Grotta Torre dell’Alto (GTA) is one of the most important caves among the numerous Pleistocene sites located in the Mesozoic limestone along the Neretina coast (Nardò-LE), excavated between 1961 and 1967.“Museo della Preistoria di Nardò” started a project to reconstruct the evolutive dynamics of this coast and the organisation of prehistorical groups, reviewing stratigraphic series, faunal fossils and lithic tools of GTA.A selection of 186 chert artefacts was analysed with a non-destructive multiparametric protocol (NM-PCI), based on petrographical, micropaleontological and chemical variables. The obtained data were compared to those of geological chert from Porto Selvaggio (Nardò), Bradanic through, Tavoliere plain, Murge and Gargano promontory, obtained with the same protocol.The lithological variety observed in the three archaeological levels of GTA investigated points to different source areas. The high frequency of silicified calcarenites and calcilutites and the scarce presence of radiolarites and nodular chert among artefacts correlates with the lithologies present in the Bradano and Tavoliere plains, both fed by sediments from the outer units of the Southern Apennine belt. Two tools were made with nodular chert compatible with the lithotypes in the terraced deposits of the Gulf of Manfredonia (FG).In summary, all the lithologies identified in the lithic industries certainly come from secondary deposits that are no less than 120 km away. Moreover, raw material data indicates a low-selective use of resources to produce tools, but suggests that Neanderthals’ territory was a considerable area and points to the scale of their mobility. NM-PCI protocol proved to be an accurate and useful tool to obtain a consistent dataset on archaeological and geological chert easily expandable on a large sample population to make the reconstruction of the alternated mobility models during this phase more detailed and reliable.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF ARCHAEOMETRY TO RECONSTRUCT HUMAN MOBILITY DURING THE PALAEOLITHIC OF PORTOSELVAGGIO (NARDÒ-LE)
Eramo, Giacomo;Monno, Alessandro;Tempesta, Gioacchino;Fioretti, Giovanna;
2022-01-01
Abstract
Grotta Torre dell’Alto (GTA) is one of the most important caves among the numerous Pleistocene sites located in the Mesozoic limestone along the Neretina coast (Nardò-LE), excavated between 1961 and 1967.“Museo della Preistoria di Nardò” started a project to reconstruct the evolutive dynamics of this coast and the organisation of prehistorical groups, reviewing stratigraphic series, faunal fossils and lithic tools of GTA.A selection of 186 chert artefacts was analysed with a non-destructive multiparametric protocol (NM-PCI), based on petrographical, micropaleontological and chemical variables. The obtained data were compared to those of geological chert from Porto Selvaggio (Nardò), Bradanic through, Tavoliere plain, Murge and Gargano promontory, obtained with the same protocol.The lithological variety observed in the three archaeological levels of GTA investigated points to different source areas. The high frequency of silicified calcarenites and calcilutites and the scarce presence of radiolarites and nodular chert among artefacts correlates with the lithologies present in the Bradano and Tavoliere plains, both fed by sediments from the outer units of the Southern Apennine belt. Two tools were made with nodular chert compatible with the lithotypes in the terraced deposits of the Gulf of Manfredonia (FG).In summary, all the lithologies identified in the lithic industries certainly come from secondary deposits that are no less than 120 km away. Moreover, raw material data indicates a low-selective use of resources to produce tools, but suggests that Neanderthals’ territory was a considerable area and points to the scale of their mobility. NM-PCI protocol proved to be an accurate and useful tool to obtain a consistent dataset on archaeological and geological chert easily expandable on a large sample population to make the reconstruction of the alternated mobility models during this phase more detailed and reliable.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
