Techno-economic behaviours during Middle Pleistocene: Valle Giumentina level ALB-42 (MIS 12b, Abbateggio, Central Italy)

The recent excavation of level ALB-42 of Valle Giumentina open air site (Italy) has yielded 407 lithic artefacts and some Red Deer bone fragments, showing anthropic marks. Lithic refits appear in this clayey-silty paleosol developed during an interstadial phase, assigned to MIS 12b (c. 450 ka) according to sedimentary studies and radiometric dating (40Ar/39Ar and ESR-U/Th). Here we present taphonomic and spatial studies and a technoeconomic approach including archeozoology, petrography, technology and use-wear analysis on artefacts. Good quality cherts were selected mainly from the immediate surroundings. They were brought into the site as small blocks or big flakes. Tool making or retouching are sometimes made on the spot. Tools are used for wood processing and butchery during brief but recurrent activities. A techno-morphological diversity of lithic products appears leading us to discuss intra- and extra- site diversity within the Lower Paleolithic of Italy and MIS 12 settlements in Europe.