Nouvelles recherches dans le bassin Plio-Pléistocène d’Anagni (Latium méridional, Italie)

Abstract

The Anagni intra-appennine basin is specially rich in palaeontological and archaeological sites, spanning between middle Villafranchian and upper Pleistocene. The Italian Insitute of Human Palaeontology has carried out researches in this region in the last thirty years. At Costa San Giacomo middle Villafranchian yellow sands contain Mastodon arvernensis and Elephas meridionalis. At Colle Marino, a travertine layer and lime-clay contains mode 1 lithic industry, below any volcanic layers whose lower limit is 700 Ky old. Excavations have been restarted at Fontana Ranuccio, a 458 Ky Acheulean site with rich mammalian fauna (Elephas antiquus, Ursus deningeri, Bos primigenius, Dama clactoniana, Equus mosbachensis), a remarkable bone industry and 4 human teeth. Drillings, for about 40 m, have identified Matuyama-Brunhes limit 23 m under the main volcanic pyroclastite, in a thick limnic clay layer.