Investigating Neolithic activities. The contribution of functional analysis to the reconstruction of settlements’ economy in Central-Southern Italy

Between the late 7th and early 6th millennium BC, the Neolithic era arrives in Southern Italy by sea with Eastern Mediterranean people. The external origin of the Neolithic seems to be supported by the presence of well-organized villages with an already fully productive economy and ceramic production since their first occupation. Being part of a wider project on the Neolithization of Italy, this work presents the results obtained from the study of lithic assemblages from a selected number of Neolithic sites: Ripa Tetta (Puglia), Maddalena di Muccia (Marche), S. Stefano (Abruzzo). Our analyses show how the techno-functional approach to lithic tools can play a significant role in the understanding of the economic and/or cultural choices made by Neolithic groups.