Marco Peresani. Cronologie e culture del Paleolitico Lezione 12 The Uluzzian

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1 Marco Peresani Cronologie e culture del Paleolitico Lezione 12 The Uluzzian

2 Università di Ferrara Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici Martedì 29 novembre 2016 REDISCOVERING THE ULUZZIAN A LEAKEY FOUNDATION PROJECT

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6 Cavallo cave

7 Cavallo Cave

8 The Grotta del Cavallo contains one of the most important stratification of Mousterian, Uluzzian and Final Epigravettian tecnocomplexes; its chronology is of paramount importance for understanding the timing of the transition between Middle and Upper Palaeolithic in the Mediterranean region as well as the demise of the Neanderthal and the dispersal of the first anatomically modern humans through Europe. Within the stratigraphy of the cave three different volcanic ash layers occur (layer G, Fa and C-II). They are located in the middle section of the Mousterian (layer G), in between the Mousterian and Uluzzian layers (layer Fa) and on top of the Uluzzian horizons (layer C-II). The three tephra layers were chemically fingerprinted and correlated to well-known and precisely dated widespread Late Pleistocene tephra markers. Specifically, layer G, Fa and C-II were correlated to the X-6 (108.7 ± 0.9 ka), Y-6 (45.5 ± 1.0 ka) and Campanian Ignimbrite (39.85 ± 0.14 ka), respectively. These findings provide robust chronological points allowing to conclude that: (i) the Mousterian occupation of the cave took place after the fall of the sea level following the MIS 5e high-stand; (ii) the Mousterian-Uluzzian boundary can be dated to 45.5 ± 1.0 ka and climatostratigraphically firmly placed at the transition between the Greenland Interstadial 12 (GI12)-Greenland Stadial 12 (GS12); (iii) the Uluzzian lasted for at least five millennial spanning the GS12-GI9 period and ended at beginning of the Heinrich Event 4.

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10 Italy ka Grotta di Fumane Mezzena, Italy (40 ka) Nea Riparo Bombrini Grotta del Cavallo Moroni et al., 2013

11 The Riparo Mezzena illusion

12 The Uluzzian represents a distinct industry, identified on the basis of small, crescentshaped microliths, a combination of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic stone tool types, and variable incidence of splintered pieces associated with bone industries, perforated marine shells and mineral pigments. (Palma di Cesnola, 1993). The Uluzzian is a flakedominated industry that brings together a set of technological innovations.

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14 Bayesian modelling based on the new radiocarbon determinations from four Uluzzian contexts in Italy and Greece. Douka et al., 2014

15 Probability distribution functions (PDFs) for the start and end boundaries of the Uluzzian, as well for the start of the Proto- Aurignacian at Italian sites. Douka et al., 2014

16 Curved backed piece Splintered piece Uluzzian

17 Rediscovering the Uluzzian Position of the Uluzzian sites in the Italian Peninsula (1 Grotta di Fumane, 2 Grotta La Fabbrica, 3 Colle Rotondo; 4 Grotta di Castelcivita, 5 Grotta La Cala, 6 Grotta del Cavallo, Grotta Bernardini, Grotta di Uluzzo C).

18 Castelcivita UL Circle of stones Fireplaces

19 Grotta La Fabbrica

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21 conglomerates Grotta La Fabbrica Jasper, flint, silicified limestone 3 and 4: AURIGNACIAN 2: ULUZZIAN 1: MOUSTERIAN

22 La Fabbrica, Uluzzian, Layer 2 Production of flakes from discoidal cores Production of flakes from multidirectional cores

23 La Fabbrica, Uluzzian, Layer 2 Splintered cores/pieces

24 splintered pieces from Cavallo Cave

25 Replication experiment Cavallo Cave Lev. EIII Castelcivita Cave Lev. 11

26 lunates from Cavallo Cave 1 3 cm

27 Species and anatomical origin of the blanks Cavallo Castelcivita Cala

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29 La Fabbrica cave Flakes with ochre Bone point Ochre

30 Beads Columbella Cavallo EI/D Cyclope Homalopoma Cavallo EI/D Cala 14 Cala Cala 14 Castelc.10-8 Cala 13-10

31 Fumane cave, Layer A3 Dump of burnt remains: structure A3.SII Flaking products, bones and charcoals: structure A3.SIV Uluzzian Structure A3.SIV cut by the Aurignacian combustion structure A2.S18 Combustion area: structure A3.SI

32 Layer A3 Structure A3.SIV: production of bladelets