The lithic legacy of Loreto: a technological perspective on early hominin toolmaking during the Lower Palaeolithic

The site of Loreto (Venosa basin, Southern Italy) dates to between MIS 15 and 13, a pivotal phase in the human peopling of Europe. This period marks a moment of change in the Lower Palaeolithic, preceding the glacial break of MIS 12, and the subsequent technological renewal that, from MIS 11 onward, culminated in the transition to the Middle Palaeolithic. Between MIS 15–13, the number of archaeological sites increased, alongside the emergence of bifaces, retouched tools, and more structured land-use strategies. The lithic assemblage from Loreto exemplifies this shift. The technological analysis presented here, focused on layer A, sheds light on hominin behavioural strategies. Core management includes discoid, centripetal, SSDA (Système par surface de débitage alternée), and core-on-flake reduction sequences. Retouched flakes are particularly noteworthy, featuring elaborately worked scrapers and pointed tools with edge rejuvenation, scalariform retouch, and possible soft-hammer use. Beyond its affinities with other coeval sites, the Loreto assemblage may reflect a degree of innovation often linked to biface production, thereby expanding our understanding of Acheulean technical variability. It also contributes to broader discussions on the diversity of lithic strategies adopted by hominins prior to the onset of MIS 11.