Bone refits and implications for the reconstruction of a late Middle Palaeolithic context: unit A9 of Fumane cave.

Refitting studies provide valuable data to deepen topics such as assemblage formation processes, post-depositional dynamics, settlement and spatial patterns, operational chains, and the definition and integrity of stratigraphic units. The distribution of remains and documented connection lines provides a better understanding of past trajectories in space use and human behaviour. Despite this potential, faunal refits have been hitherto poorly applied in archaeological sites. This paper aims to present an innovative methodology applied for the first time to the Middle Palaeolithic Unit A9 (MIS3) of Fumane cave (Verona, Italy), integrating refits, spatial archaeology, and multivariate statistic techniques. The primary objective is to explore the Neanderthal use of the site during the occupation of Unit A9 and assess the synchronicity between anthropogenic structures and activity areas.