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Papers by Stefano Ricci Cortili
The Palaeolithic sequence of Grotta Paglicci (Gargano promontory, Apulia, Southern Italy) is one ... more The Palaeolithic sequence of Grotta Paglicci (Gargano promontory, Apulia, Southern Italy) is one of the most important in the Mediterranean area: It comprises the whole Upper Palaeolithic cultural sequence known for the region, as well as Early Middle Palaeolithic and Lower Palaeolithic levels. These earlier phases are best represented in a collapsed room located outside the present-day cave (the so called “external rock shelter”). In this area, a new excavation, started in 2004, brought to light Middle Palaeolithic animal remains associated with evidence of spotted hyaena (SU 64 and 53). The spatial distribution analysis of remains from SU 53 revealed the presence of a bone accumulation area and a wider dispersal of hyaena coprolites. Three main ungulate species (aurochs, fallow deer and red deer) as well as carnivores (spotted hyaena, wolf, fox, wild cat and lynx) and lagomorphs have been identified. The majority of aurochs remains are located in the main accumulation; among these specimens, a complete metatarsal connected with three tarsal bones has been found; a talus and a complete tibia, probably belonging to the same limb, have also been identified. The multidisciplinary study carried out in this paper highlights a specific bone accumulation and scattering pattern in a spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) den. In addition, taphonomy of lagomorph remains indicates the presence of other depositional agents.
Drafts by Stefano Ricci Cortili
The Italian Peninsula seems to be playing an important role in the debate on the cultural occurre... more The Italian Peninsula seems to be playing an important
role in the debate on the cultural occurrences connected
to Neanderthals. Its particular geographical position,
as a peripheral appendix of the European continent,
gives origin to a territory constrained in a long and narrow
strip of land which, differently from the vast plains
of Northern Europe, acts as a cul de sac in the population
dynamics of humans and animals.
At the same time, the highly variable and fragmented
landscapes, sprouting from a great geomorphological
variety (Apennine Chain - coastal areas), create the conditions
for a wide range of resources and for a mosaic-like
peopling of the Peninsula. From a chronological standpoint
too, a narrowing of the time range of Neanderthal
record is observable, particularly in Southern Italy. This is
defined, in comparison to the wider European context,
by a late appearance of Levallois in lithic industries (OIS 5)
and by an early arrival of the first cultures connected to
Homo sapiens (Uluzzian, about 45-44 kyrs BP).
For this reason, the study of Neanderthal communities
who occupied Southern Italy during that time span provides
a very interesting viewpoint for the understanding
of their actual variability and complexity. Over the last
decade, Middle Palaeolithic research in Italy has experienced
an important methodological renewal thanks
not only to the diffusion of technological approach in lithic studies, but also to the broader attention paid to
behavioural expressions of these human groups: exploitation
strategies of the territory and of the mineral and
food resources, spatial organization, mobility within territories,
stone tool production, fire technology, symbolic
expressions, etc.
Investigations carried out by Research Unit in “Prehistory
and Anthropology” of the University of Siena fit within
this framework of methodological renewal and focus
the on key sites located in different regions of Central-
Southern Italy.
This work wants to present and compare the results obtained
over the last few years from the sites of Cala dei
Santi (Southern Tuscany), Castelcivita, Molare and Grotta
Grande (Campania), Oscurusciuto and Santa Croce
(Apulia), with the aim of shedding light on Neanderthals’
behavioural variability.
The Palaeolithic sequence of Grotta Paglicci (Gargano promontory, Apulia, Southern Italy) is one ... more The Palaeolithic sequence of Grotta Paglicci (Gargano promontory, Apulia, Southern Italy) is one of the most important in the Mediterranean area: It comprises the whole Upper Palaeolithic cultural sequence known for the region, as well as Early Middle Palaeolithic and Lower Palaeolithic levels. These earlier phases are best represented in a collapsed room located outside the present-day cave (the so called “external rock shelter”). In this area, a new excavation, started in 2004, brought to light Middle Palaeolithic animal remains associated with evidence of spotted hyaena (SU 64 and 53). The spatial distribution analysis of remains from SU 53 revealed the presence of a bone accumulation area and a wider dispersal of hyaena coprolites. Three main ungulate species (aurochs, fallow deer and red deer) as well as carnivores (spotted hyaena, wolf, fox, wild cat and lynx) and lagomorphs have been identified. The majority of aurochs remains are located in the main accumulation; among these specimens, a complete metatarsal connected with three tarsal bones has been found; a talus and a complete tibia, probably belonging to the same limb, have also been identified. The multidisciplinary study carried out in this paper highlights a specific bone accumulation and scattering pattern in a spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) den. In addition, taphonomy of lagomorph remains indicates the presence of other depositional agents.
The Italian Peninsula seems to be playing an important role in the debate on the cultural occurre... more The Italian Peninsula seems to be playing an important
role in the debate on the cultural occurrences connected
to Neanderthals. Its particular geographical position,
as a peripheral appendix of the European continent,
gives origin to a territory constrained in a long and narrow
strip of land which, differently from the vast plains
of Northern Europe, acts as a cul de sac in the population
dynamics of humans and animals.
At the same time, the highly variable and fragmented
landscapes, sprouting from a great geomorphological
variety (Apennine Chain - coastal areas), create the conditions
for a wide range of resources and for a mosaic-like
peopling of the Peninsula. From a chronological standpoint
too, a narrowing of the time range of Neanderthal
record is observable, particularly in Southern Italy. This is
defined, in comparison to the wider European context,
by a late appearance of Levallois in lithic industries (OIS 5)
and by an early arrival of the first cultures connected to
Homo sapiens (Uluzzian, about 45-44 kyrs BP).
For this reason, the study of Neanderthal communities
who occupied Southern Italy during that time span provides
a very interesting viewpoint for the understanding
of their actual variability and complexity. Over the last
decade, Middle Palaeolithic research in Italy has experienced
an important methodological renewal thanks
not only to the diffusion of technological approach in lithic studies, but also to the broader attention paid to
behavioural expressions of these human groups: exploitation
strategies of the territory and of the mineral and
food resources, spatial organization, mobility within territories,
stone tool production, fire technology, symbolic
expressions, etc.
Investigations carried out by Research Unit in “Prehistory
and Anthropology” of the University of Siena fit within
this framework of methodological renewal and focus
the on key sites located in different regions of Central-
Southern Italy.
This work wants to present and compare the results obtained
over the last few years from the sites of Cala dei
Santi (Southern Tuscany), Castelcivita, Molare and Grotta
Grande (Campania), Oscurusciuto and Santa Croce
(Apulia), with the aim of shedding light on Neanderthals’
behavioural variability.