The Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in the Peloponnese

The broader purpose of this study is to better understand the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in Europe. During this period, which lasted approximately from 45.000 to 30.000 cal. years ago, the first anatomically and genetically modern humans (Homo sapiens) are considered to have arrived in Europe, after their dispersal out of Africa. The last Neanderthals were still in existence in Europe, and where about to become extinct shortly after. The lithic industries of this period contain an apparent mixture of features typical of both Middle and Upper Paleolithic industries (which is not the result of post depositional processes). Therefore, a heated debate has arisen about the manufacturer of these industries, and the potential interaction between H. sapiens and Neanderthals that the tool types may reflect. Over time, the increasing discovery of transitional industries has only yielded a blurred understanding of the transition. This thesis is focused in the area of the southern...Show moreThe broader purpose of this study is to better understand the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in Europe. During this period, which lasted approximately from 45.000 to 30.000 cal. years ago, the first anatomically and genetically modern humans (Homo sapiens) are considered to have arrived in Europe, after their dispersal out of Africa. The last Neanderthals were still in existence in Europe, and where about to become extinct shortly after. The lithic industries of this period contain an apparent mixture of features typical of both Middle and Upper Paleolithic industries (which is not the result of post depositional processes). Therefore, a heated debate has arisen about the manufacturer of these industries, and the potential interaction between H. sapiens and Neanderthals that the tool types may reflect. Over time, the increasing discovery of transitional industries has only yielded a blurred understanding of the transition. This thesis is focused in the area of the southern Balkans, and more specifically in Greek Peloponnese. Suffice it to say, due to its geographical position Greece may have contributed to the passage of the first modern humans from Africa and the Near East into Europe. Additionally, it may have been used as a refugium for the last Neanderthal population of the continent. For this reason, an interpretation of the archaeological transitional evidence that was recovered from the sites of Lakonis and Klisoura in Greece will be attempted. The discovery ofthe two caves, both located in the Peloponnese region, demonstrates that at some point between 46.000-39.000 cal. years ago, both species inhabited the area contemporaneously.The examination of Lakonis indicates that, based on the material evidence, the producers of the transitional layer may have been modern humans. This is in contrast to the human fossil that was recovered in situ from the layer and indicates a Neanderthal identity of the assemblage. Therefore, different scenarios can be made about the manufacturer. The analysis from Klisoura reveals evidence about the movement of modern populations in southern Europe, which further supports the modern identity of the Uluzzian industry. After the analysis is completed, the issue is focused on how we can identify possible interactions between Neanderthals and modern humans in the future within the Peloponnese region.Show less

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The Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in the Peloponnese