New volcanological and palethnological data from Avetrana site (Southern Italy)

This work describes the Mousterian lithic artifacts found in the Avetrana karst filling (Apulia), among the oldest of southern Italy. A volcanoclastic layer found at the base of Bed 8, in the highest part of the stratigraphic succession, is also described. The compositional characteristics of the glasses of this volcanoclastic layer indicate a possible area of origin in the Mount Vulture volcano, and allow us to suggest that it is an aeolian fallout that occurred during or immediately after a late eruption of the Mount Vulture, probably within the 132 +/- 10 ka time span. The chronological result relating to the volcanoclastic sediments would place the underlying beds in the last Interglacial, MIS 5e, and the overlying Bed 8 at the onset of last Glacial period, MIS 5d. Moreover, it is in agreement with the paleoclimatic considerations based on the ecological and biogeographical features of mammal assemblages and it has a very important significance also for the biochronology of the Pleistocene. In fact, it allows us to confirm that some taxa found in the Avetrana succession, such as Crocidura gr. suaveolens, Arvicola italicus, the evolved form of Microtus (Terricola) gr. savii, and the modern form of Dama dama, occur for first time in Italy at the beginning of Late Pleistocene.