Stentinello culture facts for kids
The Stentinello culture was an ancient group of people who lived during the Middle Neolithic period. This was a time known as the New Stone Age. They lived mostly in Sicily and Calabria, which are parts of modern-day Italy. This culture existed around 7,000 years ago, in the fifth millennium BC.
Similar groups, sometimes called by different names, also lived nearby. For example, the Castellaro Vecchio culture in the Aeolian islands and the Għar Dalam phase in Malta were very much alike. Another group, the Kronio culture, was a type of Stentinello culture found in western Sicily.
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What Was the Stentinello Culture?
The Stentinello culture is named after a place where many of their remains were found. This special place is called Stentinello. It helps us understand how these ancient people lived.
Their Homes and Villages
At the main Stentinello site, archaeologists found traces of buildings. These buildings were shaped like rectangles. They were inside a large ditch dug into the rock. This ditch formed an oval area, about 180 by 200 meters wide. Imagine a big, oval-shaped village protected by a ditch!
How They Buried Their Dead
The Stentinello people had a special way to bury their dead. They dug oval pits into the rock. Inside these pits, they placed the deceased in a crouched position. These burial sites have been found in different parts of Sicily, but not at the main Stentinello village itself.
Tools and Art of the Stentinello People
The Stentinello culture used many different materials to make their tools and art. These items tell us a lot about their daily lives and skills.
Stone Tools
They were very skilled at making tools from stone. They used flint, which is a hard stone that can be shaped into sharp edges. They also used obsidian, a natural volcanic glass. Obsidian was great for making very sharp blades. These stone tools were essential for hunting, preparing food, and other tasks.
Bone Tools
Besides stone, they also used bones to create useful items. They made tools like awls, which are pointed tools for piercing holes. They also crafted needles for sewing and spatulas, which are flat tools used for various purposes.
Amazing Pottery
One of the most interesting things about the Stentinello culture is their pottery. Their vases were usually black or very dark in color. What makes them special are the decorations. They often had complex geometric patterns, like triangles, lines, and spirals. Sometimes, though less often, they would decorate their pots with human-like shapes. These patterns were either etched (scratched) or engraved (carved) into the clay.
Daily Life and Food
The Stentinello people had a clear way of life, focusing on how they got their food and supported their communities.
Farming and Food Gathering
Their economy, or how they got their food, was based on a mix of activities. They were farmers and grew cereals, especially wheat and barley. These grains were very important for their diet. They also relied on fishing to catch food from the water. And they collected shellfish, which are sea creatures like clams or mussels, from the coasts. This mix of farming, fishing, and gathering helped them survive and thrive.
