Hominin behavior, strategies, and environmental conditions in Southern Europe (Marine Isotope Stage 17–15): The 100-ka sequence of Notarchirico (Italy, 700–600 ka)

Abstract

The Notarchirico sequence comprises a continuous 100-ka-long record of phases of hominin occupation between Marine Isotope Stage 17 and Marine Isotope Stage 15, revealing remarkable technological stability alongside some innovations. We analyzed core technology, raw material provisioning, and shaping activities throughout this unique sequence. Large cutting tools, in particular bifaces, only appear in specific layers and are relatively rare, yet their presence demonstrates a clear capacity for bifacial volume management and opportunistic shaping when suitable blanks were available. The persistence of short reduction sequences, limited standardization, and the flexible use of local raw materials indicate a pattern of recurrent and low-intensity site use, with a strong link between technology, local raw material constraints, and functional needs. In Southern Europe at that time, archaeological sites are characterized by moderate climatic phases compared to those in Northwestern Europe, with relatively stable ecosystems and a consistent hominin presence. These transitions do not appear to have caused significant changes in technological behavior. Instead, hominins operated within a flexible adaptive framework, maintaining a shared technical background characterizing hominin adaptability during the late Middle Pleistocene Transition in this region. The variability observed across the Notarchirico assemblages seems to be best explained by the interplay of raw material constraints, low-intensity occupation, and the ecological setting, rather than by cultural change or unidirectional technological evolution. Overall, technological variability reflects a dynamic yet coherent behavioral repertoire shaped by local conditions and repeated short-term occupations focusing on foraging and transit activities, rather than long-term cultural change.