Engravings or natural marks? The case of the pebbles from the Epigravettian layers of Grotta del Mezzogiorno (Positano, Campania, South-Western Italy)

Abstract

A taphonomical analysis has been carried out, using stereomicroscope and SEM, on 7 pebbles, coming from the levels of the lowermost unit, that bear a sequence of quadrangular low relief (a sort of grid) only on one side of the stone (usually the flat one). These pebbles are made of light grey and grey-brownish limestone, with smoothed surfaces. These analyses were aimed at discriminating a possible anthropic activity vs. natural origin