Mesolithic in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines: Insights From Recent Excavations at the Monte Frignone Ii Site

The transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic in Mediterranean Europe remains a central issue in archaeological research, yet the dynamics of the last hunter-gatherer communities and their interactions with early farming groups are still poorly understood. The Northern Apennines, and particularly the site of Monte Frignone II, offer an important case study for investigating this cultural and economic shift. As part of the MESApennines Project, new excavations were conducted in 2024 to reassess previous discoveries, expand the archaeological dataset, and apply an integrated methodological approach combining geophysical survey, targeted excavation, and material analyses. The geophysical survey successfully identified anomalies associated with thermally altered materials, demonstrating the effectiveness of this technique in densely vegetated environments. The excavation confirmed the presence of an archaeological layer in trench A1 rich in lithic remains consistent with Castelnovian technological traditions. However, the deposit was affected by significant taphonomic processes, including anthropic disturbances and episodes of woodland clearance during the Bronze and Iron Ages. In this context, the supposed Neolithic occupation of the site remains unconfirmed, as the superficial units appear to represent a palimpsest formed through multiple post-depositional processes. Despite these alterations, Monte Frignone II constitutes a valuable case study for advancing our understanding of the final hunter-gatherer societies of the Northern Apennines. Future research will focus on refining the chronological framework, expanding geoarchaeological analyses, reassessing earlier assemblages, and further exploring areas with the potential to preserve well-defined archaeological features.