During this season’s excavations and research undertaken by the University of Ferrara on the Palaeolithic site of Isernia La Pineta exploration was extended in quadrants 156-159, 166-169 and 174-179 of quadrant 1, in sector I, already partially excavated in 2015. The intervention removed context 3 formed by fluvial-lacustrine deposits with sands and fine gravel (from top to bottom the layers involved were 3s1-5, 3s6-9, 3colluvium, 3s10 and 3b), with the aim of exposing the palaeo-surface 3c, almost in direct contact with the underlying travertine. Layer 3c, already investigated from the 1980s onwards, represents the first evidence of human occupation at the site of Isernia La Pineta following the reduction of the wet areas. Smaller concentrations of material were found compared with the later archeo-surfaces, these included palaeontological remains, and lithics embedded in a rubified sandy matrix a few centimeters thick.

The lithic industry was characterised by the presence of small flint flakes that did not present traces of post-depositional transport. Unidentifiable bone fragments of various sizes, but also some remains of large herbivores, including elephant vertebrae and bison horns were also found. The osteological materials were cleaned and consolidated. At the end of the excavation, surface 3c was exposed in all quadrants of the research area, except for quadrants 158 and 174-175.
The excavations were planned using a total station and integrated system for data acquisition (registration of finds coordinates, orthophotographs, GIS analyses etc.).

The sieving of the sediment produced micro-faunal remains (mainly rodent teeth and fish bones), malaco-fauna, small fragments of macro-fauna, small flakes of flint and sanadine crystals (particularly useful for radiometric dating) and waste products from the working of these materials.