Evidence of raw material selection in Acheulean lithic tools of Notarchirico (MIS 15, Southern Italy)

A nondestructive technological, petrographic and granulometric analysis of 75 lithic artifacts excavated by M. Piperno in the 1980s in the Early Palaeolithic site of Notarchirico (Venosa, Southern Italy) was carried out to check their compatibility with the lag deposit of layer B (MIS 15) and the hypothesis of lithological selection for knapping by hominins. A total of 289 clasts selected via a virtual grid superimposed to orthophotographs of three areas documenting the palaeosurface of layer B (MIS15) were petrographically analyzed in situ to identify the petrofacies of the lag deposit from which the artifacts were collected. The results obtained proved the lithic artifacts are compatible with clasts of layer B from a granulometric, petrographic and morphological point of view and that only some of the available lithotypes in layer B were used to knap artifacts. Although limestones, cherts, marls and sandstones were available in layer B, the latter are not present among lithic artifacts as lithotype. Moreover, the size and rock texture resulted to be stronger selection criteria than lithology. In fact, since the maximum length of stone tools are higher than those of layer B’s clasts, this points to a supply area by hominins of lithic raw material larger than the investigated palaeosurface. This study contributes to investigate the mode and criteria of selection of raw materials for knapping and shaping by hominins living in the South of Europe during the MIS 15 at 600 ka.