Site functional variability and settlement systems in the Sauveterrian (Southern France and Northern Italy)

Abstract : Early Mesolithic technology is generally perceived as the result of a low technical investment in particular as regards tools manufacture and use. In this paper it is argued that such perception is actually the result of a low archaeological visibility. A recent project based on a combined techno-functional approach and aimed at comparing Early Mesolithic (Sauveterrian) flaked assemblages coming from Southern France and Northern Italy allowed a better understanding of the technological systems of the European hunter-gatherer groups. By encompassing a wide enough area, it was possible to appreciate the high functional variability of known settlements as well as the complexity of the Sauveterrian settlement system. In this scenario it seems that the current Early Mesolithic evidence of the region, although being relatively abundant with respect to earlier prehistoric periods, is still partially biased by research activities that led to the exploration of specialised sites within a logistical settlement system.