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L’Épigravettien a été défini dans les années 1960 pour rendre compte de l’originalité des industries lithiques postérieures au Gravettien en Italie. L’extension progressive de cette entité à une grande partie de l’Europe méditerranéenne et orientale s’est également appuyée essentiellement sur les industries lithiques. Au cours des dernières décennies, le développement de l’approche technologique dans l’étude des industries lithiques, associé à une meilleure prise en compte des contextes archéologiques et des séquences stratigraphiques, a fortement renouvelé la perception de l’Épigravettien, de sa sériation et de son emprise chrono-géographique. Dans plusieurs régions, des travaux portant sur les transferts lithiques documentent des réseaux de déplacement et de contact s’établissant à différentes échelles. En parallèle, les recherches portant sur d’autres domaines techniques et culturels ont considérablement progressé au cours des dernières décennies et ont concerné des matériaux variés (parures, faunes, art pariétal et mobilier, sépultures...). Pourtant, ces recherches ont été généralement menées à l’intérieur du cadre fixé par les industries lithiques et n’ont querarement conduit à une rediscussion de ce dernier. Dans cette communication, nous proposons une première tentative de synthèse des données acquises et nous tentons de poser les bases d’un dialogue non hiérarchisé entre ces différents domaines de la culture matérielle. Cette position nous conduit à éprouver d’abord la consistance de l’entité épigravettienne en dehors des seules pratiques techniques lithiques et à évaluer les recouvrements et les écarts existant entre les séquences de changements identifiés au sein des différentes composantes des systèmes techniques. Cette discussion est menée en s’appuyant d’abord sur un noyau de connaissances établies au-tour de deux grands domaines géographiques : le nord-est de l’Italie et l’arc liguro-provençal. Nous élargissons ensuite la réflexion vers le sud et vers l’est. Chronologiquement, notre propos embrasse la durée de l’ Épigravettien (entre ca. 20 ka cal. BP et 11, 5 ka cal. BP), mais se concentrera sur certains épisodes critiques ou des changements forts sont perceptibles dans les pratiques culturelles de populations épigravettiennes.

The Piave drainage system is one of the widest in north-eastern Italy. Starting from its source in the northeastern Dolomites, it reaches the Venetian Plain and flows into the Adriatic Sea to the north of the Venice Lagoon. It represents one of the most important natural routes connecting the northern Adriatic coast with the inner Alps. Over the last couple of decades, a large number of Mesolithic sites have been discovered along its course, and a few sites have also been excavated, such as Mondeval de Sora in the Belluno Dolomites and the settlements of the Cansiglio Plateau in the pre-Alpine fringe. Recent research focused on this rich dataset, which includes sites extending across a wide variety of natural morphologies and landscapes, has allowed for some preliminary considerations to be made about the territorial organization and settlement strategies adopted by Early Mesolithic (Sauveterrian) hunter-gatherer-fisher groups. Further investigations across this area are in progres.

Cardiac valves are essential for the continuous and unidirectional flow of blood throughout the body. During embryonic development, their formation is strictly connected to the mechanical forces exerted by blood flow. The endocardium that lines the interior of the heart is a specialized endothelial tissue and is highly sensitive to fluid shear stress. Endocardial cells harbor a signal transduction machinery required for the translation of these forces into biochemical signaling, which strongly impacts cardiac morphogenesis and physiology. To date, we lack a solid understanding on the mechanisms by which endocardial cells sense the dynamic mechanical stimuli and how they trigger different cellular responses. In the zebrafish embryo, endocardial cells at the atrioventricular canal respond to blood flow by rearranging from a monolayer to a double-layer, composed of a luminal cell population subjected to blood flow and an abluminal one that is not exposed to it. These early morphological changes lead to the formation of an immature valve leaflet. While previous studies mainly focused on genes that are positively regulated by shear stress, the mechanisms regulating cell behaviors and fates in cells that lack the stimulus of blood flow are largely unknown. One key discovery of my work is that the flow-sensitive Notch receptor and Krüppel-like factor (Klf) 2, one of the best characterized flow-regulated transcriptional factors, are activated by shear stress but that they function in two parallel signal transduction pathways. Each of these two pathways is essential for the rearrangement of atrioventricular cells into an immature double-layered valve leaflets. A second key discovery of my study is the finding that both Notch and Klf2 signaling negatively regulate the expression of the angiogenesis receptor Vegfr3/Flt4, which becomes restricted to abluminal endocardial cells of the valve leaflet. Within these cells, Flt4 downregulates the expressions of the cell adhesion proteins Alcam and VE-cadherin. A loss of Flt4 causes abluminal endocardial cells to ectopically express Notch, which is normally restricted to luminal cells, and impairs valve morphology. My study suggests that abluminal endocardial cells that do not experience mechanical stimuli loose Notch expression and this triggers expression of Flt4. In turn, Flt4 negatively regulates Notch on the abluminal side of the valve leaflet. These antagonistic signaling activities and fine-tuned gene regulatory mechanisms ultimately shape cardiac valve leaflets by inducing unique differences in the fates of endocardial cells., Herzklappen sind essentiell für den kontinuierlichen und gerichteten Blutfluss durch den Körper. Während der Embryonalentwicklung ist die Bildung der Herzklappen stark von vom Blutfluss generierten, mechanischen Kräften abhängig. Das Endokard, ein endotheliales Gewebe, das das Herz im Inneren auskleidet, reagiert sehr sensibel auf biomechanische Einwirkungen. Endokardzellen weisen eine Signaltransduktionsmaschinerie auf, welche die Umwandlung dieser Kräfte in biochemische und elektrische Signale ermöglicht und somit unverzichtbar für die Herzmorphogenese und -physiologie ist. Allerdings fehlt uns noch immer das Verständnis der Mechanismen, mit denen Endokardzellen dynamische, biomechanische Signale wahrnehmen und wie verschiedene zelluläre Antworten ausgelöst werden können. Im Zebrafischembryo reagieren Endokardzellen im atrioventrikulärem Kanal auf Blutfluss induzierte Schubspannung mit einer Umorganisation, wobei sich aus einer Einzelschicht an Zellen eine Doppelschicht bildet. Letztere besteht aus einer luminalen Zellpopulation, die dem Blutstrom ausgesetzt ist und einer abluminalen Population, der der Kontakt zum Blut fehlt. Diese initialen morphologischen Veränderungen führen zur Ausbildung des frühen Herzklappensegels. Bisherige Studien berichteten im Besonderen über Gene die positiv von einer veränderten Schubspannung in Endokardzellen reguliert werden. Allerdings sind die Mechanismen, die das Verhalten und die Spezifizierung von den Zellen regulieren, die nicht in Kontakt mit dem Blutfluss sind, weitgehend unbekannt. Eine meiner Schlüsselentdeckungen in dieser Arbeit ist, dass zwei der am besten charakterisierten, durch Blutfluss transkriptional regulierten Faktoren, der Notch Rezeptor und der Krüppel-like factor (Klf) 2, durch Schubspannung aktiviert werden. Dies funktioniert auf zwei parallelen mechanosensitiven Signaltransduktionswegen und beide Kaskaden sind essentiell für die Umorganisation der atrioventrikulären Zellen während der Bildung der frühen zweischichtigen Klappensegeln. Eine zweite wichtige Entdeckung meiner Studien ist, dass die Expression des angiogenen Faktors Vegfr3/Flt4, die auf abluminale Endokardzellen im frühen Klappensegel beschränk ist, von beiden Signalwegen, Notch und KLf2, negativ reguliert wird. Außerdem veringert Flt4 die Expression der Zelladhäsionsproteine Alcam und VE-cadherin in abluminalen Zellen und führt die Herzklappenmorphogenese herbei. Der Verlust von Flt4 wiederum führt zu einer ektopischen Expression von Notch in abluminalen Endokardzellen, welche sonst nur in luminalen Zellen auftritt. Daher zeigt meine Arbeit, dass abluminale Endokardzellen, die keinem mechanischem Reiz ausgesetzt sind, Notch herunterregulieren und damit die Expression von Flt4 auslösen. Flt4 wiederum blockiert dann zusätzlich den Notch Signalweg in dieser Zellpopulation. Diese antagonistischen Signalaktivitäten und fein abgestimmte Genregulationsmechanismen sorgen für Unterschiede in der Spezifizierung der Endokardzellen und formen so schließlich die Segelklappen im Herz.

Il contributo affronta il tema della topografia sacra nel centro romano di Tergeste, attraverso l’analisi di alcuni casi studio. La lettura complessiva del centro romano rimane per molti aspetti ancora carente, soprattutto per quanto riguarda la topografia religiosa, ma è possibile proporre alcuni contesti, che si distinguono per la qualità della documentazione archeologica ed epigrafica, come l’area capitolina, l’Iseo/Serapeo, il tempio alla Mater Magna e quello a Bona Dea.

Il contributo affronta i meccanismi di diffusione di culti diversi nelle società del Mediterraneo antico, caratterizzate da un politeismo fortemente inclusivo: queste si presentano permeate da un pragmatismo duttile determinato da contatti quotidiani con popoli, culture e pratiche religiose differenti. Una vita religiosa ‘plurale’ era alla base della civile convivenza, così come un rigoroso rispetto dei rituali era alla base dell’ordine pubblico.

Following over a decade of successful research activity in the Trentino area, the first prehistoric investigations in the northern Belluno Dolomites started in the mid 1980ies. The main result of such investigations was the discovery and the archaeological excavations at the site of Mondeval de Sora (San Vito di Cadore, 2,150m asl), undertaken between 1985 and 2000 by the University of Ferrara. These research initiatives revealed an interesting Mesolithic context, including a remarkably well preserved and rich Mesolithic burial, the highest prehistoric burial in Europe (Fontana et al. 2016). This discovery led to an intensification of survey activities in the areas surrounding the site. These surveys, carried out also by local amateurs, enabled the identification of several lithic scatters in the area between the Boite and Cordevole valleys (sub-tributaries of the Piave river) at altitudes spanning between 1800 and 2700 m asl. Between 2011 and 2015 a new survey project was undertaken by the Universities of Ferrara and Trento with the objective of reconstructing the human colonisation of this highland territory from prehistoric times to present day. The project was preceded by a phase of bibliographic data collection, analysis of available cartographic resources and, as for historical periods, remote sensing analysis. The fieldwork was aimed at assessing the previously discovered evidence and recording any other sign of past human activity identifiable on the surface, with no chronological restriction (Visentin et al. 2016a). Such approach was defined “Total archaeology”, with reference not only to the diachronic perspective but also to the multi-scale approach adopted (micro- e.g. artefacts; meso- e.g. rock engravings; macro- e.g. structures and facilities). Sample areas were selected for the extensive survey based on the presence of previously identified sites and specific topographic features. During fieldwork campaigns specific zones were investigated more intensively than others, because they provided favourable visibility conditions and/or significant natural and anthropic features (structures, boulders or rock shelters). Several hundreds of archaeological contexts were recorded during the survey, from scattered archaeological materials to more evident landscape features. Over one hundred prehistoric find-spots, mostly composed of lithic knapped artefacts, associated in a few cases to potsherds and/or faunal remains, were identified and/or re-identified and positioned. The chronology of these find-spots was often difficult to infer from the techno-typological features of the lithic assemblages but when this was possible, the record could be attributed to the time span included between the Late Palaeolithic and the Bronze Age, and predominantly to the Mesolithic and the Copper age periods (Fig. 1). The Mesolithic evidence highlights an intense exploitation of these areas both by Sauveterrian and Castelnovian groups with very similar settlement strategies. The position of most sites seems to reflect displacements along paths (mostly corresponding to the modern ones) which allow a good visibility on the surrounding territory and reduced vertical shifts moving from one location to the other (Visentin et al. 2016b). The spatial analysis of this record has contributed to assessing the overall weight of research biases and the reliability of the current evidence for the reconstruction of past settlement patterns (Visentin and Carrer 2017). The unexpected discovery of a fragment of Late Neolithic/Copper Age flat-retouched point on the peak of Lastoni di Formin (2654 m asl), was associated to a flint dagger found on the neighbouring Mount Cernera (at similar altitude). These two isolated finds were tentatively interpreted as voluntary depositions, possibly related to early forms of territoriality in these marginal landscapes (Cavulli et al. 2015). Some archaeological contexts were dated to the historical period. Enclosures and huts/shelters for shepherds were documented in different parts of the study-area, along with hay-making facilities and charcoal burners, showing the historical roots of traditional practices still carried out in these mountains during the 20th century. Trenches related to the WWI and markers of ephemeral touristic occupation (e.g. isolated hearts, modern artefacts under a rock shelter) provided evidence of the most recent human interaction with these environments. Particularly noticeable is also a series of compass-made circles, engraved in outcropping bedrock and isolated stones, preliminarily interpreted as border markers and generically attributed to the historical period. To conclude, the Total Archaeology project assessed that the Belluno Dolomites represent a rich and potentially very informative region for the reconstruction of long-term highland occupation strategies in the Alps. One of the richest areas, the Prà Comun, near Passo Giau, has been selected for the development of stratigraphic investigations scheduled for the summer 2019 (Fig. 2).

Il volume costituisce la sintesi scientifica delle ricerche preistoriche che l’Università degli Studi di Ferrara ha effettuato negli ultimi 50 anni, coprendo un arco temporale che comprende culturalmente il periodo che va dal Paleolitico inferiore al Mesolitico. Nel tentativo di fornire un quadro quanto più completo ed esaustivo delle ricerche la monografia è concepita come un catalogo di agile consultazione suddiviso in base ai siti archeologici scavati dai professori e ricercatori nel corso del tempo. Per ciascun sito si descrivono molteplici aspetti, dalle modalità di intervento allo studio di vari settori disciplinari (stratigrafia, geologia, palinologia, paleontologia, paletnologia, ecc..)., Sezione di Museologia Scientifica e Naturalistica, Vol 15 (2019): Le ricerche preistoriche dell'Università di Ferrara

L’analisi del materiale epigrafico ed archeologico del contesto sacro di Monastero di Aquileia ha portato ad individuare sul frontone fittile del tempio Apollo, Artemide ed un’altra figura di tipo matronale (Athena; Latona?), cui si associavano, probabilmente come figure marginali, Borea ed Orizia, il cui mito è tradizionalmente legato, nell’Atene di V sec. a.C., all’imperialismo marittimo seguito alla vittoria sui Persiani. La coppia di Apollo e Diana sembra avere, anche ad Aquileia, caratteristiche spiccatamente anti-barbariche. L’atto dedicatorio di Tampia, invece, relativo ad un sacello a Diovis, rivela il probabile intento di recuparare un culto proprio della zona di origine della sua gens, Praeneste. The analysis of epigraphic and archaeological material of the sacred context of Monastero di Aquileia has led to identifying on the terracotta pediment of the temple Apollo, Artemis and another figure of matronly type (Athena, Latona?), to whom were associated, probably as marginal figures, Boreas and Oreithyia, whose myth is traditionally linked, in the Athens of the fifth century B.C., to the maritime imperialism following the victory over the Persians. The couple of Apollo and Diana seem to have, also at Aquileia, distinctly anti-barbarian characteristics. The dedicatory act of Tampia, instead, relating to a sacellum of Diovis, reveals the probable intention of recovering a cult typical of the area of origin of its gens, Praeneste.

We report on a virtual workshop aimed at advancing a new synthesis of techno-cultural patterns at the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary in Europe. We respond to the growing need of developing meta-analytical frameworks for comparing and eventually integrating disparate regional datasets and stress the opportunities of collaborative approaches. We propose that expert-sourced lithic data is a promising means of conducting systematic archaeological meta-analyses, and that the compilation and examination of similar continental-scale datasets may be an important research goal in the future., Archäologische Informationen, Bd. 43 (2020): Archäologische Informationen

On a methodological level, this paper deals with the interpretative difficulties of the figures of the 'sacred', especially in reference with the ambiguity inherent in iconographic analysis. In fact similar iconographic schemes could be used for deities with similar competences, with only personal details working as distinctive elements. Some case studies are used to clarify, as it is increasingly necessary to combine effectively different specialisms with an interdisciplinary approach.

International audience; The Early Mesolithic is one of the best known periods in European prehistory because of the very rich evidence yielded by archaeological researches during the last century. Nonetheless, most works carried out in this time span were focused on a regional or even site-oriented perspective. This can be partially connected to the general reduction of provisioning territories attested since the last part of the Pleistocene and the significant differences in material culture recorded by the archaeological evidence. Most likely, there is also a research-related reason for this, stemming out of the uneven interpretation of material culture as a distinctive marker of human groups variability. Western Europe is a clear example of this: while in the northern region researchers distinguished a high number of cultural entities on the base of differences in microliths shape and size, in the southern one a highest importance was given to common features leading to the creation of a large Sauveterrian territory. A recent revision of some of the most important sites from this latter area, gave us the opportunity to interrogate our evidence in this perspective in order to assess to what extent such situation could be related to a bias driven interpretation.

Il contributo affronta lo studio di tutti i pavimenti e mosaici messi in luce nell'ambito dello scavo di una domus romana tardo antica ad Aquileia (IV secolo d.C.)

Recent studies have been guided by four survey paradigms: the topography of cults, aimed at identifying their urban visibility; the archaeological and epigraphic documentation of the cults, in order to identify their characteristics, timeline and foundations; the participants to the cults, both priests and worshippers, to clarify their juridical conditions and role in the cult’s organization; and, lastly, the ritualistic practices of the cults, in order to verify their possible ‘indigenous’ specificity. The application of such paradigms to the context of Aquileia, which up to now has been researched in a non-systematic and mostly non-homogeneous way when it comes to the so-called ‘archaeology of the sacred’ (16), is destined to produce highly interesting result

Si presenta lo scavo condotto ad Aquileia, in via Gemina, sotto il profilo delle strategie metodologiche.

Il contributo affronta il tema dei cosiddetti culti orientali ad Aquileia, prendendo in esame in modo specifico il culto alla Mater Magna e i culti isiaci. Lo studio è impostato secondo paradigmi di indagine: la topografia del culto, che ne individui la visibilità urbana, la documentazione archeologica ed epigrafica del culto, per individuarne caratteristiche, cronologia e statuto, gli attori del culto, sia sacerdoti sia devoti per chiarirne la condizione giuridica e il ruolo nell’organizzazione cultuale e, infine, le pratiche rituali, per verificarne eventuali specificità ‘indigene’. L’applicazione di tali paradigmi alla situazione aquileiese, oggetto fino ad oggi di ricerche non sistematiche e soprattutto non omogenee sul piano della ricerca cosiddetta di ‘archeologia del sacro’ può produrre risultati di notevole interesse.

Il sito indagato dall'Università di Trieste, con la collaborazione scientifica del Politecnico di Torino, si colloca in un’area nevralgica del tessuto urbanistico della città antica, nella seconda insula a nord-est del Foro, più precisamente tra quest’ultimo e il porto fluviale. Nell’area interessata dallo scavo è stata individuata una domus, la cui prima fase edilizia si colloca agli inizi del IV secolo d.C. e che si configura come una delle più articolate ed estese della città tardo-antica. L’impianto dell’ampia dimora, estesa verosimilmente sull’intera insula, dai dati fino ad oggi disponibili sembra aver variato in modo sostanziale l’assetto catastale dell’isolato, che, pur conservando l’originario perimetro, fu modificato nella distribuzione del reticolo viario interno.

Si presentano i risultati scientifici emersi dalle campagne di scavo condotte dal 2005 al 2016 dall'Università degli Studi di Trieste ad Aquileia nella seconda insula ad est del Foro.

La scheda descrive un anello in argento rinvenuto ad Aquileia, nella cosiddetta Casa "dei putti danzanti". L'anello, con busti contrapposti, è comparabile con esemplari analoghi, aurei e bronzei, della collezione museale aquileiese e si inserisce in un gruppo di oggetti, molto diffusi tra IV e V secolo d.C., che per tipologia e iconografia sono riferibili alla sfera nuziale.

Il contributo affronta un tema di archeologia e topografia del 'sacro' relativo alla città romana di tergeste e, nello specifico, la collocazione extra-urbana del tempio alla bona dea e il suo significato simbolico. Sono, inoltre, affrontati anche problemi relativi allo svolgimento dei rituali e al personale del culto.

Il contributo presenta il risultato dell'elaborazione dei rapporti stratigrafici nella sezione di scavo relativa al secondo cardine ad est del Foro e agli ambienti prospicienti al portico della strada

International audience; Early Mesolithic technology is generally perceived as the result of a low technical investment in particular as regards tools manufacture and use. In this paper it is argued that such perception is actually the result of a low archaeological visibility. A recent project based on a combined techno-functional approach and aimed at comparing Early Mesolithic (Sauveterrian) flaked assemblages coming from Southern France and Northern Italy allowed a better understanding of the technological systems of the European hunter-gatherer groups. By encompassing a wide enough area, it was possible to appreciate the high functional variability of known settlements as well as the complexity of the Sauveterrian settlement system. In this scenario it seems that the current Early Mesolithic evidence of the region, although being relatively abundant with respect to earlier prehistoric periods, is still partially biased by research activities that led to the exploration of specialised sites within a logistical settlement system.