ICNO-ARCHEOLOGY OF A HUMAN PALAEOLITHIC ECOSYSTEM: THE HUMAN AND ANIMAL FOOTPRINTS IN THE GROTTA DELLA BASURA (TOIRANO, NORTHERN ITALY)

Abstract

The footprints of human and animal trackmakers, which around 12,000 years B.P. attended the Cave of Básura (Toirano, Liguria, Northern Italy), were studied through morpho-classificatory and morphometric approaches. First results indicate at least three different human producers, two youths and the third of tender age, bears and wolves (or dogs). Analysis of the data demonstrate the power of 3D, of landmark based morphometrics and the utility to use the methods of forensic anthropology in the determination of human footprints. The analysis of the number of trackmakers using the PCA analysis on 'multi-trampling' surfaces could represent a model in the study of cave sites.