Papers by Federico Polisca
Preistoria Alpina 55, 2025
Nuovi scavi sono stati svolti nel settembre 2022 presso il sito del Neolitico Medio di Molino Cas... more Nuovi scavi sono stati svolti nel settembre 2022 presso il sito del Neolitico Medio di Molino Casarotto (Vicenza, Italia). Il sito era già stato scavato da L. Barfield e A. Broglio (1969-72), con l’individuazione di tre “aree di abitazione”. I nuovi scavi hanno interessato una porzione mai scavata della c.d. II area di abitazione, ed hanno riaperto parte dei vecchi scavi per esporre un focolare. Sono state effettuate quindici nuove datazioni radiocarboniche. Le principali evidenze dei nuovi scavi sono (a) un allineamento di pali che costituisce il limite nord delle strutture e degli strati antropici della II area di abitazione, contemporaneo all’infissione di pali con probabile funzione di bonifica (4705-4613 cal a BCE); (b) un’area con residui di piastre scottate derivanti dallo smantellamento di focolari; (c) un nuovo focolare circolare con più rifacimenti (4670-4543 cal a BCE). La sezione del focolare della II area di abitazione, già esposta negli scavi 1969-72, ha permesso di vedere che esso è in realtà una sovrapposizione ripetuta di focolari strutturati e scarichi (4604-4371 cal a BCE). Vengono inoltre illustrati i materiali ceramici, la litica, le faune, ed un’ascia in eclogite a granati.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2025
Burial conditions significantly impact archaeological deposits, possibly affecting our ability to... more Burial conditions significantly impact archaeological deposits, possibly affecting our ability to reconstruct past human activities. This geoarchaeological study examines the informative potential of Bronze Age intra-site deposits by comparing two stratigraphic archives from a waterlogged and a well-drained context. The case studies-Oppeano 4D and La Muraiola di Povegliano-belong to the same archaeological culture, chronology, and geographical area. Both sites feature some of the best domestic evidence from the Italian Bronze Age, along with substantial anthropogenic stratifications, which are the focus of this study. Micromorphology, combined with micro-XRF mapping, reveals that in both sites domestic hearths and animal herding were the primary contributors to the formation of archaeological deposits. This study explores: (1) The formation processes of intra-site protohistoric stratigraphic sequences, which were found to be similar at both sites; (2) The role of different hydrological regimes in affecting the preservation of sedimentary evidence; (3) Practical implications for fieldwork when investigating domestic deposits in both well-drained and waterlogged contexts; (4) Suggestions for large-scale chemical mapping of intra-site deposits, using micromorphology to refine interpretations of chemical signatures. Finally, this study demonstrates that, when geoarchaeological analysis is closely integrated with field data, well-drained deposits can yield comparable insights into past human behaviours as waterlogged sites. The pristine preservation of evidence in waterlogged contexts provides a valuable reference for interpreting deposits with a lower degree of preservation, enhancing our understanding of formation processes.
PLOS One, 2025
Eight juxtaposed structures dating to the Middle Bronze Age (1650–1550 cal BCE) were exposed duri... more Eight juxtaposed structures dating to the Middle Bronze Age (1650–1550 cal BCE) were exposed during rescue archaeological work in Oppeano (Veneto region, NE Italy). The site, named ‘Oppeano 4D’, was waterlogged and, as such, exhibited exceptional preservation of organic materials, including wooden structural remains and plant remains in the internal accretion deposits within each structure. In the present article, the internal stratifications of four such huts have been studied by means of a multi-disciplinary protocol including soil micromorphology and micro- XRF mapping, the study of botanical macro-remains, palynology, and the analysis of faecal biomarkers through GC-MS. Geoarchaeological and geochemical methods allowed to define deposit components necessary for the interpretation of the botanical records. The analyses revealed that the Oppeano structures are in fact byrehouses, where small herbivores were penned and in which other domestic activities, such as cereal processing by means of fire and food preparation, took place. Analyses also revealed that the floodplain offered several different natural environments for pastures and the collection of hay and litter for animal herding. These included the wetlands surrounding the site, the ruderal areas close to cultivated fields and settlement, and mixed deciduous mesophilous and hygrophilous woodlands. The carpological record showed a marked contrast among charred remains, pertaining to food processing, and uncharred seeds, fruits, buds, and twigs that derive from herbivore dung and fodder/bedding material. The palynological record reflects this dichotomy between activities related to human diet and animal penning that took place inside the structures and further revealed traces of natural environments used for pastures.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2025
This study introduces new macroscopic and microscopic evidence for identifying archaeological ani... more This study introduces new macroscopic and microscopic evidence for identifying archaeological animal penning areas: phosphatic crusts. Despite the importance of herding activities for reconstructing the social, economic, and ecological aspects of ancient communities, evidence for animal penning areas has traditionally relied on faint architectural traces or microscopic indicators that are often challenging to identify in the field. By employing a multidisciplinary approach that combines field observations, geoarchaeology, lipid biomarker, and microbotanical analyses, this research examines the phosphatic crusts recently identified at the Middle Bronze Age (1650-1300 BCE) site of La Muraiola di Povegliano (Verona, northeastern Italy). The analyses uncover the processes behind phosphatic crust formation, highlighting the key role of the concentration of animal ejecta in the cementation of the deposit by nanocrystalline partially carbonated hydroxylapatite. This multi-proxy approach further demonstrates that phosphatic crusts serve as crucial archives for investigating the use of space, livestock management (e.g., free grazing/confinement, livestock species, foddering), and human-animal-environment interactions.
PLOS ONE, Aug 31, 2022
High-resolution sediment analysis allowed us to identify two Middle Bronze Age (MBA 1, 1650–1550 ... more High-resolution sediment analysis allowed us to identify two Middle Bronze Age (MBA 1, 1650–1550 cal a BCE) byre-houses at the waterlogged site of Oppeano “4D”, south of Verona (Veneto region, NE Italy). The site lies in a low-lying valley incised by the Adige River in its LGM alluvial fan. In this fluvio-palustrine environment burial and taphonomic conditions were such that the archaeological record was extremely well preserved. The wooden elements making up basal parts of nine ‘huts’ were in fact exposed at Oppeano, and so were their internal accretion deposits. These featured finely laminated dung units deriving from the stalling of small herbivores, possibly ovicaprids, intercalated with repeated accumulations of wood ash. This was produced in large and multi-stratified hearths that were exposed within each hut. Organic petrology provided evidence of the production of wood tar inside one of the studied structures. At Oppeano 4D it was thus demonstrated that these structures were not just byres or stables, but spaces that housed humans together with animals at least during some periods of the year, hence byre-houses. The identification of byre-houses in a Middle Bronze Age settlement is key for the reconstruction of socio-economic aspects of Bronze Age economy and production systems.
PLOS ONE, 2022
High-resolution sediment analysis allowed us to identify two Middle Bronze Age (MBA 1, 1650–1550 ... more High-resolution sediment analysis allowed us to identify two Middle Bronze Age (MBA 1, 1650–1550 cal a BCE) byre-houses at the waterlogged site of Oppeano “4D”, south of Verona (Veneto region, NE Italy). The site lies in a low-lying valley incised by the Adige River in its LGM alluvial fan. In this fluvio-palustrine environment burial and taphonomic conditions were such that the archaeological record was extremely well preserved. The wooden elements making up basal parts of nine ‘huts’ were in fact exposed at Oppeano, and so were their internal accretion deposits. These featured finely laminated dung units deriving from the stalling of small herbivores, possibly ovicaprids, intercalated with repeated accumulations of wood ash. This was produced in large and multi-stratified hearths that were exposed within each hut. Organic petrology provided evidence of the production of wood tar inside one of the studied structures. At Oppeano 4D it was thus demonstrated that these structures were not just byres or stables, but spaces that housed humans together with animals at least during some periods of the year, hence byre-houses. The identification of byre-houses in a Middle Bronze Age settlement is key for the reconstruction of socio-economic aspects of Bronze Age economy and production systems.
Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on Woodland in Northern Syria (4th–2nd Mill. BC): Evidence from Charcoal Assemblages and Oak Measurements
Environmental Archaeology, 2021
Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on Woodland in Northern Syria (4th–2nd Mill. BC): Evidence from Charcoal Assemblages and Oak Measurements
Environmental Archaeology
L’ANFITEATRO DI AQUILEIA - Ricerche d’archivio e nuove indagini di scavo, 2019
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Papers by Federico Polisca