Capelli C., Cabella R., Del Lucchese A., Piazza M., Starnini E. - Archaeometric analyses of Early and Middle Neolithic pottery from the Pian del Ciliegio rock shelter (Finale Ligure, NW Italy)

The Neolithic site of Pian del Ciliegio is a rock shelter located in the Ponci Valley, at 220 m asl, in the Finalese (Liguria, NW Italy), a well-known karstic area characterised by the existence of several caves with prehistoric occupation. Archaeometric investigations (by optical microscopy and XRPD) were carried out on pottery samples mostly belonging to the Square-Mouthed Pottery Culture and the Impressed Ware Culture found out in the recent excavations of this site. Several fabrics were distinguished among the Square-Mouthed Pottery Culture pottery, suggesting different raw materials sources and production techniques. However, the nature of the mineral inclusions indicates in all cases local or circum-local production (e.g. within a range of a maximum of a few ten kilometres). All Square-Mouthed Pottery fabrics, in fact, contain elements that can be referred to the Palaeozoic metamorphic rocks outcropping in the area. In most cases they are associated with angular sparry calcite inclusions, possibly added as temper, which is a typical feature of other Neolithic pottery production from cave contexts studied in the area. On the contrary the Impressed Ware, although represented by a few sherds, shows a great variability both in fabrics and raw material provenance. Together with different local fabrics (with metamorphites ± calcite), fabrics with ophiolitic inclusions (possibly from Tuscany) and volcanic temper (from Central Italy) were found too. These data confirm and integrate those resulting from the investigation of the neighbouring Arene Candide cave site: a long-distance movement by sea of people and goods, pottery included, during the Early Neolithic is now clearly demonstrated.