Investigating fossil human remains from Palaeolithic contexts using digital morphometric approaches

The discovery of human remains in Palaeolithic sites already known for Neanderthal occupation represents an exceptional event, deserving careful examination. This PhD thesis investigates fossil human remains from four Palaeolithic sites in southern Europe–Grotte de l’Observatoire (Principality of Monaco), Grotta Guattari (Latium), Grotta del Poggio (Campania), and Fondo Cattie (Apulia)–using advanced digital morphometric approaches. This research aims clarifying the taxonomic identity of both newly discovered and previously understudied human fossils, with focus on identifying potential new Neanderthal remains from contexts already known for Neanderthal occupation. A multidisciplinary methodology was applied, integrating high-resolution laser, CT, and microCT scanning with subsequent digital modelling to obtain 3D models of the real specimens. Metrics, non-metric dental traits, enamel thickness, root morphometrics, 2D and 3D geometric morphometrics were employed to assess taxonomic affinities with comparative datasets including Homo erectus, Neanderthal and early, Upper Palaeolithic and recent H. sapiens. Results reveal Neanderthal dental remains at Grotta Guattari, Grotta del Poggio, and Fondo Cattie, the latter also yielding a Neanderthal fourth metatarsal bone and a H. sapiens hand phalanx of uncertain chronology. The specimen from Grotte de l’Observatoire is attributed to a late Upper Palaeolithic H. sapiens and offers insights into possible pain-relieving practices. Notably, seven teeth from Fondo Cattie, labelled as originating from a Mousterian layer, are identified as H. sapiens, suggesting a possible backdating of H. sapiens presence in southern Europe–a hypothesis to be further tested through dating and aDNA analyses. Overall, this research enriches the palaeoanthropological record of Italy and its norhwestern border, providing new insights into Neanderthals and H. sapiens variability during Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. The findings highlight the region’s significance as a crossroads and refugium for human populations and underscore the value of integrating digital methods in palaeoanthropological investigations, for taxonomic assessment of isolated and fragmentary materials.