Paleolithic Remains Research Articles

Des galets pour les industries paléolithiques de la zone sous-himalayenne

Sub-Himalayas are comprised of Pliocene and Pleistocene formations, the Upper Siwaliks, shaped by the still active tectonics and by the Himalayan Rivers and their tributaries building terraces. All these terrains have yielded, at least from surface, Palaeolithic remains, whose ages are difficult to assess precisely. The earliest evidence of human activity probably occurs at the end of Pliocene. Undoubtedly, peopling was not continuous but lithic industries witness each of the main Palaeolithic technical phases. Until the end of the Middle Palaeolithic, technical practices in Sub-Himalayas are consistent with those in Peninsular India, south of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, yet with always more cobble tools, especially in surface collections. Such industries were named Soanian. However, from the time when the so-called “modern” behaviours emerged in Peninsular India, around 45 ka, the Sub-Himalayas continued to accommodate lithic industries with cobble tools in increasing proportion. This makes this region more akin to Southeast Asia, where industries of this time period belong to Hoabinhian tradition, rich in cobble tools, of which the “sumatraliths” are the most significant tool type. The question remains to know which phenomenon induced these diverging technical practices between north and south of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Hanging over the Void. Uses of Long Ropes and Climbing Rope Ladders in Prehistory as Illustrated in Levantine Rock Art

Direct or indirect evidence of ropemaking are scarce in European prehistory. Only a few references to Middle or Upper Palaeolithic remains are known to us, with more examples towards the Holocene. The archaeological contexts of ropes offer little information about possible uses, as the activities they are used for are often archaeologically invisible. However, some rock-art traditions shed some light on potential uses, worth exploring. In Spain, Levantine rock art offers the best graphic examples across Europe showing various uses of ropes, including climbing. Starting from the recently discovered climbing scene of Barranco Gómez site (Teruel, Spain), including the best preserved and more complex use of ropes seen so far in Levantine art, this paper analyses representations of ropes in this art, as well as their varieties and diverse uses. Our study suggests that different rope-making techniques were used by Levantine societies, which we believe are indicative of a complex rope-making technology, requiring a considerable investment of time and efforts. It also shows a certain variety of rope climbing techniques and rope climbing gear, illustrating that both were mastered by Levantine societies. Moreover, a preferential use of ropes in honey-hunting scenes is observed.

The first complete cranium of Homotherium (Machairodontinae, Felidae) from the Nihewan Basin (northern China).

The Nihewan Basin is famous for producing a rich Early Pleistocene fauna, the most classic and standard for the Early Pleistocene of northern China, as well as rich paleolithic remains, documenting the early presence of humans. Many fossil Carnivora, including the scimitar toothed cat Homotherium, were found from this basin, but no complete material of this cat was known, which hampers a deep study of its taxonomy. Here, we report a complete cranium of Homotherium, found in Shigou, a recently discovered locality in the Nihewan Basin. The morphology of the cranium supports its assignment to Homotherium crenatidens teilhardipiveteaui, a terminal evolutionary stage of the species with a Palearctic distribution. Our analyses suggest that Homotherium evolved largely contemporarily in different regions of Eurasia, suggesting a continuous gene flow within the continent, and the subspecies delimitation should be more chronological than geographical.

First geoarchaeological study of a Palaeolithic site on the northern edge of the Iranian Central Desert: Mirak (Semnan, Iran)

Mirak is a Palaeolithic site in Iran comprising several localities (“mounds”) scattered over a dry floodplain environment extending from the southern foothills of the Alborz Mountains to the northern edge of the Central Desert in the Semnan area. The area has been studied since 2015 by an Iranian-French archaeological mission. The archaeological excavations carried out at the Mirak N°8 mound uncovered a 7 m-thick pedo-sedimentary sequence, in which two sequences corresponding to contrasting depositional environments have been observed. Sequence I, comprising alternating horizons of poorly pedogenised clayey silt intercalated with sand layers, is interpreted as an alluvial pedo-sedimentary body deposited in a wetland (floodplain) environment during cold periods, periodically interrupted by shallow sheet flooding deposits. According to the stratigraphy, OSL dates and sedimentological analyses, there is a long sedimentary hiatus before the occurrence of sequence II which corresponds to calcareous aeolian deposits typical of a desert environment. The Mirak N°8 deposits were affected by several stages of incipient aridisol formation with desiccation cracks implying a gradually increasing prevalence of more arid conditions. According to the OSL data, the Mirak N°8 sequence was deposited from the Late Pleistocene to the Late Holocene (52ka to 0.4ka). In this sequence, upper Palaeolithic remains were recovered at distinct levels and it can be presumed that the most recent archaeological layer is made up of palimpsests resulting from repeated human occupations.Results from various mineralogical and sedimentological analyses (XRD, FTIR, SEM, optical microscopy) show very minor differences in mineralogy throughout the record regardless of the type of depositional regime, suggesting a local, and most probably polygenic, sedimentary source. Both alluvial and aeolian accumulations were subjected after deposition to a variety of post-sedimentary pedogenesis processes indicated by pedogenic features characteristic of calcareous, gypsiferous aridisols (Bk, By), including ferruginous root coatings, evaporates and little-developed pedo-structures and horizons. Apparent differences in colour between the two sequences at Mirak N°8 can be attributed to deposition in environments with varying iron contents and oxygenizing conditions, presumably related to higher groundwater levels and Fe-reducing conditions, especially for the units deposited during the late Pleistocene as opposed to the generally warm and dry conditions of the Holocene.

Ground truth validated 3D electrical resistivity imaging of the archaeological deposits at Arma Veirana cave (northern Italy)

ABSTRACTWe present 3D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) imaging of the archaeological deposits at Arma Veirana cave (northern Italy), to date only partially explored. The archaeological importance of the cave is due to the presence of a rich Mousterian layer, traces of Late Upper Palaeolithic (Epigravettian) temporary occupations and an Early Mesolithic burial of a female newborn. ERT is rarely employed in Palaeolithic cave contexts because Palaeolithic remains are typically disseminated in loose deposits and either do not possess high electrical resistivity contrasts or are too small to be detected. Furthermore, some issues can derive from the confined environment in caves. In this view, our study represents an opportunity to assess the capability of this geophysical method to retrieve subsurface information of Palaeolithic cave deposits and create a framework for the improvement of ERT applications in such a peculiar cave context. The aim of this study was to define the features of the deposits (i.e. geometry, thickness and sediment distribution) and to map the morphology of the underlying bedrock. Results reveal that the thickness of the deposits varies both along the primary axis of the cave and transverse to it. This study allowed the recognition of shallow, meter‐sized, fine‐grained sediment‐filled structures with a longitudinal orientation with respect to the primary axis of the cave, as well as a possible erosional‐like structure. The cross‐validation of geophysical results with the archaeological evidence (the Early Mesolithic newborn burial and Epigravettian artefacts) confirms that the low‐resistivity unit could be the most promising from an archaeological point of view.

At the edge of the Cantabrian sea. New data on the Pleistocene and Holocene archaeological open-air site of Bañugues (Gozón, Asturias, Spain): Palaeogeography, geoarchaeology and geochronology

Located at the center of the Cantabrian coast in a sedimentary terrace currently at the sea shore, the site of Bañugues (Gozón, Asturias) is one of the key places for studying the first settlements of the Iberian North. In the present work, we show the results of the geoarchaeological study undertaken on the bay of Bañugues and on the stratigraphic sections of the site that still subsist. Likewise, we have included the palaeogeographic study of the coast from the Cape Peñas area; the OSL ages obtained; and the revision (technological and taphonomic analysis) of the archaeological materials coming from the diggings of the 1970s. The lithostratigraphic sequence of Bañugues is composed of two well differentiated units: (1) lower, on the alteration of the substrate formed by breccia and silty and sandy materials with Palaeolithic remains, deposited by solifluction; (2) upper, disconforming from the other, formed by intertidal beachlike silt and sands, with technological remains from the Mesolithic. Concerning the chronology of the lithic materials from the Middle Palaeolithic, the fact that it was part of a solifluction deposit prevents at this moment its precise comprehension.

Technological changes and chrono-cultural boundaries: The role of expedient technologies in the upper paleolithic

A cursory glance at the technical behaviors of Paleolithic hunter-gatherers suggests that disparate investment in tool production played a role in the variability of lithic assemblages. Expedient technologies, aimed at minimizing the time and energy invested in lithic production, are particularly common in the Lower and Middle Paleolithic, but their role in the Upper Paleolithic remains largely unexamined. The aim of this paper is to explore the potential role of low-cost technologies at times of cultural change, particularly in the Gravettian-Solutrean boundary. As an example, we will present the lithic assemblage found in level D of Valdavara Cave (north-west Iberia), dated at ca. 27–24 ka cal BP and characterized by a distinct expedient component. Then, we will contextualize Valdavara within the framework of the Cantabrian region to assess whether an increase in expedient behaviors can be recognized in other sites yielding similar dates.

Palaeoenvironmental and hunting activity of the Upper Palaeolithic population in Western Transbaikalia: A case study on the Podzvonkaya Settlement, South Siberia

AbstractPaleontological data from Palaeolithic sites in the Transbaikal region are frequently interpreted from the viewpoint of palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. This research describes faunal material from one of the largest Initial Upper Palaeolithic settlements in Transbaikalia Podzvonkaya and the general characteristics of ancient human hunting activity there. The archaeological context of the faunal remains (located near hearths and in the kitchen midden) indicates the bones at the site are kitchen waste. The species composition indicates which species Podzvonkaya's inhabitants preferred to hunt. The largest number of remains belongs to horse, argali, bison, and Mongolian gazelle—animals that prefer open steppe and dry‐steppe landscapes. The results of a spore‐and‐pollen analysis of Podzvonkaya deposits reveal the domination of grass flora. The Tamir River valley could have been the habitat of the main target species, and ancient people probably hunted in the territory within the valley and in the valley's vicinity. Intraregional correlation with data on the species composition of the large mammals within other Palaeolithic remains of the Western Transbaikal region supports a conclusion regarding the identity of fauna at the final stage of the late Neopleistocene. Data from sites belonging to the same culture and period reveal identical prey lists, with certain preferences explained by site type (ie, long‐term base settlement or short‐term hunting camp).

Cave art reveals human nature

Summary Prehistoric artworks have been discovered on numerous cave walls around the world. They tell us about the minds and lives of ancient humans as well as about their relationship with the now extinct megafauna that surrounded them. Michael Gross reports.

Fire and brief human occupations in Iberia during MIS 4: Evidence from Abric del Pastor (Alcoy, Spain)

There is a relatively low amount of Middle Paleolithic sites in Europe dating to MIS 4. Of the few that exist, several of them lack evidence for anthropogenic fire, raising the question of how this period of global cooling may have affected the Neanderthal population. The Iberian Peninsula is a key area to explore this issue, as it has been considered as a glacial refugium during critical periods of the Neanderthal timeline and might therefore yield archaeological contexts in which we can explore possible changes in the behaviour and settlement patterns of Neanderthal groups during MIS 4. Here we report recent data from Abric del Pastor, a small rock shelter in Alcoy (Alicante, Spain) with a stratified deposit containing Middle Palaeolithic remains. We present absolute dates that frame the sequence within MIS 4 and multi-proxy geoarchaeological evidence of in situ anthropogenic fire, including microscopic evidence of in situ combustion residues and thermally altered sediment. We also present archaeostratigraphic evidence of recurrent, functionally diverse, brief human occupation of the rock shelter. Our results suggest that Neanderthals occupied the Central Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula during MIS 4, that these Neanderthals were not undergoing climatic stress and they were habitual fire users.

Persistent Neanderthal occupation of the open-air site of 'Ein Qashish, Israel.

Over the last two decades, much of the recent efforts dedicated to the Levantine Middle Paleolithic has concentrated on the role of open-air sites in the settlement system in the region. Here focus on the site of ‘Ein Qashish as a cases study. Located in present-day northern Israel, the area of this site is estimated to have been >1300 m2, of which ca. 670 were excavated. The site is located at the confluence of the Qishon stream with a small tributary running off the eastern flanks of the Mt. Carmel. At the area of this confluence, water channels and alluvial deposits created a dynamic depositional environment. Four Archaeological Units were identified in a 4.5-m thick stratigraphic sequence were dated by Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) to between—71 and 54 ka, and probably shorter time span–~70-~60 ka. Here we present the diverse material culture remains from the site (lithics, including refitted sequences; modified limestone pieces; molluscs; faunal remains) against their changing paleogeographic backdrop. Skeletal evidence suggests that these remains were associated with Neanderthals. The large-scale repeated accumulation of late Middle Paleolithic remains in the same place on the landscape provides a unique opportunity to address questions of occupation duration and intensity in open-air sites. We find that each occupation was of ephemeral nature, yet presents a range of activities, suggesting that the locale has been used as a generalized residential site rather than specialized task-specific ones. This role of ‘Ein Qashish did not change through time, suggesting that during the late Middle Paleolithic settlement system in this part of the southern Levant were stable.

Anzo, The First Evidence of Paleolithic Cave Sites in the Northern Margin of the Iranian Central Desert, Semnan, Iran.

The archaeological survey of the southern foothills of Alborz Mountains was conducted in search of caves and rock shelters with Palaeolithic remains. The region under investigation in Semnan Province is located in the northwestern margins of Dasht-e Kavir in Iranian Plateau. It was investigated primarily in 1980s and 1990s by Iranian archaeologists. From 2009, The Paleolithic Survey of the Iranian Central Desert Project (PSICDP) was established in order to evaluate the Paleolithic potential of the region, as a result of which Palaeolithic sites were documented and their surface collections were published. The current survey was conducted as a part of PSICDP project in autumn 2017. As a result, 12 caves and rock shelters were recorded, despite the promising condition of which only one had evidence from Palaeolithic Period. Anzo Cave, in northwest of Mehdishahr, was the only cave which yielded few number of chipped stones on the outer slope of the cave. The results of this survey raise the possibility that movement patterns of Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers in the region included seasonal-vertical movements between mountainous area in the north and southern lowlands. Recent discovery of Anzo Cave re-emphasizes the significance of the region as a part of migratory pathways during the Pleistocene.

Occupations humaines et chronostratigraphie du gisement pléistocène d’Illiers-Combray (Eure-et-Loir, France) De nouveaux éléments pour le SIM 5b

Between 2012 and 2015, five successive archaeological campaigns were led by the Department of archaeology of Eure-et-Loir, on the Illiers-Combray plateau, 1 km to the east of the river Loir. Middle Palaeolithic remains were discovered in a Pleistocene loess-palaeosoils sequence, extending over an area of more than 10 km ² . This Early Weichselian site constitutes a major discovery, due to the good preservation of the artefacts and the sparse data in the south-west of the Paris basin. During the archaeological survey, trenches were dug down to the bedrock every 25 m to 50 m, which revealed lithic remains over the entire research area, while neither bones nor organic remains were preserved due to the low pH value of the soils. The geoarchaeological approach combines sedimentology, micromorphology and luminescence dating (OSL, post-IR IRSL, TL) of sediments and burned flint artefacts. Lithic artefacts were found isolated or in clusters of dozens of pieces at a depth comprised between 0.70 m and 2 m. Three main sectors were identified. The sector n° 1, situated to the north-east of the town, comprises of 59 lithic artefacts in small clusters of about 10 pieces per square meter over an area of 4500 m ² area. The sector n° 2, 500 m to the south, delivered 261 artefacts spread over an area of 3.6 ha. The third sector, covering an area of 0.4 km ² , is the largest of the three sectors and is located to the south-east of the two other areas. 186 lithic artefacts were found in this area. The Pleistocene loess-palaeosoil sequence is homogeneous and well preserved on the plateau. It covers at least three glacial-interglacial cycles (Saalian, Eemian and Wechselian) and can be divided into 15 units. At the base, the Saalian strata (unit 11 to 15) are above the “ argile à silex” tertiary formation (unit 16). The OSL age of the unit 11 is 218.6 ± 49.6 ky. Saalian strata are marked by huge ice wedges and hydromorphy. The Eemian strata show a well preserved pseudomorph of an ancient tree windthrow (unit 9) located in a luvisol (unit 8 and 10). OSL dating of the unit 10 gives 121.0 ± 15.7 ky. The Early Weichselian strata are comprised of three units 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3. The majority of the artefacts is contained in the unit 7b, which is rich in ferro-manganic nodules. However, some artefacts were also found in the 7a and 7c units, as well as in the ice wedges which cut through the Early Weichselian strata. The top of the sequence is characterised by decarbonated loess deposits in which a luvisol has developed. The lithic material is in excellent condition and numerous refi ttings testify a good preservation within the archaeologi-cal layers. The analysis of these remains suggests a concomitance of several operating production chains, to manufacture fl akes, blades and points as well as an operating chain for bifacial shaping. The identifi ed production methods are convergent unipolar, parallel unipolar, Levallois and discoid debitage. However, tools made out of fl akes are rare. They consist of side scrappers and retouched artefacts. Two burned artefacts from unit 7.2 were dated by TL at 88.9 ± 6.9 ky and 89.7 ± 6.9 ky, which place the lithic industry in the MIS 5b. The preliminary results shot that the site constitutes a new reference for the Pleistocene and the Middle Palaeolithic of the Centre and the North of France, in addition to the reconstruction of the palaeoenvironmental and archaeological history of this area. Finally, the extensive excavation could become important in reconstructing Middle Palaeolithic history, since the site itself is located on the divide between the watersheds of the Seine and the Loire and, thus, in a key area for understanding the cultural palaeogeography of the Neanderthal populations.

In search of Pleistocene remains at the Gates of Europe: Directed surface survey of the Megalopolis Basin (Greece)

The PaGE Project survey of the Megalopolis Basin (Arcadia, Greece), conducted in 2012–2013 over a period of two field seasons, was an intensive, target-oriented surface survey of Pleistocene sediments. Implementing a modified version of field methods applied in our survey of cave systems and Pleistocene cave sediments, the main goal of this systematic research focused on the identification of intact stratified remains from either stratigraphic sections or on remnants of exposed ancient surfaces. The project area consisted of the active open-cast lignite mine of Megalopolis, where access to recently exposed sections were abundant, and of the alluvial fans in the surrounding uplands, where hominins exploited the commanding views of the ancient lake. This paper presents the survey results and applied field methods for conducting archaeological research within the remnants of an Early to Middle Pleistocene ancient lake system. The project succeeded in identifying at least five surface and stratified sites, the latter including the Lower Paleolithic remains of Marathousa-1. This site is currently under investigation, but has already yielded the oldest chronometrically dated archaeological remains in Greece. Therefore, PaGE has not only managed to place mainland Greece on the Lower Paleolithic map of Europe, but has also successfully tested a methodological corpus for survey research targeting the earliest phases of the Paleolithic period in a Mediterranean landscape.

Ancient European dog genomes reveal continuity since the Early Neolithic

Europe has played a major role in dog evolution, harbouring the oldest uncontested Palaeolithic remains and having been the centre of modern dog breed creation. Here we sequence the genomes of an Early and End Neolithic dog from Germany, including a sample associated with an early European farming community. Both dogs demonstrate continuity with each other and predominantly share ancestry with modern European dogs, contradicting a previously suggested Late Neolithic population replacement. We find no genetic evidence to support the recent hypothesis proposing dual origins of dog domestication. By calibrating the mutation rate using our oldest dog, we narrow the timing of dog domestication to 20,000–40,000 years ago. Interestingly, we do not observe the extreme copy number expansion of the AMY2B gene characteristic of modern dogs that has previously been proposed as an adaptation to a starch-rich diet driven by the widespread adoption of agriculture in the Neolithic.

Beach deposits containing Middle Paleolithic archaeological remains from northern Israel

Beach deposits of the last interglacial maximum, MIS 5e, are common on the Mediterranean coasts, however only a few of them contain archaeological remains. Four beach deposits containing Paleolithic remains were previously identified on the Carmel coast of northern Israel which relate to the MIS 5e sea-level high stand of the last interglacial maximum. Here we report on a newly identified outcrop of beach deposit containing archaeological remains from Rosh Haniqra, on the northern Galilee coast, termed the Rosh Haniqra railway hill section. This beach deposit is in the form of a tilted lens (12.5 m long and 1.5 m thick) and is composed of seven layers, containing limestone pebbles and cobbles, crushed and whole marine shells, flaked flint implements and a mammalian bone, cemented by calcite. While the previously known Carmel coast beach deposits are embedded above or in kurkar deposits (aeolian calcareous cemented quartz sandstone), the Rosh Haniqra railway hill beach deposit lies directly on Cretaceous bedrock and is overlain by a 5 m-thick layer of kurkar. Based on the typology of the lithic artifacts and their similarity to other Middle and Late Mousterian flint assemblages found in beach deposits and loamy red soils along the northern Israeli coast, the Rosh Haniqra railway hill beach deposit probably dates to the MIS 5e high sea stand. However, its attribution to the earlier MIS 7 stage dating to ca. 200 ka, cannot be entirely discounted. Future absolute dating of the deposits may clarify this issue.

Taphonomic and paleoenvironmental issues of the Pleistocene loessic Paleolithic sites in the Qinling Mountains, central China

Abstract Hinterland intermountain basins and northern and southern piedmonts of the Qinling Mountains accumulated a large amount of loess during the Pleistocene. The loess strata not only record local paleogeographic and paleoenvironmental changes, but also contain rich hominin fossils and Paleolithic remains. In the northern piedmont of the Qinling Mountains and the lower valley of the South Luohe River, the loess strata have multi loess-paleosol sequences with aeolian loess continuously accumulating during glacial and interglacial cycles. In contrast to the northern piedmont, loess stratigraphy in the hinterland intermountain basins of the Qinling Mountains is relatively thin and contains finer loess particles. In this “mini” type of loess stratum, the density of Paleolithic remain generally is higher than the Loess Plateau in the north of the Qinling Mountains. Based on stratigraphic, chronological, and lithic artifacts analysis in recent years, it appears that the regional lithic assemblage belongs to the Oldowan (Mode I) lithic industry, and it is dominated by choppers, cores, flakes, and simple retouched flake tools from 1.15 to 0.6 Ma. Paleolithic open-air sites such as Gongwangling and Chenjiawo in the Lantian area, Shangbaichuan and Liuwan in the Luonan Basin, Qiaojiayao in the Lushi Basin, Longgangsi and Yaochangwan in the Hanzhong Basin, Guanmiao in the Ankang Basin, and the Yunxian Man Site in the Yunxian Basin are representative sites in the region; from 400 to 250 ka, the Longyadong cave site in the Luonan Basin inherited the characteristics of the local Mode I lithic industry, the stone assemblage is made up of cores, flakes, and small retouched flake tools, such as scrapers, points, and burins; during the period from 250 to 50 ka, bi-facially retouched Acheulean tools (Model II), such as hand-axes, picks, and cleavers, were commonly found in the Qinling Mountains region. The emergence of a large number of Model II artifacts indicates that local lithic industries went through a major transition process. Zhanghuokou, Guoyuan, and Huaishuping sites in the Luonan Basin, Diaozhai, Ganyu, Laochihe, and Xiehu sites in the Lantian area, Hejialiang site in the Hanzhong Basin are representative sites in this period; to the turn of the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene, it may also exist a small flake-retouched tools lithic industry in the piedmonts of the northern and southern sides of the Qinling Mountains. The lithic assemblages in different stages of the Qinling Mountains region reflect the hominin behavioral changes and the development of lithic technology during the Pleistocene.

Estudio tecno-tipológico de cuatro conjuntos líticos paleolíticos de superficie en Vilallonga (Valencia) y la Vall de Gallinera (Alicante)

Se estudian, desde un punto de vista tecno-tipológico, los materiales líticos procedentes de cuatro yacimientos en superficie de la zona de Vilallonga (Valencia) y la Vall de Gallinera (Alicante). El análisis de los datos nos muestra la presencia de restos pertenecientes al Paleolítico medio y superior. Junto con el trabajo realizado en Els Bancals de Pere Jordi, estos yacimientos añaden una interesante información del poblamiento paleolítico en las comarcas centrales del País Valenciano.

Revisiting Kokkinopilos: Middle Pleistocene radiometric dates for stratified archaeological remains in Greece

The red-bed site of Kokkinopilos is an emblematic and yet also most enigmatic open-air Palaeolithic site in Greece, stimulating controversy ever since its discovery in 1962. While early research raised claims for stratigraphically in situ artifacts, later scholars considered the material reworked and of low archaeological value, a theory that was soon to be challenged again by the discovery of in situ lithics, including handaxes. Here we present results of a latest and long-term research that includes geoarchaeological assessments, geomorphological mapping and luminescence dating. We show that the site preserves an overall undisturbed sedimentary sequence related to an ephemeral lake, marked by palaeosols and stratigraphic units with Palaeolithic material that is geologically in situ and hence datable. Our study resolves the issues that have been the source of controversy: the depositional environment, stratigraphic integrity, chronological placement and archaeological potential of the site. Moreover, the minimum ages obtained through luminescence dating demonstrate that the lithic component with bifacial specimens considerably pre-dates the last interglacial and therefore comprises the earliest stratigraphically defined and radiometrically-assessed archaeological material in Greece. Kokkinopilos has served as a reference site for the interpretation of all other red-bed sites in north-west Greece, therefore our results have significantly wider implications: by analogy to Kokkinopilos, the open-air sites of Epirus should not anymore be considered ‘by default’ as inscrutable palimpsests with limited archaeological potential; rather, these sites can be excavated and chronologically constrained. This realization opens up new prospects for future research in Epirus, an area that is the most prolific in Palaeolithic remains in Greece.

A rich locality in South Kensington: the fossil hominin collection of the Natural History Museum, London

The primacy of fossils in the Natural History Museum (NHM) goes back to the very origins of the Museum, but the first fossil hominins in the collections were probably the Upper Palaeolithic remains from Bruniquel, which were accessioned in 1864. This founded a collection which has continued to expand into this century. While there have been many compilations and descriptions of the fossil hominin collection at the NHM over its long history, to our knowledge no‐one has prepared a review of the collection itself. The intention of the current paper is to synthesize earlier sources with accounts of new finds, revised chronologies and rediscovered treasures in order to illustrate the breadth and continuing importance of the fossil hominins curated at the NHM. We list and discuss all the hominin material known or thought to pre‐date the Holocene. These form a collection of great importance, both in terms of their research value and history of science. With the application of new investigative techniques such as aDNA and microCT, the material remains central to palaeoanthropological research in the 21st Century. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.