HOMO OF ISERNIA - Lithos Page 01

LITHIC INDUSTRIES AT
ISERNIA'S "LA PINETA"

Text of Carl Peretto
Translation by Hugo del Gesso

These findings have been collected during regular excavations started in 1979 and still in process. The methods come from two distinct locations, one situated in the northern part (section 1), the other in the southern part (section 2) in the elevated buffer- portion of Isernia-Rome railroad bed, only distant a couple of hundreds meters between them. The articles are made up of FLINTSTONE and LIMESTONE, the latter only found in section 1. The lithic material used for the splitting process is still found today around La Pineta area. Thus, is very probable that the prehistoric man would find nearby materials needed for the manufacturing of his tools. The characteristics thus, are found in the slag of the dorsal part of some reperts deducting that the lithic materials used were those of flint and limestone rocks, the latter or very small dimensions. At times it has been witnessed the usage of "natural" fragments as well.

SYMBOLIC SPECIFICATIONS

The tools are made up with a summary indentation. The separation can be isolated or in a sequence, thus creating a milled border. Very seldom this border is of the dented type, as matter of facts it has been obtained with single and deep cuts. For this reason is not obtainable with small pieces. The work with this type of touch-ups is rare as opposite to other procedures. Often the touch-up is used to modify the original structure of the splinter otherwise impossible using classic guidelines. 90% of items manufactured in this way are by far the ones most often found.

SCATCHERS
Rare, short, most likely of subcircular form. In most cases, it has a muzzle-like appearance, maybe obtained with laminated intervals.

BILLS
Less frequent and hard to distinguish from their jagged points. They seem more a variation than a proper tool with its own characteristics.

SCRAPERS
Hard to find, obtained with a simple touch-up. In the majority of cases show lateral convections. Rather small in depth compared to other jagged artifacts.

JAGGERS
They represent the majority of reperts found. Because of the large variety, it is not possible analize and group them within the realm of established guidelines. At this time, they are grouped in this section, requiring later on, of a better classification.
1. SCOOPS
2. ONE-SIDE SCRAPERS
3. BILATERAL SCRAPERS
4. JAGGED POINTS
5. SCRAPERS WITH TWO INTERSECTING PLANES TOWARD THE VENTRAL SIDE

NUCLEI
Most frequent found are those with separated planes and sub-parallels intervals. Often found are also models with non-directionals planes. Some of the models belong to the pyramidal groups. In some case, however,since their small size are not easily recognized.