San Bernardino Cave (Italy) and the appearance of Levallois technology in Europe: results of a radiometric and technological reassessment

PLoS One. 2013 Oct 16;8(10):e76182. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076182. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

The introduction of Levallois technology in Europe marked the transition from the Lower to the early Middle Paleolithic. This new method of flake production was accompanied by significant behavioral changes in hominin populations. The emergence of this technological advance is considered homogeneous in the European archaeological record at the Marine isotopic stage (MIS) 9/MIS 8 boundary. In this paper we report a series of combined electron spin resonance/U-series dates on mammal bones and teeth recovered from the lower units of San Bernardino Cave (Italy) and the technological analyses of the lithic assemblages. The San Bernardino Cave has yielded the earliest evidence of Levallois production on the Italian Peninsula recovered to date. In addition to our results and the review of the archaeological record, we describe the chronological and geographical differences between European territories and diversities in terms of technological developments. The belated emergence of Levallois technology in Italy compared to western Europe corresponds to the late Italian Neanderthal speciation event. The new radiometric dates and the technological analyses of San Bernardino Cave raise the issue of the different roles of glacial refugia in the peopling and the spread of innovative flaking strategies in Europe during the late Middle Pleistocene.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Archaeology
  • Caves
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Fossils*
  • Genetic Speciation*
  • History, Ancient
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Neanderthals / anatomy & histology*
  • Neanderthals / physiology
  • Neanderthals / psychology
  • Paleodontology
  • Radiometry
  • Technology / history*
  • Technology / instrumentation
  • Tooth / anatomy & histology*
  • Tooth / physiology

Grants and funding

Research at Grotta di San Bernardino was directed by Prof. Alberto Broglio and one of the authors (M.P.) in the framework of a project supported by the Italian Ministry of Culture - Veneto Archaeological Superintendence, the Province of Vicenza and the Veneto Region - Department for Cultural Heritage. Andrea Picin is beneficiary of the Fuhlrott-Research Fellowship of the Neanderthal Museum Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.