Paleolithic Research Articles

중기구석기시대 유럽의 양면석기문화:지역화된 문화적 행위의 출현

This study argues that the standard narrative currently used in the Korean Paleolithic academic community is the result of the formal taxonomic approach, which was the dominant stone tool research methodology from the late 19th century to the early 19th century, and also attempts to clarify that such a standard narrative does not fit well with archaeological reality even in Europe, where it originated. The bifacial tools cultures that emerged in the late Middle Paleolithic in Europe can be largely divided into five regions: the MTA in southwestern France, the KMG, which is widely observed from the east of the Rhine River to the Altai Mountains, the MOB in northern western Europe, the Bout-Coupé culture in Britain, and the Vasconian, which developed along the northern slope of the Pyrenees. What is interesting is that the various bifacial tools cultures that developed independently in each region of the European continent were concentrated in MIS 3 (60,000–24,000 years ago). It was also the first time in human history that ‘localized cultural practices’ in some sense appeared. In the past, it was thought that such localized cultural practices were first confirmed in the stone tool culture of early modern humans in the Middle Paleolithic period in Africa, but it is now believed that they already existed in Neanderthal society. The fact that localized cultural practices were confirmed in the Neanderthal society, which was not related to early modern humans by blood, sheds new light on the long-standing debate over the cognitive abilities of early modern humans and Neanderthals. Excluding Jeongok ri, which is currently controversial in terms of dating, the bifacial stone tools found in the Korean Peninsula show a pattern of being concentrated in the MIS 3 period, as in Europe, but it is still unknown why such a phenomenon appeared almost simultaneously in the eastern and western parts of Eurasia. As in the cases of Europe and Africa, it is necessary to examine whether ‘localized cultural behaviors’ centered on biface stone tools existed on the Korean Peninsula.

Митохондриальная гаплогруппа A8b и миграции древнего населения в Приохотье

Studies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphism provide information about episodes of population genetic history at various time scales, from tens of thousands to several hundred years ago. To date, it has been established that the gene pools of the Siberia's indigenous peoples contain virtually no traces of the oldest Upper Paleolithic inhabitants. The present study demonstrates that one such relic is mitochondrial haplogroup A8b, which is distributed at a low frequency in certain contemporary indigenous populations of Priokhotye. These include the Itelmens and the Koryaks of Kamchatka, the Ainu of Hokkaido, and also representatives of the Okhotsk archaeological culture distributed in Hokkaido, in Sakhalin, and in the Kuril Islands. The phylogenetic analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes belonging to haplogroup A8 revealed that the divergence of A8b occurred in the Upper Paleolithic period, approximately 16-17 thousand yrs. B.P. It seems probable that A8b haplotypes were among the "Beringian" set of mtDNA lineages that have survived to the present days in the Priokhotye population. It is also assumed that haplogroup A8b carriers spread in the Sea of Okhotsk region from Kamchatka through the Kuril Islands to Hokkaido and Sakhalin in the last few millennia.

Zewnętrzne ślady pamięciowe społeczności paleolitycznych

This article explores the Paleolithic era through the lens of art and memory. Specifically, it focuses on the memory category, particularly the memory trace/ engram, to better understand the role that Paleolithic art may have played for communities during that time. Paleolithic art can be seen as a kind of memory trace, carrying information and knowledge about behaviors and actions that were transmitted through it. The deliberate placement of images in an external environment was a significant milestone in the cultural and social evolution of hominids.

Edible insects as a futuristic fiber resource: unlocking the potential of ‘entomofibers’ (chitin and chitosan) from North-Eastern India

Abstract Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in human health and wellbeing. Although plants are usually considered to be the major source of dietary fibers for human consumption, insects have also been reported to contain fiber as one of the macronutrients suitable for human diet. Insect consumption is an ancient dietary practice that has existed since the Paleolithic era. Insects are known to be protein-rich food, but insect-fiber has not received as much attention as insect-protein till date. Therefore, the present study made an attempt to comprehensively review the fiber content of edible insects across the world in general and northeastern India in particular, based on published information. Chitin, a key constituent of insect exoskeleton, is structurally analogous to cellulose, which is often termed as ‘plant fiber.’ In this review, chitin and its derivative chitosan, along with some other polysaccharides have been referred as entomofibers and primary focus has been given to chitin and chitosan as the major components of crude fiber found in edible insects. The fiber content of most preferred edible insects from North East India and the insects raised for commercialization were compared with fiber content of conventional food sources. Upon analyzing the data, it could be concluded that edible insects offer an exceptional, viable, and sustainable source of dietary fiber, surpassing many conventional, plant-based fiber sources in terms of nutritional value and environmental sustainability. Thus, selective edible insects can be promoted as a source of “ecofiber/entomofiber” apart from edible insects designated as “ecoprotein” sources to address various health issues including constipation, diabetes, dysbiosis, obesity etc.

The Magnitude of a Practice: Collection and Recycling of Patinated ‘Old’ Flint Items During the Levantine Late Lower Paleolithic

This study examines the prevalent practice of recycling patinated flint tools (“double patina”) of 18 lithic assemblages from three Late Lower Paleolithic sites in Israel. Determined as recycled from ‘old’ patinated items using visual observation, these tools, bearing both old, patinated surfaces and new modifications, offer insights into lithic strategies, cultural behaviors, and memory preservation. The study shows that the collection and recycling of ‘old’ patinated items into new tools was ubiquitously practiced, ranging from 41% at Late Acheulian Jaljulia and 11–17% at Acheulo-Yabrudian Qesem Cave. Two main recycling methods were identified, with variations across sites reflecting diverse cultural norms and functional needs (Type A–B). The type-B recycling trajectory was found to be the most prominent, as it prioritizes the preservation of the tool’s original appearance, patinated surfaces, and old scars. Following these features, the study additionally suggests that type-B recycling likely stemmed from necessity, cultural preferences, and a choice to connect with the past and preserve it, thus emphasizing the complex interplay of practicality, culture, and memory in the Late Lower Paleolithic period.

Early human collective practices and symbolism in the Early Upper Paleolithic of Southwest Asia

Identifying communal rituals in the Paleolithic is of scientific importance, as it reflects the expression of collective identity and the maintenance of group cohesion. This study provides evidence indicating the practice of deep cave collective rituals in the Levant during the Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) period. It is demonstrated that these gatherings occurred within a distinct ritual compound and were centered around an engraved object in the deepest part of Manot Cave, a pivotal EUP site in southwest Asia. The ritual compound, segregated from the living areas, encompasses a large gallery partitioned by a cluster of remarkable speleothems. Within this gallery, an engraved boulder stands out, displaying geometric signs suggesting a unique representation of a tortoise. Isotopic analysis of calcite crusts on the boulder's grooves revealed alignment with values found in speleothems from the cave dated to ~37 to 35 ka BP. Additionally, meticulous shape analysis of the grooves' cross-section and the discernible presence of microlinear scratches on the grooves' walls confirmed their anthropogenic origin. Examination of stalagmite laminae (36 ka BP) near the engraved boulder revealed a significant presence of wood ash particles within. This finding provides evidence for using fire to illuminate the dark, deep part of the cave during rituals. Acoustic tests conducted in various cave areas indicate that the ritual compound was well suited for communal gatherings, facilitating conversations, speeches, and hearing. Our results underscore the critical role of collective practices centered around a symbolic object in fostering a functional social network within the regional EUP communities.

Human language from the perspective of tool evolution (an introduction to (sub-)substrate language research)

In this article we have proposed to extract data, however brief, about the human language in prehistory, namely in the Paleolithic Age, the era of the formation of the human biological being, but also the era of the constitution of human language. In the absence of written records for this historical period, the data regarding the language can only be abductive, obtained on the basis of interdisciplinary research of the data held by the related sciences. The reference to tools allowed us to trace how human language evolved and how it helped humans to evolve. Language, however, determined the rise of human beings. This fact can be observed in the production and use of tools, since the production of tools with the help of other tools testifies to the capacity of the brain to think up inventions through language. And based on the composition of the tool kit, the techniques and technologies applied in their creation, we can hypothetically assess the presence of term-words through which they must have been designated. Even more, we can assess the emergence of terminologies. This study presents a written synthesis based on works from related fields.

Mapping lateral stratigraphy at Palaeolithic surface sites: A case study from Dhofar, Oman

Open-air accumulations of chipped stone debris are a common feature in arid landscapes, yet despite their prevalence, such archives are often dismissed as uninformative or unreliable. In the canyonlands of Dhofar, southern Oman, lithic surface scatters are nearly ubiquitous, including extensive, multi-component workshops associated with chert outcrops. These sites typically display chronologically diagnostic features that correspond to distinct taphonomic states, which in turn appear linked to spatial distribution, with more heavily weathered artifacts often found farther from the chert outcrops. We propose that post-depositional modifications and spatial distributions of chipped stone artifacts reflect site formation processes and, under certain conditions, may provide relative chronological information when absolute dating methods are unavailable. Our study tests this hypothesis by mapping artifact distribution and lithic taphonomy across a series of surface sites in southern Oman, spanning the Lower, Middle, and Upper/Late Palaeolithic periods. The results largely support our model, offering valuable insights into surface site formation and technological change over time. While these findings serve as broad predictive markers for age, their applicability for analyzing finer-scale assemblage variability remains to be determined. Future taphonomic recording systems should aim to quantify surface modifications to enhance replicability for such studies.

Optically dating of a Paleolithic site in coastal regions of South China and its correlation with the late Pleistocene environment evolution

The coastal regions of South China are crucial for the emergence and migration of early Austronesian hominids to Taiwan Island and the Pacific islands, but most Paleolithic sites in this area remain unexplored wilderness areas without clear archaeological stratigraphy or formal excavation. The research on archaeological chronology faces challenges due to the absence of direct evidence for determining site ages; instead, it relies on indirect methods such as comparing lithology, knapping techniques, and other usage characteristics with regional stratigraphic ages based on recovered stone tools. This presents a challenge when studying prehistoric human-land relationships in the region. However, the Kuahaicun site located on coastal islands along the southeastern coast offers valuable materials for investigating activities of Paleolithic populations along both South China’s coast and its islands since the late Pleistocene period. This study employs a comprehensive investigation and sampling approach, utilizing optically stimulated luminescence dating to determine burial age. Furthermore, by integrating regional aeolian landform characteristics and trends in sea level changes, we examine the influence of geomorphic environmental evolution during the transition from Paleolithic to Neolithic periods on ancient human migration and diffusion patterns. 1) The findings suggest that the stratigraphy primarily consists of sedimentary layers dating back to 25–10 ka, representing the transition from Late Paleolithic to Early Neolithic. The luminescence sensitivity of quartz grains indicates diverse sediment sources in this area, including aeolian deposits with efficient long-distance transportation due to thorough and repeated bleaching, as well as alluvium and colluvium deposits with limited bleaching. 2) By comparing the developmental process of coastal aeolian sand with regional sea level changes, it becomes evident that the main period of Austronesian ancestor activity in South China, as evidenced by this site, significantly aligns with a crucial phase of aeolian deposition. Moreover, this correlation coincides with three low sea level phases during the late Pleistocene Fujian marine transgression. 3) Commencing from the Middle Paleolithic period onwards, Austronesian ancestors gradually migrated downstream along the Minjiang River and Jiulong River towards their respective estuaries. The presence of a transient land bridge during the Late Pleistocene Fujian marine transgression (18–15 ka) potentially facilitated the migratory movements and territorial expansions of ancient populations along China’s southern coastline, enabling their transition from mainland coastal regions to nearby islands.

Prehistoric Cultural Migration in the Middle–Lower Lishui Catchment of Central China in Response to Environmental Changes

Climate change and geological shifts were pivotal in the survival and development of ancient human societies, especially in densely populated regions like the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. This study explored the dynamic interactions between ancient human cultures and the region’s natural environment, using field research alongside geological, geomorphological, and archaeological data spanning from the late Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods. Our findings showed that prehistoric sites in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin were primarily located in the low hilly areas surrounding the lower basin during the Paleolithic era, a pattern shaped by the region’s geomorphology. Early human settlements were strategically positioned near the Lishui River, offering access to vital resources while minimizing flood risk. These locations provided flat terrain, abundant vegetation, and materials for tool-making, factors that supported a hunting and gathering lifestyle. As the coldest phase of the last glacial period approached, the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic eras marked a period of significant behavioral adaptation. In response to the harsher environment, humans began settling on lower terraces and miniaturizing their stone tools, signaling a shift to more specialized hunting techniques. This adaptability and resilience marked the refinement of hunting economies during this period. With the onset of the Holocene epoch and a warmer climate, conditions for human habitation became more favorable. Societies began migrating from the hills to the fertile lower Lishui River Basin, heralding the Neolithic period. This era saw the emergence of settlements and the onset of early rice cultivation, marking the transition from a hunting–gathering economy to one centered on agriculture. By the Daxi period, these settlements had expanded, extending their influence throughout the region. In conclusion, this study underscores the critical roles of climate change and geological features in shaping human settlement patterns, economic activities, and cultural evolution in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. Our findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary processes of ancient human cultures in the region and provide a foundation to understand future challenges in sustainable development.

Late pleistocene exploitation of Ephedra in a funerary context in Morocco

The active compounds found in many plants have been widely used in traditional medicine and ritual activities. However, archaeological evidence for the use of such plants, especially in the Palaeolithic period, is limited due to the poor preservation and fragility of seed, fruit, and other botanical macro-remains. In this study, we investigate the presence and possible uses of Ephedra during the Late Pleistocene based on the analysis of exceptionally preserved plant macrofossils recovered from c. 15 ka year-old archaeological deposits at Grotte des Pigeons in northeastern Morocco. This cave has yielded the earliest carbonized plant macrofossils of Ephedra, which were found concentrated in a human burial deposit along with other special finds. Ephedra is a plant known to produce high amounts of alkaloids, primarily ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which have been utilized in traditional medicine. Direct radiocarbon dates on both Ephedra and the human remains indicate that they were contemporaneous. To understand the uses of Ephedra by people at the site, we discuss the different pathways through which plant remains could have arrived. We suggest that the charred cone bracts of Ephedra likely represent residues of the processing and consumption of the plant’s fleshy cones, which may have been valued for both their nutritional and therapeutic properties. Furthermore, we interpret the presence of Ephedra and its deposition in the burial area as evidence that this plant played a significant role during the funerary activities.

Religiosity and psychosis

Religion and spirituality (RS) have been integral aspects throughout human history, possibly being observed as far back as 500,000 years ago in the ritual treatment of skulls during the palaeolithic period. Today, despite the growth in relatively secular societies, almost 90% of the world has some RS affiliation. Interestingly enough, mental health has historically been interlinked with RS. Family and adoption studies show that a family history of psychosis is correlated with intense interest in RS. Furthermore, the association between Postictal psychosis, a common complication of epilepsy, with religiosity is well documented. It is conceivable that this association led to epilepsy being historically linked with the divine, demonic and supernatural. In fact, there is ample evidence to suggest that many historic religious figures had epilepsy and psychosis. In clinical practice - and in broader society - the incidence of religiosity in epilepsy patients is likely underestimated. While postictal psychosis symptoms range in RS intensity, it is not uncommon for patients to have severe RS delusions and even convert after episodes.

Штучний Інтелект та перспективи його використання для дослідження наскельного живопису доби верхнього палеоліту

The problem raised in this article is that since the discovery of rock art, the scientific community has been facing many questions related to the development of rock art and its semantic basis. It is becoming more and more difficult for us to call rock paintings the product of only religious or magical ideas, how researchers of the last century thought about it, and it is obviously simply impossible to look into the minds of people who lived thousands of years ago. The topic of cave paintings is a complex issue, for the study of which we must involve not only archaeological research methods, but also ethnographic and art historical ones. In my opinion, we should try to involve other scientific fields, in addition to those already mentioned above, and apply the latest technologies. Until recently, the only analogies we had available to us were ethnographic comparisons of the creativity and worldviews of primitive societies, but science is not standing still. In recent years, Artificial Intelligence has appeared on the scene, developing like humans, and what is interesting to us is that it is also developing in the field of fine art. Why do we need to use artificial intelligence to analyse rock art at all? Because, as humans, we often see only what we want to see and therefore project our own worldview onto the analysis of rock art, which makes this analysis more of a psychological portrait of its author than an analysis as such. If we engage in analysis in a machine that is guided only by knowledge and has no worldview, which allows us to use a literally objective ‘opinion’ for analysis, it will not project its own worldview onto the results of the analysis, because it does not have one by definition. The study raises the question of how we can put artificial intelligence technologies to work now and in the near future. The research methods are an analysis of the level of development of this topic in scientific research and articles by other scholars and an attempt to use such a type of analysis as a comparative analysis in relation to works created by Artificial Intelligence and works created by ancient man, which may, in the future, give us the opportunity to comprehend the images left to us by people of the Palaeolithic era. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the proposal and attempt to use Artificial Intelligence technology as a tool for the study of Palaeolithic rock art, which has not been used before and did not go beyond assumptions. According to the results of the study, we can trace a certain similarity between the early works of art created by Artificial Intelligence and abstract works created by ancient humans in the Paleolithic period. Of course, we cannot say that the development of human and AI art is identical, because again, they are fundamentally different. A person painted because he was inspired to do so, and a machine painted because it had a task. Nevertheless, I believe that this study, although it may seem absurd at first glance in the long run, no matter how pretentious it sounds, may be our step towards finding answers to the questions that we have not been able to find for more than a hundred years. Key words: Archaeological studies, rock painting, artificial intelligence, Upper Palaeolithic, modern research methods.

A Study on Textiles in the Paleolithic Age

A Study on Textiles in the Paleolithic Age

THE EFFECTS OF MAMMOTHS ON HUMANITY'S FAITH AND BUILDING ACTIVITIES

It is highly likely that early humans, who generally lived in open nature, emptied large animal carcasses and used them as temporary shelters. This is because there are clear similarities between the mammoth skeletal system and the structural systems of constructions built by humans since prehistoric times. Early humans, who utilized deceased mammoth bodies as temporary shelters outside caves, might have later attempted to construct more permanent, taller, and wider-span huts using same materials. Many mammoth bone huts have been discovered across the Ukrainian and Russian Steppes, dating back to the Upper Paleolithic period, and these structures may be the result of such efforts. The construction method of this huts involves stacking large mammoth bones and covering them with mammoth skins. The potential impact of mammoths, which held great significance in the survival of early humans, on early belief systems and construction activities cannot be overlooked. This study aims to formulate "scientific opinions" on these issues by interpreting existing data in a relational manner. The "speculative thesis" proposed in this study suggests that even before the existence of mammoth bone huts (pre-Upper Paleolithic), individuals utilized mammoth rib cages as single-person shelters. Accordingly, early humans may have commenced constructing these huts using mammoth large bones in later periods. Thus, in later periods, even after the mammoths had disappeared, the forms of both the mammoth body, the mammoth ribcage, and the huts made of mammoth bone may have been reflected in the architectural geometry of huts, tents, and houses.

ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC RELATIONS AND ORIGIN OF GRAPHIC SIGNS (ACCORDING TO ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIALS DATED BACK TO 3.3 MILLION – 10,000 YEARS AGO)

In this paper, the issues of economic relations, origin and development of graphic signs are discussed. In this regard, socio-economic eras and “Upper Paleolithic Revolution” are covered, which show how a person is formed in the process of obtaining livelihood. The Paleolithic Age – the period when people followed “natural farming” is researched. The development of productive forces expanded the knowledge of nature, especially about the useful properties of natural resources. These qualities were manifested through the means of labor in affecting the objects of labor in the process of production, which contributed to the association of men and the division of labor in order to obtain, by common action, the objects of labor. This process arised and developed languages, abstraction, conventional graphic signs, etc. Keywords: economic relations, socio-economic eras, Paleolithic Age, Upper Paleolithic Revolution, graphic signs

The Effects of Fire in Human Life and in the Cuisine from the Paleolithic to the Modern Age

Humans existed on earth 2.5 million years ago and took control of fire after their evolutionary transformations. As a result of consuming cooked meat, there was an increase in the size of the human brain, the use of hands and mental skills. With the beginning of the Neolithic period, the increasing bio-cultural and socio-cultural transformation of humans also affected food preparation, storage and kitchen tools. People started to produce to prepare and consume food, hunt animals and facilitate agriculture. In the past, in addition to frying meat, they found different cooking methods using tools such as fire pits, clay balls and earthenware. The food processing and preservation methods developed and widely used from the Paleolithic period to the Neolithic period are cooking, grinding, drying, salting, seasoning, cheese-yoghurt, oil/sugar storage and fermentation processes, which are explained in detail in the article. As a result of the research, it was seen that all of these methods interacted with fire (and heat) to a greater or lesser extent. The (basic) cooking methods of food include (dry heat) frying, roasting, smoking (smoking), (wet heat) boiling, simmering and perhaps steaming. Changes in human eating habits appear to affect body size, digestion and health conditions.

Assessment of transport phenomena in catalyst effectiveness for chemical polyolefin recycling

Since the dawn of agitated brewing in the Paleolithic era, effective mixing has enabled efficient reactions. Emerging catalytic chemical polyolefin recycling processes present unique challenges, considering that the polymer melt has a viscosity three orders of magnitude higher than that of honey. The lack of protocols to achieve effective mixing may have resulted in suboptimal catalyst effectiveness. In this study, we have tackled the hydrogenolysis of commercial-grade high-density polyethylene and polypropylene to show how different stirring strategies can create differences of up to 85% and 40% in catalyst effectiveness and selectivity, respectively. The reaction develops near the H2–melt interface, with the extension of the interface and access to catalyst particles the main performance drivers. Leveraging computational fluid dynamics simulations, we have identified a power number of 15,000–40,000 to maximize the catalyst effectiveness factor and optimize stirring parameters. This temperature- and pressure-independent model holds across a viscosity range of 1–1,000 Pa s. Temperature gradients may quickly become relevant for reactor scale-up.

Living in the Mountains. Settlement patterns in Northwestern Iberia during the Palaeolithic period

Living in the Mountains. Settlement patterns in Northwestern Iberia during the Palaeolithic period

Emergence of fibrecraft specialization 8000 years ago in early Neolithic North China

Fiber technology, crucial to human societies for millennia, encompasses cordage and textiles. The development of fiber crops and the production of fiber-based clothing are significant components of the Neolithic Revolution. Despite China being an independent center for agriculture, the role of fiber technology in this context remains largely unexplored. In this project, we employed a comprehensive approach that combines microfossil analysis and use-wear examinations to study tools from the Peiligang site in North China. This site uniquely spans the Upper Paleolithic and early Neolithic periods, offering an ideal setting for investigating the evolution of fiber production. Our results reveal that some Paleolithic blades and scrapers were associated with fiber production, which coincided with ostrich eggshell beads and hematite during the cold and dry Last Glacial Maximum period. Responding to climatic fluctuations, fiber production played a significant role in subsistence and ritual activities. In the early Neolithic, advanced fiber production is evident. Two adjacent burials yield tools and microfossil remains representing a toolkit for fiber and possible textile production, including harvesting, retting, pounding, scraping, and sewing. Fibers recovered from human bones provide potential evidence of textile production and use. Dyeing with blue, black, and red colorants was common for textiles, cordages, and strings. These grave goods suggest the involvement of the deceased in craft production with bast fibers, possibly embodying the earliest specialization in fiber craft 8000 years ago in Neolithic China.