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Northern Apulia has primary and secondary chert sources which were exploited in prehistory. During Neolithic period, on the north-eastern coast of the Gargano promontory, an important network of mines represented one of the most significant primary chert sources in the Adriatic area. However, easily accessible secondary chert sources are available in the Tavoliere plain in several synthems from the southern Appennines chain to the Gulf of Manfredonia. This work provides an overview of chert sources distributed in the Gargano and Tavoliere plain by means of a combination of up-to-date geological and archaeological information. Moreover, the lithic industries of eight Early and Middle Neolithic settlements were sampled in order to understand the procurement strategies of chert or tools used by communities settled in the Tavoliere plain. A non-destructive multi-parametric protocol for chert investigations (NM-PCI) method was applied to all the collected Gargano mines and secondary chert from the Tavoliere area. The results obtained demonstrate a high percentage of secondary chert used in the investigated sites, and the exploitation of mined chert essentially for the production of blades. In this latter case, provenance from the mines of Maiolica Fm is more frequent than that from mines of Peschici Fm. The polygenic nature of the pebbles occurring in the different synthems is the consequence of different sedimentary histories, as witnessed by the difference in the lithological array between inland and coastal synthems, and makes difficult any attribution to a specific source. If on the one hand these results further testify the circulation of mined Gargano chert in the Tavoliere plain in the Early Neolithic, on the other hand they demonstrate that the secondary coastal pebbles, especially those of southern Gargano lithotypes, were largely used, even in inland settlements. Moreover, these results suggest the exploitation of other primary cherts of the southern Gargano. This underlines the importance of further archaeological and geological investigations to better understand the exploitation and circulation of chert in Northern Apulia and in the Adriatic area.

We used portable X-ray fluorescence analysis to perform elemental analysis of 111 obsidian artefacts from 32 Neolithic and two Late Neolithic/Bronze Age sites in the Tavoliere, Italy. This is the first detailed regional Neolithic study of obsidian in Italy. By comparing the elemental compositions with those of Mediterranean obsidian sources, we identified the Gabellotto of Lipari as the source for 99 artefacts and Palmarola as source for twelve artefacts. Within the Tavoliere, the Palmarola obsidian had a more westerly distribution, whereas the Lipari obsidian is more generally distributed. This pattern probably reflects the geographical origin of the obsidian and the trade and exchange networks necessary to bring material to the Tavoliere over land from the west. The obsidian pieces have very few or no signs of use-wear, implying that they may have been used only a few times, or even just once. We suggest that such limited use implies a role for obsidian in special rituals involving rites de passage such as cutting the umbilical cord of newborns or circumcision of boys.

Le propos de l’étude est d’identifier un certain nombre de questions en suspens sur la pratique de la transhumance en Italie centrale à l’époque romaine et de suggérer quelques pistes nouvelles de recherche sur ces déplacements réguliers et saisonniers des troupeaux et des hommes à plus ou moins longue distance. Après avoir rappelé quelques définitions, notamment les trois emplois principaux du mot latin saltus, l’auteur centre son attention sur la complémentarité de l’agriculture et de l’élevage, trop souvent oubliée. Ce thème dont elle avait souligné l’intérêt lors de la rencontre de 2012 a été retenu pour la rencontre de 2013. L’auteur souligne la diversité des terres – mises en culture ou non – qui peuvent servir de pâturages aux troupeaux. Parmi les orientations envisagées pour l’avenir on notera les suivantes : dépasser les limites chronologiques imposées par la majorité des sources écrites, élargir l’espace géographique considéré et développer les comparaisons. Par la diversité des questions qu’elle pose ainsi que des domaines, des disciplines et des méthodes qu’elle met en cause, l’étude de la transhumance est l’une des clefs les plus fascinantes de lecture et de compréhension du fonctionnement des sociétés rurales : cette pratique a constitué en effet au long des siècles un « objet social total ». This study identifies a certain number of unanswered questions concerning the practice of transhumance in central Italy in Roman times and suggests some new directions for research addressing such seasonal movements of flocks and men over distances. After reviewing certain definitions, in particular, the three principal uses of the Latin term saltus, the author concentrates on the complementary nature of agriculture and breeding, which is often neglected. This theme, which she had emphasized at the 2012 meeting, was the basis of the 2013 meeting. The author underscores the diversity of lands, whether cultivated or not, which can serve as pastures for flocks or herds. Among possible directions for future work might be the following: moving beyond the chronological limits imposed by the majority of written sources, broadening the geographical space to be studied, and developing comparisons. Because of the diversity of questions it raises, as well as the diversity of domains, disciplines, and methods of analysis it requires, the study of transhumance is one of the most fascinating keys for reading and understanding rural societies. Throughout the centuries, the practice has indeed constituted a “total social object.”