EVIDENCES OF LOWER ACHEULEAN IN SOUTHERN ITALY - THE CIMITERO-DI-ATELLA SITE (BASILICATA)

In this work the authors present the early results and hypotheses carr ied out over six years of systematic excavations at the Palaeolithic s ite of Cimitero di Atella (Basilicata, Southern Italy). The lithic ind ustry, which has been attributed to Early Acheulean, presents some pec uliarities within the Lower Palaeolithic in Italy. A first peculiarity is represented by the use of a particular raw material for manufactur ing, above all, ''heavy duty'' tools (bifates etc.). The flakes indust ry, mostly manufactured in chert, presents a strong microlithic charac ter which results by shattering cores and Clactonian flakes. The typol ogical study allows the authors to set the tools only partially agains t classic typological schemes. So far most of palaeontological remains consists of bone fragments of Paleoloxodon antiquus and, more rarely, Bison sp. The palynological, radiometric and palaeontological analyse s enable to set the site against early phases of Mindel glaciation.