Hominin and carnivore roles during the formation of the early Middle Pleistocene site of Loreto (Venosa Basin, southern Italy)

Abstract

The site of Loreto (Venosa Basin, Italy) was first discovered in 1929 and subsequently excavated during the latter half of the 20th century. The excavation revealed three archaeo-palaeontological levels, with the lowermost level (Level A) yielding the largest number of remains. Despite the site's notable fossil record, which underscores its importance within the framework of the early Middle Pleistocene, extant research on the site's substantial mammalian fauna has hitherto been confined to a modest number of palaeontological descriptions. The present study constitutes the first taphonomic research of the faunal remains recovered from Level A of Loreto. The anatomical and taxonomic diversity is low, with a marked predominance of cervids. However, the sample appears to be biased by the almost complete absence of small fragments and the high proportion of identifiable remains. The influence of water on the osteological assemblage is minimal, thereby ruling out a fluvial origin of the accumulation. Moreover, anthropogenic and carnivore activity is limited, suggesting that these predators did not significantly contribute to the formation of the assemblages as accumulating agents. It is hypothesised that carnivores and hominins acted in independent events on different carcasses, with little or no interaction among them, as part of the foraging and resource acquisition activities developed in the region. The comparison of these data with those presented for the nearby site of Notarchirico facilitates an understanding of hominin behaviour in the Venosa Basin during the early Middle Pleistocene.