Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evidence of open-air late prehistoric occupation in the Trieste area (north-eastern Italy): dating, 3D clay plaster characterization and obsidian provenancing

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Abundant clay burnt plaster remains and a few flaked tools, including an obsidian artefact, found on the ground surface not far from Trieste (north-eastern Italy) provide rare evidence of a possible prehistoric open-air occupation in the area. To confirm and detail their ancient origin, a plaster sample has been dated between 4000 and 2000 B.C. via thermoluminescence. Outer and inner structure of selected plaster samples has been characterized using several techniques, i.e. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray computed micro-tomography, obtaining information about their production technology. The last technique has allowed to image and virtually extract vegetal remains and imprints. Their 3D morphological study has contributed to collect information about the ancient environment and has provided clues to define the plaster production season. The provenance of the obsidian artefact from Lipari Island, revealed by prompt gamma activation analysis, suggests that the finding site was part of long-distance connection systems and probably worked as intermediate point between the north-eastern Adriatic coastal areas and the inner Karst plateau.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aitken MJ (1985) Thermoluminescence dating. Academic Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson E, Almond MJ, Matthews W (2014) Analysis of wall plasters and natural sediments from the Neolithic town of Çatalhöyük (Turkey) by a range of analytical techniques. Spectrochim Acta A 133:326–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2009) An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III (2009). Bot J Linn Soc 161(2):105–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagolini B, Biagi P (1983) Il Carso ed il Friuli nell’ambito del neolitico dell’Italia settentrionale e dell’area balcanico-adriatica. Atti della Società per la Preistoria e Protostoria della Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia 4:187–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Barfield LH (1972) The first Neolithic cultures of north-eastern Italy. Fundamenta A/3 VII: 182-216.

  • Barfield LH (2000) Commercio e scambio nel Neolitico dell’Italia settentrionale. In: Pessina A, Muscio G (eds) La neolitizzazione tra oriente e occidente. Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale, Udine, pp 55–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Belgya T, Kis Z, Szentmiklósi L, Zs K, Kudejova P, Schulze R, Materna T, Festa G, Caroppi PA (2008) The ancient charm collaboration, first elemental imaging experiments on a combined PGAI and NT setup at the Budapest Research Reactor. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 278(3):751–754

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardini F, Betic A (2008) Il sito di Zaule presso Trieste (Italia nord-orientale). In: Auriemma R, Karinja S (eds) Terre di mare. L’archeologia dei paesaggi costieri e le variazioni climatiche. Stampa Luglio Fotocomposizioni, Trieste, pp 38–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernardini F, De Min A, Lenaz D, Kasztovszky Z, Turk P, Velušček A, Szilágyi V, Tuniz C, Montagnari Kokelj E (2014a) Mineralogical and chemical constraints about the provenance of Copper Age polished stone axes of “Ljubljana type” from Caput Adriae. Archaeometry 56(2):175–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardini F, De Min A, Lenaz D, Kasztovszky Z, Turk P, Velušček A, Tuniz C, Montagnari Kokelj E (2014b) Petrographic and geochemical comparison between the Copper Age “Ljubljana type” axes and similar lithotypes from Eisenkappler Diabaszug complex (southern Austria). J Archaeol Sci 41:511–522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardini F, De Min A, Lenaz D, Mendoza Cuevas A, Nuviadenu CK, Tuniz C, Montagnari Kokelj E (2015a) Whetstones from Bronze Age hill forts of north-eastern Italy. Archaeometry 57(S1):36–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardini F, Vecchiet A, De Min A, Lenaz D, Mendoza Cuevas A, Gianoncelli A, Dreossi D, Tuniz C, Montagnari Kokelj M (2016) Neolithic pottery from the Trieste Karst (northeastern Italy): a multi-analytical study. Microchem J 124:600–607

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernardini F, Vinci G, Horvat J, De Min A, Forte E, Furlani S, Lenaz D, Pipan M, Zhao W, Sgambati A, Potleca M, Micheli R, Fragiacomo A, Tuniz C (2015b) Early Roman military fortifications and the origin of Trieste (Italy). PNAS 112(13):1520–1529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Betic A, Bernardini F, Montagnari Kokelj M (2008) I castellieri di Trieste tra Carso e mare. In: Auriemma R, Karinja S (eds) Terre di mare. L’archeologia dei paesaggi costieri e le variazioni climatiche. Stampa Luglio Fotocomposizioni, Trieste, pp 25–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Boschian G (2005) Enviroment and hunters-gatherers mobility in the northern Adriatic Region. Preistoria Alpina 39:91–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Boschian G, Montagnari Kokelj E (2000) Prehistoric shepherds and caves in the Trieste Karst (Northeastern Italy). Geoarchaeology 15(4):331–371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi HD, Firestone RB, Lindstrom RM, Molnár GL, Mughabghab SF, Paviotti-Corcuera R, Révay ZS, Trkov A, Zerkin V, Chunmei Z (2007) Database of prompt gamma rays from slow neutron capture for elemental analysis. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Cristofolini G (1997) The biodiversity of Leguminosae Genisteae and its genesis. Lagascalia 19(1–2):121–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabbri B, Gualtieri S, Rottoli M, Tasca G, Vitri S, Visentini P (2007) Materiali concotti dell’abitato tardoneolitico di Palù di Livenza (PN). In: Fabbri B, Gualtieri S, Rigoni AN (eds) Materiali argillosi non vascolari: un’occasione in più per l’archeologia, Atti dell 9° Giornata di Archeometria della Ceramica (Pordenone, 18–19 aprile 2005). Lithostampa, Pasian di Prato (UD), pp 66–80

  • Ferrari A, Mazzieri P (1998) Fonti e processi di scambio di rocce silicee scheggiabili. In: Pessina A, Muscio G (eds) Settemila anni fa il primo pane: ambienti e culture delle società neolitiche. Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale, Udine, pp 165–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari A, Pessina A (2014) Sammardenchia. In: Visentini P, Podrug E (eds) Adriatico senza confini. Via di comunicazione e crocevia di popoli nel 6000 a. C.. Civici Musei di Udine, Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale, Udine, pp 124–127

  • Horvat J (1997) Sermin: A Prehistoric and Early Roman Settlement in Northwestern Istria, Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae 3. Institut za Arheologijo ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC, Ljubljana.

  • Improta S, Pessina A (1998) La neolitizzazione dell’Italia settentrionale, il nuovo quadro cronologico. In: Pessina A, Muscio G (eds) Settemila anni fa il primo pane: ambienti e culture delle società neolitiche. Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale, Udine, pp 107–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasztovszky Z, Biró KT (2004) A kárpáti obszidiánok osztályozása prompt gamma aktivációs analízis segítségével: geológiai és régészeti mintákra vonatkozó első eredmények (“Fingerprinting Carpathian Obsidians by PGAA: First results on geological and archaeological specimens”). Archeometriai Műhely 1(1):9–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasztovszky Z, Biró KT (2006) Fingerprinting Carpathian obsidians by PGAA: first results on geological and archaeological specimens. In: Proceedings of the 34th International Symposium on Archaeometry. Institución «Fernando el Católico», Zaragoza, pp 301–308

  • Kasztovszky Z, Biró KT, Kis Z (2014) Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis of the Nyírlugos obsidian core depot find. Journal of Lithic Studies 1(1):151–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasztovszky Z, Biró KT, Markó A, Dobosi V (2008) Cold neutron prompt gamma activation analysis - a non-destructive method for characterisation of high silica content chipped stone tools and raw materials. Archaeometry 50(1):12–29

  • Maddaleni P, Micheli R, Monai GS, Pagano F (2014) Nuovi dati dal territorio di Cividale del Friuli (UD): l’insediamento preistorico tra il fiume Natisone e il torrente Lesa in località Madriolo. In: Riassunti Comunicazioni e Poster, XLIX Riunione Scientifica dell’Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria Preistoria e Protostoria del Caput Adriae (Udine, 8–12 ottobre 2014), p 44

  • Metcalfe CR, Chalk L (1950) Anatomy of the Dicotyledons. University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Montagnari Kokelj E (1997) Il territorio di Muggia prima della costruzione dei castellieri. In Maselli Scotti F (ed) Il Civico Museo Archeologico di Muggia. Trieste, pp 35–37

  • Montagnari Kokelj M, Bernardini F, Boscarol C, Velušček A (2013) Le Karst et les Alpes d'Italie nord-orientale: éléments pour une reconstruction de l'évolution culturelle au cours de la préhistoire récente. In: Borello MA (ed) Les hommes et les Alpes. Chasseurs, agricultures et premiers metallurgists, BAR International Series 2476. Archaeopress, Oxford, pp 147–161

  • Montagnari Kokelj E, Boscarol C, Peretti G (2012) Sulle tracce dei pastori-allevatori pre-protostorici nel Carso (e altrove): esempi di uso integrato di indicatori diversi. In: Busana MS, Basso P (eds) La lana nella Cisalpina Romana. Economia e società. Studi in onore di Stefania Pesavento Mattioli, Antenor Quaderni 27. Padova University Press, Padova, pp 29–42

  • Morgan GC (1992) Romano-British mortars and plasters. PhD thesis, University of Leicester

  • Norverto CA, González-Andrés F, Ortiz JM (1994) Leaf and stem anatomy of species of Cytisophyllum, Cytisus, Chamaecytisus, Genista, and Genista sect. Teline (fabaceae: Genisteae) as an aid for taxonomy. Israel Journal of Plant Sciences 42(3):213–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pessina A (1999) Manufatti in ossidiana dal sito di Sammardenchia-Cûeis. In: Ferrari A, Pessina A (eds) Sammardenchia-Cûeis. Contributi per la conoscenza di una comunità del primo neolitico. Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale, Tavagnacco (UD), pp 287–290

    Google Scholar 

  • Pessina A, Radi G (2006) La diffusione dell’ossidiana nell’Italia centro-settentrionale. In: Materie prime e scambi nella preistoria italiana nel cinquantenario della fondazione dell'Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria, Atti della XXXIX Riunione Scientifica (Firenze, 25–27 novembre 2004). Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria, Firenze, pp 435–460

  • Polhill RM (1976) Genisteae (Adans.) Benth. and related tribes (Leguminosae). Academic Press.

  • Prenc F (2012) Dinamiche insediative e tipologie edilizie nella Bassa Friulana. In: Bonetto J, Salvadori M (eds) L'architettura privata ad Aquileia in età romana. Atti del convegno di studio (Padova, 21–22 febbraio 2011). Padova University Press, Padova, pp 475–486

  • Prescott JR, Hutton JT (1994) Cosmic ray contributions to dose-rates for luminescence and ESR dating: large depths and long-term time variations. Radiat Meas 23(2/3):497–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Révay ZS (2009) Determining elemental composition using prompt gamma activation analysis. Anal Chem 81(16):6851–6859

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Révay ZS, Belgya T (2004) Principles of PGAA method. In: Molnár GL (ed) Handbook of prompt gamma activation analysis with neutron beams. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/New York, pp 1–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Révay ZS, Belgya T, Molnár GL (2005) Application of Hypermet-PC in PGAA. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 265(2):261–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schweingruber FH, Börner A, Schulze ED (2006) Atlas of woody plant stems: evolution, structure, and environmental modifications. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Staffa AR (1993) Forme di abitato altomedievale in Abruzzo: un approccio etnoarcheologico. In Brogiolo GP (ed) L’edilizia residenziale tra V e VIII secolo, Atti del IV Seminario sul tardo antico e l’alto medioevo in Italia Centrosettentrionale (Monte Barro, settembre 1993). Mantova, pp 67–88

  • Szakmány G, Kasztovszky Z, Szilágyi V, Starnini E, Friedel O, Biró KT (2011) Discrimination of prehistoric polished stone tools from Hungary with non-destructive chemical Prompt Gamma Activation Analyses (PGAA). Eur J Mineral 23(6):883–893

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szentmiklósi L, Belgya T, Révay ZS, Kis Z (2010) Upgrade of the prompt gamma activation analysis and the neutron-induced prompt gamma spectroscopy facilities at the Budapest research reactor. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 286(2):501–505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorez J (1976) Practical identification of clay minerals. Editions Lelotte, Dison, Belgium

  • Tuniz C, Bernardini F, Cicuttin A, Crespo ML, Dreossi D, Gianoncelli A, Mancini L, Mendoza Cuevas A, Sodini N, Tromba G, Zanini F, Zanolli C (2013) The ICTP-Elettra X-ray laboratory for cultural heritage and archaeology. Nucl Instr Meth A 711:106–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turk P (2004) Viktorjev Spodmol and Mala Triglavca, Contributions to understanding the Mesolithic period in Slovenia, Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae 9. Institut za Arheologijo ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC, Ljubljana.

  • Tykot RH (2014) Utilizzo e commercio dell'ossidiana in adriatico. In: Visentini P, Podrug E (eds) Adriatico senza confini. Via di comunicazione e crocevia di popoli nel 6000 a.C.. Civici Musei di Udine, Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale, Udine, pp 171–181

  • Williams Thorpe O, Warren SE, Barfield LH (1979) The sources and distribution of archaeological obsidian in Northern Italy. Preistoria Alpina 15:73–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmermann DW (1971) Thermoluminescence dating using fine grains from pottery. Archaeometry 13(1):29–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to M. Di Giovannantonio for the review of the draft and A. Fragiacomo for the drawings of the chipped stone artefacts. This research was supported by the University of Trieste (Finanziamento per la Ricerca di Ateneo—FRA project 2014, coordinated by A. Favretto) and is part of the ICTP, Università di Trieste, Soprintendenza Archeologia FVG agreement “Accordo di collaborazione per lo sviluppo di tecnologie scientifiche avanzate per la conoscenza, la tutela e la valorizzazione delle evidenze archeologiche e del paesaggio antico della regione Friuli Venezia Giulia”. The PGAA measurements of the obsidian samples were performed with the support of K100385 Nr. project of the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH). The study was conceived and designed by FBe; FBe carried out archaeological surveys; ES performed TL dating and wrote the related chapter; DL and ADM performed XRD analyses; GT performed SEM analyses; FBe and CT performed microCT analyses; ZK performed PGAA analyses; RM performed research; FBo wrote the paleobothanical parts; FBe and MMK wrote the paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Fermi, Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro di Studi e Ricerche “Enrico Fermi”, Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184, Rome, Italy

    F. Bernardini & C. Tuniz

  2. Multidisciplinary Laboratory, The “Abdus Salam” International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Strada Costiera 11, 34151, Trieste, Italy

    F. Bernardini & C. Tuniz

  3. INFN and Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via R. Cozzi 53, 20125, Milan, Italy

    E. Sibilia

  4. Nuclear Analysis and Radiography Department, MTA Centre for Energy Research, Konkoly Thege 29-33, Budapest, H-1121, Hungary

    Zs. Kasztovszky

  5. Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, via delle Scienze 91, 33100, Udine, Italy

    F. Boscutti

  6. Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Via Weiss 8, 34127, Trieste, Italy

    A. De Min & D. Lenaz

  7. Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazza dell’Ospitale 1, 34125, Trieste, Italy

    G. Turco

  8. Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio del Friuli Venezia Giulia, Piazza della Libertà 7, 34135, Trieste, Italy

    R. Micheli

  9. Centre for Archaeological Science, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW, 2522, Australia

    C. Tuniz

  10. Department of Humanities, University of Trieste, Via Lazzaretto Vecchio 6, 34123, Trieste, Italy

    M. Montagnari Kokelj

Authors
  1. F. Bernardini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Sibilia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zs. Kasztovszky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. F. Boscutti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. De Min
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. D. Lenaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. G. Turco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. R. Micheli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. C. Tuniz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. M. Montagnari Kokelj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Bernardini.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bernardini, F., Sibilia, E., Kasztovszky, Z. et al. Evidence of open-air late prehistoric occupation in the Trieste area (north-eastern Italy): dating, 3D clay plaster characterization and obsidian provenancing. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 10, 1933–1943 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-017-0504-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-017-0504-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation