Discovery of cryptotephra at Middle–Upper Paleolithic sites Arma Veirana and Riparo Bombrini, Italy: a new link for broader geographic correlations

ABSTRACT Chemical characterization of cryptotephra is critical for temporally linking archaeological sites. Here, we describe cryptotephra investigations of two Middle–Upper Paleolithic sites from north‐west Italy, Arma Veirana and Riparo Bombrini. Cryptotephra are present as small (75 wt.%) with lo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of quaternary science 2020-01, Vol.35 (1-2), p.199-212
Main Authors: Hirniak, Jayde N., Smith, Eugene I., Johnsen, Racheal, Ren, Minghua, Hodgkins, Jamie, Orr, Caley, Negrino, Fabio, Riel‐Salvatore, Julien, Fitch, Shelby, Miller, Christopher E., Zerboni, Andrea, Mariani, Guido S., Harris, Jacob A., Gravel‐Miguel, Claudine, Strait, David, Peresani, Marco, Benazzi, Stefano, Marean, Curtis W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeological sites
Archaeology
cryptotephra
Eruptions
Geochemistry
Historic sites
Middle Paleolithic
Miocene
Organic chemistry
Paleolithic
radiocarbon dating
Rhyolite
Silica
Silicon dioxide
tephrochronology
Upper Paleolithic
Volcanic activity
Volcanic eruptions
Volcanic fields
Volcanoes
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Summary:ABSTRACT Chemical characterization of cryptotephra is critical for temporally linking archaeological sites. Here, we describe cryptotephra investigations of two Middle–Upper Paleolithic sites from north‐west Italy, Arma Veirana and Riparo Bombrini. Cryptotephra are present as small (75 wt.%) with low FeO ( 1 and P2 is also a high silica rhyolite (>75 wt.%) but with higher FeO (2.33–2.65 wt.%). Shards at Riparo Bombrini (P3) are of the same composition as P1 shards at Arma Veirana, providing a distinct link between deposits at both sites. Geochemical characteristics suggest three possible sources for P1 and P3: eruptions from Lipari Island (56–37.7 ka) in Italy, the Acigöl volcanic field (200–20 ka) in Turkey and the Miocene Kirka‐Phrigian caldera (18 Ma) in Turkey. Eruptions from Lipari Island are the most likely source for P1,3 cryptotephra. This study highlights how cryptotephra can benefit archaeology, by providing a direct link between Arma Veirana and Riparo Bombrini as well as other deposits throughout the Mediterranean.
ISSN:0267-8179
1099-1417
DOI:10.1002/jqs.3158