This campaign saw the completion of the excavation of occupation surface US 15. The stones forming the structures were not removed as their bases were embedded in US 16. Following the removal of lithic and faunal material from the paleo-surface in 2013, visible after the removal of the tefra, in October 2014, excavation began of the first 2-3 mm of sediment of the occupation surface. The aim was to obtain a complete picture of the finds present in the shelter’s final phase of use, prior to the deposit of the thick layer of volcanic ash (US 14) relating to the Tufo Verde del Monte Epomeo di Ischia (55ky BP).

Therefore, excavation of the remaining 6 m2 and recovery of materials continued, by 25 cm2 squares. In quadrants G11, E-F 12, E-F 13, the sediment was heavily concretionary. In these areas, it was difficult to extract the faunal remains. Most of the materials were found in a horizontal position. As seen in previous campaigns, the material inside the structures was sporadic. The expected hollow, like that documented last year between the stones in F 11-12, did not emerge in relation to the group of stones in E12 (structure B). The uroch was the predominant species among the identifiable, though heavily fragmented bones. The lithic industry, like that in the layers above, can be attributed to the Levallois production system and was mainly constituted by small flakes and debris, indicative of flint working on site. Future study will check whether the scarcity of medium/large elements and tools is due to their removal from the encampment at the time of its abandonment or not.

At the beginning of the campaign, the north baulk was seen to have been disturbed by recent animal burrows. Given the instability of the upper part of this portion of sediment abutting a wall of the shelter, excavations began with the upper layer (US4) in quadrants C11 IV and C12 IV. The abundant material presented numerous vertical or sloped elements. The sediment was friable with the exception of a small concretionary patch against the wall in quadrant C11 IV. Small calcarenite fragments were frequent, which had probably broken away from the walls.