A man buried in Italy in the Hunter-Gatherer era

The Paglicci 133 horizon (c. 28,000–24,000 BCE) reflects hunter-gatherer occupation in southern Italy during a cold-climate phase of the late Upper Paleolithic. Like other horizons in this timeframe, its archaeological visibility is mainly through stone-tool technology and associated evidence of site use.

Region & Environment

Southern Italy’s environmental variety—coastal areas, valleys, and uplands—offered different niches for hunting and gathering. Climatic conditions of this period would have influenced vegetation and animal movement, encouraging flexible mobility to track resources.

Historical Context

Paglicci 133 belongs to late Upper Paleolithic cultural dynamics that, in broader European terms, are commonly grouped under Gravettian frameworks. Archaeological cultures at this time are primarily distinguished through technological and typological patterns in lithic materials.

Populations & Lifeways

Hunter-gatherer groups likely organized their lives around mobility and seasonal or opportunistic movement. Daily activities included hunting, cutting, and processing wild materials, supported by stone toolkits designed for repeated use.

Archaeology & Material Culture

The material record is expected to comprise lithic assemblages with Gravettian-associated production techniques. Differences among horizons can be expressed through variations in tool types, manufacturing sequences, and the selection of raw materials from the local or regional landscape.

Culture & Society

Consistent tool-making practices imply shared knowledge and cultural conventions. Repeated occupation in favored locations suggests familiarity with where resources were most reliably accessible.

Legacy & Transition

Paglicci 133 contributes to the long sequence of hunter-gatherer use in southern Italy. Over time, climate-driven ecological change would influence subsequent occupations and help shape later prehistoric transitions beyond the late Upper Paleolithic.