Project

ISSEP, the International Summer School on European Prehistory, was instituted in 2007 as part of COMET S.a.s –Valorizzazione Risorse Territoriali, with the aim of studying and promoting the archaeological landscape of central Sardinia after the discovery a nine ritual caves spanning from the Middle Neolithic to the Bronze Age. The fieldwork and the excavation project started in 2009 under the scientific direction of Dr Robin Skeates, Department of Archaeology of the University of Durham (UK).

Since its institution ISSEP, in cooperation with universities and research groups all over Europe, has participated to research projects and international conferences on different issues of the archaeological and anthropological disciplines, included Art and Landscape. For three consecutive years it organised in Sardinia a Performing Art Festival within the framework of the EU project ‘Art Landscape Trans-formations’ (2008-2010). Several sessions of Experimental Archaeology, directed by Prof. Dragos Gheorghiu were held as well.

ISSEP is directed by Giusi Gradoli, fieldwork geologist and archaeologist. She holds a degree in Geology – Mining Prospection from the Geology Department of the University of Cagliari (Sardinia), a MA in Archaeology from the School of Archaeology and Ancient History of the University of Leicester (UK) and she is finishing her PhD research in Archaeology in the field of ‘Ceramic Technology’ under the supervision of Dr Ian Whitbread at the University of Leicester. Her thesis ‘Dynamic Social Changes and Identity. A petrological study of Bronze Age ceramics in Nuragic Sardinia’, studies under the petrographic microscope 500 selected pottery sherds coming from 8 nuragic settlements of South-central Sardinia (corridor nuraghi, simple nuragic towers, complex nuraghi and related villages) focusing on the relationship between technology and social organization in shedding light on the pattern of pottery production, consumption and exchange at an inter-site level in the region under study. The study develops tracing, spatially and temporally, continuity and change in ceramic technology using the ‘chaine opératoire’ approach, the ‘raw material provenance study’ and the ‘experimental archaeology’.

Since 2014 the project ‘Technology and Tradition’ financed by the Fondazione Banco di Sardegna is been carried out to deepen the technological study of the raw materials used in the manufacture of the ceramics coming from the Nuraghe Arrubiu at Orroli, paying special attention to the compositional study, the choice of raw materials and the reproduction of the ‘burnished nuragic grey ware’, typical of the Recent and Final Bronze Age of south-central Sardinia.
On 2014 an intensive archaeological surface survey in the area included within the boundaries of the Site of Community Importance (EU Habitat Directive) ‘Su De Maccioni-Su Texile’ between the municipalities of Aritzo and Belvì, has revealed the presence of an intensive prehistoric human occupation of the region which left no visible architectural traces of it, such as settlements, nuraghi or burials except for a great quantity of worked obsidian remains and pottery sherds, spread uniformly in the area under study. To highlight the archaeological potentiality of the region and the effort done in mapping these ‘invisible prehistoric communities’ a Conference about the ‘Archaeo-antropological landscapes’ and an Experimental Archaeological Sessions on prehistoric pottery firing and metallurgic smelting processes, was organised in cooperation with the Municipality of Belvì in Central Sardinia from 19th to 28th July 2015. The construction of a historical kiln, the reproduction of some typical Bronze Age wares (such as the ‘nuragic burnished grey ware’ fired in a pit kiln in reducing atmosphere) and the smelting experiments to reproduce little bronze figurines called ‘bronzetti’ often found in ritual contexts of the Final Bronze Age-Early Iron Age of Sardinia were held under the scientific coordination of Prof. Dragos Gheorghiu and the experts of his team. The active participation of the whole local community along with the involvement of non-local people coming from different parts of Sardinia, made a success of the event and the occasion for joining the TimeMaps project thus arose.

CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY WORKS

Gradoli, M. G. 2012. ‘Pottery from the Under World’. A petrological analysis of a selected group of Neolithic-Bronze Age ceramics from the Seulo’s caves (Central Sardinia, Italy)’. In Proceedings of the 39th International Symposium on Archeometry (ISA), 50 years of ISA, Session: Ceramics, Glazes, and Vitreous Materials, Technology and Provenance, Leuven, (Belgium), May 28-June 1st, 2012, pages 215-222.

Gradoli, M.G. 2012. ‘Pottery from the Under World’. A petrological analysis from a selected group of Middle and Bronze Age ceramics from the Seulo’s caves (Central Sardinia, Italy)’. Presented at the 18th Annual Meeting of the European Archaeology Association (EAA), Session: Materials chains and networks in space: production, sequences, processes, ‘chaine operatoire’ and objects biography in Bronze and Iron Age networks, August 29th -September 1st 2012, Helsinki (Finland).

Gradoli, M. G. 2013. ‘Le ceramiche di fine VII – prima metà VI secolo a. C. della Fortezza del Nuraghe Sirai di Carbonia: caratterizzazione petrografica e studio di provenienza delle materie prime’. In ‘Materiali e contesti dell’Età del Ferro Sarda, Atti della Giornata di Studi, Civico Museo di San Vero Milis (OR), 25 maggio 2012. Edited by Peter Van Dommelen e Andrea Roppa. Rivista di Studi Fenici, Pisa-Roma, Fabrizio Serra Ed., MMXIV, pages 143-152.

Gradoli, M.G. 2013. ‘The role of Ceramic Technology in assessing cultural and social interactions between different communities. The study case of the Nuraghe Sirai (Carbonia, SW Sardinia)’, presented at the VIII International Symposium of Phenician Studies, Carbonia-Sant Antioco, 21-26 October 2013.

Gradoli, M.G. and Manunza M. R. 2013. ‘Artecraft at the Prehistoric Village of Canelles (Selargius, Cagliari, Sardinia) interpreted through its pottery technology. A petrological characterization and a raw materials provenance analysis’, presented as a poster at the 12th Meeting on Ancient Ceramics (EMAC), Padova, 19-22 September 2013.

Gradoli, M. G. 2013. ‘Copper Age collapse and the appearance of the Nuragic Society of Sardinia (Italy)’, presented at the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 19th Annual Meeting, Session ‘Collapse e regeneration of past societies’, Pilsen, Czech Republic, 4-8 September 2013.

Gradoli, M. G. 2013. ‘From the mind of the potter to the mind of the people who used the vessels’, presented at the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 19th Annual Meeting, Session ‘When potters make history’, Pilsen, Czech Republic, 4-8 September 2013.

Gradoli, M.G. 2014. ‘Dynamic Social Changes and Identity in the Bronze Age society of Sardinia (Italy)’, presented at the International Union of the Prehistoric and Proto-historic Sciences – UISPP XVII Archaeological World Congress 2014, Burgos (Spain), September, 1-7, 2014. Session ‘B27-Social complexity in a long term perspective’.

Gradoli, M. G. 2014. ‘Bronze Age ceramics from Sardinia (Italy)’, presented at the International Union of the Prehistoric and Proto-historic Sciences – UISPP XVII Archaeological World Congress 2014, Burgos (Spain), September, 1-7, 2014. Session B34 ‘Archaeometry approach and study of networks of trade in raw materials and technological innovation in prehistory and proto-history’.

Gradoli, M. G. 2014. ‘Technological style in context: ceramic tradition in Neolithic Sardinia (Italy)’, presented at the International Union of the Prehistoric and Proto-historic Sciences – UISPP XVII Archaeological World Congress 2014, Burgos (Spain), 1-7 September, 2014. Session B28, Technology and the first agro-pastoral societies: ceramic manufacturing and decoration.

Gradoli, M. G. 2014. ‘Ceramics Technology in Sardinia’, presented at the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 20th Annual Meeting, September 10-14th, 2014, Istanbul (Turkey). Session T03, The Technology of Things: material transformation in Prehistory.

Gradoli, M. G., Holt, E. and Perra, M. 2014. ‘Dynamic social changes, complexity, sustainability, and resilience of Bronze Age ‘Nuragic society’ in the Marmilla region (South-Central Sardinia): an interdisciplinary approach’, presented at the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) 20th Annual Meeting, September 10-14th, 2014, Istanbul (Turkey). Session T05, Times of Change: callapse and transformative impulses, sub-session T05S010 A Matter of Time and Space: Addressing the Temporospatial Variability of Collapse.

Gradoli, M. G. 2014. ‘Bronze Age Pottery Production, Consumption and Exchange at an intra-site level: the case study of the Marmilla Region, South Central Sardinia-Produzione’, presented as a poster at the NPAP Closing Conference, ‘Integrated Approaches to Ceramics Analysis and Methodology from a Trans Regional Perspective, Department of Archaeology, University of Amsterdam, December 11-13, 2014.

Gradoli, M. G. 2015. ‘Ceramic Fabric Variability as a key element to interpreting social complexity in Bronze Age south central Sardinia’, presented as a poster at the 13th European Meeting on Ancient Ceramics (EMAC), Acropolis Museum, Athens, 24-26 September, 2015.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE WORKS
Gradoli, M. G. and Delogu, G. 2005. ‘Il binomio uomo-territorio nella Barbagia di Seulo (Sardegna centrale): prime segnalazioni di pitture parietali e incisioni in grotte carsiche’. In Proceedings of the XVI Convegno degli Antropologi Italiani, ‘Il Processo di Umanizzazione’, session ‘Spazi Antropologici Mediterranei. Dal passato al presente’, Genova 29 -31 ottobre 2005.

Gradoli M.G., Gheorghiu D. and Hasnas A. 2009. ‘Social implications of local communities in experimenting the past. A case study from Sardinia Island’, presented at the 15th Annual Meeting of the European Archaeologists Association (EAA), Riva del Garda (Italy), September 15th-20th , 2009.

Gradoli, M. G. 2010. ‘How newly discovered archaeological sites can play an important role within the territorial plans for local development’, presented to the International Conference “Europe for citizens”, held at Smolyan (Bulgaria), June 18 -19, 2010, within the framework of the EU Project ‘Arts & Parks’.

Figueiredo A., Gradoli M.G., Floris R. 2011.‘Ritual landscapes, burials and prehistoric structures in Nurallao. The case study of the cave Sa Omu ‘e Tziu Giovanni Murgia (Sarcidano, Central-Southern, Sardinia)’, presented at the International Union of the Prehistoric and Proto-historic Sciences – UISPP XVI Archaeological World Congress Florianopolis, Brazil, September 4-10, 2011.

Figueiredo A., Gradoli M.G., Floris R. 2011.‘Death materialization and the life cycle (South-central Sardinia). Technologies and interdisciplinary studies in the detection and preservation of archaeological materials, presented as a poster at the International Union of the Prehistoric and Proto-historic Sciences – UISPP XVI Archaeological World Congress Florianopolis, Brazil, September 4-10, 2011.

Gradoli, M. G. and Meaden, T. G. 2011. ‘Underworld and Neolithic Rituality: the rock art of the ‘Su Longu Fresu Cave, Central Sardinia’, Proceedings of the XXIV Valcamonica Symposium, session ‘Art and Comunication in Pre-Litterate Societies’, Capo di Ponte, 13-18 Luglio 2011.

Gradoli M. G. and Skeates R. 2012. ‘Intellectual and Spiritual Expression in Central Sardinia during the Neolithic and Bronze Age: The Seulo Caves Project’. In proceedings of the Colloquio UISPP-CISNEP, ‘Espressioni Intellettuali e Spirituali dei Popoli senza Scrittura, Capo di Ponte, Valcamonica, 22 – 24 Giugno, 2012.

Gradoli, M.G. and Meaden, G.T. (2012a). ‘Sacred sites and symbolism in the Neolithic landscape of Barbagia di Seulo, Central Sardinia’. In Meaden, G. T. (Editore) Archaeology of Mother Earth Sites and Sanctuaries through the Ages: Rethinking symbols and images, art and artefacts from history and prehistory. British Archaeological Reports (BAR) International Series N. 2389,Oxford.

Gradoli, M.G. and Meaden, G.T. (2012b). Neolithic art and artefacts in caves near Seulo in Central Sardinia: ‘Grutta I De Longu Fresu’. In Meaden, G. T. Archaeology of Mother Earth Sites and Sanctuaries through the Ages: Rethinking symbols and images, art and artefacts from history and prehistory. British Archaeological Reports (BAR) International Series N. 2389, Oxford.

Gradoli, M.G. and Meaden, G.T. (2012c). Prehistoric occupation and use of a cave in the Neolithic landscape of Barbagia di Seulo, Central Sardinia: The Oval Room at ‘Is Janas’. In Meaden, G.T.(2011) Archaeology of Mother Earth Sites and Sanctuaries through the Ages: Rethinking symbols and images, art and artefacts from history and prehistory. British Archaeological Reports (BAR) International Series N. 2389, Oxford.

Gradoli, M.G. and Meaden, G.T. 2012. ‘Discovery of prehistoric sites and rock shelters in the Barbagia di Seulo, South Central Sardinia’. In Bersgervik Knut Andreas and Skeates Robin (Editors), ‘Caves in their European Context. The Cultural Significance of Caves and Rockshelters in Europe’, Chapter 13. Oxbow Books.

Skeates, R. G., Gradoli M. G. and Beckett, J. 2013. ‘The Cultural Life of Caves in Seulo, Central Sardinia’. In Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology, Jannuary 26th, 2013.

Gradoli M. G., Anardu V. G., Kovach K., and Zedda M, 2014. ‘Pecking the Crystals: an extraordinary example of schematic rock art in Sardinia’, presented at the International Union of the Prehistoric and Proto-historic Sciences – UISPP XVII Archaeological World Congress 2014, Burgos (Spain), 1-7 September, 2014. Session A 18°, Redefining the Postpaleolithic rock art in the world: Groups, diffusion areas, chronology and last methodological contributions. Commission on Post-Paleolithic Rock Art.

Gradoli M. G., Anardu V. G., Kovach K., and Zedda M, 2014. ‘Reporting the major discovery of an extraordinary cult site with rock art engraved in calcite, unique to Sardinia’, presented at the International Union of the Prehistoric and Proto-historic Sciences – UISPP XVII Archaeological World Congress 2014, Burgos (Spain), 1-7 September, 2014. Session ‘Standing Stones and Megalithic monuments in context. Commission on Neolithic Civilization of the Mediterranean and Europe.

Gradoli M. G. Anardu V. G. and Maxia A. 2015. ‘Rock Art and Archaeo-Anthropological Research in the Study of the Aritzo and Belvì Landscape (Central Sardinia)’. In proceedings of the XIX International Rock Art Conference IFRAO 2015, Session ‘Signs and Symbols. Rock Art and Archaeo-Anthropological Research’, Caceres, Extremadura (Spain), ARKEOS 37, Tomar.

Skeates, R., Beckett, J. And Gradoli M. G. 2015. ‘Mortuary choices and taphonomic processes in the Seulo caves, Sardinia’. Presented at the 21 Annual Meeting of the European Archaeologists Association (EAA), Session: Human Remains in Caves. Riconfiguring Identities of the Dead. Glasgow (UK), September, 2-5 2015.


COMUNE DI BELVI’