22 Preistoria

MUSEO TRIDENTINO DI SCIENZE
NATURALI • TR1!NTO
ASSESSORATO ALLE ATTIVITA'
CULTURALI DELLA PROVINCIA
DI TRENTO
Atti
della Tavola Rotonda
Internazionale
n popolamenttt
delle Alpi
in età mesolitica
VITI -v millennio a.c.
Trento 26-29 luglio 1983
P&EI8TOB.
ALPDlA. 18 • lesa
Preistoria Alpina· Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali
VoI. 19
pagg. 245-254
Trento 1984
M. ALESSIO, L. ALLEGRI, F. BELLA, A. BROGLIO,
G. CALDERONI, C. CORTESI, S. IMPROTA, M. PREITE MARTINEZ, V. PETRONE, B. TURI
14C datings of three mesolithic series of Trento
Basin in the Adige Valley
(Vatte di Zambana, Pradestel, Romagnano)
and comparisons with mesolithic series
of other regions
ABSTRACT
Radlocarbon datmg, of samples Irom Mesolllhic deposlts ot
prehlstonc unlements near Trento. along the right slde of the
Adige Valley (Vatte di Zambana, Pradestel and Romagnano III
,heltera), are dlacusaed, The followlng chronology, in tarma of
convenllonal "C agea. la derlved lor the Important Mesolilhlc
sequellee 01 thla area: Early Sauvelerrl.n phase Industrie.:
7960 + 7400 B.C.; Mlddle Sauvelerrlan ph.se Industries:
7400 + 6660 B.C.; Recant S.uveterrian phau Indu.trles:
6660 + 6200 B.C.: Finel sauveterrlan phaae Industrie.:
6200 + 5800 B.C. The be9innlng of the early Ca.telnovlan pha. .
I. Iixed at about S800 B.C. and that of tha mlddle Ca.telnovian
phase .t about 5000 B.C.; the appearallee 01 ceramlcs associa·
ted wllh a Caatelnovlan Industry Is placed at about 4500 B.C.
Thla chronology agreea with radlometric datlng_ 01 other
depoaltl In centre-northern Italy conlalnlng Sauve,errlan and
Castelnovi.n Industriea and correaponds well to SauveterrianCUlelnovlan a&quellee. ot other regiona (East Spain. Soulh
Francai.
FlnaUy. tMi poa..bllity of dating Me80lilhic allesln tha halghl
range 1800 + 2:XIO m on the Dolomitea and on the Aurlne end
sarentine AlPI through Iypologlc correlalions with the Adige
VaUey aerlas taken as a referenee. Is brlefly dlscuased. Thls
altowa 10 auggest a model for the uae 01 the terrllory by the
Meaollthlc groupa aettled In the Adige basln.
The datlnga 01 the Me80Uthlc deposita 01 the Adige Valley
and of the morphologles showir'lg the high allltude Meaollthlc
depositi on the Alpa .llow to draw important concluslona con·
cernlng the phanomena which determlned the present morpno.
Iogy of the Adige Valley and 01 the mountaln areaa.
Marlsa Ala••io, Lucia Allagrl, Franeasco Balla, Salvatore
Improta - Dipartimento di Fisle. dall'Università di Roma .La
Sapienza •.
G1lbarto Caldaronl, Ca..rlna Cortasl, M.rla Pralta Martl·
MI!., Vincenzo Patrona, B. Turl-I8Illuto di Geochimici deUtJnlve,.llà di Roma .La SaplenzlI_' Centro di Studio per I. Geocronologia Il I. Geochimici delle Formllrionl Recenti del C N R.
AIbaf10 Br09110 - 18tlluto di Geol091a, Pa1eonlologla Il Pa·
leontologia Umana deU'Unlve,.ltà di Ferrllra.
ACKNOWlEDGMENTS
We thank Conalgl~ Nazionale delle Rtellrcha for tha ~rtial
Unsnel.t supporto We slso wlsh 10 thank our technlclana tor
thelr a..lduous and linI work: E. 01 Blaaio for ma....pectrometrlc me..urement•• B. Petrocchl for lIeUvity mell8ure·
ments. and A. Occhlgrossl for eample pre·lreatmenl.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS
1 - The right side 01 the Adige Valley, near
Trento, shows a large detrital talus genereted by
degradation of the slope in non-equilibrium conditions, Bfter the retreat of the Wurmian glacier (Barta/omei, 1974). Quarry work of the detrital materials revealed various deposits in which more or
less anthropized layers are interbedded to debris
without human evidences. The age of the anthropized deposits ls to be placed between the beginning of the Mesolithic end the Roman Era (Bagolini, '980).
From 1967 to 1975 researchers from Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali end from the Universi·
ty of Ferrara (A. Broglio, G. Bartolomei, B. Bagolini
and coworkers) carried out excavations in three
important Mesolithic series discovered in the following regions: small Vatte di Zambana shelter,
near Zambana Vecchia, at 220 m above sea level:
Pradestel shelter. near Ischia Podeui, north of
Trento, at +225 m and, finaliy, Romagnano shelter, in Loc locality, near Romagnano, at 210 m.
The study of these deposits was carried out
with the collaboration of G. Bartolomei (1974) for
geomorphology, of M. Cremaschi for sedimentology and pedology. 01 L. Callani (1977), M. Follieri
and ArI. Leroi-Gourhan for palinology and anthracology. 01 G. Bartolomei (1974), P. Boscato and B.
Sala (1980) for the study of the mammal fauna s,
01 A. Broglio. S.K. Kozlowski (1983), G. Dalmeri
and M. Lanzinger for the study of the industries.
Many Mesolithic deposits of the three series
245
were dated with the l'C method by the University
of Rome Laboratory (Alessio et el., 1969, 1978).
2 - The exaration hollow formed along the Adi·
ge River Valley between Egna·Neumarkt and Mori
having near Trento a maximum depth of 267 m
with respect to the ground plain (-74 m with re·
spect to the present sea level) (G.A. Venzo, 1978),
was invaded, after the retreat of the WOrmian gla·
cier, by a large lake basin to which many Mesoli·
thic settlements found on the two sides of the
valley (Broglio, 1980) are probably connected.
The data taken up to now in the three deposits
show the transition from a scarcely forested environment with a flora dominated by Pinus silvestris·
·montana end with stainbock prevailing among
the mammals, to an environment characterized
by deciduous oak forest, peopled with deer, roe·
bucks and wild·boars.
After an analysis of the industrie s, it is possible to recognize a continuous Mesolithic seri es
for which the following sequence of phases has
. been suggested:
a . Old Sauveterrian phase (Romagnano III AF·
-AE and probably Pradestel M)
b . Middle Sauveterrian phase (Romagnano III
AC9-AC3 and Pradestel L14-L1)
c . Recent Sauveterrian phase (Romagnano III
AC2-AC1j
d - Final Sauveterrian phase (Vatte di Zambana
10 and 7, Pradestel F)
e • Old Castelnovian phase (Romagnano 111 AB12, possibly Pradestel E)
f - Middle Castelnovian phase (Pradestel D)
9 - Recent Castelnovian phase (Romagnano III
AA and probably Pradestel Al in which cera·
mics fragments appear for the first time.
"C DATINGS: TECHNIQUE ANO TREATMENT
OF DATA
A profitable collaboration, begun in 1968 bet·
ween the l'C laboratory of the University of Rome
and the Istituto di Geologia, Paleontologia e Paleontologia Umana of the University of Ferrara, in
particular with A. Broglio and coworkers, has led
to the accomplishment of a series of datings defi·
ning the chronology of the Mesolithic sequences
(Sauveterrian and Castelnovian in particular) of
three well known deposits in the Adige Valley and
has allowed comparisons with analogous series
of other settlements in the Italian terrltory, also
extensible to Europe.
The samples to be dated consisted of char·
246
coal, carefully collected and often pertainlng to
units identifiable as haarths; being always related
whith certainty to archaeologie findings, these
samples were extremely reliable as for their cultu·
ral identity. In very few cases the semples were
charred bones, equally reliable.
Almost ali the samples were provided in large
quantities; the following subsequent operations
were thus possible:
a) careful selection of the samples;
b) adequate decontamination from possible
foreign carbon by means of the usual, and by now
standard, acid·basic treatment, which was conve·
niently carried out;
cl transformation into C0 1 suitable for da·
tlngs, i.e. containing neither the so-called Kelectro·
negative impurities» nor radon-222. This last ope·
ration was performed by means of an inltial combustion in an oxigen current followed by a sequence of purification operations in a suitable apparatus in which both the last circuit and the flnal gas
storage section are directly connected to the COt
proportional counters. These counters measure
the residual l'C activity which is then used to cal·
culate the age ot the sample (Alessio et al., 1970).
In our laboratory, every sample is measured in
two different counters and the results are avera·
ged after correcting according to the mass-spec·
trometrically measureq.'3C/'·C ratio (Alessio et
al., 1969).
To be consistent with «Radlocarbon», the con·
ventional lO C ages were calculated on the basis of
the Libby's hall-lite of 5568±30 years and given
both in years before present (S.P.), with 1950 as
the standard year for reference, and in the corresponding calendar years, I.e., in our case, before
Christ (S.C.).
The problem then existed of estabHshing whe·
ther it was convenient, for a discussion and for
comparisons of the obtained Mesolithic chronologies, to calibrate, when possible, the conventional
ages, transforming them into «true ages». In fact.
as is well known, the discrepancies existlng betwen conventional IOC and true ages, evidentiated
dur;ng the 19605, are corrected by means of curo
ves and tables giving the correspondence bet·
ween l'C and absolute dendrochronologlc ages.
These curves and tables ha ve been available,
though not definitive, since the 1970s (Ralph, Mi·
chael, Han, 1973,' Klein, Lerman. Demon, Rslph,
1982). Up to now this calibration is only possible
for ages not oldar than about 7500 years before
presento Therefore, in our case, this calibration
would be only possible for a very small number of
quite recent dates present in very few Mesolithic
series. Far this rea san we considered it correct
not carry out this operation, basing ali considerations and camparisons on conventional '·C ages
only.
•
and silt, the lawest level also including a burial
(CarrBin, Graziati and Leonareii, 196n.
Pallen enelysis of the deposi t carresponding
to cut 8 shaws the presence of thermoPoilic mixed aak forest together with Gramineae and Artemisia (Catrani, 19m. Arvicola, inhebitant of the
Adige alluvial planes, is abundant among micromammals; Apodemus from herbaceous and farested environment, and Crocidura mimu/s, dweller
or arid stony regions, are frequent (Bart%mei,
'974). Hunt mammals are: deer, chamois, stainbock, beaver, brown bear and wild cat (Boscate
and Sala, 1980). Fresh water mollusks, fen turtle,
birds and fish are also present among food
refuse.
The industries of cuts 10 and 7 represent the
final phase of the Sauveterrian serìes, though 50me doubts exist concerning cut 7 in which scarce
artefacts were faund. The artefacts collected in
situ in cuts 5 and 3-2 are too few to allow a diagnosis; however, fragments of a tool, probably testitying a trapeze industry (Broglio. 1971, p. 150, fig.
7/B) were also identified among the artefacts collected by sifting the mould left behind after the
first excavations and probably coming from cuts 7
and 5.
'·C datings piace Vatte di Zambana series in
the Vlth millennium B.C. (Alessio et al.. 1969).
.........,
..... a
.....
Fig. 1 • Sehematle seetlon of the MeBoUthle deposlts of V.tte di
Zamb.na 8helter In whieh radlometrie dallng8 are Indlealed .•
D'8hed area8 corre8pond to 8lrongl)' anthroplzed depo8118 (G.
Bar1olomei's aUf'lleys).
.....,
...... a
...... a
THE DEPOSITS: CONSIDERATIONS ON "C
DATINGS
1 . Vatte di Zambana shelter. 12 km north of
Trento, near the confluence af Noce river with
Adige river, at +220 m, an old quarry almost comptetely remaved a debris cone which was hidding,
under about 20 m of deposits at about 20 m abave
the present valley bottom, a small shelter. The
anthropic deposits af this shelter, dismantled far
the most part by the amateur group wha discavered them in 1967, were excavated in 1968 by G.
Bartolomei and A. Broglio. Four levels of human
settlement (cuts 2-3, 5, 7 and 10) were interbedded along a thickness of about 2.5 m of debris
....,
R-49la
cuts 2-3
7250±110 S.P.
5XlO±110 B.C.
eut 5
7'540±
eut 5
7585± 7S B,P.
5636± 75 B.C.
cut 7
7880± 75 B.P.
5910± 75 s.e.
CUI 7
7810± 95 B,P.
5800± 95 B.C,
CUI IO
7880±110 B,P.
5910± 110 B.C.
cui 10
7!BJ± 100 B.P.
7S B.P.
6690± 7S B.C,
elJ10±100 B.C.
Cui 10
(burlai)
scm±110 e.p.
6IJj()±110 B.C.
cut IO
(burlel)
n40±l50 e.p.
57'IIO±150 B.C.
2 - Pradestel shelter. 6 km North of Trento, in
Ischia Podetti locality, quarry, work deeply impalo
red two large adjacent debris cones revealing, bet·
ween them, a small rack shelter at 225 m. Un·
der this shelter detrital and silty deposits are interbedded to anthropized levels 810ng a thickness of
abeut 5 m. Research, begun by B. Bagolini in
1973-74, was subsequently carried aut by A. Broglio, G. Bartolomei, C. Peretto, L. Cattan! and B,
Sala in 1975.
247
The Predestel series is very long and seems to
cover the same period of the Mesolithic series of
Romagnano III; sorT\e phases, however, appear in
considerably different ways. The deposits consist
of deQris and fine sediments llayers L4, l, El (Bart%mei, 1974: Ca Nani, 1977; Boscata end Sa/a,
1980).
z
<
~z
most recent cuts of this complex have been dated
with the '·C method with the following result:
R-1151
Prade't~,
L7, L'C. L8
In lhe upper culs of.the L layer (L6-l1), as well
as in cuts I and H, Pine tree decreases abruptly
giving piace to a thermophilic deciduous oak forest. There is a strong decrease in Microtus nivalis among the micromammals and in stainbock
among the macromammals. The industries are to
be considered as pertaining to the middle and recent phases of the Sauveterrian sequence. Char·
coals from the upper cut of layer L and from layer
H have bean dated:
R·l150
R-1149
Prade81el, L1
8240±200 B.P.
B290±200 B.C.
Predeltel. H-H2
8200±
~
w
~
'<u"
9320± 50 BP.
7370± 50 B.C.
50 B.P.
6250± 50 B.C.
The vegetation maintains the same characteristics in the upper layer G, F and E. Deer strongly
prevails among hunt mammals, followed by roebuck end boar; stainbock is stili present, though
with few specimens. Industries of F layer are enributable to the final Sauveterrian phase; those of
layer E, instead, represent the old Castelnovian
phase.
Granules in the upper debris were too scarce
to allow a pollen analysis of these layers. Remains of hunt mammals penain to deer, roe-buck
end stainbock. The industries of the O layer represent the middle phese of the Castelnovlan sequence; this layer has been dated as follows:
R-II4S
Prede'tel, OI.()3
6870.t 50 BP.
50 B.C.
4920±
Fig. 2 . SChematic aectlon 01 tM Mesollthlc depOsita of Prad.
atei ahelter and radiometric datillQ' (G. Banolomel', ,urvey.).
Layer A, containing very few founds end in
which ceramics of early Neolithic appears, close
the Pradestel series. Remains of beaver are present throughout this series; there are also remains of fish and fresh-water mollusks in the lower part end of birds in the upper parto
The lowest layer M, consisting of fine rubble
end sU t, end scarcely anthroplzed, shows a flora
association with Pinus si/vestris montana dominant. The few artefacts recall the old Seuveter·
rian phase of Romagnano III.
The upper layer L, subdivided into 16 cuts
(116-11 l, shows in ils lower part (l16-L7) Pinu.
together with scarce thermophilic trees. The following micromammals are present: dormouse,
squirrel, Arvico/a, Apodemus end Microtus nivalis. The macromammals are: deer and stainbock.
The industries of this cuts are attributable to the
middle Sauveterrian phase. Charcoals from the
3 - Romagnano III shelter. Various prehistorical sites have been identified on the eone of Rio
Bondone, right tributary of Adige river, in locality
Loc of Romagnano, 12 km South of Trento. The
deposit of Romagnano 111 is situated at the top of
the eone, near the right bank of Rio Bondone, under a small rocky wall. Oeposits have been discovered along a thickness of 8 m. which pertain to
the following periods: Mesolithic (Iayers AF, AE,
AC, AB and AA), Lower Neolilhic (Iayers T3-T4),
Middle Neolilhic (Iayers T2-Tl), Upper Neolithic
(Iayers R-Ql, 8ronze Age (Iayers P, 0, N, MI, Final
Bronze Age (iayers L-I) end Iron Age (Iayer H)
(Perinl, 1971,' Broglio, 1971). R. Perini carried out
248
Remains of turtle, birds, fish and fresh-water
mollusks are present throughout the series.
The sequence of the Mesolithic industries (Broglio and S.K. Kozlowski, 1983) is among the most
complete end rich in Europe. Its common tools
testify the persistence of a local tradition, while
the microllths sllow the identification of various
phases within tha seri es. namely: old Sauveterrian phase in layers AF and AE; middle Sauveter·
rian phase in layers AC8-AC3; recent Sauveterrisn phase in leyers AC2-AC1; Castelnovian phase
in layers AB1-2; final Castelnovian phase. in
which ceramics is present for the first time, in
layer AA.
"C datings of the series of Mesolithic lndustries are the following:
.) Old Seuveterrlen phe. .
Fig. 3· Schemotlc sectlon of the Mesollthic end Eerly Neollthlc
depo"lls of Romegnano III shelter wlth radiometnc dating".
excavations of the more recent among the sbava
mentioned deposits in 1970, while A. Broglio, G.
Bartolomei, P. Biagi, A. Guerreschi, C. Peretto and
B. Sala excavatad the Mesolithic ones in 1971-73.
The sedimentologic and palinologic study of
tha Mesolithic deposits is being carried out by M.
Cremaschi, M. Follieri and ArI. leroi-Gourhan; micromammals (Bart%mei, 1974) and hunt mammais (Boscata and Sa/a, 1980) have been identified; in addition to that, the important seri es of
industries has been studied (Broglio end S.K. Koz·
lowski, /983).
The Mesolithic deposits consist mainly of debris with abundant anthropic remains (layers AF,
AE, AC, AB en AA) with an alluvial deposit inserted (Iayer AD).
Micromammals (Bart%mei, 1974) in the lower
layers (AE and AC) are represented by Arvicola,
Apodemus, Sciurus, Evotomys and Microtus nivalis. In the upper layers (AB and AA) the M;cro/us
nivalis is replaced by Crocidura. These associations testify a morphologicelly differentiated environment with a wet forested valley f100r and 510.
pes of arid-mauntain climate in tha first phase
and arid-warm climate in tha secand phase.
At first (layers AF end AE), among hunt mam·
mais (Boscata and Sa/a, 1980) stainback strongly
prevails aver deer. roe-buck and boar; than it pro.
gressively decreases (Iayers AC and AB) and finally dlsappears (Iayer AA) whlle deer and roebuck increasa. Chamois is always present in thase layers; in the upper layers one can also find
wild cat, marten and fox.
R-H·n
Romagnano 111 AF
9830± 90 S.P.
90 B.C.
R·lI46B
Romagnano III AE
9490± 90 B.P.
7540± 90 B.C.
R·l146 a
Romagnano 111 AE 1-6
9420± 60 B.P.
7470± 90 B.C.
Romagnano III AEl-4
9680±250 B.P.
76:l)±250 B.C.
78110±
bI Mlddle Seuv.terrlan phu.
eo S.P.
R·1l45 a
Romagnano III AC8-9
R-1146
Romagnano III AC8-9
9200± 90 B.P.
7250± 90 B.C.
Romagnano III AC7
9tClO± 90 B.P.
7150± 90 B.C.
R-I143 a
Romagnano III AC5-6
90901
R-ll42
Romagnano III ACI
8740± 90 S.P.
6790± 90 B.C.
R·1141
RomagnaF'lO 111 AC3
8590± 90 S.P.
e640± 90 B.C.
R·lloM
O'
9200±
7250± eo S.C.
90 S.P.
7l40.± 90 B.C.
cl Ree.nt Seuv.t.rrlen phu.
R-l140
Romagnano III AC2
R·l139
Romagnano III ACl
8580± 70 B.P.
8610± 70 S.C.
823>± 70 S.P.
6270±
70 S.C.
dI Depoell wlth reworked Seuveterrlan end Cu'elnovl.n In·
du.trle.
R·II38
Romagnano III AB3
8140± IlO B.P.
BI90± IlO S.C.
al ald ea.telnovlen phe. .
R·1137
Romagnano III AB1·2
7860± 60 B.P.
60 B.C.
R·1137A
Romagnano III ABH
7SOO±IOO S.P.
5650±I60 B.C.
R-I1378
Romagnano III ASl-2
78CC± IlO SP.
5860± 90 S_C.
5900±
tI Reeent Cutelnovlen phe. . In whlch ceramiCI appeen
R-ll36
Romagnano III AA1·2
64B0± 50 S.P.
~± 50 S.C.
249
Fig. 4 • Oistribulton 01 the final Epigravenian, Mesolithic end Earl)' NeoIithlc depositi of centre.nonh ltal)' (Ielving out Uguria)
radiometriClUy dated between 9000 end 4000 B.C. 1: etelami cave; Zingari cave; 3: 8enuul cave; 4; Verdi di Pradis Clv.S: 5: Fagnigola; 6: CoIbrlCon: 7: Vatta di Zambana ahelter; 8: Predettel atlelter; 9: Romagnano III ahelter; lO: Gaban ahelter; 11: Tagriente
ehGlter; 12: Covolonl del Brolon IInle cave; 13: Vho di Piadena; 14: 8801048ttO Alto; 15: Passo delle Comunella: 16; Isole $enta;
17: Sarteano; 18: Ripeblanca di Monterado; 19; Prete cave; 20: Ferrovia cave; 21: Maddalena di Muccia; 22: P.schlo Renaro;
23: Blane .heller.
CONCLUSION
1 • The Mesolithic series represented in tha
three deposits of Trento is certainly one of tha
most important in Europe. From tha numerous ra·
diometrle datings il follows that lt8 duration is
over 3000 years, with tha following subdivision of
tha evolution phases, only taking loto account tha
conventional dates:
a) Old Sauveterrian phase
about 7950 - 7400 B.C.
b) Middle Sauveterrian phase
about 7400 - 6550 B.C.
c) Recent Sauveterrian phase
about 6550 - 6200 B.C.
d) Final Sauveterrian phase
about 6200 - 5800 B.C.
e) Old Castelnovian phase
aboul 5800 B.C.
f) Middla Castelnovian phasa
around 5000 B.C.
g) Reca"t Castelnovian phase
around 4500 B.C.
A comparisoo of the radiometric datings of tha
three deposits has confirmed tha carrelatioo between industries performed on tha basis of technical, typologic end typometric crilaria, and has effectively contributed to establishing that the industry of layer AB3 of Romagnano III, previously
considered a transition industry between Sauveterrian and Castelnovian, is, in reality, nonhomogenaouo (Broglio and S.K. Koz/owski, 1983).
2 - The datings of the three series of Trentina
are confirmed by many Mesolithic anthropic deposits in centre-nòrth Italy, so confirming the validity
of the chronologic picture of the Mesolithic in the
Trento basin, as well as its applicability to the
whole area. A review of the conventional 14C datings measured far the following deposits is now
given:
TRENTINO - ALTO ADIGE
Colbricon. The industry of site 1 typologically
represents a period of transition from the old to
the middle Sauveternan phase defined in the Trento basino The '·C dating R-895a, 9370±130 e.p.
(7420±130 B.C.) is in perfect agreement with this
diagnosis.
a)
b)
VENETO
Covolonl del Broion lIttle ceve. The industry is
referable to the Castelnovian, but, for lack of Implements and of microliths, a better definition is
impossible on topological basis. The radiocarbon
dating R-892, 6930:!:60 B.P. (4960:!:60 B.C.) suggests its attribution to tha middle Castelnovian
phase.
FRIULI- VENEZIA GIULIA
Zingari Cave. The industry Is probably referable to the Sauveterrian, but a more precise diagnosis is impossible far lack of findings. The '·C dating 01 eut 7: R-971 a, 9570:!:80 B.P. (7620:!:80 B.C.)
suggests the presence of an industry pertaining
to the old Sauveterrian phase.
c)
Benussi cave seri es. The Mesolithic series of
this site subdivided into four artificial cuts (3-6),
falls, typologically, between the recent Sauveterrian end the middle Castelnovian:
Cealelnovian Me80llthlc Induatry
R·l043
Benussl Cut 3
1(6)± 00 D.P.
5100± 60 D.C.
Castelnovl,n Mesolllhlc InduSlry
R·l042
Denussl Cuta 3-4
Castelnov;an Me80llthlc Induetry
R·l044
Denussl Cut 4
Recent Sauveterrlan pheae lnduatry
R-l045
Benu•• 1 Cut 5
Reeent Sauveterrlen phese lndultty
R·1045A
Benunl Cuti ~
72OO±140 D.P.
528:)±140 D.C.
7620± 150 D.P.
6670± 150 D.C.
83EIO± 60 D.P.
6430± 00 D.C.
8600± 70 D.P.
6700± 70 D.C.
The dating of the samples coming from cuts 6
and 5: R-l045A, 6700:!:70 B.C., seems lo be a linle
older than one could expect: the other two da·
tings are in agreement with the diagnoses of the
industries.
Ciclamini cave. Although poor, this industry
can be attributed to the recent Sauveterrian phase. The dating confirms this diagnosis: R-l041, Ciclamini Cut 9, B280:!:50 B.P. (6310:!:60 B.C.).
d)
EMILIA - ROMAGNA
Bagioletto Alto and Passo della Comunella.
The datings of the two sites in the Tuscany and
Emilia Appennines. with Castelnovian industries,
are in agreement with the respective diagnosis.
Bagioletto Alto.
1-12520
1-12e8'7
DA. q9
7630±120 S.P.
5680±120 D.C.
BA q3+q8
167O±120 D.P.
5720±120 B.C.
(Cremaschi et al., in press).
Passo della Comunella
Slrm-830
P.C.
69110±13) D.P.
5010±13) B.C.
(Biagi et al., 1960).
TUSCANY
Isola Santa serles (8i8gi et al., 1980)
CUIs 4a lo 4e; R-1525a, 7380:!:130 B.P.
(5430±130 B.C.);
R-1526 a, (I BB40:!:120 B.P.
(6B90:!:120 B.C.); R-1527 a, B590:!:90 B.P. (BB40:!:90
B.C.); R-1526 a , B780:!:11O B.P. (6830:!:110 B.C.);
R.1529 a, 9220:!:90 B.P. (7270:!:90 B.C.); Cut 5: R1524, 10720±140 B.P. (B770:!:140 B.C.I.
e)
251
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Fig. 6 • Chronology of me Finili Eplgr8vettlan Meaolithlc and Earl)' Neolithic deposita In centre-norm ltaly (Ieaving oot Liguria)
radlometrically dated between 9000 Ind 4000 B.C.
The industry of layer 5 pertains to the final
ltalic Epigravettian; this diagnosis perfectly
agrees with the dating, which attributes it to a
final period of the late glacial Wurmian. The industries of the five cuts of layer 4 (4e, 4d, 4c, 4b end
4a) represent, on the contrary, e Mesolithic series
tightly related to the one of Trento basino The indu·
stry of cut 4e, dated 7470±90 B.C., is very similar
to the coeva I Romagnano III AE industry, especialIy es far es the microliths are concerned. The indu·
stries of the upper cuts correspond to the middle
end final phases of the Sauveterrian sequence
and to the beginning of the Castelnovian, in egreement with the radiometric datings.
252
The Italian Mesolithic Seuveterrian end Castel·
novian industries have so found a precise chronologic arrangement. In our opinion, also the date
R-341, 8560.!80 B.P., relative to the Sauveterroid
industry of Blanc shelter (A. Broglio's lntervention
on A. Bietti's communication, 1984) has now found
an explanation. On the contrary, the problem of
the persistence of final Italian Epigravettian industries in the Vllth millennium B.C. along Campania
and Liguria coasts IS stili an open one; this persi·
stence has been establlshed on the basis of some
'AC
datings, though recent Mesolithic findings
(Broglio, 1980) seem to contradict this view, at
least as far as Liguria is concerned.
Particularly interesting among the possible
comparisons of datings referring to Mesolithic deposits of the Sauveterrian and western Castelnovia n areas (Delibrias et al., 1976) are: a) compari·
sons with Rouffignae series (GrN·2913; GrN-2895;
GrN·2880; GrN·5513; GrN·5514) whose industries,
though pertaining to a different facies, share with
Romagnano industries backed bl"ades of Routti·
gnac type; b) eomparisons with recent Sauveter·
rian and Castelnovian facies of Provence (Montclusien and Castelnovien aeeording to M. Esca·
lon de Fonton, 1976) showing a striet similarity
with coeval ltalie faeies.
An extension of these comparisons to uC da·
tings referring to the European Mesolithie (S.K.
Koz/owski, 1976) shows the great technologie tra nsformation of the industries, connected to the introduction of trapezes between microliths, in the
Italie Sauveterrian region, at the beginning of the
Atlantic.
Finally, R-l136 dating, referring to layer AA of
Romagnano III allows the determination of the be·
ginning of the Neolithie in the Adige basin in
terms of "C chronology.
3 . The datings of the three Trentine deposits
also allow to establish a chronology, stili in terms
of conventional uC datings, of the phenomena
which, in the Trento basin, indicate climatic modi·
fications of Preboreal, Boreal and Atlantic; in particular, they allow the determinatlon of the age of
the rise of temperate environment vegetation and
of the fauna typlcal of broad·leafed tree forests,
so contributing strongly to the present knowledge
in this field.
Finally, using the datings of the three Trentine
deposits, and correlating tha technical, typologic,
typometric end structural characteristics of the in·
dustries, it is possible to establish a chronology
for tha Mesolithic industries found in various Dolomitic sites at + 1900-23OQ m (Bagolin;, Broglio end
Lunz, 1983). The validity òf this correlation is con·
firmed by date R-895, 9370±130 a.p., referring to
site l of Colbricon, The presence of settlements
of Mesolithic hunters on the Oolomites in the Pre·
boreal and Borea I ages suggests that, since the
very baginning of the Olocene, the alpine prairie
had reached the height range relative to these
findings; this mey be consistent with a chronology
of the stadial moraine arcs of the Dolomites area
different from the traditional one and similer to
that recently proposed for the north side of the
Alps (Andersen, 1981; Zoller, 1977) and confirmed
by the pollen analysls series of the Sarentinl
mountains (Se;wald, 1980),
RIASSUNTO
Gli AutOfI commen~no le dalazlonl radìametrlche ottanute
col metodo del cerbonio 14 da campioni provenienti dai d.positi
mqoIlllcl di tre giacimenti preistor,cI che ai trovano nel dintorni
di Trento, lungo Il tì.rlC:O destro della Vali. dell'Adige (ri~ri di
Vatte di Z.mbana, Pradeslel. Romagn.no III). Le dat.zlonl con·
sentono di Inqu.dr.re cronologlc.mente l"importante sequenu
mesolltlca dell'.r.., collocando tra 7960 e 7400 anni a.C, (In ter·
mini di cronologia del carbonio 14 non calibrat.) le IndUSlrle
dell. fase uuvetarrl.n••ntlca, Ira 7400 e e660 .nnl a.C. le induIlrl. dell. fase a.uveterri.n. medi., tra e660 e 6200 .nnl a.C. le
Industrie dell. fas. sauvelerrl.n. recente, tra 6200 e 5IlOO .nnl
•.C. le indullrie delta fase s.uveterrlen. finale, fiss.ndo .ttorno
a 5800 .nni a.C. l'Inizio delle fase castelnovi.na an!lca, .ttorno a
5CXXl anni •.C.la fase cestelnovian. media e altorno a 4500 anni
•.C. le comparsa della cer.mica .ssocl.ta ad un. industria c.·
.telnovlan•.
Questo qu.dro cronologico In .ccordo con le datazioni radiometrlçhe di .Itrl depositi dell'ltali. centro-settenttion.le conte:
nenti Industrie sauveterrl.ne e c.stelnovtane, trova confront'
nelle sequense uuvetemane<astelno...lane di altre aree (L....
.... nl. Spagnolo, Francia Meridionale).
Gli Autori acc.nnano Infine ali. pOs.ibilitll di datare, attr.v.reo corr.lazionl tlpok)glçhe con la sequenza della Valle dell'Adige, aasunta come rif.rimento, I siti mesolitlcl posti tra 1800
e ZJJO m di .Itezza sulle Dolomiti e sull. Alpi Aurine e serenti·
ne. Ciò consente di proporre un modello della gestlon. del terri·
torio attu.ta dai gf\Jppi mesolltlcl Insedl.ti nel bacino del·
l'Adige,
Le d.tazionl dei depolliti mescHlicl della Valle dell'Adige e
delle morfologle che ospllano d.poslti mesollticl di .lla quota
sulle Alpi permettono di tr.rre imponantl conclusioni lull'etè
del fenomeni che hanno delermlnato l'attuale .ssetto morfologl.
co della Valle dell'Adige e delle aree montane.
RItSUMIt
Les aut.urs cammentent l.a datatlona obtenuell per la m.
lhOde du c.rbone-l4 è ~rtlr d'6chantillonll provenant d.. d.
pOta m6110IIthiquea de troia glsemenll pr6hlllloriquell qui se
trouvent .ux envlrons de Trenta, le long du flarlC: droil de la
Vall6e de l'Adige (Abri de Vatte da Z.mb.na, Prade.lel et Romagnano III), Le. d.tatlona permenent d'encadrer chronologlquement la lléquence m6so1ithlque Imponente de I. zone, en fai·
Il.nt remonler lell industrles de la phase s.uveterrieno. ancl.n·
ne entra 7960 et 7400 .nll ....J.C. (en lerme de chronologle du
carbonel4 non c.llbré.), leslndustriea de 1. phese sauveterrien·
ne moyenM .ntra 7400 et 6660 ana .vJ,C" les Industrie. da le
phase sauveterrlenoe récente enlre S660 et 6200 ana .vJ.C" leI
Industrlea de la ph.se ssuv.terrlenne fln.le entre 6200 et 5800
ans .vJ.C.; en flx.nt aux envlrons de 5IlOO .na avJ.C. le début
de la phase cestelnovienn. arlC:lenn., aUle .nvirone da 5CXXl.ne
avJ.C. I. ph... c8stelnovlenna moy.nne et .ux envlrona de
4500 .ns .vJ.C. l'.pparition de la ceremlque associ" è une
Indultrle c.stelnovlenne.
Ce eadre chronologlque est .n aceord ....ec lea datationa
radiometrique. d'autrall d6pOII de l'I~li. Centre-5eptenlrion••
Ie.t d'autr•• zone. (Le...ant Eapagnol, France m'rldlon.le) centenant de. Industrie. sau...eterrlenn••<ast.lnovlenne•.
L.a .uteura p.rlent enfin de I. po,sibill16 de d.ter le. sit..
mesolilhique••l1u6s entre urlO.t ZJJO m d'aI1Jtud. aur I. 0040mitea et .ur I•• Alpes Aurine .t serentlne et ceci au moyen de
corrélalion. typologlqu•• avec I••équence de I. Vali" del'Adige, conaideree comma donn" d. référ.nce. Cel. permet d.
proposer un modete de I. geaUon du terrilolre pratlqu6e p.r les
groupe. mé.ollthlquell Inlt.l1's d.nll le b.ssin da l'Adige.
Lea det.tlonl de. dépOl. mé.ol1thlque. de 1. V.lle. de l'Adige et dea morphologies qui présenlent des dopOtI mesolithl·
ques Ili une altltude élevée sur les Alpes, permettent de tlrer
dea conclusions Impon.nl.' concernantl'Age dell phénom'ne,
qui ont déterminé la dllpolltlon morphologlque .ctuelle de I.
V.llée de l'Adige 8t dea zonea monlagneuae•.
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