Polished Stone Axes in Caput Adriae from the Neolithic to the Copper Age

Bernardini, Federico

doi:10.1007/s10963-018-9125-z

Cited by 4 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The probable origin of part of them from central Slovenia or even more distant regions would indicate that sometimes not only aesthetic and technological models but also the objects themselves moved from other regions to the Karst. The strong connections between central Slovenia and the Karst during the first half of the third millennium BC are confirmed by other classes of artefacts, such as copper and polished stone axes (Bernardini et al 2014a(Bernardini et al , 2014bBernardini 2018 and the references quoted there).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

X-ray computed microtomography of Late Copper Age decorated bowls with cross-shaped foots from central Slovenia and the Trieste Karst (North-Eastern Italy): technology and paste characterisation

Bernardini

Leghissa

Pleurdeau

et al. 2019

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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About 20 Late Copper Age bowls with cross-shaped foots from Deschmann's pile dwellings (Ljubljansko barje, central Slovenia) and Trieste Karst (North-Eastern Italy) have been investigated using X-ray computed microtomography (microCT) in order to study the vessel-forming technique, to characterise their pastes and to test the hypothesis that some Karst bowls could have been imported from nowadays central Slovenia or even more distant regions. In three selected virtual slices per sample, clay, lithic inclusions and pores have been segmented and quantified. In addition, the area, maximum length and width of each lithic inclusion have been calculated. Then, the microCT-derived results have been statistically analysed by principal component analysis (PCA). The orientation of pores and disjunctions in microCT volumes show that the basins of the bowls were built using mainly the coiling technique, while the base was shaped starting from a central piece, to which a layer of clay was added and then reshaped in order to produce the foots. The Slovenian bowls include both medium/coarse-grained and very fine-or finegrained vessels mainly tempered with carbonate inclusions. The pastes of the Karst bowls are considerably heterogeneous. One bowl was most likely imported to the Karst but not from central Slovenia as it shows peculiar components, shape and decoration. The other two imported vessels show a very fine-grained paste comparable to the one of several samples from Deschmann's pile dwellings. Such technological similarity is confirmed by PCA of microCT data and petrographic observations. Our study confirms the existence of strong cultural connections between central Slovenia and the northernmost Adriatic coast during the Late Copper Age.Keywords Late Copper Age decorated bowls . Central Slovenia . Trieste Karst (North-Eastern Italy) . X-ray computed microtomography . PCA of microCT-derived data . Technology . Paste characterisation * Federico Bernardini

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 59%

X-ray computed microtomography of Late Copper Age decorated bowls with cross-shaped foots from central Slovenia and the Trieste Karst (North-Eastern Italy): technology and paste characterisation

Bernardini

Leghissa

Pleurdeau

et al. 2019

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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“…Initially, attention was given to shaft-hole axes due to lithological differences observed in artifacts from the Karst area and Friuli compared to Neolithic samples, suggesting changes in raw material provenance [20]. Subsequent studies extended to all types of polished stone axes, confirming previous hypotheses and identifying main raw material sources ( [14] and references therein) Later, on the basis of previous results, archaeometric analyses were applied to Neolithic, Copper, and Early Bronze Ages (hereafter EBA) pottery from Karst caves and Slovenian sites of the Ljubljansko barje [15][16][17][18], where axes and pots of peculiar forms had been found.…”

Section: Neolithicmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…Besides C.R.I.G.A. and its evolution, other lines of research have significantly contributed to generating the present state of the art: in the Karst area in particular, sedimentological and soil micromorphological analyses of cave deposits, on the one hand [11][12][13], and archaeometric analyses of lithic and ceramic artifacts, on the other (for stone axes see: [14]; for pottery see: [15][16][17][18]).…”

Section: Neolithicmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The analysis of deposits in some caves has indeed demonstrated that they were often used for the stabling of livestock [11][12][13]. Archaeometric analyses of polished stone artifacts have contributed to identifying the extent of their movements and hypothesizing the exchange mechanisms involved [14], in which the availability of sea salt along the coast could have played a significant role [35].…”

Section: Neolithicmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Continuity and Innovation in Pottery Technology: The Karst Region (North-East Italy) from Neolithic to Early Bronze Age

Bernardini,

Montagnari Kokelj,

Velicogna

et al. 2024

Heritage

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This paper explores the development of pottery technology in the Trieste Karst region (North-East Italy) from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age (EBA). It also seeks to identify cultural links with other areas by examining potentially imported vessels. Archaeometric analyses (X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy) reveal significant differences between Neolithic ceramics (Danilo–Vlaška Group) and the majority of Late Copper Age (LCA)/Early Bronze Age (EBA) pottery (primarily associated with the Ljubljana Culture and a few with the Cetina Culture). Neolithic pottery displays consistent characteristics across all vessel types, including coarse grain, prevalent sparry calcite temper, and the absence of grog. In contrast, most LCA and EBA vessels exhibit distinct features such as very fine-grained paste, no sparry calcite, notable use of grog temper, higher quartz, muscovite, and flint content. Notably, from a technological perspective, the analyzed Cetina vessels bear a strong resemblance to the majority of LCA ceramics. The differences between Neolithic and LCA/EBA vessels clearly suggest the use of new raw materials, recipes, and techniques, likely reflecting changes in cultural and social contexts and potential connections with the core area of the Ljubljana Culture.

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“…Traces of earlier ephemeral occupation (i.e., Late Copper Age and Early Bronze Age) of the hilltops later occupied by fortified settlements have been recognized at several sites and mainly consist of pottery fragments and stone artefacts. At the settlement of Monkodonja, near Rovinj, some pottery finds ascribed to Cetina types (Hellmuth Kramberger, 2017) and a few polished stone shaft-hole axes (Bernardini, 2018;Zupanc ˇic ˇet al, 2012) indicate an ephemeral occupation of the hill during the Late Copper Age. Similar episodes of early occupations are, for example, documented in other hillforts in Istria (Mihovili c, 1997(Mihovili c, , 2001Sakara Suc ˇevi c, 2008), Karst (Guštin, 1979;Maselli Scotti, 1988;Montagnari Kokelj, 1989), and Friuli (Gerdol & Stacul, 1978;Visentini et al, 2014).…”

Section: Absolute Dating and Archaeological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palaeopathological Study of the Mompaderno Cranium (Croatian Istria) Reveals Interpersonal Violence during Early Bronze Age

et al. 2021

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The Mompaderno cranium was found in 1883 at Baderna/Mompaderno in Croatian Istria. It was suspected to date from the Mesolithic or Neolithic period, but radiocarbon analyses, performed by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) on collagen extracted from two teeth, have provided an age range of 2,202-1928 cal. BC, which corresponds to the Early Bronze Age in the investigated region. Macroscopic observations and X-ray micro-tomography (micro-CT) of the cranium have shown antemortem sharp force trauma on the frontal bones, probably caused by a bronze axe, and a related osteomyelitis likely caused by an infection of the wound. The study has also revealed a previous depressed fracture and an osteolytic area interpreted as intradiploic meningioma. Results provide rare and earliest evidence of interpersonal violence in the northern Adriatic region.

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Polished Stone Axes in Caput Adriae from the Neolithic to the Copper Age

Cited by 4 publications

References 15 publications

X-ray computed microtomography of Late Copper Age decorated bowls with cross-shaped foots from central Slovenia and the Trieste Karst (North-Eastern Italy): technology and paste characterisation

X-ray computed microtomography of Late Copper Age decorated bowls with cross-shaped foots from central Slovenia and the Trieste Karst (North-Eastern Italy): technology and paste characterisation

Continuity and Innovation in Pottery Technology: The Karst Region (North-East Italy) from Neolithic to Early Bronze Age

Palaeopathological Study of the Mompaderno Cranium (Croatian Istria) Reveals Interpersonal Violence during Early Bronze Age

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