A novel multidisciplinary bio- and geo-chronological approach for age determination of Palaeolithic bone artifacts in volcanic settings: An example from eastern Sabatini, Latium, Italy

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Abstract

In this study, we provide combined biochronologic and chronostratigraphic constraints to the fluvial-lacustrine succession cropping out near the village of Rignano Flaminio, 35 km north of Rome, where two bone instruments have been recovered along with several vertebrate fossil remains. The presence of bone tools is characteristic of the Latium region, whereas it is rare in the rest of Italy, but very few sites in which such artifacts occur have precise geochronological constraints. In the investigated site, the presence of Cervus elaphus eostephanoceros, among other taxa, indicates a time interval limited to Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 13 and MIS 11. The occurrence of the Tufo Rosso a Scorie Nere pyroclastic-flow deposit, dated 449 ± 2 ka, at the base of the sedimentary deposits hosting the faunal assemblage allows us at restricting the interval to MIS 11. Moreover, applying a recently validated conceptual model accounting for an aggradational mechanism linked with sea-level rise during glacial termination for the sedimentary successions of the Tiber River and its tributaries in a relatively wider area around Rome, we further constrain the age to 430–405 ka. Following this approach, we present a review of the archaeological sites of Latium yielding bone instruments, remarking that only other four sites have been recently provided with geochronological constraints, through the application of the multidisciplinary methodology applied here.

Introduction

The so-called “Campagna Romana” is a relatively large, flat zone stretching NW and SE of Rome, crossed by the Tiber River and bounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea to the southwest, and by the Apennine mountain chain to the northeast (Fig. 1a). It is a pyroclastic plateau originated by the emplacement of huge volumes of volcanic products erupted by the Sabatini and Colli Albani Volcanic District (SVD, and CAVD) in the time span 0.8–0.04 Ma (Sottili et al., 2010, Marra et al., 2014a, Gaeta et al., 2016, and references therein). These volcanic products, mainly pyroclastic-flow and air-fall deposits, interfingered sedimentary successions deposited by the Tiber River and its tributaries in fluvial and lacustrine environments during Middle and Upper Pleistocene (Karner and Marra, 1998, Marra et al., 2008). The abrupt transition from gravel to clay in the Tiber River and its tributaries sedimentary successions can be related to glacial termination phases (Marra et al., 2016a).

Remarkably, these sedimentary successions have yielded an outstanding record of fossil assemblages (Ambrosetti, 1967, Caloi et al., 1998, Petronio and Sardella, 1999, Palombo, 2004a, Milli et al., 2004, Kotsakis and Barisone, 2008, Marra et al., 2014b) and lithic industries (VV. AA, 1983, VV. AA, 1984), mainly occurring within the coarse grained, gravelly basal portion of the aggradational successions. In some instances, the sandy clay lacustrine and diatomitic deposits have yielded very well preserved, anatomically connected skeletons of large vertebrates (e.g., Leonardi and Petronio, 1974). In particular, the abundance of vertebrate remains yielded a detailed local biostratigraphy characterized by a suite of Faunal Units (FUs) spanning the early Middle through the Upper Pleistocene (Gliozzi et al., 1997, Di Stefano et al., 1998, Petronio et al., 2011, Marra et al., 2014b, Fig. 2). Differently from other regions of the Italian peninsula, Lower Palaeolithic bone tools are not infrequent in Latium. The presence of bone tools and working flakes has been explained by the scarcity of flint in this region, thus improving an utilitarian exploitation of available raw materials (Mussi, 2001, Anzidei, 2001, Boschian and Saccà, 2015). However, for most of these archaeological sites the lack of a clear description of stratigraphic relationships among different outcrops, combined with a poorly developed geochronological methodology, hindered precise time constraints to the recovered assemblages. Also, scarce knowledge of the eruptive history and of the depositional processes of the volcanic deposits, which are widely intercalated with the sediments, resulted in a poor description of the tephrostratigraphic context that would have provided geochronologic constraints to the recovered materials.

More recently, detailed knowledge on the eruptive history of SVD and CAVD and on the chronostratigraphy of the volcanic deposits by means of 40Ar/39Ar geochronology has been obtained (Sottili et al., 2010, Karner and Renne, 1998, Karner et al., 2001, Freda et al., 2006, Giaccio et al., 2009, Gaeta et al., 2016, Marra et al., 2003, Marra et al., 2009, Marra et al., 2014a, Marra et al., 2016b). Moreover, this large geochronological dataset allowed to identify a strict relationship between sedimentation and glacio-eustatic sea-level fluctuations throughout the coastal and inland area of Rome (Alvarez et al., 1996, Karner and Marra, 1998, Marra et al., 1998, Florindo et al., 2007, Marra and Florindo, 2014), and to develop a sedimentary model based on the concept of “aggradational successions” deposited in response to sea-level rise during glacial terminations (Marra et al., 2008, Marra et al., 2016a). Following the increased knowledge on the mechanisms controlling the sedimentary processes and the intervening emplacement of volcanic products in the Campagna Romana area, a multidisciplinary approach based on the integration of the biochronology with chrono- and morpho-stratigraphic methodologies (e.g., Marra et al., 2014b) has been applied in recent years to revise or establish ex-novo the age of several, important archaeological sites. Among these, is the Saccopastore site (Fig. 1) where two skulls of Homo neanderthalensis, previously dated at the last interglacial stage (i.e. MIS 5), have been re-dated at ca. 250 ka thanks to the correlation of the sedimentary deposits hosting the human remains with the aggradational succession deposited in response to sea-level rise during MIS 7 (Marra et al., 2015). Similarly, Ceruleo et al. (2015) have recognized one of the oldest lithic assemblages of the lower Paleolithic of Latium occurring in the lacustrine succession of the Cretone basin, dating back to MIS 15, thanks to a combined biochronologic, geochronologic (direct 40Ar/39Ar dating) and geomorphologic (fluvial terraces) approach (Marra et al., 2016c). Finally, by combining 40Ar/39Ar dating and correlation with the glacio-eustatically controlled aggradational successions, Villa et al. (2016) provided a precise geochronologic framework within MIS 9 and MIS 7, respectively, for the two archaeological levels (m and d) and the relative lithic industries of Torre in Pietra (Fig. 1; Piperno and Biddittu, 1978). However, besides these now well-dated sections, several important sites of the Campagna Romana still lack direct geochronologic constraints, and the age attribution of the fossils and lithic industries recovered there remain therefore uncertain. .

In this paper we apply an integrated multidisciplinary approach to a case-study on the site of Rignano Flaminio, previously described by Sottili and Celletti (2001), which yielded a combined record of vertebrate fauna and bone industry typical for the lower Palaeolithic of Latium (Biddittu and Segre, 1984). Bone instruments recovered at Rignano Flaminio are among the few geochronologically constrained occurrences of Latium. By combining chronostratigraphy and biochronology, we obtained the precise chronological constraints to the recovered fossils and extremely rare lithic artifacts.

The Rignano Flaminio site is located on the Tyrrhenian Sea margin of central Italy (Fig. 1a), which, since the early Middle Pleistocene, was characterized by continental conditions in consequence of the progressive uplift of the Apennines orogenic belt, including its Pliocene - Lower Pleistocene marine basins (Barberi et al., 1994). The regional uplift accompanied the development of a NW-SE stretching chain of ultra-potassic volcanic districts (Karner et al., 2001, Marra et al., 2016d), forming the Roman Magmatic Province (Conticelli and Peccerillo, 1992). The geologic evolution of this sector was therefore strongly influenced by the interplay among volcanism, tectonics, and glacio-eustatism (Marra and Florindo, 2014, and references therein).

In particular, the study area is located within the so-called “Campagna Romana”, on a pyroclastic plateaux originated by the emplacement of large volumes (i.e., several tens of km3) of volcanic products erupted by the Sabatini Volcanic District (SVD) either as pyroclastic-flow and fallout deposits. The pyroclastic plateaux is deeply cut by canyon-like valleys, formed by the combined regional uplift and glacial sea-level falls (Fig. 1b–b'). The major explosive eruptive activity at the SVD spanned the interval 589–249 ka, and was followed by a progressively decrease of eruption magnitudes until ca. 90 ka (Sottili et al., 2010, Sottili et al., 2012, Marra et al., 2014a; and references therein). In the investigated area, the sedimentary deposits intercalated with pyroclastic products are bounded by unconformities within the aggradational successions from fluvial-lacustrine environments, mostly related to sea-level rises during the Middle Pleistocene glacial terminations (Marra et al., 2016c). These sedimentary cycles have been correlated with the Marine Isotopes Stages (MIS), and provide a reference chronostratigraphic framework (Fig. 2; Karner and Marra, 1998) which enables us to constrain the age of the Rignano Flaminio site, (see Method section for further explanation).

In contrast with the rest of the Italian peninsula, bone tools are not rare within the Lower Palaeolithic panorama of Latium. According to recent studies (Mussi, 2001, Anzidei, 2001, Boschian and Saccà, 2015) the use of the animal bones to obtain intentional tools and working flakes is probably due to the scarcity of flint in this region, stimulating an utilitarian exploitation of all the available raw materials. However, only a few sites in which bone instruments occur have precise geochronologic constraints (see details in the last column of Fig. 2), as bone tools (bifaces, tools and flakes) occur in at least seventeen sites of this region:

The bone industry consists of some bone bifaces and flakes. The oldest lithic assemblage recovered at this locality, which includes the bone artifacts, has been bio- and geo-chronologically dated within the interval encompassing the interval MIS 15-11 (Ceruleo et al., 2015, Marra et al., 2016c).

Only one bone tool has been found at this site (Fig. 1). It is a retouched flake from a fragment of the diaphysis of a long bone elephant (Anzidei, 2001). The site has been attributed to MIS 7 based on the features of the recovered lithic industry and faunal assemblage (Palombo, 2004b).

About 372 findings have been identified as bone tools (n. 99 hand axes, n. 11 scrapers and n.263 tools and exploited bone flakes). The peculiar feature at the site is the large amount of bones bifaces (Radmilli and Boschian, 1996). U/Th and ESR dating performed on a Bos teeth yielded an age between 327 and 260 ka (Michel et al., 2001, Michel et al., 2009).

The bone industry consists of six pieces (one elongated cordiform biface, almost four side-scrapers and one end-scraper). Scholars attributed the industry of Malagrotta to the “early Riss” about 300 ka (Cassoli et al., 1982; Radmilli, 1984), while Palma di Cesnola mention a K/Ar dating of pyroclastics (layer 2) which yielded an age of 350 ka (Palma di Cesnola, 2001).

In this site two bone tools have been found (Cassoli et al., 1982), for which no chronostratigraphic data is reported.

In the butchering area of the site about seven bone instruments have been found (two scrapers and five exploited bone flakes; Anzidei, 2001, Anzidei et al., 1999, Anzidei et al., 2004). The reworked pyroclastic deposit hosting the lithic artifacts has been dated recently at 325 ± 2 ka (MIS9; Nomade et al., 2014).

In this site only one exploited bone flake has been found in the lower level m, which is dated within MIS 9 (355–335 ka; Villa et al., 2016).

In southern Latium bone instruments have been found in the following sites of the Latina Valley.

In the site of Fontana Ranuccio the bone industry is about 50% of the entire industry and is accomplished on fragments of diaphysis of Palaeoloxodon long bones and of epiphysis of Bos metapods. One exceptional tool pointed out: a large well executed hand axe on Palaeoloxodont diaphysis, probably femur (Segre et al., 1987; Cassoli and Segre Naldini, 1984). The site has been dated at 458 ka (Biddittu et al., 1978); however Palma di Cesnola (2001) proposed a younger age based on the occurrence of evolved bifaces. Recent geo-paleontological observations suggest an age close to the MIS 11 highstand (Marra et al., 2014b).

Other bone tools have been found at: Cava Panzini-Pontecorvo (Segre, 1984), Cava Pompi-Pofi (Biddittu and Segre, 1984), Colle Avarone (Biddittu and Segre, 1984). But in these last two sites is unclear the effective presence of bone instruments, not always mentioned in recent contributes (Palma di Cesnola, 2001). The supposedly ∼400 ka old sites of Cava Panzini at Pontecorvo and Colle Avarone near Ceprano have not geochronological constraints or secure biochronologic markers, nor the “Aurelian” (i.e.: MIS 10/9) sites of Castel di Guido (Radmilli and Boschian, 1996) and Malagrotta (Cassoli et al., 1982).

Other bone tools have been found at Isoletta, Lademagne, Campogrande, Pignataro Interamna, Piedimonte S. Germano, Pofi-Fosso Meringo (Biddittu and Celletti, 2003). All the sites of the Sacco Valley have been dated at around 400 ka based on the associated faunal assemblages (Biddittu and Segre, 1984, Segre et al., 1987).

In summary, according to available ages, the earliest occurrence of bone artifacts in Latium is possibly recorded in the lacustrine deposits of the Cretone basin, spanning MIS 15 to MIS 11; however the artifacts recovered at this locality cannot be assigned to a specific MIS. All the occurrences in southern Latium have inferred ages within MIS 11 (450–400 ka), whereas all available ages of the sites of the so called “Campagna Romana” fall within MIS 10/9.

Section snippets

Methods

The methodological approach employed to provide age constraints to the sedimentary deposit occurring at the Rignano Flaminio site relies on the concept of aggradational succession deposited in response to sea-level rise during the glacial terminations, combined to biochronologic constraints provided by the embedded fossil record, as introduced in Marra et al. (2014b). This concept has been defined and applied to identify a suite of sedimentary successions in the near-costal and in the coastal

Palethnology

The site of Rignano Flaminio yielded two bone artifacts and one prehistoric flint. The flint artifact is a fine-grained corticated unretouched medium-sized flake. The morphological and technological characteristics, unfortunately, do not allow a reliable chronological allocation.

The first bone artifact (15 × 7 × 4.7 cm) is from the proximal extremity of a Hippopotamus cf. amphibius' radius-ulna (Fig. 3a) on which an intentional fracture to detach a flake is visible. The distal part of the bone

Discussion

As the chronostratigraphic framework helped to constrain the age of the bone artifact and vertebrate assemblage of Rignano Flaminio to MIS 10 and MIS 11, we now aim to refine the age window by further taking into account the bio-chronological age ranges of the fossil groups. As already recognized by Sottili and Celletti (2001), the chronostratigraphic boundaries provided to the sedimentary succession of Rignano Flaminio by two SVD pyroclastic units constrain its deposition within the time

Concluding remarks

We used a novel interdisciplinary approach to assess the age window of a paleontological bone tool assemblage that otherwise chronologically is poorly constrained. Based on the age ranges of the molar fragments of Palaeoloxodon antiquus and the antler fragments of the C. elaphus eostephanoceros, and the stratigraphic position of the Rignano Flaminio bone tool assemblage within the aggradational succession, we can conclude that the age window is between ∼430 and ∼405 ka.

Although represented only

Acknowledgements

We thank Kenneth Rijsdijk and an anonymous referee for their constructive comments. We would like to express our gratitude to M.R. Palombo for her scientific support.

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