Papers by Marina Gallinaro
Quaternary International, 2023
This research is the first archaeometric investigation of Damirgaya and Trialeti painted rock art... more This research is the first archaeometric investigation of Damirgaya and Trialeti painted rock art and pigments from grinding tools from the Neolithic settlement of Khramis Didi Gora, in South Caucasus, Georgia. The aims of this research are to characterise the rocks and pigments including identification of organic binder, as well as investigate the compatibility of inorganic pigments with locally available supplies and methods of production. Stylistic similarities and influences are compared with adjacent archaeological sites from Armenia and Azerbaijan, where traces of monochromatic red pigment were recovered in settlements, barrows and artefacts. Optical microscopy (OM) on loose samples and thin sections, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were used to determine the mineralogical and chemical composition of the samples. Employing micro-Fourier-transform infrared (μ-FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, compounds were further characterized in both rock paintings and grinding tools. It was not possible to identify or ascertain the presence of binders, either because of their low concentration or complete molecular breakdown deterioration. From the pigment residues on both the rock art and grinding tools, hematite was the main colouring agent, with different associated minerals. For the rock samples, it was found that the rock art at Trialeti is on a dacite, whereas the one from Damirgaya is on a rock composed of quartz, with traces of iron oxides and phyllosilicates, suggesting that the rock originated from hydrothermal activity. The research presented here is the first chemical and mineralogical characterization of pigment residues and rock art from South Caucasian prehistory.
Sustainability
Rock art is a widespread cultural heritage, representing an immovable element of the material cul... more Rock art is a widespread cultural heritage, representing an immovable element of the material culture created on natural rocky supports. Paintings and petroglyphs can be found within caves and rock shelters or in open-air contexts and for that reason they are not isolated from the processes acting at the Earth surface. Consequently, rock art represents a sort of ecosystem because it is part of the complex and multidirectional interplay between the host rock, pigments, environmental parameters, and microbial communities. Such complexity results in several processes affecting rock art; some of them contribute to its destruction, others to its preservation. To understand the effects of such processes an interdisciplinary scientific approach is needed. In this contribution, we discuss the many processes acting at the rock interface—where rock art is present—and the multifaceted possibilities of scientific investigations—non-invasive or invasive—offered by the STEM disciplines. Finally, ...
L’Art rupestre d’Afrique Actes du colloque Paris, janvier 2014 Centre Panthéon & musée du quai BranlyPublisher: ÉDITIONS L'Harmattan, 2016
Saharan rock art is undoubtedly one of the most renowned artistic expressions of Africa, as ackno... more Saharan rock art is undoubtedly one of the most renowned artistic expressions of Africa, as acknowledged by the international community. Up to now, this important heritage has not been adequately explored as a real informative archive of past living societies: its study has been indeed mainly focussed on chronological and stylistic issues. Recent investigations carried out on the rock art sites of the Messak and Tadrart Acacus massifs clearly demonstrate that an integrated perspective at a landscape scale constitutes a valid method of analysis both for specific archaeological issues (di Lernia et al. 2013) and cultural heritage management (di Lernia and Gallinaro 2011). The aim of this paper is to investigate one of the mainly debated rock art style, known as “Round Heads style”, in order to define possible patterns of Holocene occupation of the central Saharan massifs through the analysis of shared cultural traits and the use of space. The rock art sites are analysed taking into account both stylistic and technical aspects as well as topographical and geomorphological settings and their relationship with the settlement models proposed in base of archaeological research. A first phase of analysis is performed on the whole archive of the rock art sites from the Tadrart Acacus, recorded by “the Italian- Libyan Archaeological Mission in the Acacus and Messak (central Sahara)”. A further step of analysis is run on the published rock art contexts from the adjacent region of the Tassili n’Ajjer.
Carletti, E., Fusco, M; Gallinaro, M; Zerboni, A, Spinapolice, E.E. 2018, "Raw material exploitation and lithic variability at the MSA site of Gotera, Southern Ethiopia: technological and quantitative approaches combined “. Proceedings of the IEE Metroarcheo Conference 2018, 140-145. This paper analyses the lithic complex from GOT 1-S site, Gotera area, Southern Ethiopia. The aim... more This paper analyses the lithic complex from GOT 1-S site, Gotera area, Southern Ethiopia. The aim is to test the hypothesis of two distinct reduction sequences according to different raw material choices and availability using both technological and statistical approach. The principal raw material are quartz and basalt. Technological analysis shows a more opportunistic reduction strategy on basalt artefact, exploiting the natural convexities on cobbles to produce flakes and tools. The quartz lithic assemblage shows an apparently different reduction sequence, with a more accurate preparation of core striking platforms. Results from the technological approach have been compared through a multivariate statistical method, the Principal component analysis, to quantify the results previously obtained.
African Archaeological Review
This paper focuses on southern Ethiopia, along the outer rim of the Rift Valley and not far from ... more This paper focuses on southern Ethiopia, along the outer rim of the Rift Valley and not far from the Kenyan border, in an area forming part of a larger region known as a cradle of humankind. However, it also hosts a diverse Holocene rock art heritage, which is still underestimated and underdocumented. Paintings and engravings are widespread in the region, both in rock shelters and open-air sites, often located in remote areas currently inhabited by communities belonging to different ethnic groups. The aim of this paper is to present the first results of a new project in the area around Yabelo, within the broader framework of rock art research in East Africa, integrating archaeological research, preservation and heritage management with a relevant involvement of local communities. The outstanding cultural importance of these contexts offers new prospects for both scholarly research and sustainable development. The recording and study of the artworks is underway, using digital technologies that guarantee a high standard of accuracy of the documentation and non-invasive recording methods. This provides important insights for reconstructing cultural dynamics in the area between the final Pleistocene and onset of the Holocene. Moreover, the focus on rock art makes it possible to enhance local knowledge, increasing the awareness of local communities, with a significant impact on the preservation of this fragile heritage and the development of local, sustainable tourism projects. Differently from other archaeological features, rock art can have a more immediate attractiveness for contemporary observers, in terms of the apparent immediacy of the images and their emotional impact, raising awareness of cultural heritage and fostering major involvement in its preservation.
ABSTRACT
Mobility is a key theme in Saharan archaeology. From early human dispersal to the sprea... more ABSTRACT
Mobility is a key theme in Saharan archaeology. From early human dispersal to the spread of the ‘Neolithic’ up to trade in the historical period, the Saharan regions have been crossed throughout the ages by people, artefacts and ideas on a uniquely large scale. In this area, archaeological research has evolved over time, but climatic and environmental variability has played a major role in the interpretation of past Saharan mobility. This article offers a review of papers on the mobility issue in African archaeology, comparing data from the Sahara and the rest of Africa from 1960 to the present. The main aim is to analyse the development of research on mobility in the Sahara, highlighting its main characteristics and peculiarities and suggesting the adoption of more nuanced approaches to the study of past mobility that may pave the way for ‘alternative’— or simply more refined — reconstructions of cultural trajectories.
ABSTRAIT
La mobilité est un thème clé dans l’archéologie saharienne. Que ce soit au début de la dispersion humaine, avec la propagation du ‘Néolithique’, ou par les échanges de la période historique, les régions sahariennes ont été croisées à travers les époques par les personnes, les artefacts et les idées, et ce à une grande échelle. Dans ce domaine, la recherche archéologique a évolué au cours du temps, mais la question de la variabilité climatique et environnementale a joué un rôle majeur dans les interprétations de la mobilité saharienne de par le passé. Cette contribution passe en revue divers articles concernant la question de la mobilité en archéologie africaine, comparant les données du Sahara et du reste de l'Afrique depuis 1960 et jusqu’à présent. Le but principal est d'analyser comment s’est développée la recherche sur la mobilité au Sahara, mettant en évidence ses caractères principaux et ses particularités et appelant à l'adoption d’approches plus nuancées pour l'étude de la mobilité passée, qui pourraient ouvrir la voie à des reconstructions de trajectoires culturelles ‘alternatives’, ou tout simplement plus raffinées.
This paper explores the possible links between rapid climate change (RCC) and social change in th... more This paper explores the possible links between rapid climate change (RCC) and social change in the Near East and surrounding regions (Anatolia, central Syria, southern Israel, Mesopotamia, Cyprus and eastern and central Sahara) during the ‘long’ 4th millennium (~4500e3000) BC. Twenty terrestrial and 20 marine climate proxies are used to identify long-term trends in humidity involving transitions from humid to arid conditions and vice versa. The frequency distribution of episodes of relative aridity across these records is calculated for the period 6300e2000 BC, so that the results may be interpreted in the context of the established arid episodes associated with RCC around 6200 and 2200 BC (the 8.2 and 4.2 kyr events). We identify two distinct episodes of heightened aridity in the early-mid 4th, and late 4th millennium BC. These episodes cluster strongly at 3600e3700 and 3100e3300 BC. There is also evidence of localised aridity spikes in the 5th and 6th millennia BC. These results are used as context for the interpretation of regional and local archaeological records with a particular focus on case studies from western Syria, the middle Euphrates, southern Israel and Cyprus. Interpretation of the records involves the construction of plausible narratives of humaneclimate interaction informed by concepts of adap- tation and resilience from the literature on contemporary (i.e. 21st century) climate change and adap- tation. The results are presented alongside well-documented examples of climatically-influenced societal change in the central and eastern Sahara, where detailed geomorphological studies of ancient envi- ronments have been undertaken in tandem with archaeological research. While the narratives for the Near East and Eastern Mediterranean remain somewhat speculative, the use of resilience and adaptation frameworks allows for a more nuanced treatment of humaneclimate interactions and recognises the diversity and context-specificity of human responses to climatic and environmental change. Our results demonstrate that there is a need for more local environmental data to be collected ‘at source’ during archaeological excavations.
This paper explores the possible links between rapid climate change (RCC) and social change in th... more This paper explores the possible links between rapid climate change (RCC) and social change in the Near East and surrounding regions (Anatolia, central Syria, southern Israel, Mesopotamia, Cyprus and eastern and central Sahara) during the ‘long’ 4th millennium (∼4500–3000) BC. Twenty terrestrial and 20 marine climate proxies are used to identify long-term trends in humidity involving transitions from humid to arid conditions and vice versa. The frequency distribution of episodes of relative aridity across these records is calculated for the period 6300–2000 BC, so that the results may be interpreted in the context of the established arid episodes associated with RCC around 6200 and 2200 BC (the 8.2 and 4.2 kyr events). We identify two distinct episodes of heightened aridity in the early-mid 4th, and late 4th millennium BC. These episodes cluster strongly at 3600–3700 and 3100–3300 BC. There is also evidence of localised aridity spikes in the 5th and 6th millennia BC. These results are used as context for the interpretation of regional and local archaeological records with a particular focus on case studies from western Syria, the middle Euphrates, southern Israel and Cyprus. Interpretation of the records involves the construction of plausible narratives of human–climate interaction informed by concepts of adaptation and resilience from the literature on contemporary (i.e. 21st century) climate change and adaptation. The results are presented alongside well-documented examples of climatically-influenced societal change in the central and eastern Sahara, where detailed geomorphological studies of ancient environments have been undertaken in tandem with archaeological research. While the narratives for the Near East and Eastern Mediterranean remain somewhat speculative, the use of resilience and adaptation frameworks allows for a more nuanced treatment of human–climate interactions and recognises the diversity and context-specificity of human responses to climatic and environmental change. Our results demonstrate that there is a need for more local environmental data to be collected ‘at source’ during archaeological excavations.
Dear colleague,
it a pleasure to announce the International Workshop Trans-Mediterranean humans ... more Dear colleague,
it a pleasure to announce the International Workshop Trans-Mediterranean humans - Rethinking the human representation in the Neolithic and Bronze Age across the Mediterranean Sea that will be held 27-28 October 2015 at the Dipartimento di Architettura, Design e Urbanistica, Complesso S. Chiara, Aula VII – Alghero (Italy).
The seminar will explore the methods of study and the role of human representation (figurines, rock art and images on objects) as a key element for tracing paths and exchanges between the communities of the Mediterranean Sea, during the time span from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.
The meeting will end on October 29 with an excursion to the Museum of Cabras and the archaeological site of Monte Prama.
The event is organized thanks Dean of University of Sassari, the Dipartimento di Storia, Scienze dell’Uomo e della Formazione, the Centro di Studi Interdisciplinari sulle Province Romane, and the PhD School of History, Literature and cultures of the Mediterranean.
more info: https://transmedhuman.wordpress.com
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
We present the multidisciplinary investigation of pigments and artefacts with traces of colour f... more We present the multidisciplinary investigation of pigments and artefacts with traces of colour from the Early- Middle Holocene site of Takarkori, located in the Tadrart Acacus Mountains (central Sahara, SW Libya). Here, geological, archaeological, taphonomic and chemical studies (Raman, Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray powder diffraction, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry) are used to examine a vast range of artefacts (raw materials, grinding stones, painted items, as well as lithic, bone, wooden and ceramic tools) equally distributed from Late Acacus contexts related to hunter-gatherers (ca. 8900–7400 uncal years bp) to pastoral groups (ca. 7400–4500 uncal years bp). The exploited minerals (goethite, hematite, kaolinite and jarosite, among others) are locally procured and processed using quartzarenite grinding stones of different shapes and sizes. Thermal treatment of the minerals is also suggested by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Raman studies. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses show the addition of a lipid binder to small lumps of pigments in order to obtain a sticky product. Their fatty acid distribution differs from the residues on grinding stones, pointing to a specific use of these lumps. The grinding stones have also been used to crush and pulverize the pigments and as base for colour preparation. A sample of colour from a fallen painted slab referable to late pastoral phases shows the presence of a binder, chemically identified as casein. Taken together, the evidence collected at Takarkori conveys to suggest an articulated chaîne opératoire, not only directed towards the preparation of pigments for the parietal rock art but also to other non-utilitarian functions, such as body care and ornamentation and decoration of artefacts.
Archaeological Dimension of World Heritage SpringerBriefs in Archaeology, Apr 30, 2014
Before the conflict in Libya (March 2011), the major threats to its cultural heritage were repres... more Before the conflict in Libya (March 2011), the major threats to its cultural heritage were represented by oil exploitation, infrastructures and tourism. From a theoretical viewpoint there is a great difference on how to deal with Libyan cultural heritage, considering the site-oriented, more ‘northerner’ perspective or the landscape-oriented approach well attested in the South. Considering the dissimilarities between the North and the South, as well as the different impact(s) that the war had on their respective cultural heritages, it is easy to imagine a two-tier approach by local stakeholders and international organisations for handling the post-conflict situation. If in the North, funding will be invested for the restoration of damaged areas—very likely the coastal towns of classical age—the ‘cultural landscape’ in the South runs serious risks of remaining barely considered; it is necessary to define the potential of this heritage and to isolate the best practices to guarantee its future.
Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, 2014
Arts 2013, 2(4), 350-382; doi:10.3390/arts2040350
Abstract
The Messak plateau contains remarkable evidence of human occupation during prehistoric ... more Abstract
The Messak plateau contains remarkable evidence of human occupation during prehistoric and historic times, such as rock art engravings, megalithic monuments, and scatters of stone tools. Since 1980 these remains have been heavily affected by oil extraction-related operations, and it has only been over the last decade that these operations were adequately supported by archaeological mitigation strategies. The 'Messak Project' was originally conceived as a three-year programme (2010–2012) focusing on a range of co-ordinated actions to increase the knowledge of the area, to assess any damage and potential risks, and to preserve and manage the cultural heritage. Uprisings in Libya led to the sudden interruption of the project in late February 2011. Nevertheless, major results of the projects include: the compilation of a database of circa 10,000 sites, including hundreds of unpublished sites from previous surveys; the discovery of circa 2500 new archaeological sites; and the drawing of a set of GIS-based maps. In this paper we firstly introduce the materials and methods of the 'Messak Project', and secondly, we present an updated overview of the archaeological landscape of the Messak in the light of the project's recent achievements.
PLoS ONE 8 (2): e56879, Feb 21, 2013
Cattle pastoralism is an important trait of African cultures.
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Papers by Marina Gallinaro
Mobility is a key theme in Saharan archaeology. From early human dispersal to the spread of the ‘Neolithic’ up to trade in the historical period, the Saharan regions have been crossed throughout the ages by people, artefacts and ideas on a uniquely large scale. In this area, archaeological research has evolved over time, but climatic and environmental variability has played a major role in the interpretation of past Saharan mobility. This article offers a review of papers on the mobility issue in African archaeology, comparing data from the Sahara and the rest of Africa from 1960 to the present. The main aim is to analyse the development of research on mobility in the Sahara, highlighting its main characteristics and peculiarities and suggesting the adoption of more nuanced approaches to the study of past mobility that may pave the way for ‘alternative’— or simply more refined — reconstructions of cultural trajectories.
ABSTRAIT
La mobilité est un thème clé dans l’archéologie saharienne. Que ce soit au début de la dispersion humaine, avec la propagation du ‘Néolithique’, ou par les échanges de la période historique, les régions sahariennes ont été croisées à travers les époques par les personnes, les artefacts et les idées, et ce à une grande échelle. Dans ce domaine, la recherche archéologique a évolué au cours du temps, mais la question de la variabilité climatique et environnementale a joué un rôle majeur dans les interprétations de la mobilité saharienne de par le passé. Cette contribution passe en revue divers articles concernant la question de la mobilité en archéologie africaine, comparant les données du Sahara et du reste de l'Afrique depuis 1960 et jusqu’à présent. Le but principal est d'analyser comment s’est développée la recherche sur la mobilité au Sahara, mettant en évidence ses caractères principaux et ses particularités et appelant à l'adoption d’approches plus nuancées pour l'étude de la mobilité passée, qui pourraient ouvrir la voie à des reconstructions de trajectoires culturelles ‘alternatives’, ou tout simplement plus raffinées.
it a pleasure to announce the International Workshop Trans-Mediterranean humans - Rethinking the human representation in the Neolithic and Bronze Age across the Mediterranean Sea that will be held 27-28 October 2015 at the Dipartimento di Architettura, Design e Urbanistica, Complesso S. Chiara, Aula VII – Alghero (Italy).
The seminar will explore the methods of study and the role of human representation (figurines, rock art and images on objects) as a key element for tracing paths and exchanges between the communities of the Mediterranean Sea, during the time span from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.
The meeting will end on October 29 with an excursion to the Museum of Cabras and the archaeological site of Monte Prama.
The event is organized thanks Dean of University of Sassari, the Dipartimento di Storia, Scienze dell’Uomo e della Formazione, the Centro di Studi Interdisciplinari sulle Province Romane, and the PhD School of History, Literature and cultures of the Mediterranean.
more info: https://transmedhuman.wordpress.com
The Messak plateau contains remarkable evidence of human occupation during prehistoric and historic times, such as rock art engravings, megalithic monuments, and scatters of stone tools. Since 1980 these remains have been heavily affected by oil extraction-related operations, and it has only been over the last decade that these operations were adequately supported by archaeological mitigation strategies. The 'Messak Project' was originally conceived as a three-year programme (2010–2012) focusing on a range of co-ordinated actions to increase the knowledge of the area, to assess any damage and potential risks, and to preserve and manage the cultural heritage. Uprisings in Libya led to the sudden interruption of the project in late February 2011. Nevertheless, major results of the projects include: the compilation of a database of circa 10,000 sites, including hundreds of unpublished sites from previous surveys; the discovery of circa 2500 new archaeological sites; and the drawing of a set of GIS-based maps. In this paper we firstly introduce the materials and methods of the 'Messak Project', and secondly, we present an updated overview of the archaeological landscape of the Messak in the light of the project's recent achievements.
Mobility is a key theme in Saharan archaeology. From early human dispersal to the spread of the ‘Neolithic’ up to trade in the historical period, the Saharan regions have been crossed throughout the ages by people, artefacts and ideas on a uniquely large scale. In this area, archaeological research has evolved over time, but climatic and environmental variability has played a major role in the interpretation of past Saharan mobility. This article offers a review of papers on the mobility issue in African archaeology, comparing data from the Sahara and the rest of Africa from 1960 to the present. The main aim is to analyse the development of research on mobility in the Sahara, highlighting its main characteristics and peculiarities and suggesting the adoption of more nuanced approaches to the study of past mobility that may pave the way for ‘alternative’— or simply more refined — reconstructions of cultural trajectories.
ABSTRAIT
La mobilité est un thème clé dans l’archéologie saharienne. Que ce soit au début de la dispersion humaine, avec la propagation du ‘Néolithique’, ou par les échanges de la période historique, les régions sahariennes ont été croisées à travers les époques par les personnes, les artefacts et les idées, et ce à une grande échelle. Dans ce domaine, la recherche archéologique a évolué au cours du temps, mais la question de la variabilité climatique et environnementale a joué un rôle majeur dans les interprétations de la mobilité saharienne de par le passé. Cette contribution passe en revue divers articles concernant la question de la mobilité en archéologie africaine, comparant les données du Sahara et du reste de l'Afrique depuis 1960 et jusqu’à présent. Le but principal est d'analyser comment s’est développée la recherche sur la mobilité au Sahara, mettant en évidence ses caractères principaux et ses particularités et appelant à l'adoption d’approches plus nuancées pour l'étude de la mobilité passée, qui pourraient ouvrir la voie à des reconstructions de trajectoires culturelles ‘alternatives’, ou tout simplement plus raffinées.
it a pleasure to announce the International Workshop Trans-Mediterranean humans - Rethinking the human representation in the Neolithic and Bronze Age across the Mediterranean Sea that will be held 27-28 October 2015 at the Dipartimento di Architettura, Design e Urbanistica, Complesso S. Chiara, Aula VII – Alghero (Italy).
The seminar will explore the methods of study and the role of human representation (figurines, rock art and images on objects) as a key element for tracing paths and exchanges between the communities of the Mediterranean Sea, during the time span from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.
The meeting will end on October 29 with an excursion to the Museum of Cabras and the archaeological site of Monte Prama.
The event is organized thanks Dean of University of Sassari, the Dipartimento di Storia, Scienze dell’Uomo e della Formazione, the Centro di Studi Interdisciplinari sulle Province Romane, and the PhD School of History, Literature and cultures of the Mediterranean.
more info: https://transmedhuman.wordpress.com
The Messak plateau contains remarkable evidence of human occupation during prehistoric and historic times, such as rock art engravings, megalithic monuments, and scatters of stone tools. Since 1980 these remains have been heavily affected by oil extraction-related operations, and it has only been over the last decade that these operations were adequately supported by archaeological mitigation strategies. The 'Messak Project' was originally conceived as a three-year programme (2010–2012) focusing on a range of co-ordinated actions to increase the knowledge of the area, to assess any damage and potential risks, and to preserve and manage the cultural heritage. Uprisings in Libya led to the sudden interruption of the project in late February 2011. Nevertheless, major results of the projects include: the compilation of a database of circa 10,000 sites, including hundreds of unpublished sites from previous surveys; the discovery of circa 2500 new archaeological sites; and the drawing of a set of GIS-based maps. In this paper we firstly introduce the materials and methods of the 'Messak Project', and secondly, we present an updated overview of the archaeological landscape of the Messak in the light of the project's recent achievements.
Topics connecting the various papers are properties of materials, preferences and choices of actors, the temporality of matter, being and becoming, the relationality between actors, matter, things and space (landscape, urban space, built space), and perceptions of the following generations dealing with the petrified matter, practices, and social relations. Contributors to this volume study specifically whether particular processes of petrification are confined to the material world or can be seen as mirroring, following, triggering, or contradicting changes in social life and general world views. Each of the authors explores – for a period or a specific feature – practices and changes that led to increased conformity and regularity. Some authors additionally focus on the methods and scrutinize them and their applications for their potential to create objects of investigation: things, people, periods, in order to raise awareness for these or to shape or “invent” categories. This volume is of interest to archaeologists, geologists, architectural historians, conservationists, and historians.