Archaeometric research on the Early Neolithic pottery production in Liguria (Northern Italy): preliminary data from San Sebastiano di Perti (Savona)

Abstract

he Early Neolithic site of San Sebastiano di Perti is the only open-air site of the Impressed Ware Culture so far discovered in Liguria. It is located in the Finalese area, on a river terrace along the Pora Valley. One radiocarbon AMS date of 6760±45 BP (GrA-25715) was obtained from two caryopsis of Hordeum vulgare. he ceramic assemblage consists of 123 potsherds mainly decorated with impressions from Cardium shell and with implements; six representative samples have been submitted for thin-section analyses. he petrographic characteristics of the inclusions are consistent with those of the acid metavolcanites and metasediments of the Permo-Carboniferous basement and of the Miocenic limestones outcropping in the area. A local production and the use of raw materials of luvial origin (from the Pora River) can be hypothesised. he San Sebastiano production difers in textural, compositional and technical features from other ceramic contexts of neighbouring cave sites of the same chronology and Culture studied so far. In particular, it is important to point out the absence at San Sebastiano of fabrics with crushed calcite temper, that are on the contrary frequent, for instance, at the Arene Candide Cave.

Archaeometric analyses of Early and Middle Neolithic pottery from the Pian del Ciliegio rock shelter (Finale Ligure, NW Italy)

“…However, only in few cases a very local production can be hypothesised: in particular, 8058 (IW2.1), as well as 7988 (SMP3), shows similarity with the clay sample 5741. Fabrics rich in metamorphic temper and sparry calcitefree characterise the Impressed ware of the open-air site of San Sebastiano di Perti (Capelli et al, 2006c), but they are not completely similar to those of Pian del Ciliegio.…”

“…According to both the absolute chronology (Table 1) and the typology of artefacts, the period of habitation of the shelter lasted some centuries, corresponding to the very beginning of the Square-Mouthed Pottery Culture and the development of its fi rst phase (Biagi, 1972). Th erefore, it is possible to shed light both on the Figure 1: Geological sketch map of the Finalese area with the location of the Pian del Ciliegio rock shelter and some other important prehistoric sites known in the area (modifi ed from Capelli et al, 2006c). origin of this Culture and the transition phase between the Early and Middle Neolithic in the region.…”

Modelling the earliest north-western dispersal of Mediterranean Impressed Wares: new dates and Bayesian chronological model

“…At San Sebastiano di Perti (western Liguria) in 1992, a deposit preserved on a small terrace produced a sherd set that included diverse types of Impressed wares and charred seeds (Biagi, Starnini 2016;Capelli et al 2006;Starnini, Vicino 1993). From this unique layer, three SLS-dates are to be considered as distinct events clustered in a single generic set.…”

The beginning of the Neolithic in the Po Plain (northern Italy): Problems and perspectives

“…1), a complex territory whose landscape is rough, mountainous, deeply incised by short torrents, whose Neolithisation process is attributable to a Tyrrhenian aspect of the Impressed Ware culture (Biagi and Starnini, 2016a). Open air sites did undoubtedly exist also in this region, as shown by a few clues, though in fact they are at present elusive (Starnini and Vicino, 1993;Capelli et al, 2007). This complex territory is affected by Holocene sea-level changes, strong erosion of the slopes caused by repeated deforestation, and consequent alluvium/colluvium accumulation along the valley bottoms.…”