Technological behavior of the last Neanderthal and first Sapiens in Italy

This research investigates the technological evolution during the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition, focusing on comparing stone tool technologies of Neanderthals and early modern humans in Italy. The study addresses the challenge of comparing diverse artifact datasets using cognigrams, a method developed for coding and analyzing tool-making behaviors. By applying cognigrams to key Italian sites - Oscurusciuto (Neanderthals) and Castelcivita (sapiens), the research decodes the Levallois and Uluzzian reduction sequences, examining raw material acquisition, core reduction, and anvil preparation. The comparison aims to understand the different technological complexities and cognitive capacities of both species, offering insights into the evolutionary success of Homo sapiens.