The Human Remains From the MIS 6 Site of Grotta Del Poggio (Cilento, Southern Italy): A Taxonomic and Chronological Reassessment

Objectives: Grotta del Poggio is a key site for exploring the Middle Paleolithic in southern Italy, as it contains a pivotal anthropogenic deposit, mainly attributed to MIS 6, while in the Metal Ages, the cavity was used as a burial place. Excavations in the cave's deposit led to the discovery of a human molar and a human talus. A preliminary morphological evaluation of the talus concluded that it belonged to Homo sapiens. Conversely, the molar exhibited Neanderthal-like morphology. Here, we perform a taxonomic and chronological reassessment of these human remains. Materials and Methods: The molar's crown and root morphology were examined and analyzed using linear measurements, 2D geometric morphometrics (GM) of the crown outline, and 3D GM of the enamel-dentin junction (EDJ) and cemento-enamel junction (CEJ). The talus was investigated through a 3D GM analysis of its whole shape. Both specimens were compared with Homo neanderthalensis and H. sapiens samples. Moreover, we performed radiocarbon dating on the talus to elucidate its absolute age. Results: The molar's non-metric traits, linear measurements, crown outline, EDJ, and CEJ confirmed its Neanderthal attribution, while the talus was attributed to recent H. sapiens. Radiocarbon dating ascribed the talus to the Middle Bronze age. Discussion: This study clarifies the taxonomic attribution of the two already known human remains from Grotta del Poggio, revising one of the oldest Neanderthal remains in Italy based on cutting-edge methodologies, and elucidating the reasons why a morphologically modern talus was recovered during the excavation of the Mousterian deposit.