Hunting game: New data on the subsistence strategies during the Uluzzian in Italy

In this study we present the results of the archaeozoological and taphonomic analysis of the macromammal assemblage from the Uluzzian levels of three Italian sites: Uluzzo C Rock Shelter, Roccia San Sebastiano cave, and Riparo del Broion. Our archaeozoological data outlined several common elements and differences between sites sharing this culture. The most abundant taxon registered at Roccia San Sebastiano cave is Cervus elaphus; for Riparo del Broion we registered mostly Ursus sp., but we found anthropogenic modifications on different bones of Cervus elaphus. At Uluzzo C, the most abundant taxon is Vulpes vulpes and the most hunted is Cervus elaphus. Anthropogenic modifications are observed mostly on limb bones (long bones, phalanges, and sesamoids) attesting the practice of marrow extraction. We outlined hunting strategies against carnivore species in particular for northern Italy (Riparo del Broion). In southern Italy, the fauna exploitation is focused mostly on cervids and equids, as attested for several coeval Italian sites (Castelcivita, Grotta del Cavallo, Grotta della Cala, and Grotta La Fabbrica). The data obtained provide new relevant information about animal resource exploitation and allow us to improve and complete our understanding of the Uluzzian hunting and subsistence strategies in the Mediterranean area.