The Interplay of Economic, Climatic and Cultural Change Investigated Through Isotopic
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University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2-13-2008 The nI terplay of Economic, Climatic and Cultural Change Investigated Through Isotopic Analyses of Bone Tissue: The aC se of Sardinia 4000-1900 BC Luca Lai University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons Scholar Commons Citation Lai, Luca, "The nI terplay of Economic, Climatic and Cultural Change Investigated Through Isotopic Analyses of Bone Tissue: The Case of Sardinia 4000-1900 BC" (2008). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/353 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Interplay of Economic, Climatic and Cultural Change Investigated Through Isotopic Analyses of Bone Tissue: The Case of Sardinia 4000-1900 BC by Luca Lai A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Anthropology College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Major Professor: Robert H. Tykot, Ph.D. Nancy M. White, Ph.D. E. Christian E. Wells, Ph.D. David J. Hollander, Ph.D. John E. Robb, Ph.D. Giuseppa Tanda, Perfezionamento Date of Approval: February 13, 2008 Keywords: Mediterranean, holistic, diet, climate, prehistory © Copyright 2008 Luca Lai Note to Reader The original of this document contains color that is necessary for understanding the data. The original dissertation is on file with the USF Library in Tampa, Florida. To my family, present and past, including the unknown prehistoric people whose lives I try to understand as one of the ways to understand ourselves Table of Contents Note to Reader ........................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................ vi List of Figures........................................................................................................................... ix Abstract .................................................................................................................................. xxi Preface .................................................................................................................................. xxiii Chapter 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2. Background .............................................................................................................. 7 2.1. Geographic, Environmental and Historical Background ....................................... 7 2.2. Theoretical Background and Objectives .............................................................. 15 Chapter 3. Climatic and Environmental Change in the Western Mediterranean Basin and in Sardinia ca. 4000-1900 BC .................................................................................... 25 3.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 25 3.2. Sources and Methods ........................................................................................... 27 3.3. Analysis of the Evidence by Area ........................................................................ 30 3.3.1. Mediterranean France ........................................................................... 30 3.3.2. Mediterranean Spain ............................................................................. 37 3.3.3. Mediterranean Italy .............................................................................. 43 3.3.4. North Africa, Sicily and Surrounding Islands ...................................... 46 3.3.5. Western Mediterranean Islands: Balearics and Corsica ....................... 49 3.4. Discussion. Trends, Events, and Their Nature ..................................................... 54 i 3.4.1. Was There Any Long-Term Climate Change 4000-1900 BC in the Western Mediterranean? ..................................................................... 54 3.4.2. Assessing Human vs. Climatic Impact ................................................. 56 3.4.3. Chronology and Nature of Climatic Events ......................................... 59 3.5. Conclusion. What Can Be Inferred about Environmental Change in Sardinia ................................................................................................................. 62 Chapter 4. Change in Material Culture and Social Organization in Sardinia 4000- 1900 BC ............................................................................................................................ 68 4.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 68 4.2. Ceramic Groups and the Definition of Archaeological Cultures ......................... 69 4.2.1. Ozieri .................................................................................................... 69 4.2.2. Post-Ozieri Tradition ............................................................................ 72 4.2.3. Monte Claro .......................................................................................... 76 4.2.4. Bell Beaker ........................................................................................... 78 4.2.5. Bonnanaro A ......................................................................................... 80 4.3. Lithics, Bone, Other Items, and Trade ................................................................. 81 4.4. Metal .................................................................................................................... 89 4.5. Buildings and Architectural Remains .................................................................. 94 4.5.1. Settlements ........................................................................................... 94 4.5.2. Ceremonial Sites ................................................................................... 99 4.5.3. Burial Sites ......................................................................................... 101 4.5.3.1. Rock-Carved Tombs ........................................................... 101 4.5.3.2. Dolmens, Chambered Tombs, Megalithic Circles, Cists and Pits.............................................................................. 108 4.6. Ideology and Symbols ........................................................................................ 112 4.6.1. Figurative Art: Symbolic Decoration, Petroglyphs, Figurines ........... 112 4.6.2. Menhirs, Statue-menhirs, Statue-stelae .............................................. 118 4.7. Burial Practices .................................................................................................. 122 4.8. Concluding Remarks .......................................................................................... 130 Chapter 5. Previous Data on Diet and Economy in Sardinia ................................................. 132 5.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 132 ii 5.2. Biotic Remains ................................................................................................... 135 5.2.1. Botanical Remains .............................................................................. 135 5.2.2. Faunal Remains .................................................................................. 137 5.3. Osteology and Paleopathology........................................................................... 155 5.4. Material Culture Evidence ................................................................................. 164 5.4.1. Figurative Representations ................................................................. 164 5.4.2. Lithic Implements for Food Production, Processing, Consumption .......................................................................................... 166 5.4.3. Ceramic Implements for Food Processing, Storage, and Consumption .......................................................................................... 169 5.5. Landscape Use and Occupation ......................................................................... 173 5.5.1. Broad Patterns .................................................................................... 173 5.5.2. Case Studies........................................................................................ 180 5.5.3. Summary of General Trends .............................................................. 185 5.6. History and Ethnohistory ................................................................................... 187 5.7. Summary and Conclusions ................................................................................ 189 Chapter 6. Isotopic Analyses: Materials and Methods .......................................................... 192 6.1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 192 6.2. Principles and Methods .....................................................................................