Materials and Tools across Volcanoes: Exploitation of Georesources in Piano dei Cardoni (Ustica, Italy) during Prehistory

The paper aims at merging the first results from analyses of georesources exploited in site Piano dei Cardoni (Ustica island, Italy) during Neolithic phases its occupation (Middle-Late Neolithic, 4.7-4.2 ka cal BC). Grinding tools consist a very varied typology local volcanic rocks, easy to collect and available close investigated site. A selection shapes lithology is applied reach best performance tools. elevated number grinders, pestles, mortars testify an intense activity food/plant processing absence chert or obsidian resources on island pushed human communities import such raw materials Aeolian islands probably north-western area Palermo. Pumice collected same due availability good quality. Similarly, clay are used for manufacture ceramics, mostly burnished incised wares. Ustica was therefore almost autonomous exploitation resources, with rocks readily abundance most significant exception being obsidian. This last one imported worked then moved towards North-Western Sicily.