Middle Paleolithic

In 2005 the Central Lydia Archaeological Survey (CLAS) identified an open-air Lower Paleolithic site called Bozyer near Lake Marmara in the province of Manisa, Turkey. Intensive survey of Bozyer in 2008 resulted in collection of over 300 stone tools. Subsequent systematic analysis attributed 189 of these lithics to a Lower Paleolithic industry. The assemblage is characterized by flakes and retouched flake tools, many of which were produced with the bipolar flaking technique; preferential use of locally available quartz and quartzite over chert; a low proportion of cores, most of which were reused as choppers and chopping tools; and the absence of bifaces and other large cutting tools. With few exceptions, similar assemblages are rare in Anatolia, and comparable industries from Eurasia and the Near East date to the Early Pleistocene period. The lithic industry from Bozyer thus joins other nearby sites in evidencing some of the earliest hominin activities outside Africa, shedding new light on growing understandings of Lower Paleolithic technology, mobility, and activities in Anatolia.

Located in Dnieper valley and dated to ca. 32,000-31,000 cal BP, the site of Mira is characterized by the high level of conservation of human activity evidences. An important specificity of the site is its position in area without lithic raw material outcrops. Lithic industry of Mira, layer I with a confidence can be regarded as homogenous and containing no admixtures. At the same time, it is multi-component and includes specific Middle and Upper Palaeolithic tool types. Bifacial products constitute the essential archaic feature and are in a focus of presented paper. As a pivotal issue several related tasks are seen: to evaluate whether intensive use and recycling can distort the set of bifacial artefacts; to understand what role (core vs. tool) did bifacial artefacts play in technological chaîne operatoire under the terms of shortage of raw materials; to examine which analogies for bifacial products of Mira, layer I can be seen, based on their technology and morphology. The analysis of available data allows concluding that the initial set of bifacial products was definitely distorted: some bifaces were used as cores, whilst the others were significantly reshaped and reduced. At the same time, no indication exists that the bifaces were served as mobile cores from the onset. Instead, they actually played a role of occasional situational cores. Techno-morphological features of Mira, layer I bifacial products provide reasons for searching the nearest analogies in local Micoquian-related Middle Palaeolithic records.

The Department of Physical Geography of the University of Liege (Belgium) was in charge of updating the physical factors of the regional land management map for Sprimont, a karstic municipality of Belgium. The influence of floods, karst processes, landslides, and other physical factors were evaluated. The karst features and karst-related events have been mapped three times with accuracy in this area during the last century (in 1898, 1971 and 1996). The data provided the basis for a study of the rates and dynamics of the karst processes and permitted the forecasting of hazards on a secular basis. A map of karstic areas, karst features and karst dynamics was prepared. Some systematic trends of the evolution of karst features were noted. A map of risks and land-use constraints was derived from the first map and from the observed trends. Rules were induced from these data and were proposed to control building and other activities in clearly defined areas. Resume

The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative model to the one exposed by Thomas Kuhn, in order to specify the stages of development of a theory. To expose the way in which the development model is applied to a general theory in our discipline, I will take the case of social archaeology, which has exponents throughout the central-southern part of the American continent and in the Iberian Peninsula.

The timing of hominin dispersals during the early Pleistocene, specifically into East Asia, is well established. The pattern of migration across inner Asia and the subsequent duration/intensity of hominin colonization of these areas, however, are still poorly resolved. The large territory of Central Asia defines a clear path within Eurasia through which hominin dispersals farther east may have occurred. The purpose of the present study is to examine the degree to which an autochthonous evolutionary trajectory is supported in Central Asia and how the potential connections between this and neighboring regions may be characterized during the Pleistocene. Archaeological and human paleontological evidence from the region is reviewed and compared to that from the Near East, the Altai, and China. This review informs a more detailed analysis of the Central Asian Middle Paleolithic record. Prevailing theoretical models suggest that Central Asia was inhabited by Neandertals migrating from the west to seek refuge from expanding modern human populations during the Middle Paleolithic. Morphological analyses of the newly discovered Obi-Rakhmat hominin and a re-evaluation of the Teshik-Tash child, both from sites in Uzbekistan, provide a test of this model. Results indicate that evidence of the morphological pattern that typically describes European Neandertals is equivocal in Central Asia. Although both Obi-Rakhmat and Teshik-Tash express some Neandertal features, their morphologies also suggest some admixture with local populations and/or those migrating into Central Asia from the North and East.

Studies of dental development have reported conflicting results regarding whether Neanderthal growth and development was similar to that of modern humans. The discovery of a partial permanent maxillary juvenile dentition (OR-1) from the Obi-Rakhmat Grotto, Uzbekistan, provides the opportunity to assess dental development and age at death in a Paleolithic hominin with strong Neanderthal similarities using incremental dental features. Long-period lines on tooth crowns (perikymata) and roots (periradicular bands) were quantified, and crown formation, root development, and age at death were estimated. An anomalous upper molar was determined to be a left M 2 with a rare developmental condition (gemination). Perikymata numbers for OR-1 were similar to modern southern African population means, but were less than modern northern European and Neanderthal means. Root extension rates were estimated to be similar to (or slightly higher than) modern human values, although few modern comparative data are available. Assuming the long-period line periodicity of this individual fell within a Neanderthal distribution (6-9 days), the maximum age at death of OR-1 is estimated at 8.1 years, but is more likely to have been 6.7-7.4 years (7 or 8 day periodicity). Modern European human developmental standards would suggest an age at death of approximately 8-9 years. These results are consistent with other studies suggesting that Neanderthal dental development overlaps with the low end of modern human populations, and demonstrates a greater range of variation in Middle Paleolithic hominins than previously reported. It is clear that perikymata number alone does not distinguish these taxa; data on long-period line periodicity and molar eruption would yield additional insight into Neanderthal life history.

Although the Paleolithic occupations of Uzbekistan and the neighboring foothill regions of Tajikistan and Kazakhstan are well-documented, almost no hominin fossil material has been discovered in the area since Teshik-Tash 1 in 1938. Here we describe and offer a preliminary comparative framework for hominin remains that were recovered in 2003 from two Middle Paleolithic sites in Uzbekistan, Obi-Rakhmat Grotto and Anghilak Cave. The description of Teshik-Tash as a Neandertal and the preponderance of lithic assemblages identified as Mousterian in character has supported the interpretation of the region as the eastern-most extent of the Neandertal range. The material from Obi-Rakhmat (OR-1), a subadult represented by part of a permanent maxillary dentition and a fragmentary cranium, expresses a relatively Neandertal-like dentition coupled with more ambiguous cranial anatomy. The remains from Anghilak Cave include a non-diagnostic, diminutive right fifth metatarsal (AH-1). These findings are important additions to the Central Asia hominin fossil record.

A human partial maxillary dentition and a fragmentary cranium were recovered from Obi-Rakhmat Grotto in northeastern Uzbekistan in 2003. Initial descriptions of this single juvenile (OR-1) from a Middle Paleolithic archaeological context have emphasized its mosaic morphological pattern; the dentition appears archaic, while certain morphological aspects of the cranial fragments may be more ambiguous. The present study provides a systematic and comparative analysis of the dental morphology and morphometrics of OR-1 to provide a more refined appraisal of its phenetic affinity vis a ´vis Neandertals and modern humans. Two analyses were performed. The first uses 28 non-metric dental traits scored from Neandertals, Upper Paleolithic, and Middle Paleolithic modern humans to assess the posterior probability of group membership for the Obi-Rakhmat individual. The second is a morphometric analysis of the first upper molar of OR-1. The results of both analyses suggest the dentition of OR-1 is essentially Neandertal.

This article examines the technological and general appearance of Middle Paleolithic assemblages from a number of sites in the Côte Chalonnaise, Burgundy, France. Emanating from several assemblage characteristics observed within the stratified material from Grotte de la Verpillière II, ongoing research could demonstrate congruent technological patterns in the assemblages of a number of surrounding sites. Major common features are the presence of Keilmesser, with and without tranchet blow, and consistent production strategies, predominantly based on the Levallois concept. Thus, this paper gives initial indications for a conjunct site cluster in the region. Initial dating results suggest a chronological context in the Late Middle Paleolithic. Furthermore, the spatial allocation of the sites and their respective industries allow us to forward a preliminary hypothesis concerning functional inter-site organization. In addition, recently conducted fieldwork and subsequent analysis provide evidence for intra-site spatiality, which completes the micro-regional overview of the Late Middle Paleolithic in the interplay between technology, chronology and spatiality. Cet article examine l'aspect technologique et général des assemblages du paléolithique moyen de plusieurs sites de la Côte Chalonnaise, Bourgogne, France. En partant de plusieurs traits caractéristiques au sein du matériel stratifié de la grotte de la Verpillière II (Germolles), les recherches actuelles ont permis de mettre en évidence des modèles technologiques congruents pour un certain nombre de sites environnants. Les principales caractéristiques communes sont la présence de Keilmesser, avec ou sans coup de tranchet, et des stratégies de production homogènes, principalement basées sur le concept de Levallois. Le présent travail fournit ainsi les premiers indices d'un cluster cohérent de sites dans la région. Les premiers résultats de datation suggèrent un contexte chronologique dans le Paléolithique moyen tardif. Herkert, Litzenberg, Hoyer, Frick, Floss ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Dieser Beitrag untersucht das technologische und allgemeine Erscheinungsbild der mittelpaläolithischen Inventare aus mehreren Fundstellen im Gebiet der Côte Chalonnaise, Burgund, Frankreich. Ausgehend von mehreren charakteristischen Merkmalen innerhalb des stratifizierten Materials der Grotte de la Verpillière II (Germolles), konnten die aktuellen Forschungen kongruente technologische Muster für eine Reihe der umliegenden Fundstellen nachweisen. Die wichtigsten gemeinsamen Merkmale sind das Vorhandensein von Keilmessern, mit und ohne Schneidenschlag, sowie einheitliche Produktionsstrategien, die auf dem Levallois-Konzept basieren. Damit liefert die vorliegende Arbeit erste Anhaltspunkte für ein zusammenhängendes Fundstellencluster in der Region. Erste Datierungsergebnisse deuten auf einen chronologischen Kontext im späten Mittelpaläolithikum hin. Die räumliche Verteilung der Fundstellen und die Zusammensetzung der jeweiligen Inventare erlaubt es, eine erste Hypothese zur funktionalen Organisation zwischen den Fundstellen aufzustellen. Darüber hinaus liefern kürzlich durchgeführte Feldforschungen und anschließende Analysen Belege für eine fundplatzspezifische Organisation, die den mikroregionalen Überblick über das späte Mittelpaläolithikum im Zusammenspiel von Technologie, Chronologie und Räumlichkeit vervollständigen. The Middle Paleolithic of the Côte Chalonnaise Fig. 1. Distribution of Middle Paleolithic sites. Above: Saône-et-Loire department with sites attributed to the Middle Paleolithic. The frame highlights the research area in the Côte Chalonnaise. (Map and Data: carte archéologique, SRA Bourgogne). Below: Côte Chalonnaise research area. Yellow stars indicate Middle Paleolithic sites mentioned in the text. From north to south, these are:

cálculo estimativo de la porosidad primaria del sedimento, para posteriormente analizar los distintos procesos diagenéticos que han intervenido en su destrucción (compactación mecánica, compactación química y cemen tación). La caracterización textura! y genética de los poros en dichas areniscas pennite establecer la existencia de procesos generadores de porosidad se<:undaria (disolución y fractura). La disolución del feldespato potásico, cemento carbonático y de baritina se relaciona con flujos de aguas meteóricas ligadas a discordancias intramesozoicas, mientras que la porosidad de fractura se asocia a la estructuración terciaria de la Cordillera Ibérica. Por últ imo, •se concluye que la cantidad de porosidad secundaria en las areniscas estudia das depende fundamentalmente de la composición original de los depósitos, así como de la geoquímica del ambiente de sedimentación que controla las primeras etapas diagenéticas (ro diagénesis). Este hecho se traduce a 10 largo de las series estudiadas en una variabilidad, tanto en la cantidad como en los tipos de porosidad.

cálculo estimativo de la porosidad primaria del sedimento, para posteriormente analizar los distintos procesos diagenéticos que han intervenido en su destrucción (compactación mecánica, compactación química y cemen tación). La caracterización textura! y genética de los poros en dichas areniscas pennite establecer la existencia de procesos generadores de porosidad se<:undaria (disolución y fractura). La disolución del feldespato potásico, cemento carbonático y de baritina se relaciona con flujos de aguas meteóricas ligadas a discordancias intramesozoicas, mientras que la porosidad de fractura se asocia a la estructuración terciaria de la Cordillera Ibérica. Por últ imo, •se concluye que la cantidad de porosidad secundaria en las areniscas estudia das depende fundamentalmente de la composición original de los depósitos, así como de la geoquímica del ambiente de sedimentación que controla las primeras etapas diagenéticas (ro diagénesis). Este hecho se traduce a 10 largo de las series estudiadas en una variabilidad, tanto en la cantidad como en los tipos de porosidad.

Middle Paleolithic Neanderthal populations occupied Eurasia for at least 250,000 years prior to the arrival of anatomically modern humans. While a considerable body of archaeological research has focused on Neanderthal material culture and subsistence strategies, little attention has been paid to the relationship between regionally specific cultural trajectories and their associated existing fundamental ecological niches, nor to how the latter varied across periods of climatic variability. We examine the Middle Paleolithic archaeological record of a naturally constrained region of Western Europe between 82,000 and 60,000 years ago using ecological niche modeling methods. Evaluations of ecological niche estimations, in both geographic and environmental dimensions, indicate that 70,000 years ago the range of suitable habitats exploited by these Neanderthal populations contracted and shifted. These ecological niche dynamics are the result of groups continuing to occupy habitual territo...

The nature of the LowereMiddle Palaeolithic transition has been one of the most debated questions in early Prehistory since the mid-20th century. The root of these debates lies primarily in how early prehistorians constructed chronological models, relying heavily upon index fossils. Such models have "artificial boundaries designed to provide structure to a complex record and, rather than being conceived of as permanent or real, should be frequently examined and revised (Corbey and Roebroeks, 2001)" . In this paper, we will not focus our efforts on issues relating to nomenclature and systems of classification. Instead, we will focus on a time frame within which rapid behavioural and technological changes have been documented: the period between MIS 9 to 6. Working on a large scale, and taking account of all of north-western Europe and its southern fringes, a group of researchers working on the main sites from this period propose an assessment of current research on the emergence of the "Middle Palaeolithic". Using a rich corpus of archaeological sites, we discuss how humans occupied north-western Europe and its southern margins between MIS 9 to 6, focusing particularly on questions of taphonomy, conservation, chronology and environment, as well as reviewing the pattern of technological change within lithic assemblages.

On this occasion, the space called ZERO Showcase was used to present Dama celiae to the
museum visitors, a recently discovered cervid with only two points on each antler, that provides unprecedented fossil information about the evolution of fallow deer during the Pleistocene. The species
of this genus gave rise to two different lineages: one, now extinct, reduced the number of antler points,
while the second one led to the modern fallow deer with palmated antlers. Dama celiae is the end
member of the non-palmated lineage. Various species of cervids are documented in the Manzanares
valley (Madrid) of 300 000 years ago, but are unknown from the rest of Europe and are possibly the
result of endemic adaptations to a particular environment, with abundant outcrops of Miocene gypsum deposits and a gypsophile vegetation. The new species of fallow deer has been recognised in
the sites of Pedro Jaro I and Orcasitas (Dama celiae). The presence of lithic tools in fluvial deposits
close to the ones that preserved the remains of these deer lived, combined with the existence of cut
marks on certain bones, suggests that they were consumed and possibly hunted by human species
that pre-dated the Neanderthals

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

Mots-clés.-Évolution, fouilles, Balzi Rossi, préhistoire, recherche internationale. Résumé.-Albert I er de Monaco manifeste dès son jeune âge un vif intérêt pour l'évolution de l'Homme. Sous l'influence de scientifiques éminents, il s'engage dans des fouilles, comme aux grottes des Balzi Rossi, et transforme les méthodes de recherche en préhistoire. Il dirige des fouilles majeures et mène des recherches internationales, mettant en oeuvre ses idées novatrices en collaboration avec des experts.

Nowadays, the issues of human occupation of the South-Eastern Baltic, in particular, the territory of the Kaliningrad region, are poorly studied. However, the accumulation of knowledge about the initial appearance of human being in the region has a rich history. Finds belonging to the Final Paleolithic were first identified here as early as the beginning of the XX century. A detailed description of all materials belonging to the Stone Age was made by 1937. The variety of items made of bone and antler allowed researchers of the first half of the XX century to identify the initial stage of human occupation of the region using both typological and palynological methods. In the second half of the XX century, a series of locations with flint artifacts were discovered, and excavations were carried out systematically at one of them – Nikolskoye IV. Based on the results of AMS-dating of two reindeer antlers from the territory of the Kaliningrad region, the oldest dates for the South-Eastern Baltic were obtained, which refer to the last glacial maximum. The article presents brief results of the research in the XX–XXI centuries of the issues of human occupation of the Kaliningrad region according to archival and published data, and outlines prospects for further research.

The preventive archaeological excavation of the Bois de l’Hôpital site (Saint-Sulpice-la-Pointe, Tarn, France), between November 2015 and April 2016 (Bernard-Guelle et al. 2016), uncovered several archaeological layers dating back to the Upper Pleistocene set in an unprecedented/original context for the Tarn’s lower valley’s Middle Paleolithic. The main level (archeological unit UA3) displays a lithic industry mainly manufactured on quartz, sometimes quartzite or flint, related to a Mousterian technological complex. The product of anvil discoid and Levallois debitage technique, the tools made from flakes (mostly scrapers and denticulates) coexist with pebble tools. Rarely the subject of a detailed study – particularly in Mousterian collections – the pebble tools’ operating chain (chaîne opératoire) has been described, functional purposes included. This technological, morphological and functional analysis identifies several tool groups and is able to link some of them to specific mod...

New researches have been performed on the analysis of some Italian dwelling structures dating from the Lower Paleolithic to Bronze Age. Different methods have been applied to each study according to the extensions of the areas explored. The following sites have been analyzed:

Several faunal assemblages excavated in deposits of different antiquity (from Lower Paleolithic to Bronze Age), located in Northern, Central and Southern Italy, were studied from the archeozoological and taphonomic point of view. Data obtained by different Authors allow reconstruction of subsistence strategies adopted by prehistoric humans in these areas and through time, in particular as far as the exploitation of animal resources is concerned. The following assemblages were considered: Isernia La Pineta (Molise; Lower Paleolithic), Grotta Breuil (Latium; Middle Paleolithic), Grotta della Ghiacciaia (Verona; Middle Paleolithic), Riparo di Fumane and Riparo Tagliente (Verona; Middle and Upper Paleolithic), Riparo Mochi (Liguria; Upper Paleolithic), Grotta della Continenza (L&#39;Aquila; Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic), Grotta dell&#39;Edera (Trieste; Mesolithic and Neolithic), Grotta della Cala at Marina di Camerota (Salerno; Eneolithic), Contraguda (Sassari; Neolithic), Castellar...

En el municipio de Cartagena (Murcia) se localiza uno de los enclaves más relevantes dentro del conjunto de Canteras históricas documentadas en la Región de Murcia. Localizadas en la diputación de Canteras, a 4,5 km al noroeste de la ciudad de Cartagena, constituye uno de los mejores exponentes del paisaje minero vinculado a la explotación de la piedra mediante el empleo de técnicas tradicionales. La monumentalidad de sus frentes, el interés geológico de sus formaciones y la trascendencia de este material en el crecimiento edilicio y urbanístico de Cartagena llevó consigo la declaración de BIC con la categoría de Sitio Histórico (BORM n.º 5, 8 de enero de 2011, 927-932), lo que ha permitido preservarlas de la acción antrópica, especialmente del desarrollo urbanístico en la zona. Pese a su interés científico y la potenciación de recursos turísticos, tanto en la ciudad de Cartagena como en otras poblaciones del entorno, estos impresionantes frentes de explotación siguen careciendo de percepción social y, por lo tanto, del reconocimiento de los valores patrimoniales que atesora. En este trabajo, se compendian algunos de sus principales atributos tanto geológicos como culturales y sociales, con el fin de llamar la atención sobre la necesidad de su recuperación y puesta en valor.

10 Kohlenlagerstätten bzw. -vorkommen im gering erkundeten Lena-Kohlen-Becken wurden chemisch-physikalisch, petrographisch, organisch-geochemisch sowie palynologisch untersucht und hinsichtlich ihrer Genese, ihrer spezifischen Eigenschaften und ihres Verwertungspotentials charakterisiert. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Kohlen des Lena-Beckens trotz beträchtlicher Entfernungen zueinander unter sehr ähnlichen Bildungsbedingungen entstanden sind. Es handelt sich hauptsächlich um Humuskohlen, die in artenarmen oberjurassischen und unterkretazischen Waldmooren gebildet wurden. Die Vegetation bestand hauptsächlich aus Gymnospermen mit bisaccaten Pollenformen (Pinaceen, Taxaceen). Die westlichen Kohlenvorkommen entstanden unter Plattform-Bedingungen am Rande des Sibirischen Kratons und zeichnen sich durch weitgehend flache Lagerung und geringere Inkohlungsgrade bei größeren Flözmächtigkeiten aus. Die östlichen Kohlenvorkommen bildeten sich in der Vorsenke des Werchojansker Gebirges. Aufgrund de...

Since more than fifteen years, deep test pits and small archaeological excavations, led in rescue archaeology context, have allowed the discovery of pleistocene human occupation remains. Fifteen occupation layers have been discovered, fit in a reliable chronostratigraphical context. They can be ranger from the isotopic marine stage 14 or 13 to 2, either from 550 000 to 12 000 years before present. They enhance the dataset of the knowledges of peopling modalities of north-west Europe during the Palaeolithic.

The territory of north-eastern Poland is experiencing a veritable archaeological renaissance through many research initiatives. In 2017, using the LiDAR method, 26 settlement sites located in the Podlasie Lowland were discovered. These sites have a similar form of construction and together they represent a compact settlement system. The main aim of this studies is to present the preliminary results of geoarchaeological studies of the Jatwieź Duża site as an example of this kind of settlement. This form is built by two distinct moats (circle shape) separated by earth embankment and a central flat area with a diameter of about 60 m. It is located on the Pleistocene clays, fluvioglacial sands and gravels. In the course of archaeological excavations, ten archeological resource objects with 79 parts of pottery and 83 flint artifacts were discovered. Technological and stylistic analysis of the pottery has shown that these artifacts belong to Urnfield culture communities from the Surash Gr...

Рис. 1. Местонахождение Вертеп, чоппинг на гальке кремнеземистого песчаника. Рис. 5. Орняк 3: нарезки на пястной кости лошади (D15 -6 -656 bis) из 6 слоя (рисунок О. Куэдра, CERP Tautavel, фото Д. Дайнат, CERP Tautavel). Увеличение демонстрирует хорошую сохранность поверхности кости. Рис. 6. Орняк 3. Ретушер на фрагменте длинной кости лошади (E16-6-507) из слоя 6. Фото Д. Дайнат, CERP Tautavel; а) увеличение х 40 и б) х 80 под сканирующим электронным микроскопом (Б. Денье).

The collection of papers includes reports concerning different aspects of natural science and archaeological studies of Pleistocene localities nearby Medzhibozh in Khmelnitsky region. Lower and Middle Paleolithic assemblages discovered in other areas of Ukraine, and also in Russia, Moldova, and France are published. For scholars, graduates and students, and all those who interested in problems of archaeology, paleontology, geology, and paleogeography of Pleistocene.

Сборник включает статьи, освещающие различные аспекты естественно-научных и археологических исследований плейстоценовых местонахождений у Меджибожа на Хмельнитчине. Вводятся в научный оборот материалы по нижнему и среднему палеолиту других территорий Украины, а также России, Молдовы и Франции. Для научных работников, аспирантов, студентов и всех, кто интересуется проблемами археологии, палеонтологии, геологии и палеогеографии плейстоцена.

Збірник містить статті, в яких висвітлено різні аспекти природничих та археологічних досліджень плейстоценових місцезнаходжень поблизу Меджибожа на Хмельниччині. Вводяться в науковий обіг матеріали з нижнього і середнього палеоліту інших територій України, а також Росії, Молдови та Франції. Для наукових працівників, аспірантів, студентів і всіх тих, хто цікавиться проблемами археології, палеонтології, геології та палеогеографії плейстоцену.

This article presents the results of fi eld studies in the Chagyrskaya cave – a key site of the Sibiryachikha phase of the Middle Paleolithic in the Altai – which were done in 2024. In that excavation season, the main focus of excavation works was on studying stratigraphy of the site, searching for anthropological remains, and obtaining a collection of lithic artifacts for technical and typological analysis. Two culture-bearing layers, 6a and 6c/1, with numerous lithic artifacts and anthropological remains were identifi ed during the excavation. Preliminary analysis of the lithic complexes has revealed some differences from the typical collections of the Chagyrskaya cave. Thus, new collections contained a signifi cant share of cortical fl akes, more cortical striking platforms on fl akes, and more bifacial tools in the toolkit. These differences are not cultural,  chronological, or stadial, but rather refl ect variation in seasonal habitation of the cave by the Late European Neanderthals or differences in the functioning of the excavated areas. The complexes of layer 6c/2, which were typical for the Chagyrskaya cave, represented the remains
of Neanderthal base camp for consuming hunting prey, mainly bison. Layer 6a in the cave resulted from colluvial processes and can be functionally defi ned as a hyena den with remains of Neanderthal material culture from layer 6c/2. Anthropological remains included a proximal fragment of the right humerus of an adult, left upper incisor, and lower right premolar. This discovery of anthropological remains indicates good prospects for continuing field works at the site.

•  The molar from the Middle Paleolithic site of Rozhok I is a Neanderthal.
• The migration of the Micoquian from Europe to Asia passed through the Azov Sea region.
• Analysis of the crown diameters revealed a similarity between Eastern Micoquians.

In recent years, archaeological research has demonstrated the presence of abstract non-utilitarian behaviour amongst palaeolithic
hominins, fuelling discussions concerning the origin and implications of such complex behaviours. A key component in these
discussions is the aesthetic and symbolic character of intentionally incised artefacts. In this study, we emphasize the geometry
of the incisions as clues to intentionality. Using 3D surface analysis, we characterised incisions found on a Levallois core from
Manot cave, and on a flake and retouched blade from Amud cave. In addition, we applied the same methodology to the previously
published engraved Levallois core from Qafzeh and the plaquette from Quneitra. The incisions on the Manot, Qafzeh and Quneitra
artefacts show similar geometric characteristics. Notably in each of these cases, the incisions form patterns that align with the
artefact’s surface topography and shape. In contrast, the incisions on the Amud artefacts are shallower, with no clear orientation
or patterning. The methodology applied thus creates a comparative context for MP incised items, reinforcing the interpretation
of the Manot, Qafzeh and Quneitra artefacts as deliberate engravings, whereas the marks on the items from Amud are consistent
with their functional use as abraders. While the Qafzeh, Quneitra and Manot items are isolated initiatives in their chronological
and geographic contexts, the shared traits of the intentional engravings underscore their predetermined nature.

n recent years, archaeological research has demonstrated the presence of abstract non-utilitarian behaviour amongst palaeolithic hominins, fuelling discussions concerning the origin and implications of such complex behaviours. A key component in these discussions is the aesthetic and symbolic character of intentionally incised artefacts. In this study, we emphasize the geometry of the incisions as clues to intentionality. Using 3D surface analysis, we characterised incisions found on a Levallois core from Manot cave, and on a flake and retouched blade from Amud cave. In addition, we applied the same methodology to the previously published engraved Levallois core from Qafzeh and the plaquette from Quneitra. The incisions on the Manot, Qafzeh and Quneitra artefacts show similar geometric characteristics. Notably in each of these cases, the incisions form patterns that align with the artefact’s surface topography and shape. In contrast, the incisions on the Amud artefacts are shallower, with no clear orientation or patterning. The methodology applied thus creates a comparative context for MP incised items, reinforcing the interpretation of the Manot, Qafzeh and Quneitra artefacts as deliberate engravings, whereas the marks on the items from Amud are consistent with their functional use as abraders. While the Qafzeh, Quneitra and Manot items are isolated initiatives in their chronological and geographic contexts, the shared traits of the intentional engravings underscore their predetermined nature.

In 1999, during the excavation of Khaiyrgas Cave on the Middle Lena River in Yakutia (in the Russian Federation), a fragmented human deciduous tooth was discovered in the upper 5th (Paleolithic) horizon, at the contact with the 4th (Mesolithic) horizon. The cave is one of a number of interesting Upper Paleolithic sites on the Lena, located at the border of two cultural regions: Lake Baikal and Yakutia. Previous findings indicate active cultural and perhaps ethnic contacts, in particular with areas of the Lower Angara region and Northern Baikal. In order to determine the morphology and taxonomic position of the tooth, its metric and non-metric parameters were studied. Comparative analysis indicates that the tooth characteristics adhere to the Eastern dental pattern with some archaic traits. This tooth is one of the earliest known human remains in Yakutia, which are crucial for the study of the ancient population of the Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic in North-East Asia. Its conformity with the Eastern dental pattern confirms the alleged affiliation of human groups that inhabited the territory of Yakutia in the late Pleistocene/early Holocene to the Mongoloid anthropological type. In addition, the results of comparative analysis suggest the presence of ancient affinities between the Upper Paleolithic populations of North-Eastern and Western Siberia.

RESUMEN: El presente trabajo recoge los principales resultados derivados de la intervención arqueológica acometida entre los años 2002 y 2003 en el Valle de Tsutskhvati (República de Georgia), principalmente centrados en una nueva ronda de excavaciones en la Cueva Doble. Los estudios estratigráficos, tecnológicos, tafonómicos y polínicos permiten arrojar nuevos datos, complementarios a los obtenidos en la cercana cueva de Ortvale Klde, sobre las comunidades neandertales que habitaron la región del Cáucaso meridional, uno de los entornos geográficos en los que sobrevivieron los últimos representantes de esta especie. Mientras que los completos trabajos arqueológicos abordados en la cueva de Ortvale Klde han permitido contar con un amplio programa de datación para la presencia neandertal en dicha cavidad, el resto de los yacimientos del mismo periodo siguen presentando una cierta indefinición contextual. A pesar de ello, se acepta que la presencia neandertal en el valle de Tsutskhvati debió situarse en el mismo marco temporal que en Ortvale Klde. Aunque tanto la Cueva Doble, motivo de esta publicación, como la famosa Cueva del Bronce carecen hoy en día de contextos cronológicos fiables, es necesario señalar que estos yacimientos del valle de Tsutskhvati vienen siendo recurrentemente citados en el debate sobre el fin de los neandertales y la llegada de las primeras comunidades sapiens a la región caucásica. Es por ello por lo que la información novedosa aquí presentada (los últimos trabajos en Tsutskhvati se llevaron a cabo en la década de 1970) posee un indudable interés, a pesar de las limitaciones cronológicas, para ampliar nuestro conocimiento sobre este importante capítulo de la Prehistoria europea. Palabras clave: Homo neanderthalensis. Cáucaso meridional. Paleolítico medio. Valle de Tsutskhvati.

Available online at www.journaltaphonomy.com Study of faunal series resulting from recent excavations in two caves in North Atlantic Morocco (Grotte à Hominidés- GH- and Grotte des Rhinocéros- GDR- at Thomas I and Oulad Hamida 1 quarries, Casablanca) has yielded new evidence concerning the gathering and processing of ungulates carcasses during the Middle Pleistocene in this part of North Africa. Preliminary taphonomic analysis of the macrofauna indicates that the carcasses were mainly introduced in the caves by carnivores. Additionally, marks generated by porcupines also occur. Dimensions and morphologies of tooth-marks and coprolites suggest that carnivores of different sizes (mainly middle-sized canids, hyenids and felids), as well as porcupines, used the cave. Cut-marks on the bones are absent at GH and scarce at GDR, despite their association with lithic artefacts and human fossils. This raises the question of the relationship between hominins and other competitors in these cave...

Dynamics of Learning in Neanderthals and Modern Humans is a two-volume proceedings of an international conference held in Tokyo in 2012 on the replacement of Neandertals by modern humans. Admirable in its multi-disciplinary scope and depth, the series represents an ambitious inquiry into the cultural, psychological, neuroscientific, and physical differences between the two species that may have contributed to the Neandertal demise. One of the key hypotheses is that differences in learning abilities might explain the replacement of Neandertals by modern humans. Thus, many of the papers in the first volume examine learning strategies and behaviors in human groups, both prehistoric and extant hunter-gatherer societies, though not within similar cognitive paradigms. Other papers review aspects of cultural evolution, including evolutionary rates of cultural change, niche construction, and innovation. The second volume continues with studies of cognition and psychology, including papers on individual, imitative, and instructive learning, problem-solving, and cognitive flexibility, as well as genetic studies, issues associated with reconstructing fossil crania, and brain morphology.

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

The work undertaken at the Jarama VI site (Valdesotos, Guadalajara, Spain) in the 1990s resulted in the recovery of thousands of archeological remains from the three Pleistocene sedimentary units of this cavity. Prior to the systematic analysis of the lithic material and the reception of new geochronological data, it had been suggested that the upper unit of Jarama VI could correspond to the Early Upper Paleolithic, while the other two units could be related to Neanderthal occupations. We now present the results of a comprehensive analysis and review of the materials, enabling us to clarify that all three units at Jarama VI belong to the Middle Paleolithic and, hence, to the last known Neanderthals in this central area of the Iberian Peninsula, a relatively high altitude inland zone within the framework of mountainous landscapes-parameters which seem to be characteristic of these last groups of Neanderthals.

Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3, 57 -27 ka) was characterised by numerous rapid climate oscillations (i.e., Dansgaard-Oeschger (D/O-) events), which are reflected in various climate archives. So far, MIS 3 speleothem records from central Europe have mainly been restricted to caves located beneath temperate Alpine glaciers or close to the Atlantic Ocean. Thus, MIS 3 seemed to be too cold and dry to enable speleothem growth north of the Alps in central Europe. Here we present a new speleothem record from Bunker Cave, Germany, which shows two distinct growth phases from 52.0 (+0.8, -0.5) to 50.9 (+0.6, -1.3) ka and 47.3 (+1.0, -0.6) to 42.8 (± 0.9) ka, rejecting this hypothesis. These two growth phases potentially correspond to the two warmest and most humid phases in central Europe during MIS 3, which is confirmed by pollen data from the nearby Eifel. The hiatus separating the two phases is associated with Heinrich stadial 5 (HS 5), although the growth stop precedes the onset of HS 5. The first growth phase is characterised by a fast growth rate, and Mg concentrations and Sr isotope data suggest high infiltration and the presence of soil cover above the cave. The second growth phase was characterised by drier, but still favourable conditions for speleothem growth. During this phase, the δ 13 C values show a significant decrease associated with D/O-event 12. The timing of this shift is in agreement with other MIS 3 speleothem data from Europe and Greenland ice core data.

The newly identified Paleolithic site Sima de Las Palomas de Teba hosts an almost seven-m-thick sediment profile investigated here to elucidate the rock shelter&#39;s chronostratigraphy and formation processes. At its base, the sediment sequence contains rich archeological deposits recording intensive occupation by Neanderthals. Luminescence provides a terminus ante quem of 39.4 ± 2.6 ka or 44.9 ± 4.1 ka (OSL) and 51.4 ± 8.4 ka (TL). This occupation ended with a rockfall event followed by accumulation of archeologically sterile sediments. These were covered by sediments containing few Middle Paleolithic artifacts, which either indicate ephemeral occupation by Neanderthals or reworking as suggested by micromorphological features. Above this unit, scattered lithic artifacts of undiagnostic character may represent undefined Paleolithic occupations. Sediment burial ages between about 23.0 ± 1.5 ka (OSL) and 40.5 ± 3.4 ka (pIRIR) provide an Upper Paleolithic chronology for sediments depo...

The Arbreda Cave provides a detailed archaeological record of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic and is a key site for studying human occupation and cultural transitions in NE Iberia. Recently, studies of lake archives and archaeological sites presented new evidence on climate changes in NE Iberia correlating with Heinrich events. It, therefore, needs to be determined whether climate signals can be identified in the cave sequence of Arbreda, and if so, whether these signals can be correlated with stratigraphic indicators suggesting the continuity or discontinuity of human occupation. We conducted a high-resolution sedimentological and geochemical study, including micromorphological investigations, to shed light on stratigraphy, processes of sediment accumulation and post-depositional alteration in the cave. Seven major sediment units were distinguished which partly correlate with archaeological levels. The lower part of the sequence including Mousterian levels J and K consists of fluvial deposits truncated by a sharp erosional disconformity between Mousterian levels J and I. Strong enrichment with phosphorus and strontium reflect zoogenic inputs. The transition from Mousterian to Archaic Aurignacian in levels I and H, respectively, is reflected by more gradual changes in colour, grain size and geochemical composition. However, a peak in potentially wind-blown particles (40-125 µm in di-ameter) reflects higher aeolian input, and banded microstructure suggests reworking of sediments at the interface. Both properties correlate with low density of finds suggesting low intensity of human occupation related to a dry spell. More arid conditions than during the Holocene are indicated for the Gravettian to Solutrean levels. These findings are in agreement with previous palaeoclimatic interpretations as based on palaeontological proxies. The detailed multi-proxy analyses of the sequence adds to our understanding on sediment accumulation and alteration in the Arbreda Cave. The transition from the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic probably includes a gap in human occupation. Assessing the significance and duration of this gap and correlating the climate signal requires three-dimensional reconstructions of find densities and more reliable geochronological control. 1 Introduction Northeastern Iberia has a long and detailed archaeological record starting in the Middle Pleistocene and covering all major archaeological phases of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithics (e.g. D'Errico and Sánchez-Goñi, 2003; Saladié Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union.

Previous geochronological and archaeological studies on the rock shelter Jarama VI suggested a late survival of Neanderthals in central Iberia and the presence of lithic assemblages of Early Upper Paleolithic affinity. New data on granulometry, mineralogical composition, geochemical fingerprints and micromorphology of the sequence corroborate the previous notion that the archaeological units JVI.2.1 to JVI.2.3 are slackwater deposits of superfloods, which did not experience significant post-depositional changes, whereas the artifact-rich units JVI.3 and JVI.1 mainly received sediment inputs by sheetwash and cave spall. New AMS radiocarbon measurements on three samples of cut-marked bone using the ultrafiltration technique yielded ages close to, or beyond, the limit of radiocarbon dating at ca. 50 14C ka BP, and hence suggest much higher antiquity than assumed previously. Furthermore, elevated temperature post-IR IRSL luminescence measurements on K feldspars yielded burial ages for s...

A Mátra-vidék szisztematikus kutatása egészen későn, a 2000-es évek elején kezdődött. A terepbejárások eredményeképpen nagyszámú, leginkább felső paleolitikus lelőhely került azonosításra.
A középső paleolitikum időszakára datálható telepek jelenlétét a Mátraalja területén elsőként Simán Katalin vetette fel (Simán, 1986, 271-275). Feltételezte, hogy az üveges kvarcporfír a Bükk hegységtől kiindulva a Mátra előterén keresztül terjedt nyugati irányba, ezzel előrevetítve az addig nem ismert potenciális lelőhelyek meglétét. A területről ismert legkorábbi, egyértelműen középső paleolitikumhoz köthető eszközlelet a Parád–Marhád-tetőn talált kvarcporfírból készült bifaciális kés. A gondosan megmunkált darabra Bíró Katalin (Bíró, 1984, 5-11) a Micoquien kultúra vezérleleteként hivatkozott.
A Mátra vidékén folytatott terepbejárások során 2011-ben Gutay Mónika és Kerékgyártó Gyula (Gutay et al., 2012, 12-17) négy darab bifaciális megmunkálású levélhegyet gyűjtött. A második levélhegy Gyöngyöstarján körzetében, a Mulató-hegy környékén került elő. A gyöngyöstarjáni 10-es lelőhelyet 2006-ban azonosította Gutay Mónika és Kerékgyártó Gyula. A terület további kutatása (Gutay, 2021) 2011-ben, 2017-ben, 2020-ban és 2021-ben felszíni gyűjtések, majd szondázás, valamint lumineszcens kormeghatározás és szedimentológiai mintavétel keretei között valósult meg. A leletanyag egy részét Mester Zsolt és Gutay Mónika (Gutay, Mester, 2024) előzetesen feldolgozták és a középső paleolitikum időszakához kötötték. A kőeszközök tipológiai és technológiai elemzésével az együttest a kelet- és közép-európai Micoquien kultúrkörbe illesztették, azonban egyes vonásaiban különbségeket mutat a Magyarország területén már ismert, Micoquien vonatkozású lelőhelyek iparaitól.
A kőegyüttes egészének tipológiai feldolgozására szakdolgozatom részeként került sor. A leletanyag túlnyomó részét kitevő pattintási hulladék jelenléte, valamint az ép eszközök hiánya miatt a lelőhelyet műhely-jelenségként értelmezzük. Nyersanyag felhasználás szempontjából nem mutat nagymértékű változatosságot, szinte kizárólag a helyben kiaknázható limnoszilitcit jellemzi.
A lelőhely 2817 darabos együttesében 178 darab eszközt azonosítottam. Az eszközkészlet legnagyobb részét a retusált szilánkok és a kaparók különböző típusai teszik ki, de ezek mellett levéleszközök, Keilmesser-ek és szakócák is előfordulnak. Előadásomban a kőanyag feldolgozásának eredményeit ismertetem, kiegészítve a Mátraalja területén az utóbbi hónapokban Péntek Attilával végzett terepbejárások eredményével.

A Mátra-vidék szisztematikus kutatása egészen későn, a 2000-es évek elején kezdődött. A terepbejárások eredményeképpen nagyszámú, leginkább felső paleolitikus lelőhely került azonosításra.
A középső paleolitikum időszakára datálható telepek jelenlétét a Mátraalja területén elsőként Simán Katalin vetette fel (Simán, 1986, 271-275). Feltételezte, hogy az üveges kvarcporfír a Bükk hegységtől kiindulva a Mátra előterén keresztül terjedt nyugati irányba, ezzel előrevetítve az addig nem ismert potenciális lelőhelyek meglétét. A területről ismert legkorábbi, egyértelműen középső paleolitikumhoz köthető eszközlelet a Parád–Marhád-tetőn talált kvarcporfírból készült bifaciális kés. A gondosan megmunkált darabra Bíró Katalin (Bíró, 1984, 5-11) a Micoquien kultúra vezérleleteként hivatkozott.
A Mátra vidékén folytatott terepbejárások során 2011-ben Gutay Mónika és Kerékgyártó Gyula (Gutay et al., 2012, 12-17) négy darab bifaciális megmunkálású levélhegyet gyűjtött. A második levélhegy Gyöngyöstarján körzetében, a Mulató-hegy környékén került elő. A gyöngyöstarjáni 10-es lelőhelyet 2006-ban azonosította Gutay Mónika és Kerékgyártó Gyula. A terület további kutatása (Gutay, 2021) 2011-ben, 2017-ben, 2020-ban és 2021-ben felszíni gyűjtések, majd szondázás, valamint lumineszcens kormeghatározás és szedimentológiai mintavétel keretei között valósult meg. A leletanyag egy részét Mester Zsolt és Gutay Mónika (Gutay, Mester, 2024) előzetesen feldolgozták és a középső paleolitikum időszakához kötötték. A kőeszközök tipológiai és technológiai elemzésével az együttest a kelet- és közép-európai Micoquien kultúrkörbe illesztették, azonban egyes vonásaiban különbségeket mutat a Magyarország területén már ismert, Micoquien vonatkozású lelőhelyek iparaitól.
A kőegyüttes egészének tipológiai feldolgozására szakdolgozatom részeként került sor. A leletanyag túlnyomó részét kitevő pattintási hulladék jelenléte, valamint az ép eszközök hiánya miatt a lelőhelyet műhely-jelenségként értelmezzük. Nyersanyag felhasználás szempontjából nem mutat nagymértékű változatosságot, szinte kizárólag a helyben kiaknázható limnoszilitcit jellemzi.
A lelőhely 2817 darabos együttesében 178 darab eszközt azonosítottam. Az eszközkészlet legnagyobb részét a retusált szilánkok és a kaparók különböző típusai teszik ki, de ezek mellett levéleszközök, Keilmesser-ek és szakócák is előfordulnak. Előadásomban a kőanyag feldolgozásának eredményeit ismertetem, kiegészítve a Mátraalja területén az utóbbi hónapokban Péntek Attilával végzett terepbejárások eredményével.

All remains produced by humans are called artefacts. For prehistoric archaeologists the most important artefacts were made of stone. Stones are usually hard and resistable, especially those used by prehistoric men to make tools. While most organic materials may disappear during time, under "regular" geological conditions stone tools will last over millions of years. Thus, they contain most of the informations archaeologists get from prehistoric life. Over 99% of the time span humans exist, stones played a major role to fulfill almost all functions necessary for subsistence. They were used for cutting, scraping, carving, boring, grinding and more. All the functions today metal is used for were formerly done with stones. The first stone tools which appear at least 3 million years ago had a simple design and were made from pebbles or rocks. Beside flakes they are so-called choppers or chopping tools. Because of some disadvantages, especially the less to control cleavage, prehistoric humans learned to choose silicate rocks like quartzite, radiolarite, chert or flintstone. They showed both great hardness and sharpness and good cleavage qualities. During the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic stone tools commonly were made by knapping. Because chert/flintstone is quite brittle the working parts of flint tools soon became damaged and scarred during extensive labour. The lifespan of such tools were quite short. Especially for heavy detaching and splinting activities on harder working materials the techniques of stone grinding were developed at the end of the Mesolithic or beginning of the Neolithic. Now it was possible to make sharp and resistant tools out of tenacious and

The Levantine Early Upper Paleolithic (ca. 45e30 ka) has been a focus of research because of its unique position as a conduit of human, flora, and fauna species between Africa and Eurasia. Studies have mainly focused on the Early Ahmarian and Levantine Aurignacian, two entities, the former endemic and the latter foreign, which are considered to have coinhabited the region during that period. However, other cultural entities, such as the Atlitian in the Mediterranean region and the Arkov-Divshon in the arid regions of the southern Levant received less attention, and accordingly, suffer from broad definitions and chronological insecurity. These cultures hold potential insights regarding nuanced adaptations, recip- rocal influences, and diachronic assimilation processes. The recently discovered site of Nahal Rahaf 2 Rockshelter in the Judean Desert provides integral information on one of these entitiesdthe Arkov- Divshon. Two excavation seasons revealed a sequence of archaeological layers, with lithic assemblages in which laterally carinated items were prominent. Alongside rich faunal assemblages, other components of the material culture include perforated marine shells and bone tools, marking the first association of these elements with Arkov-Divshon and implying some degree of contact with the Mediterranean re- gions of the Levant. Good preservation of organic materials allowed radiocarbon dating of the human occupation at the site to ca. 37.5e34.0 ka cal BP, indicating chronological overlap with the Levantine Aurignacian, and possibly also with the latest phases of the Early Ahmarian. Thus, challenging the val- idity of the widely accepted ‘Two Tradition’ Model of the Levantine Upper Paleolithic. Lithic analyses suggest the use of one main reduction sequence and the primary production of bladelets from carinated items. Faunal remains suggest targeted hunting of ibex and gazelle. Botanical remains and sedimentary analyses suggest roughly similar environmental conditions, with a possible woodier environment in the surroundings of the site.

Situated at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia, the Levant is a crucial region for understanding the origins and spread of Upper Paleolithic (UP) traditions associated with the spread of modern humans. Of the two local Early Upper Paleolithic technocomplexes, the Ahmarian and the Levantine Aurignacian, the latter appears to be unique in the endemic UP sequence, exhibiting greater similarity to the West European 'classic' Aurignacian than to the local preceding and proceeding UP entities. Previous publications have mostly focused on the similarities between the two lithic industries and less on studies conducted on Levantine Aurignacian bone tools and ornaments. Here, we present an archaeozoological, technological and use-wear study of ornaments on animal teeth from the Levantine Aurignacian layers at Manot and Hayonim caves (the Galilee, Israel). The selection of taxa, the choice of teeth, the mode of modification, and the use-wear analysis exhibit clear similarities with the European Aurignacian. This, with the technology of the osseous raw material exploitation, the presence of antler simple-base points, and some lithic typotechnological features, suggest a link between the symbolic spheres of the Levantine and the European Aurignacian cultural entities. Such similarity also supports some contribution of European Aurignacians groups to the local cultural entities, intermingling with the local material culture features.

The Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition in Europe covers the last millennia of Neanderthal life together with the appearance and expansion of Modern Human populations. Culturally, it is defined by the Late Middle Paleolithic succession, and by Early Upper Paleolithic complexes like the Cha ˆtelperronian (southwestern Europe), the Protoaurignacian, and the Early Aurignacian. Up to now, the southern boundary for the transition has been established as being situated between France and Iberia, in the Cantabrian fac ¸ade and Pyrenees. According to this, the central and southern territories of Iberia are claimed to have been the refuge of the last Neanderthals for some additional millennia after they were replaced by anatomically Modern Humans on the rest of the continent. In this paper, we present the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition sequence from Cova Foradada (Tarragona), a cave on the Catalan Mediterranean coastline. Archaeological research has documented a stratigraphic sequence containing a succession of very short-term occupations pertaining to the Cha ˆtelperronian, Early Aurignacian, and Gravettian. Cova Foradada therefore represents the southernmost Cha ˆtelperronian-Early Aurignacian sequence ever documented in Europe, significantly enlarging the territorial distribution of both cultures and providing an important geographical and chronological reference for understanding Neanderthal disappearance and the complete expansion of anatomically Modern Humans.