1.9 Myr–300 000 years Ago in Europe

Abstract

This article describes the Late early Pleistocene and the middle Pleistocene in Europe from the point of hominin colonization, occupation, and change in hominin lifestyles over time. The period spans the Lower Paleolithic in Europe. It begins with the first arrival of humans into Eurasia, and ends with their adoption of Levallois/prepared core technology which is the hallmark of the Middle Paleolithic. With the adoption of this new way of working stone, the old Lower Paleolithic way of life came to an end. This article describes the pattern of colonization and distills the main points that we may reconstruct of these hominins’ lifestyles.