Reassessing the Middle Palaeolithic lithic technology of Grotta Romanelli (Lecce, southern Italy)

Located in the southernmost part of the Italian Peninsula, specifically the Salento area in the Apulia region, Grotta Romanelli (Lecce) is one of Italy's most significant Palaeolithic sites. It shows evidence of human occupation from the Middle to the late Upper Palaeolithic. This study presents a re-analysis of historical lithic collections and also includes a new analysis of artefacts from recent excavations within Middle Palaeolithic Inside Stratigraphic Unit 3 (ISU3). This unit, formerly referred to as level G or “terre rosse”, is dated to at least the MIS 5 interglacial period. Our findings offer a revised perspective on past interpretations of Grotta Romanelli's Middle Palaeolithic lithic industry. Interpretations of this industry have varied over time, especially regarding the presence of Levallois core technology — an important cultural and chronological marker. The initial classification in the 1970s described the assemblage as Charentian Mousterian of Quina type, characterized by the absence of Levallois technology and the exclusive use of local materials. However, studies from the 2000s suggested a predominance of Levallois technology, along with a noteworthy, albeit limited, use of non-local materials. Our lithic analysis suggests instead a focus on expedient flake production using exclusively locally available raw materials, with no evidence of the Levallois method. These results contrast with previous hypotheses, indicating a distinctive role for Grotta Romanelli's lithic technology within the Middle Palaeolithic cultural framework of southern Italy.