Sauveterrian technical systems between southern France and northern Italy: First attempt of a synthesis

The Sauveterrian entity represents one of the main cultural aspects of the Early Mesolithic in Europe. Its recognition in southern France by L. Coulonge dates back to the beginning of last century. During the 1970s, it was identified in north-eastern Italy (Adige Valley) by A. Broglio and some years later in Tuscany. In spite of these early attributions only a few works – essentially based on typological aspects – have tried to compare the lithic complexes from the two areas. Thanks to the techno-economical analysis of a wide set of sites distributed across northern Italy (Romagnano Loc III in the Adige valley, Mondeval de Sora in the Venetian Dolomites and the sites of the southern Po Plain) and southern France (Fontfaurès, Les Fieux and Les Escabasses in the Quercy region, Rouffignac in Périgord and few other less important sites), a first synthesis of lithic technical systems has been attempted. It has thus been possible to identify the objectives of débitage and the array of technical “solutions” which are part of the “cultural package” of Sauveterrian groups along with a general common evolutionary trend. By the way some specific traits which may be connected to regional adaptations in connection to specific activities and local raw material availability have also been recognized.