People and their land at the Southern margin of the central Po plain in the early Mesolithic

Along the plain belt between Bologna and Piacenza some sites were investigated in the last twenty years by rescue-excavation. Located along the ancient river banks of some main tributaries of the Po river either within swamps or in areas periodically covered by alluvial deposits, four of these settlements (Collecchio PR, Borgo Panigale, I.N.B.S. and Casalecchio di Reno BO) cover a small surface (50 to 100 m²) while another one (Le Mose PC) can be considered as the unique example so far known in the Italian record of a large site/site-complex. The composition of the lithic assemblages and the intra-site spatial organisation, here including the presence/absence of dwelling structures, vary considerably opening several questions concerning the length of occupation and the function of sites within the regional settlement system. The relationship between these sites and the numerous settlements known at different altitudes in the Apennine area will also be evaluated.