Material culture of the Sicilian Epigravettian: ornaments and tools from Trench M, San Teodoro Cave (Acquedolci, Messina)

Renewed excavations at the significant Upper Pleistocene site of Grotta di San Teodoro in Acquedolci, Sicily, focused on a newly opened excavation area named Trench M. This is a sub-vertical cavity, which is approximately 1.80 metres deep and averages less than 80 cm in width, which revealed layers rich in Epigravettian artefacts, charcoal, faunal, and food remains. Three distinct deposits were identified during the excavation: a superficial layer (USM1) compromised/contamined, a middle layer (USM2) containing faunal remains and rare Bronze Age ceramics, and a deeper layer (USM3) resembling the Epigravettian layers already recovered in other areas of the cave. Discoveries from USM3 include distinctive artefacts such as perforated marine shells (several of which bear red pigment traces), a polished stone pendant, and other tools indicative of symbolic and hand-crafted/manufacturing activities. These remains highlight the sophisticated resource management and symbolic practices of the Epigravettian hunter-gatherer groups that occupied the site. This study provides valuable insights into the cultural dynamics and material culture of these ancient Sicilian Epigravettian communities.