Attesting Neanderthal dwelling space use: effects of human occupations in the Middle Palaeolithic record of Fumane cave

Project Information

ANDSU

Grant agreement ID: 897841

DOI

10.3030/897841

Project closed

EC signature date 21 April 2020

Start date 1 August 2020

End date 31 January 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 171 473,28

EU contribution

€ 171 473,28

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FERRARA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ANDSU (Attesting Neanderthal dwelling space use: effects of human occupations in the Middle Palaeolithic record of Fumane cave)

Reporting period: 2020-08-01 to 2022-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The action "Attesting Neanderthal Dwelling Space Use: effects of human occupations in the Middle Palaeo-lithic record of Fumane cave (ANDSU)" addressed important issues and challenges that occurred during our evolution, giving attention to the variability of Neanderthal subsistence patterns across the analysis of the late Mousterian sequence of Fumane cave (44-47.6 ka cal BP) (Verona, Italy). The research questions how Neanderthals' behaviour can be interpreted, thanks to the spatial archaeology of remains, to distinguish intra-site activity areas and whether different hearth-related accumulations are contemporaneous. Such topics are important because they enable data collection that can be applied to constructing population models and eco-cultural niches through synergies with various anthropology and biology research fields. Information about ancient populations' structure might be a significant clue to differentiate between AMH and ancient hominid behaviour, overcoming anthropological misconceptions that consider Neanderthal as second-class humans.
Archaeological knowledge, artefacts, sites, and landscapes, also extended in the field of Neanderthal, can help teach the younger generation about the past: the paths humans have crossed and the attempts and experiments they have made towards creating contemporary society. The potential of this discipline for fostering more intelligent, involved global citizens is considerable. Learning about archaeology helps students develop various skills across many disciplines, including critical thinking. Archaeology can be readily included in a comprehensive curriculum for social science, history, mathematics, environmental studies, and art. Society learns to appreciate history from different frames of reference, developing a sensitivity to other people and diverse cultures.
Objectives of this Marie Skłodowska Curie Action (MSCA) have been to:
1) perform manually faunal refits in three levels of Fumane cave, which are A9 (47.6-45.0 Ky Cal BP) and A6-A5 (44.8-42.2 Ky Cal B.P.);
2) experiment with the 3D scan of a sample of bones, adapting an existing and successful methodology;
3) apply geometric analysis on 3D models of selected bones.
The action has been concluded.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Work was conducted via six work packages (WPs) that comprised qualitative research methodology, conference presentations, one publication in journal manuscripts and two forthcoming.
For researcher training and transfer of knowledge, the fellow attended six intensive training workshops and multi-day conferences on scientific fields (statistics, geometric morphometrics and GIS). To transfer the knowledge and results acquired, two online virtual tours with European institutions, museums and universities and 2 seminaries inside the Host institution were performed, both for researchers and the general public.
The fellow was appointed to different scientific associations in the field of Archaeology. Results of this MSCA are reported in one paper (to be published in the next months) and forthcoming papers on the results of spatial distributions inside the Mousterian levels of Fumane cave.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

In recent years, new perspectives in zooarchaeological studies have been possible thanks to the refinement of existing techniques, the development of new methods and the adoption of multidisciplinary approaches. This project addressed the Neanderthals’ spatial organization of units A9 and A5-A6 of Fumane cave. With a mixed methodology that involves bone refits harnessing spatial and exploratory statistical analysis and 3D reconstructions, it is expected to open new perspectives. Refitting studies provide valuable data to achieve topics like assemblage formation processes, post-depositional dynamics, settlement patterns, and the definition and integrity of stratigraphic units. 3D scan acquisition of refitted bones was carried out to process images in Artifact3-D and calculate angles and fracture surfaces. Based on its potential, this method is employed to develop computerized analytical methods that can make refit semi-automatic or automatic. Acquired data shows the importance of these studies to understand the diversity of occupational patterns in Middle Palaeolithic records. Integrating innovative methods from other disciplines is a fundamental step in this approach.
This MSCA allowed the Fellow to develop agility with many different research methodologies and promote best practices in the field of Neanderthal evolution.
The project will generate new and important data about the processes and organizational systems of our ancestors, and results will be used to make comparisons among other European sites. Impacts anticipated from the MSCA are increased and improved: focus by researchers on the results obtained at Fumane cave (to be implemented in the future) and focus on ethics and sustainability in scientific education. A final overarching impact is enhanced public perception of Archaeology and evolution as an important point for the human journey.

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