Middle Palaeolithic Sites Research Articles

Novel chrono-cultural constraints for the Middle Paleolithic site of Rosh Ein Mor (D15), Israel

The site of Rosh Ein Mor is constantly used as a cultural marker for the presence of “Tabun D” type industries in the Negev. A re-analysis of the lithic assemblage shows that the techno-typological characteristics fit better within the late Middle Paleolithic variability than within the early Middle Paleolithic. Using the powerful tool of U-series for dating calcite crusts on the artifacts a cluster of dates between ~70–35 ka has been obtained. Taking into consideration the central Negev highlands paleoclimate record and the geomorphological setting, this study presents valid data to suggest that Rosh Ein Mor was occupied during MIS 4 and possibly into MIS 3.

Neandertal foot remains from Regourdou 1 (Montignac-sur-Vézère, Dordogne, France)

Regourdou is a well-known Middle Paleolithic site which has yielded the fossil remains of a minimum of two Neandertal individuals. The first individual (Regourdou 1) is represented by a partial skeleton while the second one is represented by a calcaneus. The foot remains of Regourdou 1 have been used in a number of comparative studies, but to date a full description and comparison of all the foot remains from the Regourdou 1 Neandertal, coming from the old excavations and from the recent reanalysis of the faunal remains, does not exist. Here, we describe and comparatively assess the Regourdou 1 tarsals, metatarsals and phalanges. They display traits observed in other Neandertal feet, which are different from some traits of the Sima de los Huesos (Atapuerca) hominins and of Middle Paleolithic, Upper Paleolithic and recent modern humans. These Neandertal features are: a rectangular talar trochlea with a large lateral malleolar facet, a broad talar head, a broad calcaneus with a projecting sustentaculum tali, a wide and wedged navicular with a projecting medial tubercle, large and wide bases of the lateral metatarsals, and mediolaterally expanded and robust phalanges that also show hallux valgus in a strongly built hallux.

Mustjerska industrija špilje Veternice

Špilja Veternica nalazište je srednjega paleolitika na jugozapadnome dijelu planine Medvednice u Hrvatskoj. Nalazište je od 1951. do 1955. i 1971. godine istraživano i u njemu su prikupljene stotine kamenih izrađevina mustjerske kulture. Ovaj rad donosi litičku analizu tih izrađevina i, usprkos pomiješanim nalazima iz više slojeva, važne podatke o tehnologiji, tipologiji i korištenju sirovina. Na temelju dobivenih rezultata i usporedbe s drugim nalazištima u susjednim prostorima, srednjopaleolitička industrija Veternica smještena je u kronološki i kulturni okvir.

История изучения среднепалеолитических памятников на югозападе Восточно-Европейской равнины

История изучения среднепалеолитических памятников на югозападе Восточно-Европейской равнины

Ранняя стадия среднего палеолита Алтая: новые данные

Purpose. Until recently, the earliest assemblages from Denisova Peshchera (cave) in the Altai mountains included a small collection of stone artifacts recovered from layers 22 and 21 in the Main Chamber of the cave. Comprehensive archaeological research carried out over the past decade has made it possible to study deposits recognized at the base of the stratigraphic section in the East Chamber. The oldest archaeological evidence documented in this area was found within lithological layers 15 and 14. Based on data from biostratigraphic studies and absolute dating, accumulation of sediments from layers 15 and 14 appears to have occurred in favorable environmental conditions of MIS-7. This paper presents the results of our analysis undertaken for a stone tool industry associated with these layers and correlation of these materials with contemporaneous assemblages from the other sections of the site. Results. The collection of stone artifacts from layers 15 and 14 includes more than 35 000 specimens. Primary flaking in this industry can be generally characterized by the use of both unifacial and bifacial cores utilized in a radial system. The analysis shows that small cobbles or large flakes with a massive cross-section were used as blanks for manufacturing such cores. Flake blanks include primarily truncated or short flakes with a smooth or natural platform showing no rejuvenation of overhang. Flakes mainly demonstrate longitudinal, unidirectional or orthogonal faceting of the dorsal surface. Blades were found in small numbers. Large, rare medium-size flakes, as well as fragments from massive flakes were used as tool blanks. The tool assemblage is dominated by denticulate, notch, spur-like tools and scrapers of different types. Flakes showing the ventral thinning of lateral edges, as well as flakes with removed striking platform, constitute a group of specific artifacts. Both geochronological data, which were obtained for the Pleistocene deposits in the cave, and technical-typological characteristics of the stone tool industry show that the closest cultural and chronological counterpart to the Early Middle Paleolithic assemblage from layers 15 and 14 in the East Chamber is evidences recovered from layers 21 (363 specimens) and 20 (1 039 specimens) in the Main Chamber. Conclusion. Geochronology of the lower deposits from Denisova Peshchera, which is based on the lithological and biostratigraphic record, as well as on the absolute age determinations, makes it possible to recognize this cave as the earliest stratified Middle Paleolithic site in Siberia. Data resulted from the analysis of new archaeological evidences found in the East Chamber have significantly contributed to the knowledge of the Early Middle Paleolithic in the region, thus enabling further determination of the position of this complex among contemporaneous sites in North Asia.

Middle Palaeolithic lithic tools: Techno-functional and use-wear analysis of target objects from SU 13 at the Oscurusciuto rock shelter, Southern Italy

The Oscurusciuto rock shelter (Ginosa, Puglia, southern Italy) is a Middle Palaeolithic site characterized by a significant stratigraphy made up by several anthropic levels. The stratigraphic unit 13, consisting of a sandy compact deposit mixed with pyroclastic sediment, is a short palimpsest situated on a layer of tephra, identified as Mt. Epomeo green tuff (dated Ar/Ar ~ 55 ka BP).
 From a technological point of view, the aims of the production were backed flakes, convergent flakes, and other flakes obtained by means of a Levallois debitage, plus (less represented) bladelets produced by an additional volumetric reduction system.
 Our aim in this research was to examine a selection of the above-mentioned target objects produced by debitage in order to understand the manufacture and life-cycle of each single tool from a dynamic perspective.
 We integrated techno-functional and use-wear analyses: the first was implemented to globally comprehend each tool, identifying each single techno-functional unity (prehensile and transformative portions), whereas the second revealed the way in which these tools had been used, proceeding to identify the activity involved (e.g., piercing, cutting and/or scraping), and the type of material (vegetable/animal, soft/hard) on which these activities had been carried out.
 The combined use of these two approaches allows us to ascertain the intention of the prehistoric craftsmen, the gestures and procedures involved in making the tools, and the way they had been used. From one single object we are thus able to reconstruct a series of complex behaviours, encompassing the creation, the life-cycle and finally the ‘death’ or repurposing of the tool in question.

Middle Palaeolithic occupations in central Saudi Arabia during MIS 5 and MIS 7: new insights on the origins of the peopling of Arabia

Although Middle Palaeolithic stratified and dated sites are still rare in Arabia, recent archaeological, palaeoenvironmental, population genetic, geomatic and geochronological studies have noticeably contributed to a re-evaluation of the prehistory of the region. Here, we report the discovery of a stratified open-air Middle Palaeolithic site in central Saudi Arabia, a novelty given the paucity of dated Pleistocene lithic assemblages in the region. The site of Umm al-Sha’al is located in the Rufa Graben where a substantial number of Middle Palaeolithic surface occurrences have been reported. It contains artefacts produced using Levallois technology, indicative of Middle Palaeolithic human exploitation of locally abundant quartzite raw material. The site comprises two horizons with archaeological finds dating to Marine Isotope Stages 5 and likely 7 or even older. During this period, hunter-gatherers would have benefited from bodies of water and streams in the vicinity of the site, which were active during humid phases, contributing to the development of a significant biomass. Our discovery supports the hypotheses of an early colonisation of inland Arabia by hominins and of a solid link with North and East African lithic traditions of the Middle Stone Age, which awaits further refinement.

Cut marks made with quartz tools: An experimental framework for understanding cut mark morphology, and its use at the Middle Palaeolithic site of the Navalmaíllo Rock Shelter (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid, Spain)

The study of cut marks in archaeological contexts is of great importance for understanding the subsistence strategies of past human groups. Many authors have indicated differences to exist between the cut marks produced by different tools and when the same types of tool have been made from different raw materials. The present work examines the cut marks made during the experimental butchering of a red deer (Cervus elaphus) using simple quartz flakes, with those found on fossilised animal remains at the Navalmaíllo Rock Shelter site (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid, Spain) likely to have been made with similar flakes. The methodology followed was that of Domínguez-Rodrigo et al. (2009), which was originally designed to differentiate between cut marks and trampling marks, but which here was tested as a method of distinguishing between the raw materials from which cutting tools were made. The results were also compared to those made with other types of tool/raw material reported in the literature. The present results confirm the above ideas: the marks made experimentally by the quartz flakes are very similar to those seen on the faunal remains from the level F of Navalmaíllo Rock Shelter site, but different to those made by other tools or by flakes made from other materials. They also show, however, that different cut mark morphologies are largely independent of the size of the animal butchered, and of the anatomical element on which they appear.

Neanderthal activity and resting areas from stratigraphic unit 13 at the Middle Palaeolithic site of Oscurusciuto (Ginosa - Taranto, Southern Italy)

Stratigraphic Unit 13 of Oscurusciuto Rockshelter (Ginosa, Taranto, Southern Italy) is a short Mousterian palimpsest representing the first stable occupation of the site soon after the deposition of a thick layer of tephra (Mt. Epomeo Green Tuff - Ischia datable around 55 kya BP).Different activities were identified by integrating the study of lithic finds, faunal remains, and the microarchaeology of combustion features. Additionally, geo-statistical analysis of these data has been carried out using a specifically designed geodatabase within a GIS platform.Our results produced an articulated picture of this Neanderthal site as a tripartite location made of spatially segregated and integrated activity areas. A hearths' alignment (parallel to the rockshelter wall) divides the settled area into an inner and outer part. The inner part, between the hearths and the shelter wall, displays an abrupt rarefaction of the anthropic finds and was interpreted as a possible sleeping/resting area. In the outer part, several multipurpose activity areas have been identified, mostly associated with the combustion features. The Northern sector of the settlement appears devoted particularly to lithic production (to a lesser degree, activities related with lithic tools use and faunal processing took place). In the Southern sector the main activities carried out represent more intensive production and use of lithic tools and the butchering and consumption of animal resources. Additionally, in this sector evidence of space maintenance behaviour (cleaning up of working areas and refuse dumping) has been attested.

Provisioning on the periphery: Middle Palaeolithic raw material supply strategies on the outer edge of a territory at La Combette (France)

We apply a resource selection model to evaluate the importance of factors influencing raw material provisioning at a Middle Palaeolithic site, La Combette, located on the edge of the territory from which its raw materials came. The model was previously applied to another Middle Palaeolithic site, the Bau de l'Aubesier, which is more centrally located in the same region. La Combette is smaller and in easier terrain, and was used for short-term occupations such as hunting camps, so provisioning would therefore be expected to be strongly influenced by the quality of the raw material, and by the distance to the sources. In addition, the sourcing data for La Combette are less detailed than those available for the Bau, so this tests our model in a less-than-ideal case. The results show that our approach does work under these conditions. At La Combette, variables describing the terrain (distance from the source, extent of the source area, difficulty of the terrain, etc.) are more important than those describing the raw material (quality and size of nodules available). Even in relatively easy terrain, distance is more important than quality when using a site on the periphery.

Watershed Pleistocene loess-soil cover in the Mezhyhirtsi section (Halych-Dnister region)

On the left bank of the Dnister River between the villages of Mezhyhirtsi and Dubivtsi (Halych district, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Ukraine) there are several large mechanized quarries, where raw materials (marl, limestone, gypsum) are mined for PJSC “Ivano-Frankivsk Cement”. It is quarries of limestones and marls of Dubivtsi Suite of the Upper Cretaceous in a lower part of a slope, and gypsum of Tyrassian Suite of the Neogene nearly in a watershed. The amplitude of maximum points of the relief above the Dnister River bed reaches 145 m and it varies in the range of 50-60 m above the oldest terraces of the Dnister River (Loyeva level), which are developed on it right bank (Dnister-Lukva interfluve). Well stratified thick (more than 20 m) Pleistocene loess-soil sequence covering almost all the Brunhes palaeomagnetic chron developed over the gypsum. In particular, it is worth noting that the covering series of sediments in the Mezhyhirtsi section does not lie on the alluvium of the Dnister, but directly on the bedrocks, i.e. outside the Dnister valley. The first general description of the Pleistocene loess-soil series in the Mezhyhirtsi section is given and the fossil malacofauna found in a number of horizons and sub-horizons is presented. There are almost all the stratigraphic horizons of the Pleistocene (from the upper horizon of the Upper Pleistocene loesses (MIS 2) to the palaeosol complex of Zahvizdia (MIS 17-21) and the sediments, which it was formed on) in the section. It is reasoned that the Mezhyhirtsi section requires a comprehensive study. It may become a key section for the Pleistocene of Halych-Dnister region – an area with a well-developed complex of Dnister terraces, a number of Upper and Middle Palaeolithic sites (Mezhyhirtsi, Yezupil I-IX, Kolodiiv, Mariampil I, V, Halych I, II and many others). There are many interdisciplinary studied sections of the Pleistocene deposits (for instance, the Kolodiiv section with a fossil Eem (Horokhiv) peatland or the Halych section with a 50-meter thick covering loess-soil series on the fifth (Halych) terrace of the Dnister River) in the region. The Mezhyhirtsi section is important because it contains the oldest part of the section of the Pleistocene in the Halych-Dnister region, as well as a few palaeobasins (above the Korshiv and Zahvizdia palaeosol complexes), the study of which may provide many new data for reconstruction of the palaeogeographical conditions of the Pleistocene within the Dnister valley and beyond it. Key words: Pleistocene, loess-soil series, key section, palaeobasin, the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary, Halych-Dnister region.

The Middle Palaeolithic Site of Buzdujeni in Moldova: Establishing the Archaeological and Environmental Record

The work carried out at the site of Buzdujeni in 1993, and the subsequent study of the material, is described. The archaeological inventory, classified as a Denticulate Mousterian, is published in detail for the first time. Sedimentological, palynological and micro-morphological studies have permitted an evaluative reconstruction of the development of the environment through time. The human occupation of the site took place in periglacial conditions, which likely correspond to the last (Valdai) glacial period, though more exact dating of the site remains to be achieved.

Neanderthal diet in fluvial environments at the end of the Middle Pleistocene/early Late Pleistocene of PRERESA site in the Manzanares Valley (Madrid, Spain)

Most Middle Palaeolithic sites with faunal remains processed by humans in the Iberian Peninsula are located in rock shelters or caves. PRERESA is one of the few open-air sites, dating to the end of the Middle or early Late Pleistocene, in which faunal remains associated with lithic industry has been recorded. At least one individual of Mammuthus/Elephas has been identified, as well as two individuals of Bos primigenius, a further two of Haploidoceros mediterraneus, and other mammals of different sizes. The sample is well preserved; carnivore activity is scant and the remains were buried shortly after death. The site is located in the floodplain of the Manzanares river, in an environment of forest and open areas, characterized by herbaceous plants and river woodlands which developed in a mild climate with some humidity. One Haploidoceros and one auerochs were almost complete and semi anatomically connected. A proboscidean, one of the auerochs and an unidentified mammal show conspicuous evidence of having been exploited by human beings. Lithic knapping was aimed at flake production. All phases of the operational chain are represented, which suggests that the lithic assemblage was manufactured with the purpose of processing meat. The scantly elaborated technical schemes of the lithic industry, together with the limited evidence of human processing of faunal remains as well as the presence of animals deposited in a natural way could suggest that this site was used by Neanderthals only sporadically. However, the presence of certain taxa such as proboscidea, auerochs and four other mammal species of different sizes, which were a anthropically processed, could indicate that the site was visited recurrently by human groups with the purpose of processing such mammals. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the taphonomic history of the site, as well as to add to the knowledge of the Neanderthal group behaviour patterns.

Assessing the significance of Palaeolithic engraved cortexes. A case study from the Mousterian site of Kiik-Koba, Crimea.

Twenty-Seven Lower and Middle Paleolithic sites from Europe and the Middle East are reported in the literature to have yielded incised stones. At eleven of these sites incisions are present on flint cortexes. Even when it is possible to demonstrate that the engravings are ancient and human made, it is often difficult to distinguish incisions resulting from functional activities such as butchery or use as a cutting board, from those produced deliberately, and even more difficult to identify the scope of the latter. In this paper we present results of the analysis of an engraved cortical flint flake found at Kiik-Koba, a key Mousterian site from Crimea, and create an interpretative framework to guide the interpretation of incised cortexes. The frame of inference that we propose allows for a reasoned evaluation of the actions playing a role in the marking process and aims at narrowing down the interpretation of the evidence. The object comes from layer IV, the same layer in which a Neanderthal child burial was unearthed, which contains a para-Micoquian industry of Kiik-Koba type dated to between c.35 and 37 cal kyr BP. The microscopic analysis and 3D reconstruction of the grooves on the cortex of this small flint flake, demonstrate that the incisions represent a deliberate engraving made by a skilled craftsman, probably with two different points. The lines are nearly perfectly framed into the cortex, testifying of well controlled motions. This is especially the case considering the small size of the object, which makes this a difficult task. The production of the engraving required excellent neuromotor and volitional control, which implies focused attention. Evaluation of the Kiik-Koba evidence in the light of the proposed interpretative framework supports the view that the engraving was made with a representational intent.

Middle Palaeolithic Percussive Tools from the Last Interglacial Site Neumark-Nord 2/2 (Germany) and the Visibility of Such Tools in the Archaeological Record

Despite a strong increase in the research on hominin percussive tool use, the primary focus in the study of technological behaviour still lies on flaked stone artefacts, especially for the Middle Palaeolithic. This paper aims to contribute to a more thorough understanding of the full spectrum of homi;nin technological behaviour, by presenting a systematic analysis of ground stone tools from the Last Interglacial Middle Palaeolithic site Neumark-Nord 2/2 (NN2/2) (Germany). At NN2/2, coarse gravel- and cobble-sized pieces (n = 351) were sourced from local outcrops of glacial deposits, with a preferential selection for quartzite and sandstone. Low-power use wear analysis and the archaeological context of these finds provide evidence for the possible use of at least 58 pieces for active (hammerstones) and 5 for passive (anvils) percussive tasks, specifically lithic production and potentially bone processing. These grounds stone tools are larger and heavier than the manuports. The hammerstones were preferentially made of quartz and quartzite, while the anvils are mostly of limestone. The limited build-up of use wear on the tools is interpreted as expedient use. The presence of post-depositional surface modifications, their relatively expedient use and their potential application on soft contact materials (e.g. nuts) resulted in a relatively low discernibility of the wear. With expediency being a key factor in Middle Palaeolithic lithic technology, we can expect comparable patterns for other similar-aged ground stone assemblages. Moreover, external factors, like geological context and raw material availability, post-depositional conditions and research focus and intensity, further contribute to the invisibility of such finds in the Middle Palaeolithic record.

Macrobotanical evidence (wood charcoal and seeds) from the Middle Palaeolithic site of El Salt, Eastern Iberia: Palaeoenvironmental data and plant resources catchment areas

Despite the current growing number of studies that focus on macrobotanical remains from Middle Palaeolithic contexts, plant use among hunter-gatherer societies remains unknown in many regions of Europe. Large-scale flotation of archaeological sediments has made it possible to recover a large amount of plant remains (fruits, seeds and wood) from units VIII, IX, Xa and Xb at El Salt, Eastern Iberia (49.2–52.3 ka BP). The combination of anthracological and carpological analyses has provided a more accurate picture of the Middle Palaeolithic landscape in the Serpis valley, as well as significant information about other possible uses of plants, not only as fuel, but for woodworking or food, for instance. A minimum of twenty different taxa have been identified among the plant remains. Charcoal analysis suggested that firewood was gathered from nearby sources (<1 km), with a predominance of black-scots pine woodlands (Pinus nigra-sylvestris) and maples (Acer sp.). The carpological data reveal the use of some woody taxa not documented in the anthracological record (Taxus baccata or yew) and the presence of few mineralised seeds whose origin remains unknown (Celtis australis or hackberry, Rubus cf. laciniatus or evergreen blackberry). These data have significant implications for the interpretation of plant economy among Neanderthal groups, reinforcing the importance of available woody resources in the surroundings for the subsistence of the group.

HADJOH-2: A MIDDLE PALEOLITHIC WORKSHOP-CAMP IN NORTHWESTERN CAUCASUS

This article outlines the results of a multidisciplinary study of a stratifi ed Middle Paleolithic site Hadjoh-2, northwestern Caucasus, situated at the outcrop of high-quality Shahan fl int. During fi ve fi eld seasons, more than 6-meter deep deposits were excavated over an area of ca 33 sq. m. Ten lithological strata and four habitation horizons were identifi ed. Excavations focused on the bottom layers 6 and 7. During their accumulation, the site occupied a fl oodplain terrace on the right bank of the Sredniy Hadjoh River, a right tributary of the Belaya. Because the terrace dates to the Middle/Late Pleistocene boundary, the site is no earlier than the beginning of Late Pleistocene, 130–120 ka BP. Results of pollen analysis suggest that the climate was cold and dry, and subalpine and alpine meadows prevailed around the site at that time. The study of lithic assemblages shows that the bottom layers accumulated when the site was a workshop near the fl int outcrops. In both layers, knapping debris such as cores, chips, and small fragments predominate. Most tools are unfi nished bifacial forms. These assemblages are paralleled by the Eastern Micoquian industries of Mezmaiskaya, Barakaevskaya, Monasheskaya, and Ilskaya.

Nouvelles données sur la chronologie des sites paléolithiques en contexte lœssique du Nord-Est et du Sud-Est de la Roumanie (Périphérie orientale des Carpates)

In the present study, the chronology of several intraloessic Upper and Middle Palaeolithic sites, located in Moldova, Dobrogea and the eastern Danube Plain, is re-examined and better defined on the basis of new chronological data (IRSL ages on loess, ESR/U-Th ages on teeth) and also biostratigraphic and pedostratigraphic evidence. Middle Palaeolithic occupations have been identified in the MIS 6 loess L2 (interstadial episode), the MIS 7 pedocomplex S2 and the red soils S3 presumably assigned to MIS 9. These results are questioning the chronological extension of the Middle Palaeolithic in Romania which until early 2000 (Păunescu, 1999 a, b; Cârciumaru, 1999) was restricted to the Upper Pleistocene (short chronology: 130–35ka; MIS 5-MIS 3). Hence, we demonstrate herein that Humans were already present during the Middle Pleistocene at the eastern periphery of the Carpathian Mountains, along the Danube valley and its tributary, the Prut River.

Timing of the Saalian- and Elsterian glacial cycles and the implications for Middle \u2013 Pleistocene hominin presence in central Europe

By establishing a luminescence-based chronology for fluvial deposits preserved between the Elsterian- and Saalian tills in central Germany, we obtained information on the timing of both the Middle Pleistocene glacial cycles and early human appearance in central Europe. The luminescence ages illustrate different climatic driven fluvial aggradation periods during the Saalian glacial cycle spanning from 400–150 ka. The ages of sediments directly overlying the Elsterian till are approximately 400 ka and prove that the first extensive Fennoscandian ice sheet extension during the Quaternary correlates with MIS 12 and not with MIS 10. Furthermore, the 400 ka old fluvial units contain Lower Paleolithic stone artefacts that document the first human appearance in the region. In addition, we demonstrate that early MIS 8 is a potential date for the onset of the Middle Paleolithic in central Germany, as Middle Paleolithic stone artefacts are correlated with fluvial units deposited between 300 ka and 200 ka. However, the bulk of Middle Paleolithic sites date to MIS 7 in the region. The fluvial units preserved directly under the till of the southernmost Saalian ice yield an age of about 150 ka, and enable a correlation of the Drenthe stage to late MIS 6.

New evidence for the Palaeolithic in Attica, Greece

Despite Greece’s key geographic position between southeast Europe and southwest Asia, and its potential for documenting hominin dispersals, Lower and Middle Palaeolithic sites are rare. This suggests the need for research to identify deposits that may contain Palaeolithic artefacts. Here we describe 165 quartz and quartzite artefacts with Palaeolithic characteristics (based on technical and morphotypological definitions) from a private collection that was made from erosional lag deposits on the southeastern slopes of Mt. Pendeli and the northern edge of the Spata polje (a large karstic depression filled with terra rossas) in northeast Attica. Artefacts of the same type occur in the region of Ano Souli, another karstic depression. These karstic depressions are of interest because they resemble artefact-bearing deposits found at similar features such as Kokkinopilos in Epirus that have provided datable geologic contexts for Lower and Middle Palaeolithic artefacts. Our study suggests that Attica was frequented by hominins in the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic and that Pleistocene deposits in karstic depressions in Attica may preserve datable contexts for documenting early human activity. The lithic collection described here provides a glimpse of the potential of the region, and we recommend continued archaeological efforts in Attica to investigate the likelihood for buried Palaeolithic sites.