During the excavation campaigns occurred between 1895 and 1902, a fragment of a long bone (PM-F-3034) was discovered in the late Mousterian levels of the stratigraphy (Foyer B), attributed to MIS4, in the Prince of Monaco’s Cave (Ventimiglia, Imperia, Italy). This find remained for a long time stored but unidentified in the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of the Principality of Monaco until its “rediscovery” by Dr. Abdelkader Moussous, during the analysis of large mammal remains from the Balzi Rossi caves, as part of his PhD thesis (2014); in this circumstance the fragment was recognized as a human remain. In order to identify its correct anatomical determination, its taxonomy and, consequently, to understand its relationship with the associated Mousterian context, it was acquired by hospital computed tomography (CT) with subsequent digital processing. The analysis showed a strong cortical alteration, caused by taphonomic processes that occurred over time. Virtual processing of the human diaphysis, recognized as a femur (PM-F-3034), allowed to conduct non-invasive morphometric analyses (antero-posterior and medio-lateral diameters, biomechanical length, medullary and cortical area, pilastric index) (Caffarone, 2020) aimed to identify the taxonomic attribution of this individual. Furthermore, considering the stratigraphic position and the state of preservation of the human remain, it was decided to proceed with 14C chronological attribution, preceded by the collagen detection by microspectroscopic NIR (microNIR) analysis (Catelli et al., 2020). Contrary to what might have been expected, the values obtained through the virtual analysis attribute the femur to Homo sapiens and it is also confirmed by 14C, that place the human bone chronologically in the 15th century. These results underline the stratigraphic complexity of the Prince of Monaco’s Cave and highlighting diachronic occupations since relatively recent periods. In conclusion, this study has shown that the anthropological analysis of fossil remains, along with 14C, is fundamental for a correct chrono-taxonomic attribution, compensating for the uncertainties and alterations induced during excavation activities, as well as those produced by diagenetic processes that may have generated a partial sedimentary mixing.
Durante le campagne di scavo condotte tra il 1895 e il 1902, nella Grotta del Principe di Monaco (Ventimiglia, Imperia, Italia) venne alla luce un frammento di osso lungo (PM-F-3034) dai livelli tardo-musteriani della stratigrafia (Foyer B), attribuiti al MIS4. Questo reperto è rimasto per molto tempo conservato e non identificato nel Museo di Antropologia preistorica del Principato di Monaco, fino alla sua “riscoperta” da parte del Dr. Abdelkader Moussous, durante l’analisi dei resti di grandi mammiferi delle Grotte dei Balzi Rossi, nell’ambito della sua tesi di dottorato (2014); il reperto venne già allora riconosciuto come un resto umano. Al fine di identificarne la corretta determinazione anatomica, l’appartenenza tassonomica e, di conseguenza, comprenderne la relazione con il contesto musteriano associato, si è proceduto all’acquisizione tramite tomografia computerizzata ospedaliera (TC) con conseguenti elaborazioni digitali. Le analisi hanno evidenziato una forte alterazione corticale causata da particolari processi tafonomici avvenuti nel corso del tempo. L’elaborazione virtuale della diafisi umana, riconosciuta come femore (PM-F-3034), ha permesso di condurre analisi morfometriche non invasive (diametri antero-posteriori e medio-laterali, lunghezza biomeccanica, area midollare e corticale, indice pilastrico) (Caffarone, 2020), volte a identificare l’attribuzione tassonomica di questo individuo. Inoltre, considerando la posizione stratigrafica e lo stato di conservazione del resto umano, si è deciso di procedere con l’attribuzione cronologica al radiocarbonio (14C), previo rilevamento di collagene tramite analisi microspettroscopica NIR (microNIR) (Catelli et al., 2020). Contrariamente a quanto ci si poteva aspettare, i valori ottenuti attraverso le analisi virtuali attribuiscono il femore a un individuo appartenente a Homo sapiens, esito confermato anche dall’analisi al 14C che lo colloca cronologicamente nel XV secolo. Questi risultati sottolineano la complessità stratigrafica della Grotta del Principe di Monaco, evidenziando occupazioni diacroniche sin da periodi relativamente recenti. In conclusione, questo studio ha dimostrato che l’analisi antropologica dei resti fossili, unitamente all’analisi al 14C, è fondamentale per una corretta attribuzione crono-tassonomica, compensando le incertezze e le alterazioni indotte durante l’attività di scavo, oltre a quelle prodotte da processi diagenetici che possono aver generato un parziale rimescolamento sedimentario.
Silvia CAFFARONE, M.R. (2022). Primi risultati di un’analisi multidisciplinare di un femore umano associato ai livelli del Musteriano finale (Foyer B) della Grotta del Principe di Monaco (Ventimiglia, IM, Italia). BULLETIN DU MUSEE D'ANTHROPOLOGIE PREHISTORIQUE DE MONACO, 61, 217-230.
Primi risultati di un’analisi multidisciplinare di un femore umano associato ai livelli del Musteriano finale (Foyer B) della Grotta del Principe di Monaco (Ventimiglia, IM, Italia).
Matteo ROMANDINI
;Gregorio OXILIA;Sara SILVESTRINI;Jessica C. MENGHI SARTORIO;Giorgia SCIUTTO;Lucrezia GATTI;Silvia PRATI;Rocco MAZZEO;Federico LUGLI;Sahra TALAMO;Stefano BENAZZI
2022
Abstract
During the excavation campaigns occurred between 1895 and 1902, a fragment of a long bone (PM-F-3034) was discovered in the late Mousterian levels of the stratigraphy (Foyer B), attributed to MIS4, in the Prince of Monaco’s Cave (Ventimiglia, Imperia, Italy). This find remained for a long time stored but unidentified in the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology of the Principality of Monaco until its “rediscovery” by Dr. Abdelkader Moussous, during the analysis of large mammal remains from the Balzi Rossi caves, as part of his PhD thesis (2014); in this circumstance the fragment was recognized as a human remain. In order to identify its correct anatomical determination, its taxonomy and, consequently, to understand its relationship with the associated Mousterian context, it was acquired by hospital computed tomography (CT) with subsequent digital processing. The analysis showed a strong cortical alteration, caused by taphonomic processes that occurred over time. Virtual processing of the human diaphysis, recognized as a femur (PM-F-3034), allowed to conduct non-invasive morphometric analyses (antero-posterior and medio-lateral diameters, biomechanical length, medullary and cortical area, pilastric index) (Caffarone, 2020) aimed to identify the taxonomic attribution of this individual. Furthermore, considering the stratigraphic position and the state of preservation of the human remain, it was decided to proceed with 14C chronological attribution, preceded by the collagen detection by microspectroscopic NIR (microNIR) analysis (Catelli et al., 2020). Contrary to what might have been expected, the values obtained through the virtual analysis attribute the femur to Homo sapiens and it is also confirmed by 14C, that place the human bone chronologically in the 15th century. These results underline the stratigraphic complexity of the Prince of Monaco’s Cave and highlighting diachronic occupations since relatively recent periods. In conclusion, this study has shown that the anthropological analysis of fossil remains, along with 14C, is fundamental for a correct chrono-taxonomic attribution, compensating for the uncertainties and alterations induced during excavation activities, as well as those produced by diagenetic processes that may have generated a partial sedimentary mixing.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.