The dearth of evidence for late Neanderthals in Europe reduces our ability to understand the demi... more The dearth of evidence for late Neanderthals in Europe reduces our ability to understand the demise of their species and the impact of the biological and cultural changes that resulted from the spread of anatomically modern humans. In this light, a recently investigated cave in the northern Adriatic region at the border between the Italian Alps and the Great Adriatic Plain provides useful data about the last Neanderthals between 46.0 and 42.1 ky CAL B.P. Their subsistence is inferred from zooarchaeological remains and patterns in Middle Palaeolithic lithic technology. Unexpected evidence of the ephemeral use of the cave during the early Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian period shows a change in lithic technology.
The introduction of the Levallois method in Europe is considered the technological innovation tha... more The introduction of the Levallois method in Europe is considered the technological innovation that marked the beginning of the Middle Palaeolithic. In North-Central Europe, early evidence of this new concept of flake production is dated at the junction between Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 9 and MIS 8, a period that showed a deterioration of climatic conditions, i.e. a change from forested to cold tundra–steppe vegetation and dispersal of the Mammuthus–Coelodonta faunal complex from artic territories. This study aims to contribute new data to the current debate by exploring the lithic assemblages of the Markkleeberg and Zwochau open-air sites in Germany. Technological analysis reveals the introduction of the Levallois method in association with the development of the local unidirectional core technology. This pattern is common in other sites of North-Central Europe. This modification in the technical behaviour of hunter-gatherers is interpreted as a technological adaptation in response to the new faunal complex composed of seasonal migratory animals.
Comprehending the movements and settlement dynamics of prehistoric hunter-gatherers across a terr... more Comprehending the movements and settlement dynamics of prehistoric hunter-gatherers across a territory is important for understanding the lifestyle of archaic hominins. North-central Europe is a significant area for studying this issue because the different climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene affected the extent of ecological habitats and spread of floral and faunal species between different regions. This paper aims to contribute new data to the debate on Neanderthal mobility by exploring the lithic assemblages from levels A, B, and C of Königsaue. The results of the technological analysis document the use of the Levallois method in all three archaeological levels and the production of Keilmesser in levels A and C. Comparing the archaeological materials and Levallois experimental knapping series indicates high fragmentations of chaînes opératoires, suggesting that the anthropogenic occupations at the lakeshore were short-term. Furthermore, in levels A and C, Levallois cores were exported off-site, whereas in level B, Levallois flakes were transported. This difference in the toolkit composition supports the hypothesis of logistical mobility during the Keilmesser occupations and residential mobility during the Levallois-Mousterian settlement.
This paper introduces the excavations in several Paleolithic sites in the Khorramabad Valley, Wes... more This paper introduces the excavations in several Paleolithic sites in the Khorramabad Valley, Western Iran. Apart from the two well-known sites of Ghamari Cave and Gar Arjene rock shelter, first excavated by Frank Hole and Kent Flannery in the 1960s, the Gilvaran and Kaldar caves were excavated for the first time. Here we present the stratigraphy of these sites, general data from the lithic assemblages, and the identifications of a small part of the faunal remains. Preliminary results are showing that all of the sites were occupied from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic onward, and therefore provide great potential for the study of the transition between these cultural periods. Our preliminary techno-typological observations show that the lower levels of the Gilvaran and Ghamari sequences may represent an early phase of the Middle Paleolithic.
Kaldar Cave is a key archaeological site that provides evidence of the Middle to Upper Palaeolith... more Kaldar Cave is a key archaeological site that provides evidence of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Iran. Excavations at the site in 2014–2015 led to the discovery of cultural remains generally associated with anatomically modern humans (AMHs) and evidence of a probable Neanderthal-made industry in the basal layers. Attempts have been made to establish a chronology for the site. These include four thermoluminescence (TL) dates for Layer 4, ranging from 23,100 ± 3300 to 29,400 ± 2300 BP, and three AMS radiocarbon dates from charcoal samples belonging to the lower part of the same layer, yielding ages of 38,650–36,750 cal BP, 44,200–42,350 cal BP, and 54,400–46,050 cal BP (all at the 95.4% confidence level). Kaldar Cave is the first well-stratified Late Palaeolithic locality to be excavated in the Zagros which is one of the earliest sites with cultural materials attributed to early AMHs in western Asia. It also offers an opportunity to study the technological differences between the Mousterian and the first Upper Palaeolithic lithic technologies as well as the human behaviour in the region. In this study, we present a detailed description of the newly excavated stratigraphy, quantified results from the lithic assemblages, preliminary faunal remains analyses, geochronologic data, taphonomic aspects, and an interpretation of the regional paleoenvironment.
The debate over hominidecarnivore interactions during the Pleistocene has been mainly approached ... more The debate over hominidecarnivore interactions during the Pleistocene has been mainly approached from a human perspective, with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the evolution of human cultural capabilities in the different periods. Regarding the European Middle Palaeolithic, it is most commonly concluded that Neanderthals were clearly superior to carnivores in the context of competitive relationships, with respect to both prey and the occupied space. Therefore, the presence of some human groups in the environments usually inhabited by carnivores could be perceived, from an ecological point of view, as a disturbance in the balance of the ecosystems. In order to assess the ecological impact of these human groups, the present study analyses the Unit III of Teixoneres Cave (MIS 3;Moià, Barcelona, Spain) through a comparison of palaeoecological and archaeological data. The site is located in the highlands between the twomain rivers connecting the central region of Catalonia with the Mediterranean coast: the Llobregat and the Ter. Palynological and paleontological data indicate a cold landscape dominated by woodlands and some wet meadows. The high vertebrate diversity recorded in this stratigraphic unit suggests an environment marked by a balanced predatoreprey dynamic, which may have been interrupted by the occasional presence of small human groups. According to the archaeological data, these human groups tended to predate the same prey as did carnivores, which may have generated a certain perturbation in the system. However, the small size of the groups and the brevity of their visits to Teixoneres Cave seem to have minimised the perturbation, allowing the environment to recover its original balance.
During the Middle Paleolithic, hunter-gatherers were flexible in their use of lithic technologies... more During the Middle Paleolithic, hunter-gatherers were flexible in their use of lithic technologies and sometimes applied one knapping strategy, exploited different methods simultaneously or combined them in ramified operative chains. The Levallois recurrent centripetal method and the bifacial discoid method were two of the flaking strategies most frequently used by Neanderthals, but understanding of their changeover in the archaeological record is still discussed. This paper aims to add new data to the current debate investigating the aspects of productivity of the Levallois recurrent centripetal and bifacial discoid technologies with an experimental series and an archaeological lithic series. The results reveal that these two knapping strategies not only share similarities in blank morphologies but also could have similar values in flake production. Productivity is strongly influenced by the knapper's goals and by the maintenance of low values of flake thickness during the reduction sequence. Although the bifacial discoid is a more flexible and simpler method, the exclusive use of the Levallois recurrent centripetal modality during the Middle Paleolithic might be related to the features of the Levallois products that were more advantageous during longer foraging movements.
Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focu... more Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focusing entirely on meat. This information mostly derives from faunal assemblage analyses and stable isotope studies: methods that tend to underestimate plant consumption and overestimate the intake of animal proteins. Several studies in fact demonstrate that there is a physiological limit to the amount of animal proteins that can be consumed: exceeding these values causes protein toxicity that can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women and newborns. Consequently, to avoid food poisoning from meat-based diets, Neander-thals must have incorporated alternative food sources in their daily diets, including plant materials as well. Yrbk Phys Anthropol 156:43–71, 2015. V C 2014 American Association of Physical Anthropologists In this manuscript, we review traditional as well as more recent approaches for reconstructing the diet in past human populations, and we show how new archaeological discoveries and innovative methods are changing our views of Neanderthal ecology and behavior. We further underline the importance of reconstructing Nean-derthal environments derived from palaeoecological data to better understand and interpret the dietary evidence obtained by these methods. Finally, since the intake of specific foods can be invisible to certain techniques and detect by others, we suggest using a more holistic approach by integrating the findings of more than one method. Such comprehensive analyses would enable the reconstruction of the whole dietary spectrum, which is particularly important for species like Neanderthal, who lived under severe and unstable climatic conditions. Neanderthals are undoubtedly the most studied and best-known group in the human fossil record. Despite that, for more than 100 years since their discovery, research on Neanderthal ecology, subsistence strategies, and diet have received remarkably little attention (Ready, 2010). It is only with the emergence of new archeological disciplines and development of innovative analytical approaches in the 1960s, that scholars began to look at Neanderthal behavior and adaptations to their environment. Methods such as faunal analysis, lithic technology, and taphonomic studies progressively led to a general portrait that defined Neanderthals as a homogenous group, with similar nutritional needs typified by a reliance on the consumption of terrestrial animals. This idea was reinforced by the study of stable isotopes and Neanderthal anatomy. The general robusticity of Nean-derthal skeletons, with relatively short limbs and heavy trunks, has been interpreted as adaptation to cold stress environments that follow the ecogeographic principles of Bergmann's and Allen's rules (e.
Understanding the changes in the technological organization of prehistorichunter–gatherers is imp... more Understanding the changes in the technological organization of prehistorichunter–gatherers is important to research into hominin foraging activities. Duringthe Middle Paleolithic, the coexistence or the replacement between Levallois and discoidtechnologies has frequently been recorded, but there is still no clear understanding of thereasons for their alternating and fragmented use in the archaeological record. This paperaims to contribute with new data to the current debate, by exploring the chert assemblagesfrom levels O and M of the Abric Romaní rock-shelter. The results reveal that the changefrom Levallois in level O to discoid in level M is accompanied by the use of different axesof mobility, a reduction in the foraging radius and a more careful management of rawmaterials. A cross comparison with other archaeological evidences indicates the generalpattern in the Northeast of the Iberian Peninsula during the late Middle Paleolithic, inwhich the use of Levallois technology is associated with chert and high mobility patternswhereas discoid technology is more closely linked to the use of local raw materials and alower degree of mobility. The modifications to the mountainous environments and to thedistribution of preferred prey animals may have influenced the Neanderthals’ mobilitypatterns and contributed to modifying their technical behaviours in order to obtain betterforaging incomes.
The debate over hominidecarnivore interactions during the Pleistocene has been mainly approached ... more The debate over hominidecarnivore interactions during the Pleistocene has been mainly approached from a human perspective, with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the evolution of human cultural capabilities in the different periods. Regarding the European Middle Palaeolithic, it is most commonly concluded that Neanderthals were clearly superior to carnivores in the context of competitive relationships, with respect to both prey and the occupied space. Therefore, the presence of some human groups in the environments usually inhabited by carnivores could be perceived, from an ecological point of view, as a disturbance in the balance of the ecosystems. In order to assess the ecological impact of these human groups, the present study analyses the Unit III of Teixoneres Cave (MIS 3;Moia, Barcelona, Spain) through a comparison of palaeoecological and archaeological data. The site is located in the highlands between the twomain rivers connecting the central region of Catalonia with the Mediterranean coast: the Llobregat and the Ter. Palynological and paleontological data indicate a cold landscape dominated by woodlands and some wet meadows. The high vertebrate diversity recorded in this stratigraphic unit suggests an environment marked by a balanced predatoreprey dynamic, which may have been interrupted by the occasional presence of small human groups. According to the archaeological data, these human groups tended to predate the same prey as did carnivores, which may have generated a certain perturbation in the system. However, the small size of the groups and the brevity of their visits to Teixoneres Cave seem to have minimised the perturbation, allowing the environment to recover its original balance.
During the Middle Paleolithic period, carnivores and hominids periodically occupied the same area... more During the Middle Paleolithic period, carnivores and hominids periodically occupied the same areas at different times and each predator generated significant palimpsests, rendering difficult their archaeological interpretation. Teixoneres Cave, a carnivore den site, located in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, demonstrates that it is possible to overcome these problems by using a careful strategy in selecting samples for radiocarbon dating, in order to produce an accurate chronology of the site in question and certainly attest the human occupation.
Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focu... more Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focusing entirely on meat. This information mostly derives from faunal assemblage analyses and stable isotope studies: methods that tend to underestimate plant consumption and overestimate the intake of animal proteins. Several studies in fact demonstrate that there is a physiological limit to the amount of animal proteins that can be consumed: exceeding these values causes protein toxicity that can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women and newborns. Consequently, to avoid food poisoning from meat-based diets, Neanderthals must have incorporated alternative food sources in their daily diets, including plant materials as well.
Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focu... more Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focusing entirely on meat. This information mostly derives from faunal assemblage analyses and stable isotope studies: methods that tend to underestimate plant consumption and overestimate the intake of animal proteins. Several studies in fact demonstrate that there is a physiological limit to the amount of animal proteins that can be consumed: exceeding these values causes protein toxicity that can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women and newborns. Consequently, to avoid food poisoning from meat-based diets, Neanderthals must have incorporated alternative food sources in their daily diets, including plant materials as well.
The current debate about Mousterian core technologies mainly focuses on the issues of flake prede... more The current debate about Mousterian core technologies mainly focuses on the issues of flake predetermination
and the morphological similarities of blanks in discoid and centripetal recurrent Levallois
methods. To date, the arguments presented have either been based on qualitative analyses of the cores or
on the use of ratios of linear measurements to infer the shape of the detached flakes. This paper presents
the results of applying 2D geometric morphometric analysis to the flake assemblages in the archaeological
collections from the O and M levels of the Abric Romaní rock-shelter and from materials produced
by experimental knapping. The results reveal a pattern of core configuration in the Levallois artefacts
from level O and a high level of morphological correspondence between the core-edge flake outlines in
discoid and Levallois recurrent centripetal technologies. This evidence reinforces the hypothesis that the
discoid and the Levallois recurrent centripetal methods share some techno-morphological features. The
knappers’ ability and the purposes of the reduction sequences play important roles in metrically
differentiating between them, otherwise the differences between the two methods would be even
smaller. The use of geometric morphometric analysis of flake assemblages can enhance discussions of
flaking technologies in lithic studies and quantitatively improve our understanding of the patterns of
core configuration and the skills of the prehistoric knappers.
This paper introduces the excavations in several Paleolithic sites in the Khorramabad Valley, Wes... more This paper introduces the excavations in several Paleolithic sites in the Khorramabad Valley, Western Iran. Apart from the two well-known sites of Ghamari Cave and Gar Arjene rock shelter, first excavated by Frank Hole and Kent Flannery in the 1960s, the Gilvaran and Kaldar caves were excavated for the first time. Here we present the stratigraphy of these sites, general data from the lithic assemblages, and the identifications of a small part of the faunal remains. Preliminary results are showing that all of the sites were occupied from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic onward, and therefore provide great potential for the study of the transition between these cultural periods. Our preliminary techno-typological observations show that the lower levels of the Gilvaran and Ghamari sequences may represent an early phase of the Middle Paleolithic.
The dearth of evidence for late Neanderthals in Europe reduces our ability to understand the demi... more The dearth of evidence for late Neanderthals in Europe reduces our ability to understand the demise of their species and the impact of the biological and cultural changes that resulted from the spread of anatomically modern humans. In this light, a recently investigated cave in the northern Adriatic region at the border between the Italian Alps and the Great Adriatic Plain provides useful data about the last Neanderthals between 46.0 and 42.1 ky CAL B.P. Their subsistence is inferred from zooarchaeological remains and patterns in Middle Palaeolithic lithic technology. Unexpected evidence of the ephemeral use of the cave during the early Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian period shows a change in lithic technology.
The introduction of the Levallois method in Europe is considered the technological innovation tha... more The introduction of the Levallois method in Europe is considered the technological innovation that marked the beginning of the Middle Palaeolithic. In North-Central Europe, early evidence of this new concept of flake production is dated at the junction between Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 9 and MIS 8, a period that showed a deterioration of climatic conditions, i.e. a change from forested to cold tundra–steppe vegetation and dispersal of the Mammuthus–Coelodonta faunal complex from artic territories. This study aims to contribute new data to the current debate by exploring the lithic assemblages of the Markkleeberg and Zwochau open-air sites in Germany. Technological analysis reveals the introduction of the Levallois method in association with the development of the local unidirectional core technology. This pattern is common in other sites of North-Central Europe. This modification in the technical behaviour of hunter-gatherers is interpreted as a technological adaptation in response to the new faunal complex composed of seasonal migratory animals.
Comprehending the movements and settlement dynamics of prehistoric hunter-gatherers across a terr... more Comprehending the movements and settlement dynamics of prehistoric hunter-gatherers across a territory is important for understanding the lifestyle of archaic hominins. North-central Europe is a significant area for studying this issue because the different climatic oscillations during the Pleistocene affected the extent of ecological habitats and spread of floral and faunal species between different regions. This paper aims to contribute new data to the debate on Neanderthal mobility by exploring the lithic assemblages from levels A, B, and C of Königsaue. The results of the technological analysis document the use of the Levallois method in all three archaeological levels and the production of Keilmesser in levels A and C. Comparing the archaeological materials and Levallois experimental knapping series indicates high fragmentations of chaînes opératoires, suggesting that the anthropogenic occupations at the lakeshore were short-term. Furthermore, in levels A and C, Levallois cores were exported off-site, whereas in level B, Levallois flakes were transported. This difference in the toolkit composition supports the hypothesis of logistical mobility during the Keilmesser occupations and residential mobility during the Levallois-Mousterian settlement.
This paper introduces the excavations in several Paleolithic sites in the Khorramabad Valley, Wes... more This paper introduces the excavations in several Paleolithic sites in the Khorramabad Valley, Western Iran. Apart from the two well-known sites of Ghamari Cave and Gar Arjene rock shelter, first excavated by Frank Hole and Kent Flannery in the 1960s, the Gilvaran and Kaldar caves were excavated for the first time. Here we present the stratigraphy of these sites, general data from the lithic assemblages, and the identifications of a small part of the faunal remains. Preliminary results are showing that all of the sites were occupied from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic onward, and therefore provide great potential for the study of the transition between these cultural periods. Our preliminary techno-typological observations show that the lower levels of the Gilvaran and Ghamari sequences may represent an early phase of the Middle Paleolithic.
Kaldar Cave is a key archaeological site that provides evidence of the Middle to Upper Palaeolith... more Kaldar Cave is a key archaeological site that provides evidence of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Iran. Excavations at the site in 2014–2015 led to the discovery of cultural remains generally associated with anatomically modern humans (AMHs) and evidence of a probable Neanderthal-made industry in the basal layers. Attempts have been made to establish a chronology for the site. These include four thermoluminescence (TL) dates for Layer 4, ranging from 23,100 ± 3300 to 29,400 ± 2300 BP, and three AMS radiocarbon dates from charcoal samples belonging to the lower part of the same layer, yielding ages of 38,650–36,750 cal BP, 44,200–42,350 cal BP, and 54,400–46,050 cal BP (all at the 95.4% confidence level). Kaldar Cave is the first well-stratified Late Palaeolithic locality to be excavated in the Zagros which is one of the earliest sites with cultural materials attributed to early AMHs in western Asia. It also offers an opportunity to study the technological differences between the Mousterian and the first Upper Palaeolithic lithic technologies as well as the human behaviour in the region. In this study, we present a detailed description of the newly excavated stratigraphy, quantified results from the lithic assemblages, preliminary faunal remains analyses, geochronologic data, taphonomic aspects, and an interpretation of the regional paleoenvironment.
The debate over hominidecarnivore interactions during the Pleistocene has been mainly approached ... more The debate over hominidecarnivore interactions during the Pleistocene has been mainly approached from a human perspective, with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the evolution of human cultural capabilities in the different periods. Regarding the European Middle Palaeolithic, it is most commonly concluded that Neanderthals were clearly superior to carnivores in the context of competitive relationships, with respect to both prey and the occupied space. Therefore, the presence of some human groups in the environments usually inhabited by carnivores could be perceived, from an ecological point of view, as a disturbance in the balance of the ecosystems. In order to assess the ecological impact of these human groups, the present study analyses the Unit III of Teixoneres Cave (MIS 3;Moià, Barcelona, Spain) through a comparison of palaeoecological and archaeological data. The site is located in the highlands between the twomain rivers connecting the central region of Catalonia with the Mediterranean coast: the Llobregat and the Ter. Palynological and paleontological data indicate a cold landscape dominated by woodlands and some wet meadows. The high vertebrate diversity recorded in this stratigraphic unit suggests an environment marked by a balanced predatoreprey dynamic, which may have been interrupted by the occasional presence of small human groups. According to the archaeological data, these human groups tended to predate the same prey as did carnivores, which may have generated a certain perturbation in the system. However, the small size of the groups and the brevity of their visits to Teixoneres Cave seem to have minimised the perturbation, allowing the environment to recover its original balance.
During the Middle Paleolithic, hunter-gatherers were flexible in their use of lithic technologies... more During the Middle Paleolithic, hunter-gatherers were flexible in their use of lithic technologies and sometimes applied one knapping strategy, exploited different methods simultaneously or combined them in ramified operative chains. The Levallois recurrent centripetal method and the bifacial discoid method were two of the flaking strategies most frequently used by Neanderthals, but understanding of their changeover in the archaeological record is still discussed. This paper aims to add new data to the current debate investigating the aspects of productivity of the Levallois recurrent centripetal and bifacial discoid technologies with an experimental series and an archaeological lithic series. The results reveal that these two knapping strategies not only share similarities in blank morphologies but also could have similar values in flake production. Productivity is strongly influenced by the knapper's goals and by the maintenance of low values of flake thickness during the reduction sequence. Although the bifacial discoid is a more flexible and simpler method, the exclusive use of the Levallois recurrent centripetal modality during the Middle Paleolithic might be related to the features of the Levallois products that were more advantageous during longer foraging movements.
Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focu... more Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focusing entirely on meat. This information mostly derives from faunal assemblage analyses and stable isotope studies: methods that tend to underestimate plant consumption and overestimate the intake of animal proteins. Several studies in fact demonstrate that there is a physiological limit to the amount of animal proteins that can be consumed: exceeding these values causes protein toxicity that can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women and newborns. Consequently, to avoid food poisoning from meat-based diets, Neander-thals must have incorporated alternative food sources in their daily diets, including plant materials as well. Yrbk Phys Anthropol 156:43–71, 2015. V C 2014 American Association of Physical Anthropologists In this manuscript, we review traditional as well as more recent approaches for reconstructing the diet in past human populations, and we show how new archaeological discoveries and innovative methods are changing our views of Neanderthal ecology and behavior. We further underline the importance of reconstructing Nean-derthal environments derived from palaeoecological data to better understand and interpret the dietary evidence obtained by these methods. Finally, since the intake of specific foods can be invisible to certain techniques and detect by others, we suggest using a more holistic approach by integrating the findings of more than one method. Such comprehensive analyses would enable the reconstruction of the whole dietary spectrum, which is particularly important for species like Neanderthal, who lived under severe and unstable climatic conditions. Neanderthals are undoubtedly the most studied and best-known group in the human fossil record. Despite that, for more than 100 years since their discovery, research on Neanderthal ecology, subsistence strategies, and diet have received remarkably little attention (Ready, 2010). It is only with the emergence of new archeological disciplines and development of innovative analytical approaches in the 1960s, that scholars began to look at Neanderthal behavior and adaptations to their environment. Methods such as faunal analysis, lithic technology, and taphonomic studies progressively led to a general portrait that defined Neanderthals as a homogenous group, with similar nutritional needs typified by a reliance on the consumption of terrestrial animals. This idea was reinforced by the study of stable isotopes and Neanderthal anatomy. The general robusticity of Nean-derthal skeletons, with relatively short limbs and heavy trunks, has been interpreted as adaptation to cold stress environments that follow the ecogeographic principles of Bergmann's and Allen's rules (e.
Understanding the changes in the technological organization of prehistorichunter–gatherers is imp... more Understanding the changes in the technological organization of prehistorichunter–gatherers is important to research into hominin foraging activities. Duringthe Middle Paleolithic, the coexistence or the replacement between Levallois and discoidtechnologies has frequently been recorded, but there is still no clear understanding of thereasons for their alternating and fragmented use in the archaeological record. This paperaims to contribute with new data to the current debate, by exploring the chert assemblagesfrom levels O and M of the Abric Romaní rock-shelter. The results reveal that the changefrom Levallois in level O to discoid in level M is accompanied by the use of different axesof mobility, a reduction in the foraging radius and a more careful management of rawmaterials. A cross comparison with other archaeological evidences indicates the generalpattern in the Northeast of the Iberian Peninsula during the late Middle Paleolithic, inwhich the use of Levallois technology is associated with chert and high mobility patternswhereas discoid technology is more closely linked to the use of local raw materials and alower degree of mobility. The modifications to the mountainous environments and to thedistribution of preferred prey animals may have influenced the Neanderthals’ mobilitypatterns and contributed to modifying their technical behaviours in order to obtain betterforaging incomes.
The debate over hominidecarnivore interactions during the Pleistocene has been mainly approached ... more The debate over hominidecarnivore interactions during the Pleistocene has been mainly approached from a human perspective, with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the evolution of human cultural capabilities in the different periods. Regarding the European Middle Palaeolithic, it is most commonly concluded that Neanderthals were clearly superior to carnivores in the context of competitive relationships, with respect to both prey and the occupied space. Therefore, the presence of some human groups in the environments usually inhabited by carnivores could be perceived, from an ecological point of view, as a disturbance in the balance of the ecosystems. In order to assess the ecological impact of these human groups, the present study analyses the Unit III of Teixoneres Cave (MIS 3;Moia, Barcelona, Spain) through a comparison of palaeoecological and archaeological data. The site is located in the highlands between the twomain rivers connecting the central region of Catalonia with the Mediterranean coast: the Llobregat and the Ter. Palynological and paleontological data indicate a cold landscape dominated by woodlands and some wet meadows. The high vertebrate diversity recorded in this stratigraphic unit suggests an environment marked by a balanced predatoreprey dynamic, which may have been interrupted by the occasional presence of small human groups. According to the archaeological data, these human groups tended to predate the same prey as did carnivores, which may have generated a certain perturbation in the system. However, the small size of the groups and the brevity of their visits to Teixoneres Cave seem to have minimised the perturbation, allowing the environment to recover its original balance.
During the Middle Paleolithic period, carnivores and hominids periodically occupied the same area... more During the Middle Paleolithic period, carnivores and hominids periodically occupied the same areas at different times and each predator generated significant palimpsests, rendering difficult their archaeological interpretation. Teixoneres Cave, a carnivore den site, located in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, demonstrates that it is possible to overcome these problems by using a careful strategy in selecting samples for radiocarbon dating, in order to produce an accurate chronology of the site in question and certainly attest the human occupation.
Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focu... more Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focusing entirely on meat. This information mostly derives from faunal assemblage analyses and stable isotope studies: methods that tend to underestimate plant consumption and overestimate the intake of animal proteins. Several studies in fact demonstrate that there is a physiological limit to the amount of animal proteins that can be consumed: exceeding these values causes protein toxicity that can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women and newborns. Consequently, to avoid food poisoning from meat-based diets, Neanderthals must have incorporated alternative food sources in their daily diets, including plant materials as well.
Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focu... more Neanderthals have been commonly depicted as top predators who met their nutritional needs by focusing entirely on meat. This information mostly derives from faunal assemblage analyses and stable isotope studies: methods that tend to underestimate plant consumption and overestimate the intake of animal proteins. Several studies in fact demonstrate that there is a physiological limit to the amount of animal proteins that can be consumed: exceeding these values causes protein toxicity that can be particularly dangerous to pregnant women and newborns. Consequently, to avoid food poisoning from meat-based diets, Neanderthals must have incorporated alternative food sources in their daily diets, including plant materials as well.
The current debate about Mousterian core technologies mainly focuses on the issues of flake prede... more The current debate about Mousterian core technologies mainly focuses on the issues of flake predetermination
and the morphological similarities of blanks in discoid and centripetal recurrent Levallois
methods. To date, the arguments presented have either been based on qualitative analyses of the cores or
on the use of ratios of linear measurements to infer the shape of the detached flakes. This paper presents
the results of applying 2D geometric morphometric analysis to the flake assemblages in the archaeological
collections from the O and M levels of the Abric Romaní rock-shelter and from materials produced
by experimental knapping. The results reveal a pattern of core configuration in the Levallois artefacts
from level O and a high level of morphological correspondence between the core-edge flake outlines in
discoid and Levallois recurrent centripetal technologies. This evidence reinforces the hypothesis that the
discoid and the Levallois recurrent centripetal methods share some techno-morphological features. The
knappers’ ability and the purposes of the reduction sequences play important roles in metrically
differentiating between them, otherwise the differences between the two methods would be even
smaller. The use of geometric morphometric analysis of flake assemblages can enhance discussions of
flaking technologies in lithic studies and quantitatively improve our understanding of the patterns of
core configuration and the skills of the prehistoric knappers.
This paper introduces the excavations in several Paleolithic sites in the Khorramabad Valley, Wes... more This paper introduces the excavations in several Paleolithic sites in the Khorramabad Valley, Western Iran. Apart from the two well-known sites of Ghamari Cave and Gar Arjene rock shelter, first excavated by Frank Hole and Kent Flannery in the 1960s, the Gilvaran and Kaldar caves were excavated for the first time. Here we present the stratigraphy of these sites, general data from the lithic assemblages, and the identifications of a small part of the faunal remains. Preliminary results are showing that all of the sites were occupied from the Middle and Upper Paleolithic onward, and therefore provide great potential for the study of the transition between these cultural periods. Our preliminary techno-typological observations show that the lower levels of the Gilvaran and Ghamari sequences may represent an early phase of the Middle Paleolithic.
During the Middle Paleolithic period, carnivores and hominids periodically occupied the same area... more During the Middle Paleolithic period, carnivores and hominids periodically occupied the same areas at different times and each predator generated significant palimpsests, rendering difficult their archaeological interpretation. Teixoneres Cave, a carnivore den site, located in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, demonstrates that it is possible to overcome these problems by using a careful strategy in selecting samples for radiocarbon dating, in order to produce an accurate chronology of the site in question and certainly attest the human occupation.
Uploads
Papers by Andrea Picin
cores were exported off-site, whereas in level B, Levallois flakes were transported. This difference in the toolkit composition supports the hypothesis of logistical mobility during the Keilmesser occupations and residential mobility during the Levallois-Mousterian settlement.
Journal Name: Quaternary International
Publication Date: 2015
a human perspective, with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the evolution of human cultural
capabilities in the different periods. Regarding the European Middle Palaeolithic, it is most commonly
concluded that Neanderthals were clearly superior to carnivores in the context of competitive relationships,
with respect to both prey and the occupied space. Therefore, the presence of some human groups in
the environments usually inhabited by carnivores could be perceived, from an ecological point of view, as a
disturbance in the balance of the ecosystems. In order to assess the ecological impact of these human
groups, the present study analyses the Unit III of Teixoneres Cave (MIS 3;Moia, Barcelona, Spain) through a
comparison of palaeoecological and archaeological data. The site is located in the highlands between the
twomain rivers connecting the central region of Catalonia with the Mediterranean coast: the Llobregat and
the Ter. Palynological and paleontological data indicate a cold landscape dominated by woodlands and
some wet meadows. The high vertebrate diversity recorded in this stratigraphic unit suggests an environment
marked by a balanced predatoreprey dynamic, which may have been interrupted by the occasional
presence of small human groups. According to the archaeological data, these human groups tended
to predate the same prey as did carnivores, which may have generated a certain perturbation in the system.
However, the small size of the groups and the brevity of their visits to Teixoneres Cave seem to have
minimised the perturbation, allowing the environment to recover its original balance.
at different times and each predator generated significant palimpsests, rendering difficult their archaeological interpretation.
Teixoneres Cave, a carnivore den site, located in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, demonstrates that it is
possible to overcome these problems by using a careful strategy in selecting samples for radiocarbon dating, in order to
produce an accurate chronology of the site in question and certainly attest the human occupation.
and the morphological similarities of blanks in discoid and centripetal recurrent Levallois
methods. To date, the arguments presented have either been based on qualitative analyses of the cores or
on the use of ratios of linear measurements to infer the shape of the detached flakes. This paper presents
the results of applying 2D geometric morphometric analysis to the flake assemblages in the archaeological
collections from the O and M levels of the Abric Romaní rock-shelter and from materials produced
by experimental knapping. The results reveal a pattern of core configuration in the Levallois artefacts
from level O and a high level of morphological correspondence between the core-edge flake outlines in
discoid and Levallois recurrent centripetal technologies. This evidence reinforces the hypothesis that the
discoid and the Levallois recurrent centripetal methods share some techno-morphological features. The
knappers’ ability and the purposes of the reduction sequences play important roles in metrically
differentiating between them, otherwise the differences between the two methods would be even
smaller. The use of geometric morphometric analysis of flake assemblages can enhance discussions of
flaking technologies in lithic studies and quantitatively improve our understanding of the patterns of
core configuration and the skills of the prehistoric knappers.
cores were exported off-site, whereas in level B, Levallois flakes were transported. This difference in the toolkit composition supports the hypothesis of logistical mobility during the Keilmesser occupations and residential mobility during the Levallois-Mousterian settlement.
Journal Name: Quaternary International
Publication Date: 2015
a human perspective, with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of the evolution of human cultural
capabilities in the different periods. Regarding the European Middle Palaeolithic, it is most commonly
concluded that Neanderthals were clearly superior to carnivores in the context of competitive relationships,
with respect to both prey and the occupied space. Therefore, the presence of some human groups in
the environments usually inhabited by carnivores could be perceived, from an ecological point of view, as a
disturbance in the balance of the ecosystems. In order to assess the ecological impact of these human
groups, the present study analyses the Unit III of Teixoneres Cave (MIS 3;Moia, Barcelona, Spain) through a
comparison of palaeoecological and archaeological data. The site is located in the highlands between the
twomain rivers connecting the central region of Catalonia with the Mediterranean coast: the Llobregat and
the Ter. Palynological and paleontological data indicate a cold landscape dominated by woodlands and
some wet meadows. The high vertebrate diversity recorded in this stratigraphic unit suggests an environment
marked by a balanced predatoreprey dynamic, which may have been interrupted by the occasional
presence of small human groups. According to the archaeological data, these human groups tended
to predate the same prey as did carnivores, which may have generated a certain perturbation in the system.
However, the small size of the groups and the brevity of their visits to Teixoneres Cave seem to have
minimised the perturbation, allowing the environment to recover its original balance.
at different times and each predator generated significant palimpsests, rendering difficult their archaeological interpretation.
Teixoneres Cave, a carnivore den site, located in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, demonstrates that it is
possible to overcome these problems by using a careful strategy in selecting samples for radiocarbon dating, in order to
produce an accurate chronology of the site in question and certainly attest the human occupation.
and the morphological similarities of blanks in discoid and centripetal recurrent Levallois
methods. To date, the arguments presented have either been based on qualitative analyses of the cores or
on the use of ratios of linear measurements to infer the shape of the detached flakes. This paper presents
the results of applying 2D geometric morphometric analysis to the flake assemblages in the archaeological
collections from the O and M levels of the Abric Romaní rock-shelter and from materials produced
by experimental knapping. The results reveal a pattern of core configuration in the Levallois artefacts
from level O and a high level of morphological correspondence between the core-edge flake outlines in
discoid and Levallois recurrent centripetal technologies. This evidence reinforces the hypothesis that the
discoid and the Levallois recurrent centripetal methods share some techno-morphological features. The
knappers’ ability and the purposes of the reduction sequences play important roles in metrically
differentiating between them, otherwise the differences between the two methods would be even
smaller. The use of geometric morphometric analysis of flake assemblages can enhance discussions of
flaking technologies in lithic studies and quantitatively improve our understanding of the patterns of
core configuration and the skills of the prehistoric knappers.