Studio tecno-funzionale di asce in pietra levigata provenienti da alcuni complessi neolitici dell'Italia peninsulare

The research is dedicated to interpret the economic and cultural relevance of a category of artifacts, polished axes and adzes coming from Neolithic settlements in northern, central and southern Italy. The sites are Catignano and Colle S. Stefano (Abruzzo), Cala Giovanna Piano, in Pianosa (Archipelago Tuscan) and Alba (Piedmont). The artifacts of Alba are part of the largest collection of polished stone objects coming from Northern Italy. These artifacts have had an important role within Neolithic communities. This crucial role has been made clear thanks to the wide circulation of these objects also hundred miles away from the finding areas of the raw material. An innovative analysis technique, with the support of experimental archaeology, is applied to study polished stone. This technique allows to formulate hypothesis on the production and use modalities of these objects.