Funerary practices and post-mortem manipulations by the early Holocene hunter-gatherers of Riparo Blanc (Mount Circeo, central Italy)

Abstract

Riparo Blanc is a rockshelter of Mount Circeo on the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy. It was first excavated in the sixties of last century without attracting much scientific attention, even if it was one of the first radiocarbon-dated sites of Italy and also provided ample evidence of the early use of marine resources. Overall, the chronology of the site was not well understood at this pioneering stage, and while part of the record was recognized as Mesolithic, the remaining one was believed to be of later prehistoric and historic times. This included sparse human remains as well as a rather well preserved burial. New excavations in 2016–2019, and new radiocarbon dates, established a detailed stratigraphic sequence and chronology, reassessing Riparo Blanc as a major burial site of the early Holocene. We provide detailed information on the remains of a minimum of 7 individuals (5 adults and 2 infants). While complete/incomplete primary burials are recorded, the taphonomical investigation of the disarticulated sparse remains leads to hypothesize either secondary burials, or rituals and possibly even cannibalism.