Living on the edge – A comparative approach for studying the beginning of the Aurignacian

Bataille, Guido; Tafelmaier, Yvonne; Weniger, Gerd-Christian

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2018.03.024

Cited by 26 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Several overlying levels also contain Early Upper Paleolithic artifacts, represented by chert flakes and blades (levels BB and DD) and quartz and quartzite flakes (level FF). Collectively, these Early Upper Paleolithic levels (BB–II) are associated with radiocarbon ages between 33.7–38.5 cal ka BP (Table ), aligning well with the Early Aurignacian starting around the time of HS4 in southern France and northern Spain (Bataille, Tafelmaier, & Weniger, ; Mora et al, ; Straus, ; Wood et al, ). A separate artifact concentration of uncertain cultural affiliation in Level FF of the main excavation area includes a flake core, sidescraper, and several undiagnostic flakes (Haws et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Late Pleistocene site formation and paleoclimate at Lapa do Picareiro, Portugal

et al. 2019

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The cave site of Lapa do Picareiro, Portugal contains a deep (~10 m) sedimentary sequence representing much of the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, with abundant animal bones, lithic/bone/shell artifacts, and charcoal/ash in hearths. A deposition model based on 49 radiocarbon ages demonstrates average sedimentation rates of 0.1-0.3 mm a −1 between 9 and 45 ka. Extrapolation suggests an age at the base of the excavation of 65-78 ka. The cave sediments are primarily limestone éboulis derived from roof spalling, and muddy fine sediment derived from weathered soil infiltrating through bedrock joints and crevices. Bone preservation in the cave is good and disturbance by bioturbation, dissolution, or erosional processes appears to be limited. Most sedimentological parameters vary conservatively with depth, indicating stable sediment sources over time. Several parameters show good agreement with paleoclimate records over the radiocarbon-dated section. The cold-arid Heinrich stadials are represented by coarse-clast beds with little fine sediment and magnetic susceptibility minima, and mild Greenland interstadials correspond with muddy beds and sharp peaks in magnetic susceptibility. This study complements ongoing archaeological excavation at the site and confirms that the sequence has the proper age, resolution, and preservation to inform on Late Pleistocene cultural and climatic transitions. K E Y W O R D S caves, Iberia, paleoclimate, Paleolithic, site formation 1 | INTRODUCTION Sedimentary deposits in caves and rock shelters are central to our understanding of human prehistory. Although caves represent only a fraction of the landscapes occupied by prehistoric humans, under the proper conditions they offer long-term preservation of valuable paleoenvironmental information in stratified sedimentary archives.The study of karstic sediments as environmental archives has a strong tradition in geoarchaeology, beginning with seminal works of the last century and advanced by developments in both methodology and theory (e.g., Collcutt). Recent geoarchaeological research in caves employs stateof-the-art dating techniques, isotope geochemistry, micromorphology, and spectroscopy to interpret site formation processes over timescales from hundreds of years to hundreds of millennia (e.g.,

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Late Pleistocene site formation and paleoclimate at Lapa do Picareiro, Portugal

et al. 2019

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“…Levels GG-II contain a diagnostically Upper Paleolithic lithic assemblage comprised of small bladelets and carinated endscrapers (now recognized as cores) typical of the early Aurignacian ( 6 , 44 , 45 ) ( Fig. 5 C ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The process was likely a mosaic involving dispersal into empty spaces and interaction with indigenous Neanderthal populations. At some point, around 43 to 42 ka cal BP, the regional variants of the Initial Upper Paleolithic coalesced into the Aurignacian technocomplex, appearing synchronously across western Eurasia (6).…”

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The early Aurignacian dispersal of modern humans into westernmost Eurasia

Haws

Benedetti

Talamo

et al. 2020

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Documenting the first appearance of modern humans in a given region is key to understanding the dispersal process and the replacement or assimilation of indigenous human populations such as the Neanderthals. The Iberian Peninsula was the last refuge of Neanderthal populations as modern humans advanced across Eurasia. Here we present evidence of an early Aurignacian occupation at Lapa do Picareiro in central Portugal. Diagnostic artifacts were found in a sealed stratigraphic layer dated 41.1 to 38.1 ka cal BP, documenting a modern human presence on the western margin of Iberia ∼5,000 years earlier than previously known. The data indicate a rapid modern human dispersal across southern Europe, reaching the westernmost edge where Neanderthals were thought to persist. The results support the notion of a mosaic process of modern human dispersal and replacement of indigenous Neanderthal populations.

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“…The European south-eastern territories, such as Moldova and Crimea, were peripheral to the permafrost and variations in sea levels allowed for east-west migrations towards patchy forested landscapes 29 . In these terms, southeastern Europe would appear as a refugium for both humans and animals, as evidenced by the richness of late MIS 3 (40-25 ky calBP) settlements occupied during the latest phases of the Middle Palaeolithic (MP, Micoquian) and the Early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP, Aurignacian, 30,31 . Both the Prut River territory and southern Crimean outcrops were rich in water sources, caves and rock shelters, raw material to be transformed into tools, and in both animal and vegetal foods.…”

Section: Archaeological Context Of the Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct morpho-chemical characterization of elusive plant residues from Aurignacian Pontic Steppe ground stones

Birarda

Cagnato

Pantyukhina

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Direct evidence for the intentional processing of starch-rich plants during the Paleolithic is scant, and that evidence is often compromised by concerns over preservation and contamination. Our integrated, multimodal approach couples wear-trace analysis with chemical imaging methods to identify the presence of genuine ancient starch candidates (ASC) on ground stones used in the Pontic Steppe starting around 40,000 years ago. Optical and electron microscopy coupled with infrared spectromicroscopy and imaging provide morphological and chemical profiles for ASCs, that partially match the vibrational polysaccharide features of modern reference starches, highlighting diagenetic differences ranging from partial oxidation to mineralization. The results suggest the intentional processing of roots and tubers by means of mechanical tenderization and shed light on the role of dietary carbohydrates during Homo sapiens’ (HS) colonization of Eurasia, demonstrating a long acquaintance with predictable calorific foods, crucial to maintain homeostasis during the harsh conditions of the Late MIS 3 (40-25 ky).

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Living on the edge – A comparative approach for studying the beginning of the Aurignacian

Cited by 26 publications

References 36 publications

Late Pleistocene site formation and paleoclimate at Lapa do Picareiro, Portugal

Late Pleistocene site formation and paleoclimate at Lapa do Picareiro, Portugal

The early Aurignacian dispersal of modern humans into westernmost Eurasia

Direct morpho-chemical characterization of elusive plant residues from Aurignacian Pontic Steppe ground stones

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