ENZA ELENA SPINAPOLICE

Anno accademico 2024-2025

Advances in Palaeolithic Archaeology (Mediterranean Archaeology/ Palaeolithic)

Lessons will start on March 6th in Museo delle Origini h 12

Archeologia del Paleolitico Avanzato

Inizio lezioni Giovedì 6 Marzo, Museo delle Origini h 16

Tecnologia Litica 

Inizio lezioni Giovedì 6 Marzo h 8 

Laboratori in orario da concordare

informazioni: francesco.buccicasari@uniroma1.it

CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Enza Elena Spinapolice
Title: PhD
Born in Foggia, Italy, November 03rd, 1976
Office address: Museo delle Origini, Università Roma Sapienza, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00100 Roma
Telephone: (0039) 0649913926
E-mail: enzaelena.spinapolice@uniroma1.it
Research Interests
• Archaeology of early Homo sapiens
• Relation between behavioral and biological modernity
• Neanderthal archaeology
• Mousterian/MSA mobility strategies and settlement systems
• Lithic technology and raw material provenance analysis
Education
2004-2008 European PhD (with honors) in Prehistoric Archaeology, La Sapienza University and Bordeaux 1
University (Institute of Prehistory and Geology of the Quaternary, Bordeaux, France). Dissertation:
Technologie lithique et circulation des matières premières au Paléolithique moyen dans le Salento (Pouilles,
Italie) : perspectives comportementales. Directors: Prof. A. Bietti, M. Piperno and. J. Jaubert.
2003-2004 M.A. (1st class) Paleoanthropology and Prehistory, Bordeaux 1 University (France). Dissertation:
The anvil percussion in Central Italy. Director: Prof. J. Jaubert.
2002 B.A. (1st class with honors) Prehistoric Archaeology, Dep. of Archaeology, Rome “La Sapienza”
University, Rome. Dissertation: A multidisciplinary approach to the study of Last Neanderthals: new data on
the final Mousterian site of Grotta Breuil (Lazio, Italy). Director: Prof. A. Bietti.
1995-2002 Prehistoric Archaeology at Rome “La Sapienza” University, Rome, Italy.
Positions Held
2015- Fixed term Researcher, Università La Sapienza.
2015 Research Associate Leverhulme Centre For Human Evolutionary Studies, Department of Archaeology
& AnthropologyCambridge University.
2013-2014 Research Associate, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Department of Human
Evolution, Leipzig, Germany.
2011-2013 Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Department of Human
Evolution, Leipzig, Germany.
2009-2011 Marie Curie Incoming International Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Department of Human Evolution, Leipzig, Germany.
Research project and collaborations
2014- Principal Investigator in the (H)Origin project, survey and excavations in the area of Yavello and
Gothera MSA sites, southern Ethiopia.
2014- Principal Investigator in the TRANSITION project. Excavation and analysis of Uluzzo C and Uluzzo
sites, Salento, Apulia, Italy.
2013- Team member “In Africa: The role of East Africa in the evolution of human diversity”. PI M. Mirazon
Lahr (Cambridge University).
2012- Research team member “Missione archeologica italiana a Melka Kunture e Balchit (Etiopia).” PI M.
Mussi (Roma- La Sapienza University, Italy).
2009-2012 Research team member “Missione Congiunta Italo-Libica nel Jebel Gharbi – Libia”. PI E. Garcea
(Cassino University, Italy) and B.E. Barich (Roma- La Sapienza University, Italy).
2006-2010 Co-PI in Riparo Mochi (Balzi Rossi di Grimaldi) research team. In charge of spatial analysis and
refitting. Responsible of excavation method, lithic analysis and refitting. Bordeaux University and Trento
University, Soprintendenza della Liguria.
2009 PI, Middle Paleolithic site of Bénazit , in Cazères-sur-l'Adour, (Landes, Aquitaine, France).
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2006-2008 Collaboration in field and laboratory research Soprintendenza Archeologica della Puglia, Dott.
M. A. Gorgoglione.
2004-2006 P.I Salento Project Survey, Istituto Italiano di Paleontologia Umana, “Roma la Sapienza”
University.
2000-2006 Collaborator in projects financed by “Ministero per l'Università e la Ricerca Scientifica e
Tecnologica (MIUR)”, Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e dell’Uomo, University “Rome- La Sapienza”, PI
prof. A. Bietti.
Grants and Scolarships
2015 Rita Levi Montalcini Grant, Italian Ministry of Education (210.373 €).
2015 SIR, “Scientific independence of young researchers”, Italian Ministry of Education (379.282 €).
2015 Leakey Grant, Uluzzian Project (25000 $, PI Marco Peresani, Ferrara University).
2009-2011 Intra-European Fellowship (Call: FP7-PEOPLE-2008-1EF), People - Marie Curie Actions -
Seventh Framework Programme, European Union (161.686,39 €).
2004-2007 University Grant for the European Ph.D (10.000 €).
2004-2007 Full tuition scholarship for Doctoral studies, University Rome - La Sapienza (First Place) (30.000
€).
2003 1st Prize Istituto Italiano di Preistoria e Protostoria: Award for the best BA Dissertation of the year and
Grant to prolong research on the subject. (5.000 €)
1999- 2001 Annual Grant to collaborate with Dipartimento di Paletnologia, University of Rome - La
Sapienza.
Dissertation co-supervision
2007-2008 Carlotta Pisoni, University of Trento: supervision of BA Thesis “Spatial analysis of Grotta
Breuil”.
Main field experience
Principal Investigator
2007-2010 Riparo Mochi, Balzi Rossi, Grimaldi. Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. Directors Dr. S. Grimaldi
(Trento University) and A. del Lucchese (Soprintendenza Archeologica Liguria).
2005-2006 Salento (Apulia, Southern Italy) geo-archaeological survey promoted by Istituto Italiano di
Paleontologia Umana (ISIPU).
Joint Director
2000-2006 Riparo Mochi, Balzi Rossi, Middle-Upper Palaeolithic. Director Prof. A. Bietti (La Sapienza
University) and A. del Lucchese (Soprintendenza Archeologica Liguria).
2003 Grotta Breuil, Latium, Central Italy, Middle Palaeolithic. Director Prof. A. Bietti (La Sapienza
University).
Preventive and urban archaeology
2009 Principal investigator in Acheulean site of Benazit, Landes, France. Paleotime SARL.
2003-2007 Rome, Fiumicino, field evaluation and excavation of Middle Bronze, Iron and Roman age
features in humid environment (marshy areas with peat). Excavation of wood and other organic features.
Direction of Soprintendenza Archeologica di Ostia (Dr. A. Morelli).
2002-2007 Rome, archaeological evaluations in urban contexts. Director Soprintendenza Archeologica di
Roma.
Main Participations
2002-2005 Grotta S. Angelo, Abruzzo, Central Italy, Upper Palaeolithic. Director Prof. A. Bietti (La
Sapienza University) and Istituto Italiano di Paleontologia Umana. 3
3 
2000 Lanné Darré, Midi Pirenées, France, Lower Palaeolithic. Director Dr. D. Colonge.
1999 Grotta S. Maria, Abruzzo, Central Italy, Final Upper Palaeolithic. Director Prof. A. Bietti (La Sapienza
University) and Istituto Italiano di Paleontologia Umana.
1998 Toppo Daguzzo, Basilicata, Eneolithic. Direction Prof. M. Cipolloni (Université de Urbino).
1998 Grotta Breuil, Latium Central Italy, Middle Palaeolithic. Director Prof. A. Bietti (La Sapienza
University) and Istituto Italiano di Paleontologia Umana.
PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
Refereed journals
2015 E. E Spinapolice, submitted «Technological organization in the Salento Mousterian (Apulia, Italy)
shows Neanderthal logistic land use», Journal of Human Evolution.
E. E. Spinapolice, «Third hand: a testable hypothesis», Journal of Anthropological Sciences Vol. 93
(2015), pp. 169-171.
2014 E. E. Spinapolice and E. A. A. Garcea, 2014 «Aterian lithic technology and settlement system in the
Jebel Gharbi, North-Western Libya», Quaternary International 350 (2014), pp.241-253
2013 M. Mussi, F. Altamura, D. Geraads, R. Grün, R. T. Melis, E.E. Spinapolice 2014 « A preliminary reassessment
of Garba III at Melka Kunture, a Middle Stone Age site with archaic Homo sapiens
remains», Quaternary International 343, 2014, pp. 28–39.
E.E. Spinapolice, and E.A.A. Garcea, 2013 «The Aterian from the Jebel Gharbi (Libya): new
technological perspectives from North Africa ». African Archaeological Review 30 (2), pp 169-194.
2012 K. Douka and E.E. Spinapolice, 2012 « Neanderthal shell tool production: evidence from Middle
Palaeolithic Italy and Greece ». Journal of Word Prehistory 25 (2012), pp. 45–79.
E.E. Spinapolice, 2012 « Mousterian lithic industry and raw material economy from Salento (Apulia,
Italy): new perspectives on Neanderthals mobility patterns». Journal of Archaeological Science 39
(2012), pp. 680- 689.
A. Tagliacozzo, F. Zeppieri, I. Fiore, E. Spinapolice, A. Del Lucchese, 2012 « Archaeozoological
evidence of subsistence strategies during the Gravettian at Riparo Mochi (Balzi Rossi, Ventimiglia,
Imperia - Italy) ». Quaternary International 252 (2012), pp. 142–154.
2010 A. Bietti, E. Cancellieri, C. Corinaldesi, S. Grimaldi, E. Spinapolice, 2009-2010 « La percussion sur
enclume en Italie centrale thyrrenèenne », in Mourre and Jarry (eds.) « Entre le marteau et
l’enclume». Actes de la table ronde de Toulouse, 15-17 mars 2004, PALEO 2009-2010, numéro
spécial, p. 143-180.
2006 E. Spinapolice, 2006 «L’uso dello spazio a Grotta Breuil: risultati preliminari dall’analisi degli strati
inferiori (6,7 e 8) », Rivista di Scienze Preistoriche LVI, pag. 39-52.
Conference proceedings and edited volumes
2014 E. Spinapolice, 2014 «Il Paleolitico antico e medio della Calabria» In M. Cerzoso, A. Vanzetti (eds)
«Catalogo dell'esposizione del Museo Civico dei Brettii e degli Enotri, Cosenza, ». Catanzaro: Ed.
Rubettino, pp. 27-30.
2011 E. Spinapolice, 2011 «Cazères sur Adour, Bénazit », in « Bilan scientifique 2009. Direction
régionale des Affaires culturelles Aquitaine ». Service régional d’archéologie, pp. 202-203.
2010 S. Grimaldi and E. Spinapolice, 2010 «The late mousterian of Grotta Breuil (Monte Circeo, Lazio,
Italy): interpreting new and ancient data», in «Middle Palaeolithic Human Activity and
Palaeoecology: New Discoveries and Ideas», ed. by Jan Michal Burdukiewicz and Andrzej
Wisniewski, Wroclaw, pp. 413-424.
2009 E. Spinapolice, 2009 «Lithic industries and raw material in southern Italy Mousterian: an example
from Grotta dei Giganti (Salento, Apulia)», in «Non-flint raw material use in prehistory /
L’utilisation préhistorique de matières premières lithiques alternatives». Proceedings of the XV
World Congress UISPP (Lisbon, 4-9 September 2006) Oxford, BAR International Series, pp. 177-
186. 4
4 
E. Cristiani and E. Spinapolice 2009 «Approccio tecno-sperimentale all'industria su Callista chione.
Nuovi risultati da Grotta dei Giganti (LE)». Proceedings of the 5° Convegno Nazionale di
Archeozoologia - Rovereto 10-12 novembre 2006, pp. 85-88.
2008 Bietti A., Del Lucchese A., Negrino F., Spinapolice E. (2008). Riparo Mochi. Balzi Rossi
(Ventimiglia). ARCHEOLOGIA IN LIGURIA, vol. 1, p. 237-238
2007 S. Grimaldi, E. Spinapolice, E. Cancellieri, C. Corinaldesi, 2007, «Approccio sperimentale alla
percussione su incudine nel Musteriano laziale», Proceedings of the XL Riunione Scientifica
“Strategie di insediamento fra Lazio e Campania in età Preistorica e Protostorica”, Roma, 30
Novembre - 03 Dicembre 2005, pp. 295-304.
E. Spinapolice, 2007 «Analisi informatizzata della distribuzione dei reperti dello strato 7 di Grotta
Breuil (Monte Circeo, Lazio)», Proceedings of the XL Riunione Scientifica “Strategie di
insediamento fra Lazio e Campania in età Preistorica e Protostorica”, Roma, 30 Novembre- 03
Dicembre 2005, pp. 31-34.
2004 D. Zampetti, F. Alhaique, C. Lemorini, E. Cristiani, R. Campanella, A. Pasquini, E. Spinapolice,
2004 «L'archeologia sperimentale e la documentazione etnografica come strumenti interpretativi dei
manufatti in osso» in “Atti del 2° Convegno Nazionale di Etnoarcheologia (Mondaino 7/8 Giugno
2001)”, M. Barogi and F. Lugli (eds.), pag.122-128.
Abstracts
2014 M. Mussi, R. Melis, F. Altamura, E.E. Spinapolice, 2014 “Garba III (Melka Kunture, Ethiopia):
reanalysis of the space patterning and dwelling structures of an early MSA site.” XVII World UISPP
Congress 2014 Burgos, 1-7 September, in “Technological change and behavioral variability in the
MSA”.
Conference presentations
2015 Rué M., Adamiec G., Ajas A., Bernard-Guelle S., Courty M.-A., Dawson M.-C., Fedoroff N.,
Fernandes P., Martin B., Monin G., Picavet R., Remicourt M., Spinapolice E.E.9, Tallet P.,
«Paléosols pléistocènes et occupations humaines en contexte de dépôt condensé : apports et limites
de la micromorphologie à l'étude de sites paléolithiques du Bassin aquitain. »
2014 E.E. Spinapolice “The transition in Italy: archaeology of the Neanderthal extinction”, UNESCO
CONFERENCE, Granada, 10 December 2014.
E. E. Spinapolice «New Insights on the Early Middle Stone Age of Garba III, Melka Kunture,
Ethiopia», ‘THE AFRICAN ROOTS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR’ symposium, Cambridge may
15th 2014.
2012 M. Mussi, F. Altamura, D. Geraads, R.Grün, R. T. Melis, E.E. Spinapolice «A preliminary reassessment
of Garba III at Melka Kunture, a Middle Stone Age site with archaic Homo sapiens
remains», 18th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies, DIRE DAWA: 29 Oct. - 2 Nov. 2012.
E. Spinapolice and E.A.A. Garcea 2012 «Integrating lithic analysis in tracking out-of-Africa
migrations: new evidence from the Jebel Gharbi, NW Libya.», Conference “Middle Palaeolithic in
the Desert”, Oxford, 13-14 January 2012.
2010 T. Tsanova, E. Spinapolice 2010, « À la charnière entre le débitage Levallois et le débitage semitournant.
Exemples des ensembles lithiques de la transition entre le Paléolithique moyen et le
Paléolithique supérieur en Europe orientale et en Afrique du Nord (80-40 Ka) » XXVIIe congrès
préhistorique de France, Bordeaux – Les Eyzies 31 mai-5 juin 2010. "Transition, rupture ou
continuité au Paléolithique moyen : le statut de la production laminaire volumétrique" (Locht, J-L.,
Ortega, I., Soressi M.).
E. Spinapolice, A. Delagnes, J. Jaubert, 2010 «Tracking human migrations through the lithic record:
a challenging task ». XXVIIe congrès préhistorique de France, Bordeaux – Les Eyzies 31 mai-5 juin
2010. "Settlement Dynamics of the Middle Paleolithic and Middle Stone Age. UISPP Session
(Commission 27)”. (N.Conard . et A. Delagnes).
2007 E. Spinapolice, J. Riel-Salvatore and E. Cancellieri 2007 « Continuity and discontinuity in raw
material exploitation and procurement from Middle to Final Upper Palaeolithic in the Salento
(Apulia) », International Conference “Approcci metodologici integrati per lo studio dei manufatti
litici preistorici”, Firenze 13-15 dicembre, 2007.
2006 Bietti A., Grimaldi S., Spinapolice E., Negrino, F., Cristiani, E., Ruggeri, D., Cancellieri, E. 2006 «
Le Grotte del Monte Circeo e non solo. Riflessioni sul comportamento umano nel Pleistocene
superiore ». International conference « Nostro fratello Neanderthal », Sabaudia (Italy) 21-22 Ottobre
2006 .
5 
2003 A. Bietti, C. Corinaldesi, S. Grimaldi, E. Spinapolice 2003 «The late Mousterian of Grotta Breuil »,
poster presented at EAA 2003, San Petersburg.
Invited lectures
2014 Invited Lecture, Cape Town University “The east African perspective on the Origin of Modern
Humans”.
2013 Invited Lecture at the INA Coloquium, Tubingen University “New Insights and perspectives in the
Middle to Upper Palaeolithic Transition in Italy”.
2012 Invited Lecture at the McDonald Institute, Cambridge “The emergence and diffusion of modern
humans analysed through lithic technology”.
2007 Invited lectures in Palaeolithic archaeology, Prof. Zampetti, Roma – La Sapienza University « The
Uluzzian and the beginning of the Upper Palaeolithic in Italy. Introduction to the problematic».
Workshops
2014 ‘The Archaeology of Modern Human Evolution in Africa’, Leverhulme Centre for Human
Evolutionary Studies, University of Cambridge, 16-17 May 2014.
2005-2006 Students Tutoring at the Summer School promoted by ALPINET project in Riparo Mochi,
Liguria. Workshops, seminars, experimental archaeology and field techniques.
Major field work reports for preventive archaeology
2010 E. Spinapolice (ed.) « Bénazit. Cazères sur Adour (40). Rapport de fouille préventive», Société
Paléotime. 210pp.
Public Outreach
2014 “Vorrei la pelle nera”, Corriere Immigrazione, Agosto 2014.
http://www.corrieredellemigrazioni.it/2014/08/07/vorrei-pelle-nera/ .
“Non sono razzista. Punto. Senza ma”. Carriere Internazionali, 20 Marzo 2014.
http://carriereinternazionali.com/rubrica/giornata-mondiale-controrazzis...
.
2013 Professione (Paleo)Antropologa. Il percorso interdisciplinare di Enza Spinapolice
http://www.professioneantropologo.it/2013/04/21/professione-paleoantropo...
.
2012 Curator of the board “Prehistory” in the Italian home-schooling blog “Lapappadolce”,
http://www.lapappadolce.net/guest-post-perche-insegnare-la-preistoria-ai...
http://www.lapappadolce.net/guest-post-trova-le-differenze-ovvero-come-d...