Burins des Vachons en Italie: typologie, morphotecnique et tracéologie

The research was prompted by the discovery of two open air sites characterized by a high frequency of artifacts noted in literature as “Burins of the Vachons” (Perpère 1972): the sites mentioned are S. Cassiano (Arezzo) e Caruso (Foggia) [figure 1]. Both are unfortunately on the surface, although the collection comes from a limited area and the Aurignacian context is easily identifiable; besides this, the sites assume special importance because of the presence of numerous Vachons Burins, whereas they are found sporadically in other Aurignacian locations (stratified and non-stratified) on our peninsula. The study concentrates on the series of S. Cassiano, which we studied directly, and which is richer than the Caruso one studied by Palma di Cesnola (Palma di Cesnola 1989, 1999, 2001), whom we wish to thank for access to the materials. The lithic industry of S. Cassiano (139 pieces) (Moroni Lanfredini and Ronchitelli 2000, 2001), studied according to the Laplace 1964 analytic typology, is characterized by [figures 2-3]: • large index of Burins (42 %), characterized by the component traceable back to the Burins des Vachons; • average index (10 %) of Endscrapers, among which nosed, carinated and core-like tools; • small index (5,5 %) of differentiated Abrupts tools, constituted by truncations overall; we highlight the presence of only one non-Dufour bladelet with marginal retouch; 22 bladelets unretouched are present however, 17 of which with the characteristic of cintrage and twisting to the right (Lucas 1999); • large index (41 %) of the Substrata, where scrapers, denticulated and abrupts tools are equivalent; deep notches are present on the blade (but not étranglées blades) and even large blades, with profound nonstepped retouch. Presence (1,5 %) of scar Tools. Caruso presents analogous characters; among unretouched pieces are several bladelets, 7 of which are curved and twisted. We emphasize again the presence, at both sites, of artifacts traceable back to the Burins du Raysse (Basseler).The association between the Burins des Vachons and the Burins du Raysse has already been highlighted at Abri 1 of the Vachons (str. 2) (Perpère 1977) and in other surface lithic industries in Moravia (Urcice, Slatinice, Kohoutovice) (Oliva 1996). The Burins des Vachons at S. Cassiano and at Caruso present notably homogeneous characters [figure 5]. We have deliberately chosen to maintain in the description the terminology traditionally linked to the typological classification of these artifacts, such as “burins”, while still taking into consideration, as we will see as we go along, their probable first use as cores: moreover, the traceological study has shed light on the complexity of the problem, highlighting the multi-functional character of these artifacts. A prime common characteristic resides in the quantitative factor that in both the sites is represented by a remarkable prevalence of this variety inside the group of burins [figure 6a].From a techno-typo-metric point of view, the burins of S. Cassiano are normally made on carinated flakes, of dimensions between 30 and 40 mm, often corticated and with a flat butt. This fact agrees with the sparse elaboration of the supports observed by Perpère at the Abri of the Vachons (Perpère 1972). One of the most surprising characteristics is that these instruments are all oriented to the left, if we hold them with the burin bit on the top and flat removals in view. This uniformity seems to indicate that the maker worked with the right hand, proceeding in a clockwise execution of the removals (cf. right twisting morphology of the bladelets.)