Marine shells as grave goods at S’Omu e S’orku (western Sardinia)

S’Omu e S’Orku (SOMK) on the western coast of Sardinia (Italy) is a collapsed rockshelter currently opening on the sea shore, which was rapidly filled by sediments around 8500 cal. BP. Within the stratigraphic sequence, a number of partially preserved burials were discovered. These included the skeleton of an adult-mature individual (SOMK 1) covered in ochre and associated with a Charonia lampas shell; the partial remains of a second adult skeleton (SOMK 2), which were too disturbed for assessing the presence of any grave goods; and a third partial skeleton (SOMK 3) also associated with a Charonia lampas shell as well as with a rich ensemble of shell ornaments represented by large Cypraea and specimens of perforated Columbella rustica. To date, Charonia lampas shells are not documented in other Mesolithic sites and burials in Europe. All ornaments from SOMK have undergone a technological and functional analysis aimed at reconstructing their modalities of production and possible use before the deposition in the burials. While the use of Columbella rustica as ornaments is a widely diffused trait of the Mesolithic ornamental tradition in the Mediterranean region, the choice of big Cypraea shells as personal adornments is less documented in Europe. Technological, functional and symbolic aspects of the ornamental repertoire from SOMK are presented in this paper and discussed against other archaeological evidence from the Italian Peninsula as well as adjacent Mediterranean regions.