Integrated cementochronology and dental wear analyses to infer seasonality and duration of Neanderthal occupation: A case study from Fumane Cave L'applicazione combinata di cementocronologia e dental wear analyses. Un nuovo studio sulla stagionalità dell'occupazione umana dalla Grotta di Fumane En It

Résumé En

Studying the settlement patterns and spatial temporal organization of human groups during the Middle Palaeolithic era has always been a challenging task. The observation of the seasonal organization of the activities and the timing of site occupation provides valuable insights into the resource management strategies of Neanderthals. To achieve this goal, we integrated traditional zooarchaeological studies with dental wear analyses and cementochronology to molars from large game exploited by the human groups at Fumane Cave, in the North-east of Italy. By focusing on the observable traces on the teeth's occlusal surface and comparing them with samples from extant ungulates, dental wear analyses yielded promising results in determining the duration of site occupation. Cementum analysis, on the other hand, sheds light on seasonality by examining the season of death of the hunted animals.Furthermore, the present study served as a crucial testing ground to assess the reliability of a new multi-proxies technique that integrates tooth wear analyses and cementochronology. This combined approach allowed us to double-check and validate the results and obtain higher resolution data, overcoming potential gaps in information that may arise from relying on a single technique.