Valle Giumentina is an open early and middle Paleolithic site, briefly excavated in the 1950s by Prof. Radmilli of Pisa University and the geologist J. Demangeot. Seven archaeological layers were uncovered within a lacustrine context, on the side of a deep cut that had eroded the Pleistocene deposits, to a depth of 25 m.

As part of the École Française de Rome’s five-year programme (2012-2016), the multidisciplinary research continued with the aim of defining the stratigraphic chronology, determining the techniques of the lithic industries present and occupation types on the site.

During the first mission in September-October 2012, core samples were taken from the Quaternary deposits to a depth of 45 m. An area of 1 m2 of the first blackish paleo-soil, situated at over 3.5 m in depth, was excavated. This revealed the first lithic industry in a stratigraphic context found during this new research programme. The section was cleaned down to a depth of 7 m.

The second mission (April-June 2013) had three main objectives: 1) To excavate the first paleo-soil over a large area: for this a bulldozer was used which created a platform of over 40 m2. During the season, 12 m2 were excavated manually to a depth of about 60 cm. Two levels were exposed, denominated ALB and LDP, the latter having been identified during the 2012 season. Very few faunal remains (deer) were found that were in an extremely fragmented state, as well as 88 lithic artefacts, including cores, flakes and a few retouched flake. The débitage was carried out on intersecting adjacent faces of the cores. An area of half a square metre was excavated in level ABF, which produced five lithic artefacts.

2) To complete the chronology: the stratigraphic sequence was excavated manually to a depth of 16 m. Various specialists were thus able to describe, measure, and take samples from the deposits. Levels were taken, magnetic susceptibility measured and samples and measurements were taken for sedimentological and micromorphological studies, and for the OSL dating.

3) To determine the morphology of the calcareous basin of the Valle Giumentina and geometry of the deposits: resistivity readings were taken along the longitudinal axis (1 transept) and transversal axis of the valley (2 transepts). In some places, the Quaternary fill was 80 m deep. The geomorphological surveying continued.