Taphonomic and zooarchaeological insights into Neanderthal butchery traditions at Fumane Cave

Thanks to the exponential growth of taphonomic and zooarchaeological studies in recent years, the central role of taphonomy has become increasingly evident not only in understanding the processes of accumulation and preservation of bone remains in archaeological contexts, but also in reconstructing past ecologies and paleoenvironments. Depending on the archaeological context, the faunal assemblage under study, and the specific research question, the most appropriate analytical methods must be carefully selected. This study focuses on the latest evidence of Neanderthal presence at Fumane Cave, one of the most significant Palaeolithic sites in Europe, characterized by a 12 m-thick stratigraphic sequence. In particular, the stratigraphic units A9 and A5-A6 highlight the potential of an integrated, interdisciplinary approach. These contexts provide an opportunity to reflect on the understanding of flaking methods that define Mousterian techno-complexes, such as Discoid and Levallois. While these lithic industries are well defined, the factors guiding the selection and use of specific tools remain unclear. Starting from studies of these Mousterian lithic industries, we then focused on the most represented faunal species throughout the stratigraphy. A taphonomic investigation of Cervus elaphus bone remains accumulated in units A9 and A5-A6, was carried out along two main research directions: (1) the identification of cut mark patterns based on the frequency, distribution and orientation of the traces, aimed at assessing whether and how changes in lithic technologies corresponded to shifts in carcass butchery traditions; (2) a techno-functional analysis of Discoid and Levallois tools was conducted through an experimental collection, quantifying the micromorphometric features of the cut marks left on bone surfaces. In this study the integration of various quantitative analyses provides valuable insights into the cultural complexity and ecology of Neanderthal groups at Fumane Cave during MIS 3, highlighting the flexibility and variability of their strategies and traditions in butchery activities.