Caves in need of context: prehistoric Sardinia

Skeates, R.

Caves in need of context: prehistoric Sardinia

Skeates, R.

Authors

Professor Robin Skeates robin.skeates@durham.ac.uk
Professor

Contributors

K.A. Bergsvik
Editor

Professor Robin Skeates robin.skeates@durham.ac.uk
Editor

Abstract

This chapter attempts to synthesize the available data relating to the human use of over 100 natural caves in Sardinia during prehistory, and to contextualize these caves and their occupations in relation to wider landscapes, lifeways and beliefs, over space and time. In the Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic, a few caves were used by mobile groups as base-camps and shelters within wide socio-economic territories. In the Early Neolithic, large inland caves continued to serve as residential bases for communities practicing a mixed economy, while other caves sheltered living – and now also deceased – members of mobile task groups. Between the Middle Neolithic and the Early Iron Age, the ritual use of the interiors of selected caves was elaborated, whereas large caves were increasingly abandoned as long-term dwelling places as the Sardinian landscape became more extensively settled, although a few caves continued to be used as convenient shelters.

Citation

Skeates, R. (2012). Caves in need of context: prehistoric Sardinia. In K. Bergsvik, & R. Skeates (Eds.), Caves in context : the cultural significance of caves and rockshelters in Europe (166-187). Oxbow Books

Publication Date	Jan 1, 2012
Deposit Date	Mar 9, 2012
Publicly Available Date	Apr 12, 2016
Pages	166-187
Book Title	Caves in context : the cultural significance of caves and rockshelters in Europe.
ISBN	9781842174746
Publisher URL	http://www.oxbowbooks.com/oxbow/caves-in-context.html