The Uluzzian technology of Grotta di Fumane and its implication for reconstructing cultural dynamics in the Middle–Upper Palaeolithic transition of Western Eurasia
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Abstract
From the intricate ensemble of evidence related to the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition
and the presumed first spread of anatomically modern humans in Europe, the Uluzzian
has attracted major attention in the past few years. Although the Uluzzian has been
viewed as a supposed product of modern humans settling in Mediterranean Europe, the
techno-cultural complex has been the subject of few investigations aiming to clarify
its chronology, bone industry, and settlement dynamics. Further, little is known of
its technological structure. This article presents the results of an extensive study
of the lithic and bone technologies from assemblages recovered at Fumane Cave in the
north of Italy. Results confirm that the Uluzzian is a flake-dominated industry that
brings together a set of technological innovations. The Levallois is the most used
method in the initial phase, which is replaced by more varied flaking procedures and
an increase in bladelets and flake-blades. Sidescrapers and points also represent
a Mousterian feature in the initial phase, while splintered pieces, backed knives
and other Upper Palaeolithic tools increase in the later phase. Our results suggest
that the Uluzzian is rooted in the Mousterian lithic technological context and cannot
be viewed as a proxy for anatomically modern humans, the carriers of the abrupt cultural
changes related to the Aurignacian.