In the present work, several cultural contexts have been examined using a range of micro-resolved analytical techniques in order to highlight possible similarities or, on the contrary, differences in residue chemistry based on chronological, geographical and cultural factors. The chemical investigation of seventeen cultural layers belonging to different phases of the Aurignacian, Gravettian and Epigravettian cultural complexes from the Italian sites of Grotta Paglicci and Grotta della Cala, with the total collection of almost 4,000 IR spectra from archaeological materials, has yielded significant results, among which the recovering of different patterns of organic and inorganic signals between Grotta Paglicci and Grotta della Cala that seems to support general trends based on sediment chemistry. The application of chemometrics to the cultural horizons of the Epigravettian series of Grotta della Cala led to a comprehensive study focused on the possible emergence of diachronic differences among the layers, furtherly addressed through the application of machine learning for the production of predictive models based on reference collections. The case of layer 24a1 of Grotta Paglicci, related to the Aurignacian, is instead presented as an example of how the burial context can affect the chemistry and readability of residues, as in this layer carbonate hydroxyapatite, likely originating from dissolution and recrystallisation of degraded faunal remains, deposited abundantly on the surfaces of the lithic implements analysed. The last Chapter is focused on the methodological improvements that can be made in the future to increase reliability, reproducibility, and interoperability of data for residue analysis and calls for the development of integrated, standardised, multi-technique protocols, to be hopefully applied as a routinary practice in this field.
Nel presente lavoro, diversi contesti culturali sono stati esaminati utilizzando una serie di tecniche microanalitiche al fine di evidenziare eventuali somiglianze o, al contrario, differenze nella chimica dei residui in base a fattori cronologici, geografici e culturali. L'indagine chimica di diciassette strati culturali appartenenti a diverse fasi dei complessi culturali Aurignaziano, Gravettiano ed Epigravettiano provenienti dai siti italiani di Grotta Paglicci e Grotta della Cala, con la raccolta totale di circa 4.000 spettri IR da materiali archeologici, ha dato risultati significativi, tra cui il recupero di pattern diversi di segnali organici e inorganici tra Grotta Paglicci e Grotta della Cala che sembrano supportare tendenze generali basate sulla chimica dei sedimenti. L'applicazione della chemometria agli orizzonti culturali della serie epigravettiana di Grotta della Cala ha portato a uno studio completo incentrato sul possibile emergere di differenze diacroniche tra gli strati, ulteriormente affrontate attraverso l'applicazione del machine learning per la produzione di modelli predittivi basati su collezioni di confronto. Il caso dello strato 24a1 di Grotta Paglicci, relativo all'Aurignaziano, viene invece presentato come esempio di come il contesto di seppellimento possa influenzare la chimica e la leggibilità dei residui, in quanto in questo strato la carbonato-idrossiapatite, probabilmente originata dalla dissoluzione e ricristallizzazione di resti faunistici degradati, si è depositata abbondantemente sulle superfici degli strumenti litici analizzati. L'ultimo capitolo è incentrato sui miglioramenti metodologici che possono essere apportati in futuro per aumentare l'affidabilità, la riproducibilità e l'interoperabilità dei dati per l'analisi dei residui e invita a sviluppare protocolli integrati, standardizzati e multi-tecnica, da applicare come pratica routinaria in questo campo.
Dominici, C. (2024). Residue analysis as a tool for understanding prehistoric hunting behaviour: new methodological insights from the Upper Palaeolithic of Southern Italy [10.25434/dominici-clarissa_phd2024-05-29].
Residue analysis as a tool for understanding prehistoric hunting behaviour: new methodological insights from the Upper Palaeolithic of Southern Italy
DOMINICI, CLARISSA
2024-05-29
Abstract
In the present work, several cultural contexts have been examined using a range of micro-resolved analytical techniques in order to highlight possible similarities or, on the contrary, differences in residue chemistry based on chronological, geographical and cultural factors. The chemical investigation of seventeen cultural layers belonging to different phases of the Aurignacian, Gravettian and Epigravettian cultural complexes from the Italian sites of Grotta Paglicci and Grotta della Cala, with the total collection of almost 4,000 IR spectra from archaeological materials, has yielded significant results, among which the recovering of different patterns of organic and inorganic signals between Grotta Paglicci and Grotta della Cala that seems to support general trends based on sediment chemistry. The application of chemometrics to the cultural horizons of the Epigravettian series of Grotta della Cala led to a comprehensive study focused on the possible emergence of diachronic differences among the layers, furtherly addressed through the application of machine learning for the production of predictive models based on reference collections. The case of layer 24a1 of Grotta Paglicci, related to the Aurignacian, is instead presented as an example of how the burial context can affect the chemistry and readability of residues, as in this layer carbonate hydroxyapatite, likely originating from dissolution and recrystallisation of degraded faunal remains, deposited abundantly on the surfaces of the lithic implements analysed. The last Chapter is focused on the methodological improvements that can be made in the future to increase reliability, reproducibility, and interoperability of data for residue analysis and calls for the development of integrated, standardised, multi-technique protocols, to be hopefully applied as a routinary practice in this field.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/11365/1261001