The site of Notarchirico (Venosa Basin, Italy) and the hominin behavior in the Middle Pleistocene: New insights from taphonomy and spatial archaeology

Abstract

The early Middle Pleistocene is characterized by a significant turnover in the fauna across Europe, creating new niches and new subsistence opportunities for hominin populations. Open-air sites provide a unique opportunity to study the distinct and effective resource acquisition strategies that were developed by hominins during this period. The archaeological site of Notarchirico (695–610 ka) is a key locality for the study of the behavior of hominin groups in the Italian Peninsula and Western Europe. The site is one of the few open-air sites to have yielded human remains, namely a femur fragment of Homo heidelbergensis, in such ancient chronologies. Notarchirico also yielded numerous lithic and faunal remains, although the latter, despite their abundance, have so far received scarce attention from a taphonomic perspective. Here we present a study of the site, including material from both ancient and modern collections. Spatial and taphonomic inferences can be drawn about the formation of the assemblages, as well as behavioral inferences about the Middle Pleistocene hominin populations. Despite the poor preservation of the bones, the data suggest that both hominins and carnivores foraged in the area. From a taphonomic perspective, spatial analyses suggest that water flows may have altered the association between osteological and lithic assemblages. There is compelling evidence that suggests that hominin groups inhabited the area surrounding the site for a minimum of 100 ka as the region was abundant in resources. Notarchirico is a pivotal site for understanding the adaptation of hominins and their interaction with the Middle Pleistocene ecosystems.