4.1 The Trino hill lithic assemblages, general overview
According to Fedele (Fedele, 1974; GSQP, 1976), the first lithic assemblages of Rilievo Isolato di Trino were collected in situ and slightly affected by the terracing activities that brought out the archaeological levels (they correspond to the assemblages RIT 1, RIT 2, RIT 3 and RIT 4). No precise data are available concerning the lithic assemblages collected in subsequent years, but it is likely to suppose that the collections took place during further agricultural arrangements (personal communication by members of TRIDINUM). It can be assumed that the circumstances of these last surface collections are like those occurred in the ‘70s, with archaeological layers affected by terracing or quarry activities, even if some re-sorting of the remains had certainly occurred. This hypothesis is supported by the analysis of the post depositional surface modifications (Table 2): pseudo-retouch and other alterations of mechanical origin are rare (10 findings − 0,5%), thus confirming that the agricultural arrangements and the quarry activities do not caused any intense re-working of the archaeological materials. Most of the surface alterations are due to water circulation and are represented by roundings and white patina. On the other hand, 51,1% of the lithic implements do not show any trace of post depositional surface modification (Table 2). This data is not surprising if we consider that vein quartz represents 75,6% of the lithic findings (Table 3): recent studies demonstrate that vein quartz is less affected by mechanical and chemical post depositional agents than other raw materials like chert (Venditti et al., 2016).
Thermal alteration is present on chert implements, mainly issued from laminar knapping methods, thus belonging to the Upper Palaeolithic or to the Neolithic frequentation of the area.
Concerning raw materials, vein quartz of local origin is clearly predominant in all the lithic assemblages, followed by non-local raw materials, like radiolarite and different kind of chert, representing 7,8% and 15,4% of the total, respectively. Other allochthonous sedimentary and volcanic rocks have been exploited to produce flakes, blades and polished axes: the presence of jasper (0,4%), limestone (0,3%) and other rocks like porphyry, quartzite and metamorphic rocks (0,6%) is attested. Due to post depositional alterations, a small portion of the lithic artefacts (0,5%) is undetermined concerning the raw material (Table 3).
Looking at the general composition of the lithic assemblages from Trino (Table 1), it seems that for the main collection areas (RIT 3, RIT 13 E, RIT 13 W and RIT 14), the reduction sequences can be considered as complete. The presence of several cores, debris and of flakes belonging to core shaping and/or management, let us assume that knapping activities took place in the area. Given this, the number of debris and of the minute fraction of the lithic assemblages is probably underrepresented: dealing with surface collection, the composition of the lithic assemblage is strongly affected by the visibility conditions and by other factors that are not easy to quantify (e.g. Schiffer et al., 1978; Banning et al., 2017).
Table 2
Post depositional surface modifications present on the lithic assemblages from Trino, grouped by collection areas. WP = white patina; R = roundings; P = pseudo-retouch; TA = thermal alteration; NA = no alterations.
|
WP
|
WP + R
|
WP + P
|
WP + TA
|
R
|
R + P
|
P
|
TA
|
TA + R
|
NA
|
Tot.
|
RIT 1
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
17
|
-
|
1
|
2
|
-
|
56
|
83
|
%
|
8,4%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
20,5%
|
-%
|
1,2%
|
2,4%
|
-%
|
67,5%
|
|
RIT 2
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
19
|
%
|
5,3%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
36,8%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
57,9%
|
|
RIT 3
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
42
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
86
|
137
|
%
|
2,9%
|
1,5%
|
0,7%
|
-%
|
30,7%
|
-%
|
-%
|
0,7%
|
0,7%
|
62,8%
|
|
RIT 4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
100,0%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
RIT 7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
6
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
33,3%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
66,7%
|
|
RIT 8
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
12
|
%
|
8,3%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
33,3%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
58,3%
|
|
RIT 10
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
100,0%
|
|
RIT 13 E
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
57
|
-
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
54
|
122
|
%
|
6,6%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
46,7%
|
-%
|
1,6%
|
0,8%
|
-%
|
44,3%
|
|
RIT 13 W
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
36
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
84
|
121
|
%
|
0,8%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
29,8%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
69,4%
|
|
RIT 14
|
52
|
9
|
3
|
1
|
613
|
6
|
6
|
12
|
-
|
618
|
1320
|
%
|
3,9%
|
0,7%
|
0,2%
|
0,1%
|
46,4%
|
0,5%
|
0,5%
|
0,9%
|
-%
|
46,8%
|
|
RIT 15
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
13
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
53,8%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
46,2%
|
|
RIT 16
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
5
|
7
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
14,3%
|
-%
|
-%
|
14,3%
|
-%
|
71,4%
|
|
RIT X
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
21
|
38
|
%
|
7,9%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
34,2%
|
2,6%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
55,3%
|
|
CASOTTO
DIANA
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
18
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
28
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
64,3%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
35,7%
|
|
CANTONE
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
100,0%
|
|
B.P.T.
|
3
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
26
|
34
|
%
|
8,8%
|
2,9%
|
-%
|
-%
|
11,8%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
76,5%
|
|
C.A.
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
16
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
31,3%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
68,8%
|
|
RONSECCO
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
3
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
33,3%
|
-%
|
33,3%
|
-%
|
-%
|
33,3%
|
|
TRICERRO
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
2
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
100,0%
|
|
Totale
|
80
|
12
|
4
|
1
|
828
|
7
|
10
|
17
|
1
|
1004
|
1964
|
%
|
4,1%
|
0,6%
|
0,2%
|
0,1%
|
42,2%
|
0,4%
|
0,5%
|
0,9%
|
0,1%
|
51,1%
|
100,0%
|
Table 3
Lithic raw materials present at Rilievo Isolato di Trino, grouped by collection areas. Others = different rocks sporadically attested in the lithic assemblages, i.e., porphyry, quartzite, metamorphic rocks.
Site
|
Vein quartz
|
Radiolarite
|
Chert
|
Limestone
|
Jasper
|
Others
|
Indet.
|
Tot.
|
RIT 1
|
53
|
10
|
19
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
83
|
%
|
63,9%
|
12,0%
|
22,9%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
1,2%
|
|
RIT 2
|
15
|
-
|
2
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
19
|
%
|
78,9%
|
-%
|
10,5%
|
10,5%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
RIT 3
|
117
|
9
|
8
|
1
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
137
|
%
|
85,4%
|
6,6%
|
5,8%
|
0,7%
|
-%
|
1,5%
|
-%
|
|
RIT 4
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
%
|
100,0%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
RIT 7
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
6
|
%
|
33,3%
|
33,3%
|
16,7%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
16,7%
|
|
RIT 8
|
10
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
%
|
83,3%
|
-%
|
8,3%
|
8,3%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
RIT 10
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
%
|
100,0%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
RIT 13 E
|
75
|
16
|
29
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
122
|
%
|
61,5%
|
13,1%
|
23,8%
|
1,6%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
RIT 13 W
|
117
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
121
|
%
|
96,7%
|
-%
|
2,5%
|
-%
|
-%
|
0,8%
|
-%
|
|
RIT 14
|
993
|
107
|
202
|
-
|
6
|
6
|
6
|
1320
|
%
|
75,2%
|
8,1%
|
15,3%
|
-%
|
0,5%
|
0,5%
|
0,5%
|
|
RIT 15
|
13
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
13
|
%
|
100,0%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
RIT 16
|
-
|
2
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
7
|
%
|
-%
|
28,6%
|
42,9%
|
-%
|
14,3%
|
-%
|
14,3%
|
|
RIT X
|
31
|
1
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
38
|
%
|
81,6%
|
2,6%
|
15,8%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
CASOTTO DIANA
|
28
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
28
|
%
|
100,0%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
CANTONE
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
1
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
B.P.T.
|
3
|
5
|
25
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
34
|
%
|
8,6%
|
14,3%
|
71,4%
|
-%
|
-%
|
2,9%
|
-%
|
|
C.A.
|
16
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
16
|
%
|
100,0%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
RONSECCO
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
3
|
%
|
-%
|
-%
|
66,7%
|
-%
|
-%
|
33,3%
|
-%
|
|
TRICERRO
|
-
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
%
|
-%
|
50,0%
|
50,0%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
-%
|
|
Total
|
1475
|
153
|
302
|
6
|
7
|
12
|
9
|
1964
|
%
|
75,6%
|
7,8%
|
15,4%
|
0,3%
|
0,4%
|
0,6%
|
0,5%
|
100,0%
|
4.2 RIT 1
Collection area RIT 1 corresponds to the location where, in the 70’s, first evidence of a Palaeolithic frequentation of the Trino hill were found. According to the works of F. Fedele (Fedele, 1974; GSQP, 1976), the lithic assemblage was composed by approximately 300 lithic implements. At present, 83 lithic artefacts from RIT 1 are kept in Museo Civico G. Irico (Table 1). The 83 lithic artefacts here considered are made on vein quartz (53), radiolarite (10) and chert (19). An opportunistic core is indetermined for what concerns the raw material because of post depositional alterations (Table 3). On a technological basis, we can tell the difference between a Middle Palaeolithic, an Upper Palaeolithic, and a Neolithic frequentation of the area. Debris (9), retouch flakes (3), flakes issued from management and shaping of laminar cores (3) and fragmented flakes not referable to any knapping method (6), in the absence of stratigraphic data, have not been referred to any chronology.
The Middle Palaeolithic assemblage is the largest, with 53 lithic artefacts (Table 4) mainly realized on vein quartz (48). Opportunistic, Levallois (lineal and recurrent centripetal) and discoid reduction strategies are attested by cores and flakes, while just three opportunistic flakes are retouched (1 vein quartz side scraper, 1 chert notch and 1 radiolarite notch) (Fig. 6). Opportunistic flakes have unipolar, bipolar, orthogonal, or crossed negatives on the dorsal face, thus attesting the frequent exploitation of different core surfaces during the production. Looking at the cores (2), one of them shows the exploitation of three adjacent striking platforms to produce medium-sized and non-standardized flakes. Vein quartz rounded pebbles are used as Levallois cores both for the lineal and the recurrent centripetal modalities. In one case, the striking platform is natural, while for the two lineal Levallois cores, the detachment of the predetermined flake is preceded by the shaping of the core convexities (Fig. 5). The discoid core is unifacial with a natural striking platform and centripetal removals aimed to the detachment of non-standardized flakes. For all these knapping methods the technique employed is freehand hard hammer percussion.
Table 4
RIT 1 Middle Palaeolithic assemblage.
Knapping method
|
Flakes
|
Cores
|
Retouched tools
|
Tot.
|
Opportunistic
|
25
|
2
|
3
|
30–56,6%
|
Levallois
|
11
|
3
|
-
|
14–26,4%
|
Discoid
|
2
|
1
|
-
|
3–5,7%
|
Indet
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
6–11,3%
|
Tot.
|
44
|
6
|
3
|
53
|
%
|
83,0%
|
11,3%
|
5,7%
|
100,0%
|
A chert laminar core, four blades and two retouched tools on blade (1 scraper and 1 end-scraper) attest the use of direct percussion by soft hammer and can be referred to the Upper Palaeolithic/Neolithic period (Fig. 6). The core has two opposite striking platforms, it is exhausted, and it is aimed to the detachment of bladelets. A sickle element obtained through indirect percussion is the only lithic artefact surely belonging to the Neolithic period (Fig. 6).
4.3 RIT 2
The lithic assemblage collected in the area RIT 2 between 1974 and 1976 was composed by ten lithic implements which belonging to a Lower Palaeolithic frequentation was proposed at that time (GSQP, 1976). RIT 2 currently has 19 lithic artefacts with technological characteristic suggesting their belonging to different chronologies, but mainly to Middle Palaeolithic (13 flakes) (Fig. 7). The predominant raw material is vein quartz (15 artefacts) but also limestone (2 artefacts) and chert (2 artefacts) are attested (Table 3). No cores are present in this small assemblage (Table 1). One of the cherts implements, issued from a laminar debitage through direct percussion with soft hammer, is the only artefact from RIT 2 that could be referred to Upper Palaeolithic or to the Neolithic period. Vein quartz and limestone flakes are obtained through direct hard hammer percussion according to opportunistic, Levallois and discoid knapping strategies. The Levallois method is attested in the recurrent centripetal and in the lineal modalities; opportunistic flakes show unipolar negatives on the dorsal face (7 flakes) and natural or flat butts, thus suggesting the use of not prepared striking platforms and the exploitation of a natural convexity until its exhaustion. One vein quartz flake belongs to the shaping or management of a centripetal core. Six fragmented flakes are indetermined for what concerns the knapping method. A vein quartz convergent scraper issued from an opportunistic reduction strategy is attested (Fig. 7).
4.4 RIT 3
Following the surface collection carried out in the last thirty years, the lithic assemblage of RIT 3 has expanded, reaching 137 finds (Table 1) realized on different rocks: vein quartz, radiolarite, chert and limestone (Table 3). The main group of lithic implements (125) belongs to the Middle Palaeolithic frequentation of the area (Table 5), while the presence of two products issued from laminar reduction sequences suggest a frequentation of this area in most recent times (i.e., Upper Palaeolithic or Neolithic).
Table 5
RIT 3 Middle Palaeolithic assemblage.
Knapping method
|
Flakes
|
Cores
|
Core shaping/management
|
Retouched tools
|
Tot.
|
Opportunistic
|
53
|
3
|
-
|
1
|
57 − 45,6%
|
Levallois
|
24
|
4
|
-
|
1
|
29 − 23,2%
|
Discoid
|
12
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
15 − 12,0%
|
Indet
|
20
|
-
|
4
|
-
|
20 − 16,0%
|
Tot.
|
109
|
10
|
4
|
2
|
125
|
%
|
87,2%
|
8,0%
|
3,2%
|
1,6%
|
100,0%
|
Being the chronological subdivision of the lithic artefact based upon technological criteria, some of the lithic implements form RIT 3 (i.e., debris and retouch flakes) have not been assigned to any phase of human frequentation of the Trino hill (10).
The Middle Palaeolithic assemblage includes opportunistic, Levallois and discoid flakes and cores (Fig. 8). The Levallois method is attested in the lineal and in the recurrent centripetal modalities by cores and flakes. For both the modalities, cores are realized on vein quartz pebbles with natural convexities already suitable for this kind of exploitation. Concerning the striking platforms, they correspond to the natural surface of the pebble or are prepared through a reduced number of detachments in a centripetal direction (Fig. 8). In the same way, the lateral and distal convexities on the flaking surface are prepared through a low number of centripetal or chordal removals. All the Levallois cores are discarded before their complete exhaustion. Levallois reduction sequences are applied also on radiolarite, limestone and chert. The presence of a chert flake with faceted butt, let us suppose that on this raw material Levallois reduction strategies involve careful preparation of the striking platforms.
Discoid cores are realized on vein quartz pebbles exploited according to a unifacial or a bifacial reduction strategy. The three discoid cores are exhausted, and their exploitation was aimed to the production of short and large flakes not standardized concerning their dimensions (Fig. 9). A radiolarite flake testifies the use of discoid reduction strategy on this rock. Opportunistic cores are just three, two on vein quartz pebbles and one on a chert polygonal block of small dimensions. All the cores were abandoned before their exhaustion and show the exploitation of two adjacent or opposite surfaces according to a unipolar direction (Fig. 8).
Flakes from RIT 3 are mostly complete (57,4%) or present fractures affecting less than 30% of the flake (incomplete flakes – 19,1%) (Fig. 9). Cortical and neocortical surfaces are rarely visible on the dorsal faces of the flakes and usually are located on their lateral portion (lateral cortex = 10,4%; lateral and distal cortex = 6,1%; lateral and proximal cortex = 2,6%). The predominance of flat and natural butts confirms the data obtained from the observation of the cores: the production of opportunistic, discoid and Levallois flakes starts from the natural surfaces of the cores or after a short preparation of the striking platforms (Fig. 9). Unipolar, orthogonal and bipolar removals on the dorsal faces are exclusively associated to opportunistic reduction sequences as well as convergent negatives are associated to the preferential Levallois method. On the other hand, centripetal negatives belong to discoid or recurrent centripetal reduction strategies.
The dimensional analysis (Fig. 9) show that the discoid method is aimed to the production of quadrangular flakes while Levallois flakes, both preferential and recurrent centripetal, seem to be more elongated. Concerning opportunistic reduction strategies, they are not standardized in shapes and dimensions and, according to the characteristics of the cores, their morphology appears as strongly influenced by those of the pebbles chosen as cores.
4.5 RIT 4
According to the work published in 1976 (GSQP, 1976), RIT 4 lithic assemblage counts 10 artefacts. At today, just one of them is present at Museo Civico G. Irico. It is a vein quartz core exploited till exhaustion of the convexities through direct percussion by hard hammer (Fig. 10). The striking platform is natural (neocortical surface), and four detachments are visible on the knapping surface: one belonging to a rough phase of core shaping, three to a production phase. The general core geometry and the standardization of the three detachments on the knapping surface, let us suppose that this core belongs to a laminar debitage that could be referred to the Upper Palaeolithic or to the Neolithic frequentation of the area.
4.6 RIT 7
Four flakes, one blade and one debris form the lithic assemblage from RIT 7. The raw materials here attested are vein quartz, radiolarite, chert and an indetermined rock (Table 3). Flakes are issued from Levallois (1), discoid (1) and opportunistic (2) reduction strategies through direct percussion by hard hammer and are realistically referable to Middle Palaeolithic (Fig. 11). Levallois is attested in the preferential modality; opportunistic flakes have unipolar knapping scars on the dorsal faces and natural or flat butts.
The blade is fragmented, and it is not possible to determine the knapping technique: in the absence of clear diagnostic elements, it could belong both to Upper Palaeolithic and to Neolithic (Fig. 11).
4.7 RIT 8
The lithic assemblage from RIT 8 is composed by 12 flakes (Table 1) realized on vein quartz (10) limestone (1) and chert (1) (Table 3). Limestone and chert flakes have strong post depositional alterations, roundings and white patina respectively (Table 2), that prevent their technological understanding: if it is clear that they have been obtained through hard hammer percussion, the knapping method is indeterminate. On the other hand, the vein quartz assemblage is less affected by post depositional alterations and its technological features suggest an attribution to Middle Palaeolithic. Preferential Levallois, discoid and opportunistic reduction strategies are attested (Fig. 12). The presence of orthogonal and crossed negatives on the dorsal faces of opportunistic flakes indicates that these reduction strategies develop through the exploitation of different core surfaces, probably according to an S.S.D.A. knapping sequence. Negatives on the dorsal face are not visible for three vein quartz flakes which remain indeterminate for what concern the knapping method. Even though, their state of preservation and post-depositional alterations, together with their technological characteristics like the knapping technique, are consistent with those of the Middle Palaeolithic lithic artefacts from RIT 8.
4.8 RIT 10
From the collection area RIT 10 just a vein quartz core is attested (Fig. 13). It is a large core on pebble where a natural (i.e., neocortical) surface has been used as striking platform. The technique employed is direct percussion by hard hammer and the products obtained are medium-sized flakes not standardized regarding shape and dimensions. The core was discarded before its exhaustion. A chronological attribution of this core, in the absence of clear stratigraphic data, is quite difficult.
4.9 RIT 13 East
The lithic assemblage from RIT 13 East counts 122 lithic artefacts (Table 1) mainly realized on vein quartz (75) but also on radiolarite (16), limestone (2) and chert (29) (Table 3). Opportunistic, Levallois, discoid and laminar knapping methods are attested by cores, flakes and blades, mainly obtained through direct percussion with hard or soft hammer and through indirect percussion. Due to post depositional alterations or to the fragmentation of the lithic implements, the technique cannot be identified for 29 artefacts. The Middle Palaeolithic assemblage is composed by 83 lithic implements (Table 6), of which 71 are made on vein quartz, 2 on limestone, 8 on radiolarite and 2 on chert. Opportunistic, Levallois and discoid knapping sequences are attested by cores and flakes and three retouched tools are present (2 sidescrapers and 1 notch).
Table 6
RIT 13 East Middle Palaeolithic assemblage.
Knapping method
|
Flakes
|
Cores
|
Core shaping/management
|
Retouched tools
|
Tot.
|
Opportunistic
|
48
|
6
|
-
|
1
|
55–66,3%
|
Levallois
|
6
|
1
|
2
|
2
|
11–13,3%
|
Discoid
|
4
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
6–7,2%
|
Indet
|
9
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
11–13,3%
|
Tot.
|
67
|
9
|
4
|
3
|
83
|
%
|
80,7%
|
10,8%
|
4,8%
|
3,6%
|
100,0%
|
The Levallois method is attested in the lineal and in the recurrent centripetal modalities. The only Levallois core identified belongs to the recurrent centripetal modality and it is realized on a vein quartz pebble (Fig. 14). The striking platform is still in part natural because it is prepared through big centripetal removals only in correspondence of the impact point of the Levallois flakes. Discoid cores show the development of the exploitation according to a bifacial modality to produce short, quadrangular flakes mainly through centripetal detachments (Fig. 14). The opportunistic cores (2 on limestone and 4 on vein quartz pebbles) show the preferential unipolar or multidirectional exploitation of one core surface until the exhaustion of the natural convexity (Fig. 14). Once the convexity is exhausted, the core is discarded. Just one core has three adjacent striking platforms with a debitage that develops according to an S.S.D.A. scheme.
Debitage products are mostly complete (70,3%) and fractures, when present, usually affect less than 30% of the flake (incomplete flakes: 16,2%) (Fig. 15). Just 55,4% of the flakes do not have cortex or neocortex on the dorsal face: it means that, regardless the knapping method, the production starts directly from the natural core surfaces. According to what is observed on the opportunistic cores, the significative proportion of lateral cortex and neocortex (lateral = 21,6%; lateral and distal = 5,4%), the predominance of unipolar negatives on the dorsal faces (45,9%) and the frequency of natural and flat butts (41,9% and 40,5% respectively) suggests that the knapping sequences started from the natural surfaces of the cores and they preferably followed a unipolar direction.
Orthogonal negatives (2,7%) are linked to a multidirectional opportunistic core exploitation, while crossed negatives (25,7%) were identified both on opportunistic products and on flakes belonging to the shaping of Levallois cores (Fig. 15).
The dimensional analysis (Fig. 15) shows that no clear differences are visible concerning the dimensions of the products issued from the different Middle Palaeolithic knapping sequences.
The use of vein quartz is attested for the most recent phases of site frequentation (Upper Palaeolithic/Neolithic) by three laminar cores exploited through direct hard hammer percussion. Even for the laminar method, the production of blades starts from natural striking platforms and vein quartz pebbles with suitable morphologies are chosen as cores. Core shaping is quite rough and obtained through a reduced number of detachments, while for the management of the core convexities sometimes a second striking platform, opposite to the first one, is exploited (Fig. 14).
Laminar production on chert and radiolarite is attested by one core and 13 products (Fig. 14). Of them, just two belong to the phase of plein debitage, while 11 are maintenance flakes. According to the characteristics of the butts and of the ventral faces, the main technique employed for the laminar production is direct percussion with soft hammer. In the absence of further diagnostic data their chronology remains uncertain, and they could be referred to phases of frequentation going from Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic. Two laminar products are retouched (1 notch and one point). A sickle element and two incomplete blades obtained through indirect percussion belong to the Neolithic period (Fig. 14).
Because of post depositional alterations which prevent the reading of most of their technological characteristics, chronology remains uncertain for 8 debris, 2 blades and 9 fragmented flakes.
A further observation needs to be made considering the quite significant number of cores and of flakes belonging to core shaping and management (Table 1) that let us suppose that knapping activities took place in this area, with the transport to the site of vein quartz, chert and radiolarite pebbles.
4.10 RIT 13 West
RIT 13 West counts 121 lithic implements (Table 1) of which 117 are made on vein quartz, 3 on chert and 1 on an indeterminate rock (Table 3). Opportunistic, Levallois, discoid and laminar reduction strategies are attested by a considerable number of cores (13) and knapping products (107) while just two retouched tools (denticulates) have been identified (Table 1). The main knapping technique here attested is direct percussion by hard hammer.
The three chert products are instead issued from a direct percussion by soft hammer and are a blade, a core-management flake, and a retouch flake. Together with a vein quartz blade, these lithic artefacts could be referred the Upper Palaeolithic or to the Neolithic period. Due to fractures or post-depositional alterations, the technique remains indeterminate for four vein quartz flakes. According to their technological features, 115 flakes and cores can be placed in the Middle Palaeolithic assemblage of the Trino hill (Table 7).
Table 7
RIT 13 West Middle Palaeolithic assemblage.
Knapping method
|
Flakes
|
Cores
|
Core shaping/management
|
Retouched tools
|
Tot.
|
Opportunistic
|
67
|
5
|
-
|
2
|
74 − 64,3%
|
Levallois
|
14
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
18 − 15,7%
|
Discoid
|
5
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
9 − 7,8%
|
Indet
|
13
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
14 − 12,2%
|
Tot.
|
99
|
13
|
1
|
2
|
115
|
%
|
86,1%
|
11,3%
|
0,9%
|
1,7%
|
100,00%
|
The Levallois method is attested in the recurrent centripetal and in the lineal modalities and it is represented by 4 cores (2 lineal and 2 recurrent centripetal) and 14 flakes (8 lineal and 6 recurrent centripetal). The cores area realized on vein quartz pebbles and for all the modalities the production of predetermined flakes starts after a short phase of core shaping, realized through 4 or 5 detachments. In a case, the striking platform is natural (i.e., neocortical surface) (Fig. 16). Discoid cores show a bifacial (3) and a unifacial (1) exploitation (Fig. 16). Three of them are exploited until complete exhaustion and for all the modalities the discoid exploitation starts directly from the natural surfaces of the vein quartz pebbles. The wanted products are short and large flakes of small dimensions for discoid reduction strategies, and oval, elongated flakes for the Levallois debitage (Fig. 17). The opportunistic method is aimed to the production of flakes of various shapes and dimensions, which general morphology depend on the characteristics of the cores (Fig. 17), that are pebbles or polygonal block of medium dimension. Three of the cores have one striking platform exploited according to a unipolar direction, one core has two orthogonal striking platforms and one show a bipolar exploitation with two opposite striking platforms. Two opportunistic flakes show a modification of the edges and can be classified as denticulates (Fig. 16).
57,8% of the debitage products is complete, while 23,5% presents fractures affecting less than 30% of the lithic artefact (incomplete flakes) (Fig. 17). Most of the flakes do not have cortex or neocortex on the dorsal face (69,6%); when present, natural surfaces are mainly on the lateral portion of the dorsal face (lateral = 17,6%; lateral and distal = 1,0%) (Fig. 17).
Concerning opportunistic reduction sequences, this characteristic, together with the predominance of flat (44,1%) and natural (27,5%) butts and of unipolar negatives on the dorsal faces (47,1%) confirms that generally the exploitation starts from core surfaces naturally suitable for knapping activities or after the detachment of a big flake to open a striking platform. The exploitation usually develops according to a unipolar direction even if the presence of a flake with orthogonal negatives and of two flakes with bipolar negatives confirms that, as already observed on cores, also this kind of reduction strategies were employed. Crossed negatives are also present on opportunistic flakes (16,7%) and testify the implementation of multidirectional knapping sequences (Fig. 17). Centripetal (16,7%) and convergent (2,9%) negatives are exclusively linked to Levallois and discoid products. The dimensional analysis shows no clear differences among the products issued from the different Middle Palaeolithic knapping sequences (Fig. 17). As already highlight for the RIT 13 East lithic assemblage, it is likely to hypothesize that the dimensions of the knapping products mostly depend on those of the pebbles or polygonal blocks selected to be core. A chronological placing is not possible for a vein quartz debris and for a vein quartz flake.
4.11 RIT 14
Collection area 14 is in the northern part of the Trino hill (Fig. 2C). From this area come the most important lithic assemblage, composed by a total of 1320 lithic implements. The technological analysis allows to clearly distinguish a Middle Palaeolithic assemblage including 962 artefacts (Table 8). The main raw material is vein quartz (925 artefacts) but also radiolarite (16 artefacts), chert (14 artefacts) and other rocks (11 artefacts) are attested (Table 3). 155 lithic implements are issued from laminar knapping sequences: 30 of them likely belong to the Neolithic frequentation of the area, and are cores, blades and retouched tools (3 sickle elements and a notch) obtained through pressure or indirect percussion. Even if an Upper Palaeolithic collocation can be proposed, on a typological basis, for 15 retouched tools, all the other laminar elements do not present technological characteristics that allow to clearly refer them to a certain period. This group is formed by 58 core management flakes obtained through direct percussion by hard or soft hammer, 42 unretouched blades obtained through direct percussion by soft hammer or with indeterminate knapping technique and 10 laminar cores exploited through direct percussion. Neolithic, Upper Palaeolithic and laminar implements with uncertain chronology are realized mainly on chert and radiolarite (144 artefacts), to a lesser extent on vein quartz and other rocks (11 artefacts). Chronology remains uncertain for debris, retouch flakes and for flakes affected by post-depositional alterations that prevent their technological reading.
Table 8
RIT 14 Middle Palaeolithic assemblage.
Knapping method
|
Flakes
|
Cores
|
Core shaping/management
|
Retouched tools
|
Tot.
|
Opportunistic
|
492
|
16
|
2
|
13
|
523 − 54,4%
|
Levallois
|
149
|
14
|
12
|
3
|
178 − 18,5%
|
Discoid
|
59
|
12
|
-
|
1
|
72 − 7,5%
|
Indet
|
140
|
3
|
43
|
3
|
189 − 19,6%
|
Tot.
|
840
|
45
|
57
|
20
|
962
|
%
|
87,3%
|
4,7%
|
5,9%
|
2,1%
|
100,0%
|
In the Middle Palaeolithic assemblage, opportunistic, Levallois and discoid knapping sequences are well attested by cores and flakes. Retouched tools are quite rare and are represented by sidescrapers (7), convergent scrapers (2), a double scraper, a transversal scraper, a Mousterian point, notches (3) and denticulates (5). Recurrent centripetal and preferential Levallois reduction sequences are documented by 13 cores, mainly realized on vein quartz pebbles and with a neocortical striking platform (Fig. 18). The shaping of the convexities on the knapping surface consists in a reduced number of removals in a centripetal or chordal direction. Two preferential Levallois cores are on chert and present a prepared striking platform. Despite the raw material, cores are discarded before their exhaustion, thus avoiding the re-shaping of the core surfaces. One vein quartz core belongs to a recurrent unipolar Levallois knapping sequence and the production of predetermined flakes is preceded by a careful preparation of the core surfaces.
The discoid method is applied on vein quartz, radiolarite and chert pebbles to produce short, quadrangular flakes (Fig. 18). Both the bifacial and the unifacial modalities are present: in the unifacial modality the striking platform mostly correspond to a neocortical surface. The discoid flakes show a predominance of flat (35) and natural (8) butts, thus confirming that the cores were usually not prepared before the beginning of the discoid production. The removals visible on the cores indicates that most of the discoid production is completed through centripetal removals, with no regards for the management of the core convexities. Discoid cores are indeed discarded after short production phases.
Opportunistic reduction sequences are represented by 16 cores and 507 flakes. Cores are all realized on vein quartz pebbles or polygonal blocks. The exploitation often consists in the knapping of one surface in correspondence of a suitable convexity and according to a unipolar direction. One core shows a bipolar exploitation (Fig. 18) while 6 cores are exploited according to an S.S.D.A. scheme. As well as for Levallois and discoid knapping sequences, for this method, cores are discarded after short production phases. The flakes obtained have mainly unipolar negatives on the dorsal face and their dimensional characteristics are determined by the morphology and dimensions of the cores (Fig. 18). Two flakes represent the opening of a striking platform by removing a spherical cap from vein quartz pebbles. They present a neocortical dorsal face and are probably linked to the beginning of an opportunistic exploitation.
Regardless the knapping method, flakes are mostly complete (55,9%), while a significative proportion (17,9%) has fractures affecting less than 30% of the artefact (Fig. 19). Lateral fragments are often linked to siret accidents occurred during knapping activities. Cortical or neocortical surfaces are present on about a third of the considered flakes, and mostly on the lateral part (Fig. 19). The predominance of unipolar negatives on the dorsal faces of the flakes (exclusively associated to opportunistic flakes) and of flat and natural butts confirms what has been observed on the cores: regardless the knapping method, the exploitation starts from surfaces already present on the cores; opportunistic reduction strategies are aimed to a unipolar exploitation of one of the core convexities.
Neolithic laminar cores are realized on chert and radiolarite slabs (Fig. 20): they are exploited through pressure to produce bladelets. Four cores have one striking platform exploited for different phases of bladelets production. Laminar cores exploited through direct percussion by hard and soft hammer are realized on the same raw materials, but their chronology remains indeterminate. They usually have one striking platform, but in four cases a second and opposite striking platform is opened, probably to control the core convexity. The products obtained are blade and bladelets and the blanks chosen as cores are small pebbles or slabs (Fig. 20).
Concerning the Middle Palaeolithic assemblage, the reduction sequences are complete, with all the phases of lithic production represented in the archaeological record; concerning the laminar method, cores and core-shaping/management flakes are well represented in the assemblage, while blades and retouched tools are scarce. This data let us suppose that the knapping activities took place in the area for all the phases of human frequentation, but during Middle Palaeolithic the lithic artefacts were produced, used and discarded in the site, while during the following periods part of the lithic production was probably transported out of the area of the Trino hill.
4.12 RIT 15
The lithic assemblage from RIT 15 is composed by thirteen vein quartz lithic implements (Tables 1 and 3). The assemblage is coherent with regards to the general state of preservation and the post depositional alterations (Table 2) and from the technological point of view it can be referred to Middle Palaeolithic. The scars on flakes and cores indicates that the only technique employed is freehand hard hammer percussion. Recurrent centripetal Levallois is documented by one core and one flake. The core does not show phases of core configuration and it is exhausted (Fig. 21). The wanted products are oval, medium-sized flakes. The presence of preferential Levallois knapping strategies is confirmed by one flake. Seven flakes belong to opportunistic reduction sequences: butts are flat or natural while the knapping scars on the dorsal faces are always unipolar (Fig. 21). It is likely to suppose that the opportunistic exploitation starts directly from the natural surfaces of the core and develops until the exhaustion of the convexity. After a short production phase cores were probably abandoned. Two lithic implements are indetermined concerning the knapping method.
4.13 RIT 16
A small lithic assemblage comes from collection area RIT 16, and it is composed by seven lithic artefacts (Tables 1 and 3) issued from the exploitation of radiolarite, jasper and chert according to opportunistic, Levallois and laminar reduction strategies (Fig. 22); one radiolarite flake, affected by thermal alteration, is indetermined concerning the knapping method (Fig. 22), while one of the artefacts is a debris strongly affected by roundings. The Levallois method is present in the preferential modality with one chert flake with faceted butt and it is referred to Middle Palaeolithic. The laminar component of this small assemblage shows characteristics consistent with an exploitation of chert and radiolarite through direct percussion by soft hammer. Only one blade belongs to a production phase, while the other two laminar elements belong to phases of core management. In the absence of significative data and of retouched tools, it is difficult to propose a chronology for the laminar products, that could belong both to the Upper Palaeolithic and to the Neolithic frequentation.
4.14 RIT X
In this group are placed all the lithic artefacts collected at Trino hill but without indication of the collection area. It includes 38 lithic implements mainly realized on vein quartz but also on chert and radiolarite (Tables 1 and 3). From a technological perspective, 27 artefacts could belong to Middle Palaeolithic. Of them, 23 are vein quartz flakes, 2 are vein quartz cores (1 discoid and 1 preferential Levallois) and 2 are chert retouched tools. Debitage products are issued from recurrent centripetal Levallois (5), preferential Levallois (4), discoid (4) and opportunistic (10) knapping methods (Fig. 23). Four flakes are indeterminate concerning the knapping method. The only technique employed is direct percussion by hard hammer. The two cores attest the choice of vein quartz pebbles with suitable convexities for the development of discoid and Levallois reduction sequences (Fig. 23). In both cases the production of the wanted products starts after a short phase of core shaping. Retouched tools are represented by two convergent scrapers and a denticulate (Fig. 23). The scrapers are realized on Levallois products, while the denticulate on an opportunistic flake.
Two chert retouched blades and a laminar core belong to the Neolithic period (Fig. 23). They are realized through the pressure technique and the blades are typologically classifiable as a sickle element and a point respectively.
A fragmented retouched blade, showing an invasive retouch localized on both the edges, is realized through direct percussion by soft hammer.
4.15 Other surface collections in the Trino area
In addition to the collection areas located on the Trino hill, sporadic findings come from the immediate surroundings. A small vein quartz assemblage is from Casotto Diana, south of the Trino hill (Table 1): 25 flakes and two cores are issued from opportunistic, Levallois and discoid reduction strategies which characteristics are like those observed in the Middle Palaeolithic assemblages described so far. To the east of the Trino hill, beyond the Natural Reserve “Bosco della Partecipanza di Trino” (Fig. 2), in the surroundings of Cascina Ariosa, 16 vein quartz lithic artefacts were collected: 6 flakes and 1 core can be referred to Middle Palaeolithic; 2 blades belong to most recent frequentations of the area, while 7 lithic implements are affected by strong post-depositional alterations that prevent their technological interpretation.
The lithic artefacts from “Bosco della Partecipanza” and from the adjacent localities of Ronsecco, Tricerro and Cantone (Table 1) are almost exclusively chert blades and bladelets which chronology cannot be determined. On the other hand, the three polished axes from Cantone, Bosco della Partecipanza and Ronsecco certainly date back to the Neolithic period but in the absence of additional information, the laminar assemblages form these localities cannot be clearly associated to this phase of frequentation of the area.
4.16 Stratigraphic position of the lithic assemblages
Even if the artifacts found in situ within the sediments are numerically few and, exception made for the bifacial tool (Fig. 3), come just from the collections carried out in the ‘70s (RIT 1, RIT 2, RIT 3 and RIT 4), we can propose a realistic stratigraphic position of the different groups of lithic artefacts identified on a technological basis.
In Fig. 4, the artefacts seem to lie only on the S2 surface, but they were actually found also on S1 (Fig. 5). On the S2 surface, due to the presence of quarries and other artificial exposures, the stratigraphic sections containing lithic artefacts were observed.
The bifacial tool recently found at the base of the stratigraphy exposed by agricultural arrangements (Fig. 3) is the only lithic artefact that on technological and stratigraphic basis can be placed within a Lower Palaeolithic frequentation of the Trino hill. It was found below the surface of the terrace S2, not far from the base of the terrace scarp that separates it from S1, in a sandy gravel of fluvioglacial origin, colour red 2.5 YR from the Munsell Soil Colour Chart (MSCC) (Fig. 5). From the top of this level the stratigraphy observed is the following:
-
sand and gravelly sand of alluvial origin, with a colour between red 2.5 and yellowish red 5YR MSCC;
-
lower silty loess, colour yellowish red 5 YR MSCC;
-
compact clay that forms the infilling of a narrow erosion surface that cuts the oldest loess;
-
intermediate silty loess, colour brown 7.5 YR MSCC, like that which, in other exposures, contains, near the bottom and the top, Middle Palaeolithic artefacts;
-
upper silty loess, colour yellowish brown 10 YR MSCC, like that which, in other exposures, contains Upper Palaeolithic artefacts;
-
silt that fills a small incision that cuts the upper loess.
According with the known stratigraphic data (ENEL, 1984; Giraudi ,2014; GSQP, 1976; Servizio Geoogico d’Italia, 1969), the age of the sandy gravel containing the bifacial tool can be between 870.000 years ago (MIS 22 – beginning of the sedimentation of the gravels) and 478.000/424.000 years ago (MIS 12) that is the age of the sandy gravels that form the terrace S3.
Middle Palaeolithic artefacts (RIT 4 – the artefacts are not yet present at the museum but were analysed by GSQP, 1976) were found in situ in a quarry located in the western area of the S2 surface (Fig. 4). The stratigraphic sequence (Fig. 5) was composed (from the bottom to the top) of:
-
medium and fine sandy gravel, strongly weathered, colour red 2.5 YR MSCC, 1–2 m thick, like that containing the bifacial tool;
-
lower silty loess, yellowish-red 5 YR MSCC, about 3 m thick;
-
intermediate silty loess, brown colour 7.5 YR MSCC, with a maximum thickness of about 1 m.
Middle Palaeolithic lithic artefacts were found both in the lower and in the upper part of the intermediate loess. According to the stratigraphic position, the lower loess is earlier than MIS 6 and is possibly attributable to MIS 8 (300.000-243.000 BP), while the age of the intermediate loess is between MIS 6 and MIS 4.
Upper Palaeolithic tools (RIT 1, 2 and 3) were found in a small outcrop located on the S2 surface (Fig. 4), near the base of the scarp on the S1 terrace (Fig. 5). The stratigraphic sequence, from the bottom to the top is the following:
-
weathered silty loess, brown 7.5 YR MSCC that can be correlated to the intermediate loess described above;
-
upper loess, i.e. a discontinuous layer lying on the intermediate loess with a maximum thickness of about 30 cm, slightly pedogenized, yellowish-brown 10 YR MSCC.
Lithic artefacts attributed on a techno-typological basis to the Upper Palaeolithic were found in the upper loess (Fig. 5) that can be dated to the Upper Pleistocene, probably MIS 3 − 2.
Neolithic artefacts have never been found in a clear stratigraphic position.