Val Lastari (Altopiano dei Sette Comuni, VI)

The Epigravettian open-air site of Val Lastari, on the southern edge of the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni, was excavated in the first half of the Nineties during several campaigns. These latter brought to light an occupation surface with lithic workshops and a remarkable flint cache with raw or tested blocks to verify the knapping suitability of the stone. The stratigraphic sequence comprehends a silty clay colluvium deposit reworked due to the First World War. The site was dated between 13,500 and 11,500 years cal BP and it is characterised by an abundant laminar-lamellar lithic assemblage and by blade-like flakes. Common stone tools include backed knifes, endrscrcrapers and other types, while the abundant armatures consist of backed bladelets, backed truncated bladelets, backed points are rare geometric microliths. The functional features of tools and armatures cover a wide range of activities, typical of an unspecialized settlement, within the logistic-territorial organization of the anthropic occupation of a large area of the eastern Italian Alps.