Between the Venetian Alps and the Emilian Apennines (Northern Italy): Highland vs. lowland occupation in the early Mesolithic

In this paper, we analyse for the first time the rich record from this area in its whole with the aim of investigating the territorial organisation of hunter-gatherer groups on a wide scale. This research has allowed us to set hypotheses on the mobility and occupation strategies of human groups and on the key-aspects that may have favoured the extensive and intensive occupation of this area. Besides the supposed presence of a biomass compatible with the demographic increase that has characterised this period, we also suggest that the “pragmatic” Sauveterrian technological systems played an important role in the adaptation of early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to the varied ecosystems offered by this area.