Program > By author > Melis Rita

Grotta di Pozzo, at 710m asl and 42°N, is a small cave in the central Apennines of Italy, opening at the southern edge of a basin of tectonic origin, surrounded by mountains reaching 1700-1800m asl and more. A shallow lake, lake Fucino, developed in the basin during most of the Upper Pleistocene, extending over 150 km2 in historic times before land reclamation.

Excavations were aimed at investigating the timing and mode of recolonisation of the central Apennines since the LGM. At the base of the deposit, fluvio-lacustrine pebbles and clays were deposited at the LGM during a high stand of the lake. The archaeological sequence starts on top of them at 23ka cal BP, with layers including lithic industry of the Early Epigravettian with shouldered points. After 16 ka cal BP, and up to 14.5 ka cal BP, the lithics belong to the Late Epigravettian. Chamois, accompanied by ibex and red deer, dominates the fauna, while substantial fish (Salmo trutta) exploitation also occurs in the uppermost Lateglacial layers. Marmot and black grouse were both predated.

Wall art, including bas-relief vulvas and a Gönnersdorf silhouette, is related to the Late Epigravettian occupation.

During the Holocene, between 10.5 and 9 ka cal BP, a shell midden (Helix delpretiana) accumulated, with lithic industry belonging to the Sauveterrian.

All over the Lateglacial and Holocene sequence, hearth deposits and cooking structures are well documented. Middle- to long-distance contacts are evidenced by the use of lithic raw materials not available locally and by marine shells.