Marine and inland water resources in Eneolithic communities. New data from Sardinia (Italy)

This paper presents research aimed at identifying the methods with which prehistoric man interacted with marine and inland water environments. The objective is to determine the degree to which resources from these environments influenced the socio-economic organization of these peoples. The coastline around Cagliari and its hinterland (southern Sardinia, Italy) was chosen as the subject, on the basis of the presence of both the sea and several ponds. The territory is noted as being home to both Neolithic and Eneolithic settlements. Among these the archaeological excavation of the village of Su Coddu/Canelles produced a large quantity of malacofauna. Data has been processed from part of the settlement that gave radiocarbon dating from the period between 3640 and 2900 CAL B.C., and in which it was possible to carry out the level of sampling that was necessary to complete the research. In particular this interdisciplinary project, which aims to make an overall study of the settlement, the data relating to the geography of the area, the archaeological documentation, the fauna and shell artefacts will be extrapolated. Numerous methods are applied: the analysis of both ancient and modern cartography in order to reconstruct a paleo-environmental framework and the analysis of different categories of archaeological finds that show the economic aspects, above all in reference to the marines and ponds resources. Additionally, the morphological anatomical-comparative analysis (in order to determine the typology of the faunal remains and to identify each individual species) and the technological analysis of the manufactured shells (so as to detect the selection and the transformation type of raw materials) are accomplished. The research has led to the identification of a settlement model in which agriculture formed the primary means of subsistence, that was complemented by the rearing of livestock, through hunting and gathering. The exploitation of marine and inland waters resources, as food source, have to be important because 99% of the faunal remains are shells. Different shell species are recognized, among those the Ostrea edulis provides the raw material to produce bevelled objects, which are documented inside the settlement in considerable number. Some plant species, typical of the lagoon ecosystem, were used for building and craft production.

Si presenta in questo testo uno studio mirato all’individuazione delle modalità di interazione dell’uomo preistorico con gli ambienti lagunari e marini. L’obiettivo è stabilire in quale misura le risorse provenienti da tali ambienti abbiano influito sull’organizzazione socioeconomica dei gruppi umani. E’ stato scelto come area campione il paesaggio costiero di Cagliari e del suo hinterland (Sardegna meridionale, Italia), condizionato dalla presenza del mare e di alcuni stagni. In tale territorio si registra la presenza di insediamenti neolitici ed eneolitici. Tra questi il villaggio di Su Coddu/Canelles ha restituito nel corso degli scavi archeologici una grande quantità di malacofauna. Sono stati elaborati i dati provenienti da una parte dell’abitato che ha restituito datazioni al radiocarbonio comprese tra il 3640 e il 2900 cal. BC. e nel quale è stato possibile effettuare una campionatura adeguata allo scopo del lavoro. In particolare nell’ambito del progetto interdisciplinare che ha per oggetto lo studio complessivo dell’insediamento saranno estrapolati i dati relativi ai caratteri geografici del territorio, alla documentazione archeologica, alla fauna e ai manufatti in conchiglia. Lo studio ha permesso di individuare un modello di insediamento nel quale l’agricoltura costituiva la fonte primaria della sussistenza, integrata con attività di allevamento, caccia e raccolta. Si è evidenziato il ruolo di particolare importanza delle risorse dello stagno e del mare sia nel campo alimentare che in quello di altre attività come la produzione artigianale e l’architettura.