stefano viola

This article presents the first results of the planned archaeological excavations led by Prof. Marie Besse, head of the Laboratory of prehistoric archaeology and anthropology of the Department F.-A. Forel for environmental and aquatic sciences of the University of Geneva, at the Eremita Cave site between 2012 and 2015. The Eremita Cave is located in the North Italian region of Piedmont, in the heart the calcareous massif of Monte Fenera, near Borgosesia (Vercelli). The Monte Fenera is already well known for its numerous caves, many of which contain archaeological remains chronologically spanning from the Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages. This particular situation can be explained by two elements: the uniqueness of the massif from a geological perspective when compared to the rest of the area, and its strategic localisation on the southern alpine foothills, that made it a possible stopover for the people transitioning the Alps. The interest of the researchers of the Laboratory of prehistoric archaeology and anthropology was sparked by the mention of the discovery of a bone button attributed to the “età del Rame” (Copper Age) in the Eremita Cave in the late 1980s by the Gruppo Archeologico e Speleologico di Borgosesia (GASB). The first test trenches confirmed the importance of this archaeological site with the uncovering of a pin and spiralled pearls in bronze in the middle of
the cave. Further excavations began in 2013. They allowed the team to point out to two important levels. The first one being US 10, a thin silty level that contains numerous lumps of coal. The second is US 19, a level identified around 40 cm below US 10. It delivered a great amount of animal remains, mostly burned, in association with potsherds and stone blocks, and most importantly bronze finery. Four charcoal samples were sent for radiocarbon dating to Zurich (ETH), one belonging to US 10, one to US 19 in the back of the cave, and two to US 19 around the place of discovery of the pin and pearls. The results showed that US 10 is dated to the Late Bronze Age (ETH-64659, 1013-850 cal BC), and US 19 to the earliest stages of Middle Bronze Age (ETH-64657, 1767-1627 cal BC). They also confirmed that the stratigraphy of the cave was undisturbed. Culturally speaking, the shape of the pin shows affinities with the North of the Alps, while the pottery shapes display similarities with the common cultural ground of the alpine region, mostly Valais and Piedmont. Excavations are being carried on by the University of Geneva. The researchers are aiming at determining the function of the cave, mainly by studying the location of the archaeological structures and remains but also by linking the spatial distribution of potsherds to the reassembled pottery. The typological and technological analysis of the pottery assemblage should allow us to establish the cultural affiliations of the site.

Scholars who will study the historiography of the European Neolithic, more particularly with regards to the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, will observe a progressive change in the core understanding of this period. For several decades the concept of “culture” has been privileged and the adopted approach aimed to highlight the most significant markers likely to emphasise the character of a given culture and to stress its specificities, the foundations of its identity. In short, earlier research aimed primarily to highlight the differences between cultures by stressing the most distinctive features of each of them. The tendency was to differentiate, single out, and identify cultural boundaries. However, over the last few years this perspective has been universally challenged. Although regional originality and particularisms are still a focus of study, the research community is now interested in widely diffused markers, in medium-scale or large-scale circulation, and in interactions that make it possible to go beyond the traditional notion of “archaeological culture”. The networks related to raw materials or finished products are currently leading us to re-think the history of Neolithic populations on a more general and more global scale. The aim is no longer to stress differences, but on the contrary to identify what links cultures together, what reaches beyond regionalism in order to try to uncover the underlying transcultural phenomena. From culturalism, we have moved on to its deconstruction. This is indeed a complete change in perspective. This new approach certainly owes a great deal to all kinds of methods, petrographic, metal, chemical and other analyses, combined with effective tools such as the GIS systems that provide a more accurate picture of the sources, exchanges or relays used by these groups. It is also true that behind the facts observed there are social organisations involving prospectors, extractors, craftsmen, distributors, sponsors, users, and recyclers. We therefore found it appropriate to organise a session on the theme “Materials, productions, exchange networks and their impact on the societies of Neolithic Europe”.

How is it possible to identify the circulation of materials or of finished objects in Neolithic Europe, as well as the social networks involved? Several approaches exist for the researcher, and the present volume provides some examples.

This contribution aims to compare jewellery artefacts from some northern Italy archaeological sites, dated to different periods of the Copper age. Through a techno-typological and functional study that takes into account several morphometric, morphological and specific trace parameters (indicators of anthropic and/or wear activity), the methods, techniques and tools are reconstructed and compared. On the one hand, with the typological analysis, jewellery has been looked at as a cultural marker allowing to gather information (raw material, forms, and measures) on different aspects of past life, such as style, territories, and traditions. On the other hand, with the technological analysis, interpretative hypotheses are proposed based on the comparison between production traces and experimental data in order to reconstruct (in part or completely) manufacture procedures and fabrication techniques. Finally, a functional analysis enabled to distinguish wear traces from technological traces and to recognize if the object has been used or not.

This thesis aims to compare jewellery artefacts from some northern Italy archaeological sites, dated to different periods: the Copper age and Early Bronze age. Through a techno-typological and functional study that takes into account several morphometric, morphological and specific trace parameters (indicators of anthropic and/or wear activity), the methods, techniques and tools are reconstructed and compared. On the one hand, with the typological analysis, jewellery has been looked at as a cultural marker allowing to gather information (raw material, forms, and measures) on different aspects of past life, such as style, territories, and traditions. On the other hand, with the technological analysis, interpretative hypotheses are proposed based on the comparison between production traces and experimental data in order to reconstruct (in part or completely) manufacture procedures and fabrication techniques. Finally, a functional analysis enabled to distinguish wear traces from technological traces and to recognize if the object has been used or not.

The objective of our work is to conduct a techno-typological and functional study on the ornamental elements of the Boira Fusca Cave (Cuorgnè, loc. Salto-Turin, Italy). The Cave belongs to rocky spur in gneissic rocks strongly ssured on the left side of the Orco river valley (altitude 510 m). The site was investigated in the late ‘70 (Fedele excavations, 1977-1980) and consists of a chrono-cultural sequence that starts from the late Paleolithic and reaches the Modern era. Particularly during the rst periods of the Metals Age (Copper-Early Bronze Age) the cave has seen a collective sepulchral use according to a widely diused rite in the alpine area at the time.

Il contributo mira a presentare uno studio tecno-funzionale dei reperti di ornamento in “lignite” rinvenuti durante gli scavi Fedele (1977-1980) nella Grotta Boira Fusca (Cuorgnè, loc. Salto-TO) . Il sito ha restituito una sequenza crono-culturale che parte dal tardo Paleolitico e giunge sino all’epoca Moderna. In particolare durante la prima età dei Metalli (età del Rame-Bronzo Antico) la grotticella ha visto una qualche frequentazione a uso sepolcrale in accordo con un rito ampiamente diffuso in ambito alpino all’epoca. L’entità numerica degli elementi di ornamento in pietra rinvenuti durante questa fase è modesta (alcuni vaghi, microvaghi e una placchetta), non dispongono di chiari e univoci dati di scavo, però sono tipologicamente rilevanti. Lo studio tecnologico delle modalità di manifattura, fondato su una vasta base sperimentale e condotto con l’ausilio di microscopia digitale, si è concentrato sulle tecniche di perforazione e di messa in forma. Tale metodo è un approccio molto valido per individuare peculiarità culturali confrontabili con altri contesti coevi. Per ogni tipologia di elemento sono state ricostruite le principali fasi tecnologiche e sono stati messi in evidenza eventuali indicatori di utilizzo. In particolare la presenza di vaghi di ridotte dimensioni è l’aspetto più significavo del corpus studiato. Infatti, sebbene tra il Neolitico pieno e il Bronzo Antico siano abbastanza numerosi gli elementi di ornamento con microperforazioni, non esistono chiare ipotesi sulle tecniche e sugli strumenti impiegati durante l’attività di perforazione.