holocene sea level rise, and anthropogenic disturbance seem to be the most important factors driving changes in the palaeolandscape.
Fossil remains of endemic elephants have been collected from the Pleistocene deposits of several ... more Fossil remains of endemic elephants have been collected from the Pleistocene deposits of several Mediterranean islands. They have been generally considered as paleoloxodontine, derived from the continental Middle and Late Pleistocene Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus Falconer & Cautley. The only apparent exception is the middle-sized Mammuthus lamarmorae (Major) of Sardinia. Some tarsal, carpal and long bones, from Last Glacial aeolian deposits outcropping at Fontana Morimenta (Gonnesa), were first reported by Acconci (1881). Following this discovery, Major (1883) described the new species “Elephas lamarmorae”, but did not illustrate it. During the second half of the 20 Century, two further molars were discovered: one in post-Tyrrhenian (postOI stage 5) breccias at Tramariglio (Alghero) (Malatesta 1954), and the other in preTyrrhenian (pre-OI stage 5) continental deposits at S. Giovanni in Sinis (Ambrosetti 1972). The latter is the only specimen for which stratigraphic control is ava...
Melis R.T. et al., The Grotta dei Fiori (Sardinia) stratigraphic succession; a multidisciplinary ... more Melis R.T. et al., The Grotta dei Fiori (Sardinia) stratigraphic succession; a multidisciplinary approach. (IT ISSN 0394-3356, 2011) Grotta dei Fiori Cave is one of the many limestone caves in South Western Sardinia containing well-stratified fossiliferous deposits intercalated with flowstones. A multidisciplinary methodological approach (paleontological, sedimentological, stable isotope analyses) and U/Th datation, has been used to define the palaenvironmental context and chronology of fossiliferous deposits in the cave. RIASSUNTO: Melis R.T. et al., La successione stratigrafica di Grotta dei Fiori (Sardegna): approccio multidisciplinare. (IT ISSN 0394-3356, 2011) Grotta dei fiori è una delle numerose grotte nella Sardegna Sud occidentale caratterizzata da sedimenti ricchi in resti fossili intercalati con flowstones. La correlazione e l’interpretazione dei risultati di uno studio multidisciplinare (paleontologico, sedimentologico, analisi isotopica) e datazioni U/Th, sono stati uti...
1 Università degli Studi di Sassari, Dipartimento di Architettura, Design, Urbanistica, Sassari, ... more 1 Università degli Studi di Sassari, Dipartimento di Architettura, Design, Urbanistica, Sassari, ITAY 2 Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Storia, Beni Culturali e Territorio, Cagliari,Italy 3 Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Cagliari, ITALY 4 Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino IAMC-CNR, Cagliari, ITALY 5 Università degli Studi di Sassari, Dipartimento di Storia, Scienze dell’Uomo e della Formazione, Sassari, ITALY 6 Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Beni Culturali; Università degli Studi di Sassari, Scuola di Specializzazione in Beni Archeologici, ITALY 7 Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici per le province di Cagliari e Oristano, ITALY
By bridging approaches and methodologies from geosciences, archaeology and history, geoarchaeolog... more By bridging approaches and methodologies from geosciences, archaeology and history, geoarchaeology is transforming our understanding of the history and cultures that have shaped the Mediterranean basin over millennia. The sheer diversity of current research offers an excellent opportunity for moving beyond geographical frontiers and to begin addressing the needs of a multifaceted and evolving Mediterranean world. This workshop calls upon environmental scientists, archaeologists and historians to discuss and share research advances in the geoarchaeology of Mediterranean islands and coastlines. The workshop will address issues, challenges and prospects of current research on Mediterranean island and coastal environments.
In Sardinia, the evolution of the coastal landscape was important for the development of prehisto... more In Sardinia, the evolution of the coastal landscape was important for the development of prehistoric and historical settlements and for intercultural exchanges with the civilizations in the Mediterranean area. In particular, the sea level changes and the relative coastline evolution have directly influenced the choice of strategic landing places and control of the territory. This paper reports on the preliminary results of a multidisciplinary, geoarchaeological and archaeological study aimed at the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Sant' Imbenia Nuragic site (Middle Bronze Age-Iron Age), in the northwest coast of Sardinia. The site lies closed to the shoreline in the middle of the Porto Conte bay between the promontories of Capo Caccia at west and Punta Giglio at east. For centuries, the Porto Conte bay represented a safe landing place. The morphological context of the bay is characterised by a deep ria dominated by high limestone cliffs, interrupted locally by small bay...
Sardinia is characterized by spectacular granite landscapes with superimposed scenic landforms. I... more Sardinia is characterized by spectacular granite landscapes with superimposed scenic landforms. In the eastern part of the island, the granite reliefs consist of mountain massifs and plateaux separated by metamorphic reliefs and limestone plateaux. Granite landscapes show peculiar landforms such as inselbergs, tors and tafoni and diverse erosion microforms. In the extraordinary landscape of Gallura region, wide flat areas with outcropping rocks, vast extensions of isolated rock blocks and inselberg-type dome-shaped reliefs show evidence of a long period of intense weathering. Scenic landforms characterize the spectacular landscape of Sarrabus region, where differential erosion processes have selected the numerous dikes which have conditioned the orientation of the reliefs and coastal landforms. Many archaeological remnants can be found in most granite regions of Sardinia emphasizing the deep bond between man and the physical environment.
The interaction of human dispersal patterns with landscape features can in many cases provide use... more The interaction of human dispersal patterns with landscape features can in many cases provide useful information on the sustenance strategies of past communities. Mapping the present landscape is a necessary step in recognizing the nature, impact, and diffusion of the processes which drive the behaviour of past populations and modify palaeolandscapes. We constructed a map of the land units in the southwestern corner of Sardinia and compared them with the distribution of known Bronze Age megalithic towers called nuraghes. The vast majority of nuraghes are near the plains or at mid elevations close to the river network, in areas with the highest landscape diversity. The occurrence of nuraghes also seems to be related to elevated outcrops giving the advantage of a raised position and stable foundations. Denudation processes, Late Holocene sea level rise, and anthropogenic disturbance seem to be the most important factors driving changes in the palaeolandscape.
Fossil remains of endemic elephants have been collected from the Pleistocene deposits of several ... more Fossil remains of endemic elephants have been collected from the Pleistocene deposits of several Mediterranean islands. They have been generally considered as paleoloxodontine, derived from the continental Middle and Late Pleistocene Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus Falconer & Cautley. The only apparent exception is the middle-sized Mammuthus lamarmorae (Major) of Sardinia. Some tarsal, carpal and long bones, from Last Glacial aeolian deposits outcropping at Fontana Morimenta (Gonnesa), were first reported by Acconci (1881). Following this discovery, Major (1883) described the new species “Elephas lamarmorae”, but did not illustrate it. During the second half of the 20 Century, two further molars were discovered: one in post-Tyrrhenian (postOI stage 5) breccias at Tramariglio (Alghero) (Malatesta 1954), and the other in preTyrrhenian (pre-OI stage 5) continental deposits at S. Giovanni in Sinis (Ambrosetti 1972). The latter is the only specimen for which stratigraphic control is ava...
Melis R.T. et al., The Grotta dei Fiori (Sardinia) stratigraphic succession; a multidisciplinary ... more Melis R.T. et al., The Grotta dei Fiori (Sardinia) stratigraphic succession; a multidisciplinary approach. (IT ISSN 0394-3356, 2011) Grotta dei Fiori Cave is one of the many limestone caves in South Western Sardinia containing well-stratified fossiliferous deposits intercalated with flowstones. A multidisciplinary methodological approach (paleontological, sedimentological, stable isotope analyses) and U/Th datation, has been used to define the palaenvironmental context and chronology of fossiliferous deposits in the cave. RIASSUNTO: Melis R.T. et al., La successione stratigrafica di Grotta dei Fiori (Sardegna): approccio multidisciplinare. (IT ISSN 0394-3356, 2011) Grotta dei fiori è una delle numerose grotte nella Sardegna Sud occidentale caratterizzata da sedimenti ricchi in resti fossili intercalati con flowstones. La correlazione e l’interpretazione dei risultati di uno studio multidisciplinare (paleontologico, sedimentologico, analisi isotopica) e datazioni U/Th, sono stati uti...
1 Università degli Studi di Sassari, Dipartimento di Architettura, Design, Urbanistica, Sassari, ... more 1 Università degli Studi di Sassari, Dipartimento di Architettura, Design, Urbanistica, Sassari, ITAY 2 Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Storia, Beni Culturali e Territorio, Cagliari,Italy 3 Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Cagliari, ITALY 4 Istituto per l’Ambiente Marino IAMC-CNR, Cagliari, ITALY 5 Università degli Studi di Sassari, Dipartimento di Storia, Scienze dell’Uomo e della Formazione, Sassari, ITALY 6 Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Beni Culturali; Università degli Studi di Sassari, Scuola di Specializzazione in Beni Archeologici, ITALY 7 Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici per le province di Cagliari e Oristano, ITALY
By bridging approaches and methodologies from geosciences, archaeology and history, geoarchaeolog... more By bridging approaches and methodologies from geosciences, archaeology and history, geoarchaeology is transforming our understanding of the history and cultures that have shaped the Mediterranean basin over millennia. The sheer diversity of current research offers an excellent opportunity for moving beyond geographical frontiers and to begin addressing the needs of a multifaceted and evolving Mediterranean world. This workshop calls upon environmental scientists, archaeologists and historians to discuss and share research advances in the geoarchaeology of Mediterranean islands and coastlines. The workshop will address issues, challenges and prospects of current research on Mediterranean island and coastal environments.
Grotta di Pozzo is a cave site (23.000-6.500 cal. BP) at 720m asl in the Apennine range of Abruzz... more Grotta di Pozzo is a cave site (23.000-6.500 cal. BP) at 720m asl in the Apennine range of Abruzzo (central Italy). We tested the hypothesis that Epigravettian lithic elements from layers PS19 to PS1, 23.000 (unpublished)-14.000 cal. BP, were hafted with an adhesive agent, and used as projectile points to catch middle- to small-sized mammals during seasonal hunts.
The archaeozoological analysis was performed on 6863 faunal remains, most of them fragmented and sometimes burnt. Only 419 remains could be determined to species level (6.11% of the total). There are frequent cut marks and impact scars, from skinning, disarticulation and the recovery of bone marrow. The chamois was the most frequently hunted animal, followed by red deer, marmot and ibex. We hypothesize seasonality in hunting, when chamois were leaving summer grazing grounds at higher altitude.
Furthermore, after isotopic analyses on Equus hydruntinus and Cervus elaphus tooth enamel, the two species had a marked difference in ranging behavior, with cervids probably more mobile than equids.
Combining residue and use-wear analysis, 1315 lithic elements were eventually selected out of an assemblage of 5012 artefacts. The residue analysis was performed on traces detected by stereomicroscopy, and completed by Raman spectroscopy to determine the chemical composition. The use-wear analysis focused on impact fractures also detected by stereomicroscopy. Comparisons were made with similar scars described in the literature in collections from late Pleistocene European sites and experimental series. The Tip-cross sectional area (TCSA) was also calculated.
All lines of evidence point to the fact that both retouched points and unretouched bladelets were hafted using an adhesive that included ochre. The weapons were mostly used to kill caprids and cervids. The TCSA, as well as the weight and morphology of the points, further suggests that the bow could possibly have been in use during seasonal hunts.
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The archaeozoological analysis was performed on 6863 faunal remains, most of them fragmented and sometimes burnt. Only 419 remains could be determined to species level (6.11% of the total). There are frequent cut marks and impact scars, from skinning, disarticulation and the recovery of bone marrow. The chamois was the most frequently hunted animal, followed by red deer, marmot and ibex. We hypothesize seasonality in hunting, when chamois were leaving summer grazing grounds at higher altitude.
Furthermore, after isotopic analyses on Equus hydruntinus and Cervus elaphus tooth enamel, the two species had a marked difference in ranging behavior, with cervids probably more mobile than equids.
Combining residue and use-wear analysis, 1315 lithic elements were eventually selected out of an assemblage of 5012 artefacts. The residue analysis was performed on traces detected by stereomicroscopy, and completed by Raman spectroscopy to determine the chemical composition. The use-wear analysis focused on impact fractures also detected by stereomicroscopy. Comparisons were made with similar scars described in the literature in collections from late Pleistocene European sites and experimental series. The Tip-cross sectional area (TCSA) was also calculated.
All lines of evidence point to the fact that both retouched points and unretouched bladelets were hafted using an adhesive that included ochre. The weapons were mostly used to kill caprids and cervids. The TCSA, as well as the weight and morphology of the points, further suggests that the bow could possibly have been in use during seasonal hunts.