Results from the anthracological investigation of the Mousterian layer A9 of Grotta di Fumane, Italy

A large charcoal sample from Mousterian layer A9 of Fumane cave (Italy) has been studied with the aim to outline the ecological context of the cave surroundings, identify the type and the size of the wood used in the several hearths, and investigate the criteria of wood supply. Taxonomic, morphometric and taphonomic analyses have been carried out on 600 charcoal fragments, showing that larch predominates over spruce, pine and birch species. Based on these anthracological analyses, layer A9 records the coldest climate conditions of the MIS3 Mousterian archaeological sequence, in which the tree line was positioned at an elevation close to the cave, with larch covering slopes and the terraces, and spruce forests on the valley bottom. The heat-producing energy of larch suggests that Neanderthals took advantage of this wood.