Grooved stone tools from Calabria region (Italy): Archaeological evidence and research perspectives

Abstract

Abstract:Since the end of the 19 th century the Calabria region in southern Italy has been known for an abundance of grooved stone axes and hammers used during late prehistory. These artefacts are characterized by a wide and often pronounced groove in the middle of the implement, thought to have aided securing the head to a wooden haft. Their widespread presence is known both in prehistoric archaeological literature and in the archaeological collections of various regional and extra-regional museums. At first, scholars did not relate these tools to the rich Calabrian ore deposits and to possible ancient mining activities; they were regarded simply as a variant of ground lithic industry of Neolithic tradition. However, between 1997 and 2012, about 50 tools were discovered in the prehistoric mine of Grotta della Monaca in northern Calabria where there are outcrops of copper and iron ore. This allowed us to recognize their specific mining value and to consider them as a sort of "guide fossil" for the identification of ancient mining districts. This paper presents the results of a study involving over 150 tools from the entire region, effectively demonstrating an almost perfect co-occurrence of grooved axes and hammers with areas rich in mineral resources, especially metalliferous ores.

Provenance of Neolithic Stone Artefacts through Minimally Invasive or Absolutely Non-Destructive Petroarchaeometric Investigations: Some Cases from Calabria (Southern Italy)

“…As regards the continental crust units, medium-to high-grade metamorphites (micaschists, paragneisses, augen gneisses, and minor metabasites) and Carboniferous-Permian granitoids predominate in the Sila, Serre, and Aspromonte massifs, together with phyllites and sedimentary rocks, including limestones (Figure 2). A great variety of mineralisation is associated with medium-to high-grade metamorphites and Palaeozoic granitoids, especially in the Aspromonte area [28] (Figure 2).…”

“…Heritage 2024, 7, FOR PEER REVIEW 5 phyllites and sedimentary rocks, including limestones (Figure 2). A great variety of mineralisation is associated with medium-to high-grade metamorphites and Palaeozoic granitoids, especially in the Aspromonte area [28] (Figure 2). Geographically connected with the "calabro-peloritano arc" is the volcanic arc of the Aeolian Islands (Figure 2), whose volcanism also gave rise to the Quaternary rhyolitic flows that produced glassy rocks such as obsidians [31,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42].…”

“…Figure 2. Geolithologic schematic map of Calabria (modified from [27]) with the archaeological localities where the samples were found; in the little bottom-right inset, the main Calabria mineralisation sites are shown (after [28]).…”

Prehistoric exploitation of minerals resources. Experimentation and use-wear analysis of grooved stone tools from Grotta della Monaca (Calabria, Italy)

“…Currently, research on the Calabrian Region have made it possible to identify copper minerals outcrops in the north-western, central-eastern, and south-eastern parts of the region. It is unclear whether these outcrops were exploited during prehistoric times or not (Larocca and Breglia 2016). In the nearby of these latter, high concentrations of grooved stone tools have been found (Larocca and Breglia 2016).…”

“…It is unclear whether these outcrops were exploited during prehistoric times or not (Larocca and Breglia 2016). In the nearby of these latter, high concentrations of grooved stone tools have been found (Larocca and Breglia 2016). The functional study of these tools will contribute to the comprehension of these aspects.…”