Abstract In the Lower Tagus River basin, works carried out by Henri Breuil and Georges Zbyszewski during the 1940s, and by Luís Raposo and colleagues at the end of the twentieth century, led to the discovery of significant concentrations of Acheulean remains in Vale do Forno (Alpiarça, Portugal). Aiming to renovate the investigation of a core area of the Portuguese Lower Palaeolithic, a systematic revision of the sites from Vale do Forno was conducted. In this work, we present updated data regarding Vale do Forno 1, chronologically placed between Marine Isotopic Stages 9 and 7. Discovered in 1987, the site’s lithic assemblage ( n = 252 artefacts) was exhumed in a thin gravel bed, within the basal channel sandy deposits of the Upper Sands unit of the terrace T4 of the Lower Tagus. Being mainly composed of elements related to the production phase, the series is essentially the result of expedient and short knapping sequences that occurred in a shallow channel environment, based on the exploitation of local raw materials. Elementary débitage schemes directed toward the production of medium-sized flakes are recognised, complemented by some unifacial peripheral patterns aimed at obtaining small-sized products. Additionally, the presence of large cutting tools testifies to the parallel development of façonnage operational sequences. These are only represented by the end products, which were usually defined in an expedient manner. Overall, the Vale do Forno 1 lithic assemblage displays features similar to those typically recorded in other Acheulean Iberian sites.

Abstract Paola Villa (1939–2024) was an influential archaeologist who contributed greatly to the field of Palaeolithic archaeology.

Abstract Understanding hunter-gatherer mobility dynamics requires a comprehensive approach that considers interactions across entire territories rather than isolated archaeological sites. This study investigates lithic raw-material procurement at two early Upper Palaeolithic sites in the central Mediterranean Iberian region: the Foradada (i.e. Aurignacian; Xàbia, Alacant) and the La Barriada caves (i.e. Gravettian; Benidorm, Alacant). By adopting an approach centred on both macroscopic and microscopic analyses on siliceous raw materials, we recognise provisioning potential areas and their implications for past human mobility strategies. We identify lithotypes and postgenetic alterations to establish raw-material sources and pathways. Early Upper Palaeolithic groups acquired siliceous raw materials from the surroundings, either at the near beaches or going upstream through the contiguous basins, but raw materials also travelled more than 50 km from inland. Notably, occupations related to the Aurignacian record at Foradada display a balanced exploitation of both littoral and inland resources, reflecting flexible mobility and access to coastal and fluvial environments, whereas the Gravettian lithic record at La Barriada predominantly was made of raw materials from more distant inland basins, indicating distinct procurement strategies potentially linked to differing mobility strategies across sites and technocomplexes. These results contribute to the broader understanding of hunter-gatherer mobility and technoeconomic behaviour, highlighting the importance of integrated territorial studies in reconstructing prehistoric productive strategies.

Abstract This study presents an analysis of a small cluster of blades/bladelets discovered during a rescue excavation at the Middle/Late Gravettian site of Milovice IV, Czech Republic. The cluster is comprised of 29 artefacts, both retouched and unretouched. The specific context suggests that the items were originally bundled together in a container made of a perishable material. The artefacts were made from raw materials of diverse origins. Techno-typological and use-wear analyses reveal a variety of tool types and activities, indicating that the cluster underwent a complex history of use and recycling. A substantial share of the assemblage exhibited fractures typically associated with projectiles, while other tools showed evidence of cutting, scraping, and drilling. The cluster can be interpreted as personal gear used during hunting expeditions, regularly maintained and occasionally modified until its eventual discard or loss in a residential camp. The use of small and broken pieces and spalls also indicates that at some point the personal gear was treated economically, likely due to a pressing shortage of raw materials during hunting or migration trips. The variety of raw materials reflects the mobility range or network of contacts of the individual.

Abstract Shualim Rockshelter in the Central Negev Highlands bears stratified deposits of three Upper Paleolithic (UP) occupation phases belonging to the Ahmarian cultural entity and an Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) industry. Microarchaeological investigations were undertaken to identify site formation processes and detect evidence of human activities, including investigating combustion features that were identified during field excavations. Our microarchaeological approach utilized Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Fourier-transform infrared micro-spectroscopy (micro-FTIR), quantification of ash pseudomorphs, phytolith analysis and sediment micromorphology. Based on multiproxy microarchaeological signals, we identify the in situ use of fire including two combustion features from an Upper and Lower Ahmarian occupation phase. Ash pseudomorphs and gypsum neoformation indicate that woody taxa including Tamarix sp. were utilized as fuel sources, while seed coats resembling Brassicaceae suggest that human occupation during the upper Ahmarian phase took place during the winter season. The widespread occurrence of carbonated hydroxyapatite minerals and microscopic bone fragments reflects human utilization of faunal resources on-site. We also undertake a spatial assessment of the nature and degree of taphonomic processes and identify areas within the rockshelter that preserve intact archaeological contexts and abundant microarchaeological signals of local human activity. Our microarchaeological investigations provide a high-resolution window into the nature of human activities on-site and add to our understanding of the occupation dynamics of successive UP groups in the arid environment of the Negev desert.

Sequencing and characterising high-resolution units in which both natural and anthropogenic records can be examined on comparable scales is essential for understanding spatial behaviour and site formation processes. This requires a multidisciplinary approach that has previously been applied to the Neanderthal site of Abric del Pastor (Alcoi, eastern Iberia), revealing short-term occupations with high spatiotemporal resolution in stratigraphic unit IV, particularly focused on the lithic assemblages. In this study, we extend this methodological framework to stratigraphic unit V, investigating lithic record formation processes by applying archaeostratigraphic and spatial analyses, incorporating raw materials, technical attributes, and refits. Additionally, this research integrates soil micromorphology and sedimentary n-alkane analysis to explore critical aspects of sedimentary formation processes. Specifically, these techniques were used to corroborate the presence of in sitv hearths and rule out the possibility of erosional processes in the western sector of the rockshelter, where no archaeological materials were recorded. Our results, with refits as a benchmark, reveal at least two distinct stages of anthropogenic formation, characterised by recurring knapping activities primarily concentrated in the northern zone. These activities display internal variability in terms of flint type usage and activity intensity. Moreover, this knapping area is spatially segregated from three other zones: one containing a single hearth, close to the rockshelter wall, with no associated archaeological materials, possibly aligned with sleeping/resting purposes; another with a diachronic accumulation of faunal remains; and a third with an absence of archaeological record, in which postdepositional processes have not been detected. By identifying discrete formation events, we provide a detailed example of Neanderthal spatial variability, highlighting the deliberate use of certain zones for similar activities over time. This pattern contrasts with the spatial organisation of stratigraphic unit IV and other Neanderthal contexts, reflecting shifting strategies in the arrangement and use of space.

This paper presents the results of spatial analyses of Unit III in Nesher Ramla, Israel, an open-air mid-Middle Paleolithic site. Featuring numerous anthropogenic features (e.g., hearths and artifact clusters), a well-preserved lithic assemblage, and well-defined deposits, Unit III constitutes an excellent case for exploring the ability of the Nesher Ramla Homo to organize and maintain their space. We employed two analytical procedures: tracing the spatial distribution of various lithic categories and refitting. The results were correlated with field records and plans to produce high-definition distribution and density maps, which suggest a division into northern and southern areas. The northern area consists of small accumulations of bones, stones, and a few lithic artifacts; it likely served as a task-specific field camp for brief butchering events. The southern area featured dense artifact accumulations associated with combustion features, and it seems to have functioned as a domestic space where various activities were carried out: flint knapping, bone processing, animal consumption, etc. While the temporal relations between the northern and southern areas are uncertain, they do not seem to have been contemporaneous; instead, they appear to have been associated with different visits. Alongside other published data from the upper units of Nesher Ramla, the current study contributes to new insights into shifts in functions and duration of occupations at the site.