This work aims to contribute to the broad question of the role assigned to ceramic containers by the first Neolithic societies in the process of Neolithisation of the different Western Mediterranean regions, through a first assessment of the functional categorisation of the vessels used by Early Neolithic groups in the island of Sardinia (Italy). For this purpose, the pottery assemblage from Su Carroppu di Sirri (Carbonia, CI), in southwestern Sardinia, has been selected. This rock-shelter is one of the few excavated Early Neolithic sites in the island, providing evidence of human activities in the area during the 6th millennium cal BC, from the Cardial to the later Epicardial phase and the North Tyrrhenian Linear Carved Ware diffusion. After a comprehensive revision and refitting, the pottery assemblage has been investigated through an interdisciplinary functional approach, taking into consideration vessel morphotypology and morphometry, use-wear, and biomolecular and isotopic analysis of visible and absorbed organic residues by GC-FID, GC-MS and GCC-IRMS. Despite the fragmentation of the assemblage and the low lipid recovery, functional categories can be outlined: cooking vessels, probably of different sizes (pots and bowls), for processing plant and unidentified (low lipid?) products, for alimentary and possibly non-alimentary purposes; open to low restricted bowls dedicated to processing contents without heating, with abrasive activities and/or low-lipid substances having an erosive potential; bowls with no distinctive alteration patterns, probably used for serving/eating; notably, large vessels, sometimes with handles and applied single or multiple cordon decoration, for storing ruminant dairy products, plants/animal fats and probably low-lipid contents; finally, closed necked jars, likely for storing/carrying liquids. Overall, in addition to the data about faunal remains and the use of chipped lithic implements, functional analysis of the pottery assemblage from Su Carroppu revealed the exploitation of different (plant and animal, domesticated and maybe wild) resources, and the storage and transport needs of the Early Neolithic human groups in the rock-shelter area.
Questo lavoro intende contribuire alla più ampia questione del ruolo assegnato ai contenitori ceramici dalle prime società neolitiche nel processo di neolitizzazione delle diverse regioni del Mediterraneo occidentale, fornendo una prima valutazione della categorizzazione funzionale dei vasi utilizzati dai gruppi umani del Neolitico antico in Sardegna (Italia). Per questo scopo, è stato selezionato il complesso ceramico di Su Carroppu di Sirri (Carbonia, CI), in Sardegna sudoccidentale. Questo riparo sotto roccia è uno dei pochi siti del Neolitico antico scavati sull'isola, che documenta la presenza umana nell'area per tutto il VI millennio, dalla fase Cardiale alla successiva fase Epicardiale e alla diffusione della facies delle ceramiche a linee incise tirreniche. Dopo una complessiva revisione, il complesso ceramico è stato studiato attraverso un approccio funzionale interdisciplinare, prendendo in considerazione la morfotipologia e la morfometria dei vasi, le tracce di usura, l'analisi biomolecolare e isotopica dei residui organici visibili e assorbiti attraverso le tecniche GC-FID, GC-MS e GC-C-IRMS. Nonostante la frammentazione del complesso ceramico e lo scarso numero di campioni con residui lipidici, si può delineare un primo quadro delle categorie funzionali: vasi per la cottura, probabilmente di diverse dimensioni (pentole e ciotole), per la trasformazione termica di vegetali e prodotti non identificati (a basso contenuto lipidico?), per scopi alimentari ed eventualmente non alimentari; ciotole aperte o leggermente chiuse dedicate alla trasformazione senza l’utilizzo del calore, con attività abrasive e/o sostanze a basso contenuto lipidico con potenziale erosivo; ciotole prive di modelli distintivi di alterazione, probabilmente utilizzate per servire/mangiare; recipienti di grandi dimensioni, talvolta con anse e decorazioni plastiche a cordone singolo o multiplo, per la conservazione di prodotti caseari di ruminanti, grassi vegetali/animali e probabilmente risorse a basso contenuto lipidico; infine, vasi chiusi a collo, probabilmente per la conservazione/trasporto di liquidi. Nel complesso, accanto ai dati sui resti faunistici e sull'uso degli elementi litici (geometrici), l'analisi funzionale del complesso ceramico di Su Carroppu ha evidenziato lo sfruttamento di diverse risorse (vegetali e animali, domestiche e forse selvatiche) e le esigenze di conservazione e trasporto dei gruppi umani durante il Neolitico antico nell'area del riparo.
Pottery use by the first Neolithic communities of Sardinia (Italy): functional analysis of vessels from Su Carroppu di Sirri, Carbonia
Laura Fanti
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
2025-01-01
Abstract
This work aims to contribute to the broad question of the role assigned to ceramic containers by the first Neolithic societies in the process of Neolithisation of the different Western Mediterranean regions, through a first assessment of the functional categorisation of the vessels used by Early Neolithic groups in the island of Sardinia (Italy). For this purpose, the pottery assemblage from Su Carroppu di Sirri (Carbonia, CI), in southwestern Sardinia, has been selected. This rock-shelter is one of the few excavated Early Neolithic sites in the island, providing evidence of human activities in the area during the 6th millennium cal BC, from the Cardial to the later Epicardial phase and the North Tyrrhenian Linear Carved Ware diffusion. After a comprehensive revision and refitting, the pottery assemblage has been investigated through an interdisciplinary functional approach, taking into consideration vessel morphotypology and morphometry, use-wear, and biomolecular and isotopic analysis of visible and absorbed organic residues by GC-FID, GC-MS and GCC-IRMS. Despite the fragmentation of the assemblage and the low lipid recovery, functional categories can be outlined: cooking vessels, probably of different sizes (pots and bowls), for processing plant and unidentified (low lipid?) products, for alimentary and possibly non-alimentary purposes; open to low restricted bowls dedicated to processing contents without heating, with abrasive activities and/or low-lipid substances having an erosive potential; bowls with no distinctive alteration patterns, probably used for serving/eating; notably, large vessels, sometimes with handles and applied single or multiple cordon decoration, for storing ruminant dairy products, plants/animal fats and probably low-lipid contents; finally, closed necked jars, likely for storing/carrying liquids. Overall, in addition to the data about faunal remains and the use of chipped lithic implements, functional analysis of the pottery assemblage from Su Carroppu revealed the exploitation of different (plant and animal, domesticated and maybe wild) resources, and the storage and transport needs of the Early Neolithic human groups in the rock-shelter area.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
Fanti et al. 2025_RSP.pdf
Solo gestori archivio
Tipologia:
versione editoriale (VoR)
Dimensione
2.06 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
2.06 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri Richiedi una copia |
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.