Exploitation of faunal resources at Riparo Gaban (Trento, Italy) during the Late Mesolithic period: preliminary results of archaeozoological and taphonomical analysis

Riparo Gaban is a rockshelter located at about 270m a.s.l., near Trento, in a narrow lateral valley on the left bank of river Adige, Northern Italy. This site gives name to the so called “Gaban group” occupying Trento area during the spread of neolithisation, at the end of the VI millennium cal BC. Despite some gaps, the excavations by Bernardino Bagolini in sectors I to V from 1971 to 1979, revealed an impressive stratigraphic series attesting several occupations from late IX to mid-II millennium cal BC. The best known finds unearthed in Mesolithic (Sauveterrian and Castelnovian) and Neolithic layers are undoubtedly object of high artistic value, and realised on bone, antler, and stone. The analysed faunal assemblages derive from Castelnovian levels (IV Sector US E1-4) and are characterised by a high degree of fragmentation due to intentional bones fracturing for marrow extraction.The faunal remains belong mostly to ungulates: red deer, boar and roe deer are the most common species followed by a sporadic presence of ibex and chamois. Small wild mammals and carnivores are poorly attested in all layers. This study reports preliminary taphonomical results of Castelnovian faunal assemblages, in order to identify modifications related to the exploitation of animal carcasses.