ABSTRACT

The Mesolithic-Neolithic transition is a classic topic of archaeological discussion, and the East Adriatic is of particular interest as a gateway region for agriculture entering Europe from the Near East. Neolithisation along the East Adriatic coast has been characterised as a two-wave process of leap-frog demographic replacement along the Dalmatian coast, followed by a longer process of acculturation further inland. Research on this transition primarily addresses the arrival of Neolithic technology and domesticates, but the view from ‘traditionally Mesolithic’ activities can provide an alternative perspective. This pilot study highlights one such practice, identifying changes in the seasonality of shellfish gathering over the Neolithic transition using material from Vela Spila, Korčula (Croatia). Specimens of the gastropod Phorcus turbinatus from across this transition were assessed using oxygen isotope analysis. Results showed a focus on summer and autumn collection during the Mesolithic, which then shifted to autumn and winter in the Neolithic. These results indicate differences in shellfish gathering and exploitation across the Neolithic transition, and implications for the demographic transition and human-environment interactions are discussed. Shellfishing in the East Adriatic is identified as an area of Neolithisation rather than Mesolithic continuity.

摘要

中石器时代-新石器时代的过渡是考古讨论的经典话题，而东亚得里亚海作为农业从近东进入欧洲的门户地区尤其令人感兴趣。东亚得里亚海沿岸的新石器化被描述为达尔马提亚沿岸的两波跨越式人口更替过程，随后是更远的内陆文化适应过程。对这种转变的研究主要针对新石器时代技术的到来和驯化，但“传统中石器时代”活动的观点可以提供另一种视角。这项试点研究强调了这样一种做法，即使用来自科尔丘拉（克罗地亚）的 Vela Spila 的材料确定新石器时代过渡时期贝类采集的季节性变化。腹足动物标本使用氧同位素分析评估了跨越这一转变的Phorcus turbinatus。结果表明，中石器时代以夏季和秋季收藏为重点，然后在新石器时代转向秋季和冬季。这些结果表明了新石器时代过渡时期贝类采集和开发的差异，并讨论了对人口过渡和人类-环境相互作用的影响。东亚得里亚海的贝类捕捞被确定为新石器时代而非中石器时代的延续区域。