First evidence of human peopling in the southern Po plain after the LGM: the early Sauveterrian site of Collecchio (Parma, Northern Italy).

According to the current archaeological evidence human peopling in the Southern Po Plain after the LGM was delayed with respect to other areas of northern-central Italy. Although a rather rich set of sites is recorded from the plain to the main Apennines watershed, true reference points are still lacking. Within this context, Collecchio (Parma, Northern Italy) represents a key-site, attesting that stable settlement in the region began at least in the mid part of the Preboreal. This site, which is also the richest Early Mesolithic (Sauveterrian) deposit to have been extensively excavated in the southern Po Plain, has yielded a varied record of archaeological remains including organic residues and an abundant lithic assemblage that were following a multidisciplinary approach.