Summary (English)
This season, the main objective was to begin excavation of the in situ Mousterian levels (the deposits covering them were removed last year), and the collection of sediment samples and samples from several hearths for various types of radiometric dating and micro-morphological analyses.
The excavations investigated all of the occupation layers to varying degrees. The upper horizons (levels 110 and 111) were investigated in quadrants G7, H6, I5, I6, and L5. A surface characterised by the presence of two hearths and a scatter of numerous artefacts, faunal and malacofaunal remains was exposed in tg.2 of level 111.
One of the hearths (H6 111 tg 2) had been badly damaged by a large burrow. However, it was possible to calculate an approximate diameter of 60 cm and maximum thickness of 5-7 cm from the surviving part. The second hearth (I5 111 tg 2) was intact, at least in the part excavated to date. As regards the intermediate horizon, represented by level 150, the relative paleo-surface was exposed in quadrants F6, F7, H5, G5, G6, and I4. Another hearth was present in this occupation level and the surface was also rich in faunal and malacofaunal remains. The hearth remains to be excavated but was seen to have been partially eroded by the Holocene sea. The thick layer of sterile clay (900) sealing horizon 1004 was excavated in quadrants F3, F4, G3, G4, H2, H3, H4.The 2013 campaign had definitively revealed the great potential and exceptionality of the archaeological record preserved in the Grotta dei Santi that makes it one of the most important European sites for the middle Paleolithic period. The 2014 excavations consolidated a series of national and international collaborations that confirm the consideration afforded the site by the international scientific community. In addition to the consolidated collaboration with Sao Paolo University, Brazil, an official partnership has been set up with the Max Plank Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Lipsia.
Collaboration continues with Pisa University (with the participation of Florence University) for the dating of the speleothems and geo-radar investigation of the deposit.
- Adriana Moroni - Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente – Unità di Ricerca di Preistoria e Antropologia – Università di Siena 
- Margherita Freguglia - Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente –Unità di Ricerca di Preistoria e Antropologia – Università di Siena 
Director
- Adriana Moroni- Università di Siena, Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente – Unità di Ricerca di Preistoria e Antropologia.
Team
- Giulia Capecchi - Unità di Ricerca di Preistoria e Antropologia - Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente – Università dei Siena.
- Stefano Ricci- Unità di Ricerca Preistoria e Antropologia - Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente - Università degli Studi di Siena
- Francesco Boschin - Unità di Ricerca di Preistoria e Antropologia - Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente – Università di Siena
- Jacopo Crezzini - Unità di Ricerca di Preistoria e Antropologia - Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente – Università dei Siena.
- Fabio Parenti - Istituto Italiano di Paleontologia Umana e Università di San Paolo – Brasile
- Giovanni Boschian - Università di Pisa
- Vera Aldeias - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology di Lipsia
- Astolfo Araujo - Università di San Paolo – Brasile
- Gianni Zanchetta - Università di Pisa
- Leonardo Piccini - Università di Firenze
- Marion Hernandez - Max Plank Institut, Leipzig
- Sahra Talamo - Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology di Lipsia
Research Body
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell’Ambiente – Università di Siena
Funding Body
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