Blade and bladelet reduction systems in the Italian Middle Paleolithic: the case of Grotta del Cavallo, (Nardò – Lecce)

Abstract

Evidence of the presence of blade tool technology has been confirmed in northern Europe from at least the latter part of the Middle Pleistocene (MIS 7-6). During MIS 5 these productions cover a larger area, which includes northwestern Germany, central France, and occasionally the south of France. It is only during MIS 4-3 that the blade production strategy begins to appear in southern Europe, including the Italian peninsula. Based on the present state of research, these three phases appear as on-and-off events without clear evolutionary continuity. The FIIIe and FIIId levels of Grotta del Cavallo in Lecce (Italy) have yielded abundant lithic material predominated by two main reduction systems: the first originating from a Levallois concept by centripetal, unidirectional, and bidirectional methods, and the second stemming from a blade volumetric reduction system. The presence of separate reduction systems aimed at obtaining bladelets highlights the technological variability