Recent data on the Late Epigravettian occupation at Riparo Tagliente, Monti Lessini (Grezzana, Verona): an interdisciplinary perspective

This paper reports some new results of multidisciplinary studies carried out at Riparo Tagliente (Tagliente Rockshleter, Stallavena di Grezzana, Verona, Italy), one of Upper Pleistocene key-sites of Northern Italy. Particularly the results presented concern the evidence which comes from the Late Epigravettian levels explored over the northern sector of the site in the last 30 years and confirm the importance of this deposit for the reconstruction of re-occupation dynamics in the southern slope of the Alps after the last glacial maximum. After a brief review of the site stratigraphy the paper examines data concerning the spatial organisation of this area. A recurrent pattern of use has been observed with differences between the inner and the outer zones of the shelter. Special attention is then given to the analysis of some accumulations mainly composed of lithic waste products located in the outer zone. Results concerning the zooarchaeological study of the whole collection of faunal remains so far recovered from investigated levels is also presented, along with the main information deriving from analystical studies on animal hard tissue artefacts, marine shell ornamental objects and iron oxides, which are very abundant in the site.