Around the fire: archaeological evidence of a Noaillan hearth at the Riparo Mochi (Balzi Rossi, Italy) and its implication to the Mediterranean Gravettian

The Riparo Mochi site is part of the Balzi Rossi archaeological complex, located at the border between Italy and France in the middle of the so-called liguro-provençal arc. The site is well-known, as it preserves one of the reference chronostratigraphic sequences of the Upper Palaeolithic in the Mediterranean area as well as clear evidence of Neanderthal presence. Since 2017, a new area of the rock shelter is being excavated through a multidisciplinary approach, including geoarchaeological and archaeometric investigation, useful for broadening the understanding of human frequentations. Up to now, current research allows a more detailed characterisation of the top of the Upper Palaeolithic sequence previously excavated by A.C. Blanc and L. Cardini of the Italian Institute of Human Palaeontology. During 2021 and 2022 fieldworks, the remains of a hearth were discovered in association with abundant archaeological evidence ascribable to the Noaillan Gravettian. The hearth is located immediately above a massive stone block collapse event, clearly separating the Noaillan from previous human occupations. Here, we present a general assessment of the whole evidence, and a focus on the lithic industry will be provided by means of a technico-functional approach. This allows us to better depict the Gravettian behaviour at the Balzi Rossi and to provide a wider interpretation of the Noaillan presence in the Mediterranean area.