Le site Épigravettien de l'Abri Dalmeri : aspects artistiques à la fin du Paléolithique supérieur en Italie du nord

Abstract

Over the past fifteen years of research in the alpine area, the Dalmeri Rockshelter, located on the northeastern edge of the Sette Comuni Plateau (Trento, Italy), has become a key site for reconstructing the exploitation of the mountain territories by the human groups of the end of the Upper Palaeolithic. Excavations, carried out between 1991 and 2005, brought to light a sequence of Recent Epigravettian anthropic levels, which were radiocarbon dated to the Allerød interstadial. The well-preserved paleosurfaces provided the opportunity to carry out a thorough analysis on the faunal and lithic remains, enabling us to reconstruct the palaeoeconomy, the function and the internal organisation of the site. In the past five years, the discovery of a notable quantity of red ochre painted stones, which are linked to the earliest settlement phase, revealed different representations, both naturalistic paintings as well as signs. Following this discovery, the interpretation of the site began to touch the artistic-religious sphere, providing new insights into Epigravettian art.