Visibility of pastoral sites has been one of the most time-consuming issues over the last 30 years of archaeological research. Actually, in-depth ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological studies revealed as remains of living activity of pastoralists leave specific traces in the archaeological record, in the shape of architectural remains, distinct facilities and organic traces. It appears evident as only focused, pastoral-oriented studies may be able to correctly set the matter. As questioned by Banning and Köhler-Rollefson (KOHLER ROLLEFSON 1992, p. 181), «prehistorians routinely locate the camps of Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers whose greater antiquity should correspond with a greater probability of natural destruction or burial under deep sediments», and it seems quite strange the difficulty to detect remains of pastoral camps, due to their presumed over-quoted “ephemeral” features. Recent multidisciplinary researches move from an exclusively bone-oriented analysis of pastoral groups toward multidimensional approaches, including dedicated techniques of surveys, specific analysis of site formation and continuous exchange with ethnoarchaeological information. Arid and semiarid environments may play a significant role in changing this already obsolete perspective, as specific environmental features favoured an excellent preservation of archaeological remains. In addition, pastoral economy is particularly well adapted to difficult climatic conditions: actually, it seems not by chance that Near East and North Africa are among the most studied areas as regards archaeological and ethnoarchaeological studies of this segment of cultural organisation. This paper deals with the analysis of some specific traits of past and recent pastoral sites, characterised by the presence of dung layers and plant accumulations in rock-shelters located in the Acacus mountains (central Sahara, south-western Libya). Archaeological sites are dated from ca. 8500 to 3500 uncalibrated years bp. Some ethnoarchaeological evidences are related to recent sites of pastoral groups: the Tuaregh of Acacus and surroundings; and the Ahamda, located in central Sudan. Particular attention has been drawn to image processing of thin section of archaeological soils and to photographic captures of recent penning sites. My aim is a) to provide a fast and economic system to discriminate single components in pastoral archaeological deposits; b) to recognise recurrent features in the site formation of specific pastoral sites; c) to illustrate some potentialities of the method, yet to be fully explored, in order to better define features of pastoral activities.
Visibilità dei depositi pastorali in ambienti aridi: problemi e percorsi operativi / DI LERNIA, Savino. - In: ARCHEOLOGIA POSTMEDIEVALE. - ISSN 1592-5935. - STAMPA. - 4:(2000), pp. 141-150. (Intervento presentato al convegno 1° Convegno di Etnoarcheologia Italiana tenutosi a Roma nel 7-8 maggio 1998).
Visibilità dei depositi pastorali in ambienti aridi: problemi e percorsi operativi.
DI LERNIA, Savino
2000
Abstract
Visibility of pastoral sites has been one of the most time-consuming issues over the last 30 years of archaeological research. Actually, in-depth ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological studies revealed as remains of living activity of pastoralists leave specific traces in the archaeological record, in the shape of architectural remains, distinct facilities and organic traces. It appears evident as only focused, pastoral-oriented studies may be able to correctly set the matter. As questioned by Banning and Köhler-Rollefson (KOHLER ROLLEFSON 1992, p. 181), «prehistorians routinely locate the camps of Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers whose greater antiquity should correspond with a greater probability of natural destruction or burial under deep sediments», and it seems quite strange the difficulty to detect remains of pastoral camps, due to their presumed over-quoted “ephemeral” features. Recent multidisciplinary researches move from an exclusively bone-oriented analysis of pastoral groups toward multidimensional approaches, including dedicated techniques of surveys, specific analysis of site formation and continuous exchange with ethnoarchaeological information. Arid and semiarid environments may play a significant role in changing this already obsolete perspective, as specific environmental features favoured an excellent preservation of archaeological remains. In addition, pastoral economy is particularly well adapted to difficult climatic conditions: actually, it seems not by chance that Near East and North Africa are among the most studied areas as regards archaeological and ethnoarchaeological studies of this segment of cultural organisation. This paper deals with the analysis of some specific traits of past and recent pastoral sites, characterised by the presence of dung layers and plant accumulations in rock-shelters located in the Acacus mountains (central Sahara, south-western Libya). Archaeological sites are dated from ca. 8500 to 3500 uncalibrated years bp. Some ethnoarchaeological evidences are related to recent sites of pastoral groups: the Tuaregh of Acacus and surroundings; and the Ahamda, located in central Sudan. Particular attention has been drawn to image processing of thin section of archaeological soils and to photographic captures of recent penning sites. My aim is a) to provide a fast and economic system to discriminate single components in pastoral archaeological deposits; b) to recognise recurrent features in the site formation of specific pastoral sites; c) to illustrate some potentialities of the method, yet to be fully explored, in order to better define features of pastoral activities.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.