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Technological Variability of the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic Transition: Examples from the Balkans and Neighbouring Regions

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Paleoanthropology of the Balkans and Anatolia

Part of the book series: Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology ((VERT))

Abstract

This chapter attempts to track the technological variability, innovations, and changes in lithic technologies that occurred in several regions of the Balkans and its neighbouring areas during the late Middle and Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP). A diversity of knapping methods and techniques has been recorded by analysing debitage, reduction sequences, and refitting data of selected key assemblages. The Middle Paleolithic (MP) technological structure appears to include a series of independent methods of blank production: Levallois, non-Levallois, and the volumetric laminar production. Similarly, the EUP technological structure also follows several models: (a) exclusive/dominant Upper Paleolithic (UP) laminar strategies; (b) a combination of UP strategies with different MP technologies; and (c) a fusion in one reduction sequence of volumetric blade and “flat” Levallois point concepts. Originally identified by refitting, the latter innovative model is central to understanding the marked technological transition and the emergence of the UP technological package.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The MSA sites in South Africa and especially late MSA of East Africa (Ambrose 2002; Brandt et al. 2012) are viewed as new “actors” in tracking this issue. Here, a surprising continuity of backed tools/segments together with pièces esquilles, similar to Uluzzian typological trend, is visible. Recent archaeological, genetic and demographic data led to the hypothesis of the dispersal of this innovative technology from an East African source into Europe, through the so-called southern Mediterranean route (Mellars 2011; Moroni et al. 2013) pre-dating the “Aurignacian”. However these segments should be treated with caution due to younger admixture (piece on Fig. 6, 8 from Monchena Borago in Moroni et al. 2013), irregular backs or attribution of tablets to this tool category (personal communication of Ralf Vogelsang, November 22, 2013).

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Katerina Harvati for inviting me to the stimulating Symposium, which took place in Tübingen in December 2012 and led to this volume. Many colleagues and institutions contributed to the fieldwork and current analyses in Greece (Institute for Aegean Prehistory) and Romania (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, CRC 806, Project B1). I express my deep gratitude to Margarita Koumouzelis for her patience and support in Klissoura studies, to Krzysztof Sobczyk for productive collaboration in Poland and Greece, Magdalena Sudol for drawing finalisation, and Nicholas Thompson for photos and English editing, to Mircea Anghelinu, Loredana Niţă, Rebecca Miller, and Victor Chabai for their suggestions, text corrections, and fruitful discussions. Three reviewers, Katerina Harvati and Mirjana Roksandic (editors) helped in consistently improving this chapter. To all people and institutions involved, I express my deep gratitude.

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    Valéry Sitlivy

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  1. Paleoanthropology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Katerina Harvati

  2. Department of Anthropology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Mirjana Roksandic

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Sitlivy, V. (2016). Technological Variability of the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic Transition: Examples from the Balkans and Neighbouring Regions. In: Harvati, K., Roksandic, M. (eds) Paleoanthropology of the Balkans and Anatolia. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0874-4_14

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