Coastal Echoes: Marine Mollusk Exploitation and Shell Bead Production at Riparo Bombrini (Ventimiglia, Italy) during the Early Upper Paleolithic

Author(s): Silvia Gazzo

Year: 2025

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Variability within the Aurignacian: New Research Outlooks" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

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Marine mollusks were first deliberately collected for food consumption and tool production during the Middle Paleolithic in Europe. However, it was with the emergence of Homo sapiens in the Early Upper Paleolithic that a profound shift occurred, leading to the systematic and extensive gathering of these marine resources. In particular, the Aurignacian culture marks the beginning of a technological behavior focused on the manufacturing of personal ornaments made from shells and other materials such as stone, bone, and antler. Riparo Bombrini (Ventimiglia, Italy)<b>—</b>a collapsed rockshelter located in the Paleolithic complex of Balzi Rossi<b>—</b>has proved to be an important site for the study of the methods of collecting and utilization of marine mollusks during the Protoaurignacian culture along the Mediterranean coast. This site has revealed not only the remains of shellfish consumed for dietary purposes, but also a considerable quantity of perforated small marine gastropods suspended as ornaments. These findings provide valuable insights into the dietary practices and symbolic behavior of the first anatomically modern humans to inhabit Western Europe. Finally, this study aims to highlight the combination of ecological, cultural, and symbolic factors that fostered a deep connection between Homo sapiens and the surrounding coastal environment.

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Cite this Record

Coastal Echoes: Marine Mollusk Exploitation and Shell Bead Production at Riparo Bombrini (Ventimiglia, Italy) during the Early Upper Paleolithic. Silvia Gazzo. Presented at The 90th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. 2025 ( tDAR id: 509893)

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Keywords

General
Europe • Lithic Analysis • Mediterranean • Zooarchaeology

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 51077