Simultaneità dei Concetti Levallois e Kombewa nel Paleolitico medio di Orentano (Colline delle Cerbaie – PISA)

Abstract The purpose of this research is a comparative analysis of the lithic collections coming from the archaeological surface sites of Orentano (PISA), referring to the Middle Palaeolithic. The project has three main topics: 1. the techno-­‐economic and typological analysis of the lithic material, paying particular attention to the Levallois finds; 2. the identification and study of products resulting from débitage Kombewa; 3. the taphonomical approach, the analysis of the preservation state, the modification of surfaces and the observation of the techno-­‐typological characteristics of all the lithic material. The final goal is to have a complete picture of the similarities and differences between the two débitage (Levallois and Kombewa) and the real involvement of débitage Kombewa in the Middle Palaeolithic. Regarding the finds derived from débitage Kombewa, the observation was based exclusively on those materials that showed remains of the ventral face referable to this method, recovered in the surface lithic mass (cores, flakes retouched and not retouched). Were omitted from the analysis all those finds considered as débris. The techno-­‐economic study has allowed us to advance a number of very important considerations to determine the relationships between the various surface collections: the definition of the methods used and the products researched, within the individual surface collections, allowed us to emphasize a technical behaviour constituted by an uniform basis, essentially, that of débitage S.S.D.A. and some variants rather significant, such as those of débitage Levallois, discoid and Kombewa sensu lato. The main term of techno-­‐typological comparison is represented, above all, by the other surface collections of Cerbaie, subsequently, from Mousterian stratigraphic sites of the regional context and, for the débitage Kombewa sensu lato, comparisons are made only at the national level, since that this method was not, for the moment, yet addressed in studies of Mousterian lithic industries of Tuscany. The industries of Orentano found plenty evidences, especially, in the industries of Cerbaie, all surface stations, refer to the Mousterian but with different distinctions: all these different features, probably, may be charged with an attendance of Cerbaie at different times; less likely, however, it’s the hypothesis of artefacts differentiation linked to the activities in the various sites. Exclusively for Kombewa materials, it appears that the industries of Orentano find plentiful evidence in the Italian Mousterian industries where this débitage existents with this amount and percentages, sometimes really scarce, but it takes, always, a position complementary and non-­‐ intentional (secondary chaîne opératoire) in the methods of exploitation of the raw material. Abstract The “débitage S.S.D.A.” or “opportunist” is the method that represents the best strategy for the production of flakes at not-­‐predetermined morphology and it indicates the production method much more significant in the lithic production of Orentano. The débitage Levallois has been used lesser and its products have not been retouched so regularly. The negligible presence of discoid method could prove its unintentional research by those who knaps but, rarely, the final consequence of a Levallois production. Regarding the débitage Kombewa sensu lato, the arisen data have been satisfactory to affirm the non-­‐intentional production of such material: in fact, it appears to be a secondary chaîne opératoire, existent with percentages not really significant in all sites.