Macrowear, residues, archaeozoological and isotopic analysis at Grotta di Pozzo (Central Italy): a multidisciplinary approach to Late Pleistocene hunting weapons and strategies

Grotta di Pozzo is a cave site (23.000-6.500 cal. BP) at 720m asl in the Apennine range of Abruzzo (central Italy). We tested the hypothesis that Epigravettian lithic elements from layers PSβ to PS1 (19.000-14.000 cal. BP) were hafted with an adhesive agent, and used as projectile points to catch middle- to small-sized mammals during seasonal hunts. The archaeozoological analysis was performed on 6863 faunal remains, most of them fragmented and sometimes burnt. Only 419 remains could be determined to species level (6.11% of the total). There are frequent cut marks and impact scars, from skinning, disarticulation and the recovery of bone marrow. The chamois was the most frequently hunted animal, followed by red deer, marmot and ibex. We hypothesise seasonality in hunting, when chamois were leaving summer grazing grounds at higher altitude. Furthermore, after isotopic analyses on Equus hydruntinus and Cervus elaphus tooth enamel, the two species had a marked difference in ranging behaviour, with cervids probably more mobile than equids. Combining residue and use-wear analysis, 1315 lithic elements were eventually selected out of an assemblage of 5012 artefacts. The residue analysis was performed on traces detected by stereomicroscopy, and completed by Raman spectroscopy to determine the chemical composition. The use-wear analysis focused on impact fractures also detected by stereomicroscopy. Comparisons were made with similar scars described in the literature in collections from Late Pleistocene European sites and experimental series. The Tip-cross sectional area (TCSA) was also calculated. All lines of evidence point to the fact that both retouched points and unretouched bladelets were hafted using an adhesive that included ochre. The weapons were mostly used to kill caprids and cervids. The TCSA, as well as the weight and morphology of the points, further suggests that the bow could possibly have been in use during seasonal hunts.