The re-discovery of Arma dell’Aquila (Finale Ligure, Italy): New insights on Neolithic funerary behavior from the sixth millennium BCE in the north-western Mediterranean

Sparacello, Vitale; Panelli, Chiara; Rossi, Stefano; Dori, Irene; Varalli, Alessandra; Goude, Gwénaëlle; Starnini, Elisabetta; Biagi, Paolo

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2019.02.003

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…180 AMS dates), adding to the results from other recent studies [23,24,39,40]. The results of the dating campaign are reported in detail in another paper [41], but they indicate that the skeletal remains generally attributed to the Neolithic in Liguria span the period from the earliest Neolithic human occupation in the area through to the sixth and fifth millennium BCE, and in some cases belong to the Metal Ages or to historic times.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 51%

“…[37,38]). Following the archaeological methods of the time [39], burials, and especially scattered human remains, were often excavated without keeping an accurate record of their spatial and stratigraphic positions. Probably due to the poor quality of the historic documentation, few burials were considered worthy of direct dating, and the individuals were labelled as likely/probably/possibly "Neolithic" or "Middle Neolithic" (which corresponds to the SMP culture in Liguria) depending on the material available about the associated culture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Depending on the completeness of the material, the study collected the information available on the biological profile (sex, age, pathology, osteometric and non-metric traits, dental anthropology), as well as funerary information (e.g. [39]). In addition, the study undertook complete direct dating of the Ligurian skeletal collection attributed to the Neolithic (c.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the double burial from Boragni, previously attributed to the Neolithic [42] and used in previous CSG research [30,33,43], actually dates to the Byzantine Period (1460±30 BP; 553-648 CE; Lyon-14599). The vast majority of the burials and skeletal remains fall chronologically within the period in which the Square Mouthed Pottery culture (SMP) has been attested in Liguria (c. 5000-4300 cal BCE; Table 1), with a small but significant presence of individuals belonging to an earlier phase (c. 5800-5000 BC, [39]). Thanks to direct dating, this new study was able to include individuals (complete and partial skeletons) that are certainly Neolithic, and to create subsamples based on the various chrono-cultural phases of the Neolithic in Liguria.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Insights into Activity-Related Functional Bone Adaptations and Alterations in Neolithic Liguria (Northwestern Italy)

Varalli¹,

Villotte²,

Dori³

et al. 2020

BMSAP

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This study offers a combined analysis of longbone mechanical properties (cross-sectional geometry, CSG), upper-limb enthesopathies (entheseal changes, ECs), and external auditory exostoses (EAEs) among Neolithic people from Liguria (Italy). Previous CSG studies have suggested a high degree of mobility in mountainous terrain and sexual dimorphism in the upper limbs, with males being more oriented toward unimanual activities and females performing strenuous bimanual tasks. The aims of the study were to: 1) increase the sample size of the CSG analysis via the acquisition of surface 3D models, 2) provide a solid chronological framework through direct dating in order to allow for subsampling of individuals dated to the Impresso-Cardial Complex (ICC, c. 5800–5000 BCE) and the Square-Mouthed Pottery culture (c. 5000–4300 BCE), 3) integrate the results of CSG analysis with information on ECs of the humeral epicondyles, and 4) assess possible marine activities through analysis of EAEs. Results from the CSG analysis confirmed those of previous studies, with no significant diachronic change. ECs in the humeral medial epicondyle parallelled CSG adaptations: males tended to display more changes, especially unilaterally. Only one individual from the ICC period showed bilateral EAE, suggesting that marine activities were not prevalent. This study adds to our knowledge on activity patterns in the Neolithic in Liguria, and shows that integrating structural adaptations with information from specific entheseal alterations and exostoses can improve reconstructions of past habitual activities.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 51%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Insights into Activity-Related Functional Bone Adaptations and Alterations in Neolithic Liguria (Northwestern Italy)

Varalli¹,

Villotte²,

Dori³

et al. 2020

BMSAP

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“…The AMS dates obtained for the individuals extend through most of the Neolithic and Metal Ages noted in Liguria (Table 1). One individual is chronologically contemporaneous with the ICC Neolithic (Arma dell'Aquila RS3; Sparacello et al, 2018Sparacello et al, , 2019a, two with the SMP Neolithic (Arene Candide V, and one juvenile from the scattered remains found in the zone G of Arene Candide cave), two chronologically overlap with the Copper Age at its tail end, one belongs to the Late Bronze Age, and one to the Iron Age of Liguria.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-proxy stable isotope analyses of dentine microsections reveal diachronic changes in life history adaptations, mobility, and tuberculosis-induced wasting in prehistoric Liguria (Finale Ligure, Italy, northwestern Mediterranean)

Goude

Dori

Sparacello

et al. 2020

International Journal of Paleopathology

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To reconstruct breastfeeding and weaning practices, metabolic stress including tuberculosis-induced wasting, and residential mobility of children in Neolithic and Metal Ages to infer their local ecologies. Materials: Seven permanent teeth from individuals dated to the Neolithic, Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages buried in nearby caves in western Liguria, Italy. Methods: Carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotope analyses on dentine microsections. Tooth maturation was used to calculate age at death. Results: Two Neolithic children present longer pattern of weaning and appear to have been weaned using animal protein in contrast to the earlier weaning of Metal Ages children, which were probably weaned with vegetable resources. Sulfur isotopes suggest local origin of Neolithic and Cooper Age children, and non-local origins for Bronze and Iron Age children. Intense catabolism in the last two years is apparent in the adolescent with tuberculosis. Conclusions: Shortening in weaning patterns during the Metal Ages are likely driven by the intensification of agricultural practices and cultivation of new crops during Bronze and Iron Ages. Neolithic food choices and delayed weaning patterns may represent one of the strategies to maximize growth and immune potential in a local economy/ecology with high-infectious load. Tuberculosis was a chronic and long-lasting disease. Significance: The first combined carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur analysis on prehistoric dentine microsections revealing changing human life history adaptations within the same region. Limitations: Small sample size. Suggestions for further research: Increase the sulfur isotope dataset, use new EA-IRMS equipment, and provide data on amino acid to better define weaning food composition.

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Inferences on Sicilian Mesolithic subsistence patterns from cross-sectional geometry and entheseal changes

Sparacello

Samsel

Villotte

et al. 2020

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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Using cross-sectional geometry (CSG), entheseal changes (ECs), and presence of external auditory meatus exostosis (EAE), this study tests hypothesis -bases on isotopic and zooarchaeological evidence -that in the Sicilian Mesolithic terrestrial rather than marine resources were predominantly exploited, in substantial continuity with previous Epigravettian hunters. Results show similarities in the general frequency of ECs -a rough proxy for overall activity -with Late Pleistocene hunters, in contrast with Mesolithic coastal foragers or Neolithic herders/farmers. Yet, CSG suggests that this possible continuity in the type of resources exploited was accompanied by a behavioral change, and in particular the abandonment of the throwing technology, possibly in favor of new tools such as traps and the bow and arrow. In fact, the dramatic decrease in humeral bilateral asymmetry documented at a European level with the Pleistocene-Holocene transition can be found also in the Sicilian Mesolithic. Results for the lower limb appear compatible with a certain degree of terrestrial mobility in a rugged environment. The frequency of EAE suggests that activities related to water were present but not common; however, their prominence is difficult to determine 2 given the small sample size. The pattern of information provided by the proxies for activity used here is complex and partially contrasting, but has the potential to integrate and enrich archaeological methods and biochemical approaches. This study corroborates a varied scenario of continuity and discontinuity in subsistence at the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, and highlights the importance of a regional bioarchaeological approach of human biological and behavioral adaptations.

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The re-discovery of Arma dell’Aquila (Finale Ligure, Italy): New insights on Neolithic funerary behavior from the sixth millennium BCE in the north-western Mediterranean

Cited by 15 publications

References 32 publications

New Insights into Activity-Related Functional Bone Adaptations and Alterations in Neolithic Liguria (Northwestern Italy)

New Insights into Activity-Related Functional Bone Adaptations and Alterations in Neolithic Liguria (Northwestern Italy)

Multi-proxy stable isotope analyses of dentine microsections reveal diachronic changes in life history adaptations, mobility, and tuberculosis-induced wasting in prehistoric Liguria (Finale Ligure, Italy, northwestern Mediterranean)

Inferences on Sicilian Mesolithic subsistence patterns from cross-sectional geometry and entheseal changes

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