Summary (English)
The Grotta del Col de la Stria (Mossano, VI) is situated in the Berici hills, at circa 375 m a.s.l., a few metres from the road linking Mossano to Soghe, about 50 m downhill from the known Grotta di Paina.
It is constituted by a large, almost rectangular cave with two large adjacent openings. It can also be reached from the western slope of the Cole de la Stria via at least three further openings which give access to three shafts. The excavation campaigns undertaken in 2004-2007 recovered a large amount of material relating to the occupation of the cave by Homo Sapiens in the Upper Paleolithic (US1÷US4t1) and by large carnivores. The site had been repeatedly used by the cave bear for winter hibernation: this was attested by a large amount of food remains showing bite marks and by milk teeth lost by bear cubs. Two absolute dates (using the C14 AMS method), one from a megacerus mandible and another from a bone with butchery marks, date the anthropological occupation layer 3b to between 30.304±330 BP and 28.342±160 BP. The evidence of human occupation from U.S.4, at the base of cut I, constituted by lithic artefacts (probably of the Aurignacian period) and food remains, were dated to 40.829±450 BP (using the C14 AMS method). Moreover, a fragment of seashell, probably used for personal ornament, was found in the same layer. Two pieces of carbonised wood, found together with stone blades in U.S.2, were dated, using the C14 AMS method, to 16.037±100BP and 16.802±90BP .
The research project aims to define the occupation dynamics and the survival strategies used by Homo Sapiens during the Upper Paleolithic: hunting areas, supply of lithic materials, lithic and bone working techniques, cultural organisation. The results will be integrated with what is already known of Man’s occupation of the Berici hills during the Upper Paleolithic from excavations undertaken in the Grotte di Paina, in the Covolo Fortificato di Trene, in the Grotte and in the Riparo del Broion and on the southern slopes of the Eastern Alps (Monti Lessini, Altopiano di Asiago, Altopiano del Cansiglio, Val Belluna etc.) in general.
In 2007 excavations took place from the 16th July to 18th August. The excavation area was enlarged to the south by 6 m2. In squares D1,D2,E1,E2,F1,F2 the upper most deposit was excavated which overlay US0, constituted by a fan of colluvial soils and collapsed stones, heavily disturbed by plant growth, up to 30 cm deep. Within this layer six flint flakes and occasional faunal remains were found. The stratigraphic units below were then removed, beginning with US1a and US1b constituted by a loess deposit with a limestone matrix, up to 30 cm and 50 cm deep respectively. These layers were also heavily disturbed by plant growth. Lithic industry was represented by 8 flakes and 2 blade fragments, a scarce amount of macro-fauna and a substantial amount of micro-faunal remains. At the top of US2 there was a well defined patch of charcoal material. It was circular in plan, the shape suggested by the position of a number of stones around its edge. Two flint implements were found at the top of the charcoal sediment of US2: a blade and a large flake with a faceted heel, both made with allocthonous Biancone flint. Around the hearth was a horizon of ash, some charcoal and faunal remains, denominated US2CL, which represented a paleo-surface. US2 was the final layer investigated. Between 5-10 cm deep, it was characterised by the presence of collapsed stones and numerous remains of micro-mammals and sporadic macro-mammals and the absence of any further archaeological evidence.
- Alberto Broglio - Università degli Studi di Ferrara, cattedra di Paleontologia Umana 
- Mirco De Stefani - Università degli Studi di Ferrara 
Director
Team
- Laurence Bouquet - Università de La Sorbonne (Parigi)
- Antonio Tagliacozzo - Soprintendenza speciale al Museo Preistorico Etnografico “L. Pigorini” di Roma
- Marco Bertolini - Università degli Studi di Ferrara
- Matteo Romandini - Università degli Studi di Ferrara
- Marco Peresani - Università degli Studi di Ferrara
- Stefano Bertola - Università degli Studi di Ferrara
- Giorgio Bartolomei - Università degli Studi di Venezia, cattedra di di Geografia Fisica
- Cesare Ravazzi - CNR-I.D.P.A., Milano
- Lucio Calcagnile - Centro di Datazione e Diagnostica dell’Università di Lecce
- Sara Ziggiotti - Università degli Studi di Ferrara
- Alberto Bizzi - C.A.I. di Vicenza
- Ippolito Caneva - C.A.I. di Vicenza
- Paolo Pretto - C.A.I. di Vicenza
Research Body
- Centro di Datazione e Diagnostica dell’Università di Lecce
- Istituto per la Dinamica dei Processi Ambientali del C.N.R di Dalmine (BG)
- Soprintendenza Speciale al Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico “Luigi Pigorini”
- Università di Ferrara, Dipartimento di Biologia ed Evoluzione
Funding Body
- Banca Popolare di Vicenza
- Banca del Centroveneto
- Comune di Nanto
- Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Verona, Vicenza, Belluno e Ancona
- Provincia di Vicenza
- Regione Veneto
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