Theme:
6. Embedded in European archaeology: the Carpathian Basin
Session format:
Regular session
Title:
Late Neanderthals of the Middle Danube Basin in Central European Context: Cultural Variability, Interregional Contacts, Developmental Capacities [PaM]
Content:
The unique geographic position of the Middle Danube basin in the heart of Europe has made it a meeting point of climatic, biogeographical, as well as cultural areas. Crossing the basin, the Danube River links together the Balkans and Central Europe, providing a northwest-southeast migration route for animal and human populations. On the other hand, the basin is connected with the northern and eastern plains by mountainous passes and river valleys across the Carpathians. The archaeological record demonstrates a colourful image of the Late Neanderthals in the region from the Eemian to the Interpleniglacial (MIS 5e–3, ca. 140–30 ka BP): the Taubachian with small tools, the different Mousterians, the Micoquian, the industries with foliate pieces, as well as the assemblages with volumetric blade production. All these units could be related to cultural complexes spread over the Europe, like the microlithic tool industries, the Mousterian facies, the Keilmessergruppen, and the Blattspitzengruppen, the laminar phenomenon. Looking for answers about the origin and this cultural diversity, we will discuss the role of following aspects:
– the adaptation and the different subsistence strategies of human groups in a varied and changing environment during the climatic oscillations of the last glacial cycle;
– the mobility and the communication networks of the groups, resulting in the exchange of ideas and goods over long distances;
– the capacities of the Neanderthals to acculturation or to produce innovations toward behavioural modernity, resulting in “transitional industries”.
For a better understanding of different aspects of mentioned problems, general synthesis, analysis on a regional or interregional scale, and case studies are welcome. We appreciate theoretical and methodological contributions too, as well as case studies from neighbouring regions for comparison.
Keywords:
Middle Palaeolithic, cultural diversity, transitional industries, adaptation, mobility, networks
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Main organiser:
Zsolt Mester (Hungary) 1
Co-organisers:
Agnès Lamotte (France) 2
Andrzej Wiśniewski (Poland) 3
Affiliations:
1. Institute of Archaeological Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest
2. UMR 8164 du CNRS, HALMA, University of Lille, France
3. Institute of Archaeology, University of Wroclaw
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