Middle–Upper Palaeolithic transition in Southern Italy: Uluzzian macromammals from Grotta del Cavallo (Apulia)

A taphonomic study of macromammal remains found in Uluzzian layer EIII5 of Grotta del Cavallo (Apulia, southern Italy) was conducted to obtain information about exploitation of animal resources in this period. The Uluzzian is a distinctive culture characterizing the Middle–Upper Palaeolithic transition in Italy. Comparison of the sample analyzed with Mousterian assemblages from sites in the same region showed significant differences in skeletal part frequencies, whereas similarities were found with data of Gravettian and Epigravettian samples discovered in other Apulian sites. These results suggest probable changes in the management of carcasses by prehistoric hunters living in the region.