Evidences of fur procurement by Neandertals from the Mousterian deposits of Riparo Tagliente in the Lessini Mountains (Verona, Italy)

The site of Riparo Tagliente lies on the left side of the Valpantena at 250 metres above sea-level. The stratigraphic series, which was deposited in the Upper Pleistocene, can be divided into two main units separated by an erosion surface: deposits with Mousterian (MIS 3) and Aurignacian industries and deposits with Epigravettian industries. The archaeozoological study carried out on the faunal assemblages has pointed out the importance of Neandertal agency in the accumulation and modification of bone remains. The taphonomical analysis, carried out through stereomicroscopy and SEM analyses, revealed that several marks of human activity have been observed on bone fragments belonging to ungulates all over the sequence. Carnivore and rodent marks are relatively rare but more frequent in the lower layers, suggesting an irregular occupation of the site by these animals when Neanderthals were absent. In the uppermost levels cutmarks have been found even on some marmot, fox and bear bones, revealing the interest to fur procurement.