MUSEO TRIDENTINO DI SCIENZENATURALI • TR1!NTO

ASSESSORATO ALLE ATTIVITA'CULTURALI DELLA PROVINCIADI TRENTO

Attidella Tavola RotondaInternazionale

n popolamentttdelle Alpiin età mesoliticaVITI -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 TrentoBasin in the Adige Valley

(Vatte di Zambana, Pradestel, Romagnano)and comparisons with mesolithic series

of other regions

ABSTRACTRadlocarbon datmg, of samples Irom Mesolllhic deposlts ot

prehlstonc unlements near Trento. along the right slde of theAdige Valley (Vatte di Zambana, Pradestel and Romagnano III,heltera), are dlacusaed, The followlng chronology, in tarma ofconvenllonal "C agea. la derlved lor the Important Mesolilhlcsequellee 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.telnovianphase .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 otherdepoaltl In centre-northern Italy conlalnlng Sauve,errlan andCastelnovi.n Industriea and correaponds well to Sauveterrian­CUlelnovlan a&quellee. ot other regiona (East Spain. SoulhFrancai.

FlnaUy. tMi poa..bllity of dating Me80lilhic allesln tha halghlrange 1800 + 2:XIO m on the Dolomitea and on the Aurlne endsarentine AlPI through Iypologlc correlalions with the AdigeVaUey aerlas taken as a referenee. Is brlefly dlscuased. Thlsaltowa 10 auggest a model for the uae 01 the terrllory by theMeaollthlc groupa aettled In the Adige basln.

The datlnga 01 the Me80Uthlc deposita 01 the Adige Valleyand of the morphologles showir'lg the high allltude Meaollthlcdepositi 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, SalvatoreImprota - Dipartimento di Fisle. dall'Università di Roma .LaSapienza •.

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 ~rtialUnsnel.t supporto We slso wlsh 10 thank our technlclana torthelr 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, nearTrento, shows a large detrital talus genereted bydegradation 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 orless anthropized layers are interbedded to debriswithout 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. Bagoliniand coworkers) carried out excavations in threeimportant 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 ofTrento, at +225 m and, finaliy, Romagnano shel­ter, in Loc locality, near Romagnano, at 210 m.

The study of these deposits was carried outwith the collaboration of G. Bartolomei (1974) forgeomorphology, of M. Cremaschi for sedimentolo­gy and pedology. 01 L. Callani (1977), M. Follieriand ArI. Leroi-Gourhan for palinology and anthra­cology. 01 G. Bartolomei (1974), P. Boscato and B.Sala (1980) for the study of the mammal faunas,01 A. Broglio. S.K. Kozlowski (1983), G. Dalmeriand 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 Universityof Rome Laboratory (Alessio et el., 1969, 1978).

2 - The exaration hollow formed along the Adi·ge River Valley between Egna·Neumarkt and Morihaving near Trento a maximum depth of 267 mwith 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 thevalley (Broglio, 1980) are probably connected.

The data taken up to now in the three depositsshow the transition from a scarcely forested envi­ronment with a flora dominated by Pinus silvestris··montana end with stainbock prevailing amongthe mammals, to an environment characterizedby deciduous oak forest, peopled with deer, roe·bucks and wild·boars.

After an analysis of the industries, it is possi­ble to recognize a continuous Mesolithic seriesfor 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-AC1jd - Final Sauveterrian phase (Vatte di Zambana

10 and 7, Pradestel F)e • Old Castelnovian phase (Romagnano 111 AB1­

2, 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 TREATMENTOF DATA

A profitable collaboration, begun in 1968 bet·ween the l'C laboratory of the University of Romeand the Istituto di Geologia, Paleontologia e Pa­leontologia Umana of the University of Ferrara, inparticular with A. Broglio and coworkers, has ledto the accomplishment of a series of datings defi·ning the chronology of the Mesolithic sequences(Sauveterrian and Castelnovian in particular) ofthree well known deposits in the Adige Valley andhas allowed comparisons with analogous seriesof other settlements in the Italian terrltory, alsoextensible to Europe.

The samples to be dated consisted of char·

246

coal, carefully collected and often pertainlng tounits identifiable as haarths; being always relatedwhith certainty to archaeologie findings, thesesamples were extremely reliable as for their cultu·ral identity. In very few cases the semples werecharred bones, equally reliable.

Almost ali the samples were provided in largequantities; the following subsequent operationswere thus possible:

a) careful selection of the samples;b) adequate decontamination from possible

foreign carbon by means of the usual, and by nowstandard, acid·basic treatment, which was conve·niently carried out;

cl transformation into C01 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 gasstorage section are directly connected to the COtproportional counters. These counters measurethe 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 intwo different counters and the results are avera·ged after correcting according to the mass-spec·trometrically measureq.'3C/'·C ratio (Alessio etal., 1969).

To be consistent with «Radlocarbon», the con·ventional lOC ages were calculated on the basis ofthe Libby's hall-lite of 5568±30 years and givenboth in years before present (S.P.), with 1950 asthe standard year for reference, and in the corre­sponding calendar years, I.e., in our case, beforeChrist (S.C.).

The problem then existed of estabHshing whe·ther it was convenient, for a discussion and forcomparisons of the obtained Mesolithic chronolo­gies, to calibrate, when possible, the conventionalages, transforming them into «true ages». In fact.as is well known, the discrepancies existlng bet­wen conventional IOC and true ages, evidentiateddur;ng the 19605, are corrected by means of curoves and tables giving the correspondence bet·ween l'C and absolute dendrochronologlc ages.These curves and tables have 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 possiblefor ages not oldar than about 7500 years beforepresento Therefore, in our case, this calibrationwould be only possible for a very small number ofquite recent dates present in very few Mesolithic

series. Far this reasan we considered it correctnot carry out this operation, basing ali considera­tions and camparisons on conventional '·C agesonly.

•

Fig. 1 • Sehematle seetlon of the MeBoUthle deposlts of V.tte diZamb.na 8helter In whieh radlometrie dallng8 are Indlealed.•D'8hed area8 corre8pond to 8lrongl)' anthroplzed depo8118 (G.Bar1olomei's aUf'lleys).

THE DEPOSITS: CONSIDERATIONS ON "CDATINGS

1 . Vatte di Zambana shelter. 12 km north ofTrento, near the confluence af Noce river withAdige 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 abavethe present valley bottom, a small shelter. Theanthropic deposits af this shelter, dismantled farthe most part by the amateur group wha discave­red them in 1967, were excavated in 1968 by G.Bartolomei and A. Broglio. Four levels of humansettlement (cuts 2-3, 5, 7 and 10) were interbed­ded along a thickness of about 2.5 m of debris

and silt, the lawest level also including a burial(CarrBin, Graziati and Leonareii, 196n.

Pallen enelysis of the deposi t carrespondingto cut 8 shaws the presence of thermoPoilic mi­xed aak forest together with Gramineae and Arte­misia (Catrani, 19m. Arvicola, inhebitant of theAdige alluvial planes, is abundant among micro­mammals; Apodemus from herbaceous and fare­sted environment, and Crocidura mimu/s, dwelleror arid stony regions, are frequent (Bart%mei,'974). Hunt mammals are: deer, chamois, stain­bock, beaver, brown bear and wild cat (Boscateand Sala, 1980). Fresh water mollusks, fen turtle,birds and fish are also present among foodrefuse.

The industries of cuts 10 and 7 represent thefinal phase of the Sauveterrian serìes, though 50­

me doubts exist concerning cut 7 in which scarceartefacts were faund. The artefacts collected insitu 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 thefirst excavations and probably coming from cuts 7and 5.

'·C datings piace Vatte di Zambana series inthe Vlth millennium B.C. (Alessio et al.. 1969)....., cuts 2-3 7250±110 S.P.

5XlO±110 B.C...... eut 5 7'540± 7S B.P.6690± 7S B.C,

..... a eut 5 7585± 7S B,P.5636± 75 B.C...... cut 7 7880± 75 B.P.5910± 75 s.e.

...... a CUI 7 7810± 95 B,P.5800± 95 B.C,....., CUI IO 7880±110 B,P.5910± 110 B.C.

...... a cui 10 7!BJ± 100 B.P.elJ10±100 B.C....., Cui 10 scm±110 e.p.

(burlai) 6IJj()±110 B.C.

R-49la cut IO n40±l50 e.p.(burlel) 57'IIO±150 B.C.

2 - Pradestel shelter. 6 km North of Trento, inIschia Podetti locality, quarry, work deeply impalored 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 ofabeut 5 m. Research, begun by B. Bagolini in1973-74, was subsequently carried aut by A. Bro­glio, G. Bartolomei, C. Peretto, L. Cattan! and B,Sala in 1975.

247

most recent cuts of this complex have been datedwith the '·C method with the following result:

9320± 50 BP.7370± 50 B.C.

Prade't~, L7, L'C. L8

Predeltel. H-H2R-1149

8240±200 B.P.B290±200 B.C.

8200± 50 B.P.6250± 50 B.C.

The vegetation maintains the same characteri­stics in the upper layer G, F and E. Deer stronglyprevails among hunt mammals, followed by roe­buck end boar; stainbock is stili present, thoughwith few specimens. Industries of F layer are enri­butable to the final Sauveterrian phase; those oflayer E, instead, represent the old Castelnovianphase.

Granules in the upper debris were too scarceto allow a pollen analysis of these layers. Re­mains of hunt mammals penain to deer, roe-buckend 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.

4920± 50 B.C.

Layer A, containing very few founds end inwhich ceramics of early Neolithic appears, closethe 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

In lhe upper culs of.the L layer (L6-l1), as wellas in cuts I and H, Pine tree decreases abruptlygiving piace to a thermophilic deciduous oak fo­rest. There is a strong decrease in Microtus niva­lis among the micromammals and in stainbockamong the macromammals. The industries are tobe considered as pertaining to the middle and re­cent phases of the Sauveterrian sequence. Char·coals from the upper cut of layer L and from layerH have bean dated:R·l150 Prade81el, L1

R-1151

z<~z~

w~

'"<u

The Predestel series is very long and seems tocover the same period of the Mesolithic series ofRomagnano III; sorT\e phases, however, appear inconsiderably different ways. The deposits consistof deQris and fine sediments llayers L4, l, El (Bar­t%mei, 1974: CaNani, 1977; Boscata end Sa/a,1980).

Fig. 2 . SChematic aectlon 01 tM Mesollthlc depOsita of Prad.atei ahelter and radiometric datillQ' (G. Banolomel', ,urvey.).

The lowest layer M, consisting of fine rubbleend sUt, end scarcely anthroplzed, shows a floraassociation 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 themiddle Sauveterrian phase. Charcoals from the

3 - Romagnano III shelter. Various prehistori­cal sites have been identified on the eone of RioBondone, right tributary of Adige river, in localityLoc of Romagnano, 12 km South of Trento. Thedeposit of Romagnano 111 is situated at the top ofthe 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 tothe 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, FinalBronze Age (iayers L-I) end Iron Age (Iayer H)(Perinl, 1971,' Broglio, 1971). R. Perini carried out

248

dI Depoell wlth reworked Seuveterrlan end Cu'elnovl.n In·du.trle.

tI Reeent Cutelnovlen phe.. In whlch ceramiCI appeen

R-ll36 Romagnano III AA1·2 64B0± 50 S.P.~± 50 S.C.

7860± 60 B.P.5900± 60 B.C.

7SOO±IOO S.P.5650±I60 B.C.

78CC± IlO SP.5860± 90 S_C.

9830± 90 S.P.78110± 90 B.C.

9490± 90 B.P.7540± 90 B.C.

9420± 60 B.P.7470± 90 B.C.

9680±250 B.P.76:l)±250 B.C.

9200± eo S.P.7250± eo S.C.

9200± 90 B.P.7250± 90 B.C.

9tClO± 90 B.P.7150± 90 B.C.

90901 90 S.P.7l40.± 90 B.C.

8740± 90 S.P.6790± 90 B.C.

8590± 90 S.P.e640± 90 B.C.

8140± IlO B.P.BI90± IlO S.C.

8580± 70 B.P.8610± 70 S.C.

823>± 70 S.P.6270± 70 S.C.

Romagnano III ABH

Romagnano III ASl-2

Romagnano 111 AE 1-6

Romagnano III AE

Romagnano 111 AF

Romagnano III AEl-4

Romagnano III AB3

al ald ea.telnovlen phe..

R·1137 Romagnano III AB1·2

R-I1378

R·1137A

R·l146 a

R·lI46B

R-1146 Romagnano III AC8-9

R·lloM O' Romagnano III AC7

R-I143 a Romagnano III AC5-6

R-ll42 Romagnano III ACI

R·1141 RomagnaF'lO 111 AC3

bI Mlddle Seuv.terrlan phu.

R·1l45 a Romagnano III AC8-9

R·II38

R-H·n

R·l139 Romagnano III ACl

cl Ree.nt Seuv.t.rrlen phu.

R-l140 Romagnano III AC2

Remains of turtle, birds, fish and fresh-watermollusks are present throughout the series.

The sequence of the Mesolithic industries (Bro­glio and S.K. Kozlowski, 1983) is among the mostcomplete end rich in Europe. Its common toolstestify the persistence of a local tradition, whilethe microllths sllow the identification of variousphases within tha series. 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 phasein layers AB1-2; final Castelnovian phase. inwhich ceramics is present for the first time, inlayer AA.

"C datings of the series of Mesolithic lndu­stries are the following:.) Old Seuveterrlen phe..

Fig. 3· Schemotlc sectlon of the Mesollthic end Eerly Neollthlcdepo"lls of Romegnano III shelter wlth radiometnc dating".

excavations of the more recent among the sbavamentioned deposits in 1970, while A. Broglio, G.Bartolomei, P. Biagi, A. Guerreschi, C. Peretto andB. Sala excavatad the Mesolithic ones in 1971-73.

The sedimentologic and palinologic study oftha 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 series ofindustries 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 lowerlayers (AE and AC) are represented by Arvicola,Apodemus, Sciurus, Evotomys and Microtus niva­lis. In the upper layers (AB and AA) the M;cro/usnivalis 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 phaseand arid-warm climate in tha secand phase.

At first (layers AF end AE), among hunt mam·mais (Boscata and Sa/a, 1980) stainback stronglyprevails 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 findwild cat, marten and fox.

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: TagrienteehGlter; 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.

(Biagi et al., 1960).

e) TUSCANYIsola 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:!:90B.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.

c) FRIULI- VENEZIA GIULIAZingari Cave. The industry Is probably refera­

ble 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 pertainingto the old Sauveterrian phase.

Benussi cave series. The Mesolithic series ofthis site subdivided into four artificial cuts (3-6),falls, typologically, between the recent Sauveter­rian end the middle Castelnovian:

7630±120 S.P.5680±120 D.C.

167O±120 D.P.5720±120 B.C.

72OO±140 D.P.528:)±140 D.C.

7620± 150 D.P.6670± 150 D.C.

83EIO± 60 D.P.6430± 00 D.C.

1(6)± 00 D.P.5100± 60 D.C.

69110±13) D.P.5010±13) B.C.

1-12e8'7 BA q3+q8

(Cremaschi et al., in press).

Passo della ComunellaSlrm-830 P.C.

8600± 70 D.P.6700± 70 D.C.

The dating of the samples coming from cuts 6and 5: R-l045A, 6700:!:70 B.C., seems lo be a linleolder than one could expect: the other two da·tings are in agreement with the diagnoses of theindustries.

Ciclamini cave. Although poor, this industrycan 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 - ROMAGNABagioletto Alto and Passo della Comunella.

The datings of the two sites in the Tuscany andEmilia Appennines. with Castelnovian industries,are in agreement with the respective diagnosis.

Bagioletto Alto.1-12520 DA. q9

Castelnovl,n Mesolllhlc InduSlryR·l042 Denussl Cuta 3-4

Cealelnovian Me80llthlc InduatryR·l043 Benussl Cut 3

Recent Sauveterrlan pheae lnduatryR-l045 Benu••1Cut 5

Reeent Sauveterrlen phese lndulttyR·1045A Benunl Cuti ~

Castelnov;an Me80llthlc InduetryR·l044 Denussl Cut 4

CONCLUSION

1 • The Mesolithic series represented in thathree deposits of Trento is certainly one of thamost important in Europe. From tha numerous ra·diometrle datings il follows that lt8 duration isover 3000 years, with tha following subdivision oftha evolution phases, only taking loto account thaconventional dates:a) Old Sauveterrian phaseabout 7950 - 7400 B.C.b) Middle Sauveterrian phaseabout 7400 - 6550 B.C.c) Recent Sauveterrian phaseabout 6550 - 6200 B.C.d) Final Sauveterrian phaseabout 6200 - 5800 B.C.e) Old Castelnovian phaseaboul 5800 B.C.f) Middla Castelnovian phasaaround 5000 B.C.g) Reca"t Castelnovian phasearound 4500 B.C.

A comparisoo of the radiometric datings of thathree 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, previouslyconsidered 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 Trentinaare confirmed by many Mesolithic anthropic depo­sits in centre-nòrth Italy, so confirming the validityof the chronologic picture of the Mesolithic in theTrento basin, as well as its applicability to thewhole area. A review of the conventional 14C da­tings measured far the following deposits is nowgiven:

a) TRENTINO - ALTO ADIGEColbricon. The industry of site 1 typologically

represents a period of transition from the old tothe 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 thisdiagnosis.

b) VENETOCovolonl del Broion lIttle ceve. The industry is

referable to the Castelnovian, but, for lack of Im­plements and of microliths, a better definition isimpossible on topological basis. The radiocarbondating R-892, 6930:!:60 B.P. (4960:!:60 B.C.) sug­gests its attribution to tha middle Castelnovianphase.

251

l'C AGE J~:: RADIOCARBON DATES~~ - -o p oc '....... cnn ,.., '(lU' IIUII•• .... (IIlUA rrr':!::!:....- IUU., .,.

I

I u.000 '000 I I ,I %

I III!

~

" ::;

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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 finalltalic Epigravettian; this diagnosis perfectlyagrees with the dating, which attributes it to afinal period of the late glacial Wurmian. The indu­stries of the five cuts of layer 4 (4e, 4d, 4c, 4b end4a) represent, on the contrary, e Mesolithic seriestightly related to the one of Trento basino The indu·stry of cut 4e, dated 7470±90 B.C., is very similarto 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 middleend final phases of the Sauveterrian sequenceand 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 dateR-341, 8560.!80 B.P., relative to the Sauveterroidindustry of Blanc shelter (A. Broglio's lnterventionon A. Bietti's communication, 1984) has now foundan explanation. On the contrary, the problem ofthe persistence of final Italian Epigravettian indu­stries in the Vllth millennium B.C. along Campaniaand 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, atleast as far as Liguria is concerned.

Particularly interesting among the possiblecomparisons of datings referring to Mesolithic de­posits of the Sauveterrian and western Castelno­vian 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 withRomagnano 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 similaritywith 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 tran­sformation of the industries, connected to the in­troduction of trapezes between microliths, in theItalie Sauveterrian region, at the beginning of theAtlantic.

Finally, R-l136 dating, referring to layer AA ofRomagnano III allows the determination of the be·ginning of the Neolithie in the Adige basin interms of "C chronology.

3 . The datings of the three Trentine depositsalso allow to establish a chronology, stili in termsof conventional uC datings, of the phenomenawhich, in the Trento basin, indicate climatic modi·fications of Preboreal, Boreal and Atlantic; in parti­cular, they allow the determinatlon of the age ofthe rise of temperate environment vegetation andof the fauna typlcal of broad·leafed tree forests,so contributing strongly to the present knowledgein this field.

Finally, using the datings of the three Trentinedeposits, and correlating tha technical, typologic,typometric end structural characteristics of the in·dustries, it is possible to establish a chronologyfor tha Mesolithic industries found in various Dolo­mitic sites at +1900-23OQ m (Bagolin;, Broglio endLunz, 1983). The validity òf this correlation is con·firmed by date R-895, 9370±130 a.p., referring tosite l of Colbricon, The presence of settlementsof Mesolithic hunters on the Oolomites in the Pre·boreal and Borea I ages suggests that, since thevery baginning of the Olocene, the alpine prairiehad reached the height range relative to thesefindings; this mey be consistent with a chronologyof the stadial moraine arcs of the Dolomites areadifferent from the traditional one and similer tothat recently proposed for the north side of theAlps (Andersen, 1981; Zoller, 1977) and confirmedby the pollen analysls series of the Sarentinlmountains (Se;wald, 1980),

RIASSUNTO

Gli AutOfI commen~no le dalazlonl radìametrlche ottanutecol metodo del cerbonio 14 da campioni provenienti dai d.positimqoIlllcl di tre giacimenti preistor,cI che ai trovano nel dintornidi Trento, lungo Il tì.rlC:O destro della Vali. dell'Adige (ri~ri diVatte di Z.mbana, Pradeslel. Romagn.no III). Le dat.zlonl con·sentono di Inqu.dr.re cronologlc.mente l"importante sequenumesolltlca dell'.r.., collocando tra 7960 e 7400 anni a.C, (In ter·mini di cronologia del carbonio 14 non calibrat.) le IndUSlrledell. 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. leIndustrie dell. fas. sauvelerrl.n. recente, tra 6200 e 5IlOO .nnl•.C. le indullrie delta fase s.uveterrlen. finale, fiss.ndo .ttornoa 5800 .nni a.C. l'Inizio delle fase castelnovi.na an!lca, .ttorno a5CXXl 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 1800e 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 edelle morfologle che ospllano d.poslti mesollticl di .lla quotasulle Alpi permettono di tr.rre imponantl conclusioni lull'etèdel 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 setrouvent .ux envlrons de Trenta, le long du flarlC: droil de laVall6e 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 ducarbonel4 non c.llbré.), leslndustriea de 1. phese sauveterrien·ne moyenM .ntra 7400 et 6660 ana .vJ,C" les Industrie. da lephase sauveterrlenoe récente enlre S660 et 6200 ana .vJ.C" leIIndustrlea de la ph.se ssuv.terrlenne fln.le entre 6200 et 5800ans .vJ.C.; en flx.nt aux envlrons de 5IlOO .na avJ.C. le débutde la phase cestelnovienn. arlC:lenn., aUle .nvirone da 5CXXl.neavJ.C. I. ph... c8stelnovlenna moy.nne et .ux envlrona de4500 .ns .vJ.C. l'.pparition de la ceremlque associ" è uneIndultrle c.stelnovlenne.

Ce eadre chronologlque est .n aceord ....ec lea datationaradiometrique. 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 decorrélalion. 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 lesgroupe. 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 tlrerdea 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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