Excavations have re-opened on the Paleolithic cemetery of Atella, situated on the banks of an ancient lake basin. Investigations concentrated on the lower layers E - I, datable to the early Acheulean period (6000,000 - 520,000 years ago). Osteological finds have confirmed the presence of large and medium sized mammals (elphas antiquus, dama daino-clactoniana, bos primigenius). These animals were hunted using a strategy which isolated individuals from their group, surrounded them and pushed them into the lake where they became stuck in the mud. In the same contexts elephant footprints were also found, similar to those found in previous years. The lithic tools recovered were small (scrapers, points), whilst there was no evidence of bifacial tools. (Maria Luisa Nava)

During a research programme of geological survey and investigation of Quaternary ground levels in the Atella basin, a Paleolithic hunting site was discovered near the cemetery at Atella. A covering of 150 m2 has been put over the site. It was situated near a paleolithic lake, datable to between 650,000 and 480,000 years ago, which attracted both animals and prehistoric man (Homo Erectus) to its banks. The final phases of the lake coincide with the last paroxysmal phases of the Vulture volcano which filled the basin with erupted material thus causing the water to flood out. The excavations in 2006 re-opened investigations on the site of ancient Acheulea and looked at various sectors where groups of stone artefacts (bi-face acheulean) and bone remains were excavated. (MiBAC)

The exploration of the Atella Basin, begun in 1971, revealed the presence of prehistoric remains dating from the Lower Paleolithic until the Iron Age, with a gap in the Uper Paleolithic period. The paleo-ethnological research was associated with geological and paleo-ecological investigations aimed at reconstructing the ancient lake environment characterising the Atella Basin between 600,000 and 500,000 years ago. Following the reconstruction of the ancient banks of the lake in 1990 a Pleistocene deposit was discovered close to the cemetery of Atella. The deposit contained numerous artefacts and animal bones. In the same year stratigraphic excavations began which brought to light the original hunting methods used by Homo antecessor (or erectus) for the great pachyderms (Palaeoloxodon antiquus). Most of the finds were left in situ and are protected by a metallic structure covering an area of circa 100 m2: artefacts and elephant tusks together with a river bank surface with elephant footprints are visible. Other finds removed for study are housed in the Provincial Archaeological Museum of Potenza, the Archaeological Museum of Venosa, the University of Florence and the Archaeological Superintendency of Basilicata. In 2009 investigations concentrated on the study of the evidence for the behaviour of “Atella Man”, in particular the technology and type of lithic artefacts and hunting methods. With the aim of saving Layer I which preserves a number of interesting elephant footprints, the ground surface was restored and consolidated. Research was undertaken in the area of the Atella Basin in order to take a number of paleo-climatic and geo-morphological readings and excavate any prehistoric remains. For 2010 the investigation of the final active phases of the Vulture is foreseen. The volcano is linked to the vicissitudes of the ancient lake and thus to the prehistoric hunters.

The research undertaken in the Atella Basin was organized as follows: _Excavation area and structures covering the site:_ - restoration of the roof and protection barriers inside the structure; - general cleaning up of the section and the site; - consolidation of bone finds lying on the site surface; - restoration of the information panels. _Survey of the territory_ Survey was undertaken on the areas peripheral to those investigated in past campaigns in order to complete the mapping of the prehistoric remains. The geomorphology was also documented in order to define the evolution of the ancient lake of the Pleistocene period. The surveys were carried out to the south of Castellagopesole and in the eastern sector of the Atella Basin. Apart from the occasional sporadic lithic artefact, of dubious cultural collocation and of little value for the aims of the research project, no sites or surface scatters were identified. During these investigations important data was collected regarding the position of the banks of the ancient lake, prior to the definitive overflow of its waters into the Ofanto Valley. Evidence of the conclusive paroxysmal activity of the Vulture, responsible for sudden and determinant modifications of the geomorphology of the territory itself, was also documented. Contact was made with the local administration with the aim of planning the recovery of the entire area around the cemetery, at present occupied by dumps of rubble and in part subject to environmental degradation.

Il comune di Atella si trova in provincia di Potenza (Basilicata), circa 10 km a sud della sommità del Vulture. Il giacimento paleolitico è localizzato a sud dell’attuale cittadina, alle spalle del moderno cimitero comunale, su un terrazzamento posto a circa 90 metri più in alto rispetto all’attuale alveo della Fiumara di Atella. Nella continuità delle ricerche portate avanti da più di 20 anni dal Prof. Borzatti dell’Università di Firenze, il nuovo gruppo di lavoro italo-francese, si è dato l'obiettivo di ottenere nuovi risultati sui modi di vita, il paesaggio e l’ambiente degli uomini che popolavano il territorio attuale di Atella 600.000 anni fa. Il nuovo progetto, avviato nel 2015 sul sito paleolitico del Cimitero di Atella, si è concretizzato con una prima missione di scavo questo agosto 2016 che ha confermato il grande interesse scientifico del sito, nell’ambito della ricerca sul Paleolitico in Italia e in Europa. L'obiettivo generale è attualmente quello di approfondire, avvalendosi di un team di ricerca multi-disciplinare, le conoscenze su un giacimento che si è rivelato essere di notevole interesse scientifico nel quadro delle prime occupazioni umane dell'Europa. Grazie alla collaborazione tra i laboratori di diversi istituti di ricerca sia italiani che francesi, oltre ad approfondire lo studio delle industrie litiche, si potrà descrivere meglio il sito in termini geologici e paleo-ambientali (geologia, stratigrafia, vulcanologia, palinologia, paleobotanica, studio delle faune, ecc.), nonché ottenere datazioni assolute tramite analisi radiometriche. Da una parte quindi, si approfondirà lo studio delle collezioni già scavate negli anni precedenti (industria litica e faune), dall'altra si procederà alla raccolta di nuovi dati, anche attraverso la ripresa delle attività di scavo sia all'interno dell'attuale struttura, sia su un'eventuale area esterna.

The town of Atella is situated in the province of Potenza (Basilicata), about 10 km from the summit of the Vulture. The Palaeolithic deposit is located south of the town, behind the cemetery, on a terrace about 90 m above the present riverbed of the Fiumara di Atella. Continuing the research begun over 20 years ago by Prof. Borzatti of Florence University, this season the aim was to obtain new data about the ways of life, the landscape and environment of the people who inhabited the territory of Atella 600,000 years ago. During the 2017 season, the excavation investigated context F present in two different areas in the upper and middle parts of the deposit, which seemed to attest complex and varied taphonomic histories. The reconstruction of these dynamics is one of the objectives of the micro-morphological analyses that are being carried out. This year the excavations uncovered 136 pieces, including 95 lithic elements (small tools and flakes) and 42 faunal elements. Furthering the work begun in 2016, the conservation and first restoration of the faunal remains present on the site continued, concentrating primarily on the lower tusk of _Elephas_ _Antiquus_. In synthesis, as regards the chronological-stratigraphic picture, the various human occupations occurred during 0.65 and 0.6 MA, in various palaeo-geographic environments and are preserved in diverse deposits. The continuation of the excavations and analyses will further define these preliminary suggestions regarding the depositional context, the paleo-geography, and the human activities that took place on this site.