The ochre painted stones from the Riparo Dalmeri (Trento). Development of the research on the art and rituality of the Epigravettian site

The Dalmeri rockshelter is located at 1240 m a.s.l. on the northern edge of the Piana della Marcesina (Grigno – Altopiano dei Sette Comuni – Trentino). From 1991 the stratigraphic excavations carried out by the Museo Tridentino di Scienze Naturali have revealed a sequence of anthropic levels datable to the Recent Epigravettian. The interdisciplinary research has allowed us to reconstruct part of the spatial organisation of the site and the resources exploitation of the mountain environment by the Epigravettian hunter-gatherers. Two principal dwelling phases can be identified in the anthropic levels. The first, dated at about 13,200 years 14C cal BP, represents the most ancient human dwelling phase (US 65/15a) and is strictly connected to the location of 229 stones painted with red ochre. The second phase, dated at about 13,000 14C cal BP, corresponds to the dwelling surfaces 26c and 26b that conserved evident structures (hearths) and latent ones (subcircular structure interpreted as a hut). The paintings in red-pigment (hematite) were carried out on oolitic grainstone from the natural landslide which took place before the human settlement occupation. The restoration of these paintings yielded different types of figures: zoomorphic, signs, anthropomorphic, hands, composite figures on both sides and diverse types of stones with red pigment traces. The dimensional analysis of the stones revealed a certain standardisation in the choice of the calcareous supports used. The spatial distribution of the painted stones highlighted a preferential belt of concentration orientated on an east-west axis inside the most ancient settlement level (US65/15a). The present data suggests that an area had been marked off in this most ancient settlement level of the rockshelter where ritual activities took place. Even though the complexity of the rituals is not clear to us, the data available at this time suggests a spatial organization, which will become more evident after further excavation.