Prénéolithique ou Mésolithique insulaire ?

Abstract

Abstract In 1966, in the shelter of Curacchiaghju (Levie) situated in the mountainous southern central area of the island, then in 1972 in the site of Araguina (Bonifacio) stone items and structures were discovered in the deepest layer of the stratigraphie sequence, older than the neolithic layer. This industiy was qualified as preneolithic. The discoveiy of two new sites in the Causse of Bonifacio, Longone and Monte Leone, took the number of shelters and open air sites in southern Corsica to four. Research in northern Corsica resulted in the discovery of four new sites : Strette, Petracorbara, Torre d'Aquila and Gritulu, bringing the total number of preneolithic sites in Corsica to eight. Sardinia has also started to contribute to our knowledge of preneolithic times, illustrated by the two sites of Grotta Corbeddu at Oliena, and Porto Lecce in Gallura. The new geographical dimension of this culture in Corsica and Sardinia, recent, more complete information about the predatory economy of these groups, improved knowledge of the lit hie industiy, but also, it must be said, a Sardinian drift with regard to terminology, are all elements which encourage us to revise the concept of preneolithic and replace it with that of insular mesolithic.