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Sedimentology and soil micromorphology of the late Pleistocene and early Holocene deposits of Grotta dell'Edera (Trieste Karst, NE Italy)
Author(s) -
Boschian Giovanni
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6548(199705)12:3<227::aid-gea3>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - sedimentology , geology , cave , karst , pleistocene , mesolithic , holocene , sedimentation , deposition (geology) , paleontology , archaeology , loess , taphonomy , middle stone age , geochemistry , sediment , geography
The deposits of Grotta dell'Edera have been studied by both standard sedimentological and soil micromorphological techniques, and have been divided into four main stages. The two older ones have not been dated, as they did not yield any human artefacts; nevertheless, according to their stratigraphic position and sedimentological‐micromorphological characteristics, they may be considered as Tardiglacial. They testify to a thermoclastic event followed by loess deposition, both accompanied by strong inputs from outside the cave. The two following stages were ascribed to the Mesolithic (stage 3) and to the Neolithic‐Copper Age (stage 4). In these two intervals sedimentation was strongly affected by human activity, while external inputs decreased. Mesolithic occupation produced sediments rich in ash and decayed organic matter. During the final stage, the cave was a shelter for domestic animals, and the deposits are mainly composed of their droppings. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.