Osseous artefacts from the Mesolithic levels of Pradestel rockshelter, (north-eastern Italy): A morphological and techno-functional analysis

The results of a morphological and techno-functional analyses carried out on 21 osseous artefacts from the Mesolithic levels of Pradestel rockshelter (Trento, north-eastern Italy) are presented here. Curated points, awls, bevel-end artefacts, harpoons, tool-related manufacturing waste and shell ornaments compose the archaeological sample. The results of the study allow characterising modalities of exploitation for different osseous materials from the early to late Mesolithic. Comparisons to Epigravettian contexts from the same region suggest that these techniques of manufacturing were already defined during the Late Glacial. Harpoons appear at the end of the Sauveterrian period similar to other sites of the north-eastern Alpine region. According to the faunal remains, their presence might indicate a shift in hunting techniques that continued throughout the Castelnovian. Manufacturing and use traces on the osseous artefacts were examined under a stereoscope at low magnifications (8x-100x) and then under a metallographic microscope with incident light at 200x magnifications. They were interpreted by comparison to experimental samples.