Ricerc@Sapienza

Defining the processes involved in the technical/cultural shifts from the Late Middle to the Early Upper Palaeolithic in Europe (~50-39 thousand years BP) is one of the most important tasks facing prehistoric studies. Apart from the technological diversity generally recognised as belonging to the latter part of the Middle Palaeolithic, some assemblages showing original technological traditions (i.e.

Evidence of human activities during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition is well represented from rock-shelters, caves and open-air sites across Italy. Over the past decade, both the revision of taphonomic processes affecting archaeological faunal assemblages and new zooarchaeological studies have allowed archaeologists to better understand subsistence strategies and cultural behaviors attributed to groups of Neandertal and modern humans living in the region. This work presents the preliminary results of a 5-years research programme (ERC n.

The arrival of Modern Humans (MHs) in Europe between 50 ka and 39 ka coincides with significant changes in human behaviour, notably regarding the production of tools, the exploitation of resources and the systematic use of ornaments and colouring substances. The emergence of the so-called modern behaviour is usually associated with MHs, although claims of symbolic thinking in non-MH groups have been advanced in past decades.

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Outline
1. Introduction
References
Further reading
Elsevier
Quaternary International
Volume 551, 20 June 2020, Pages 1-6
Quaternary International
A focus on the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in the Mediterranean area
Author links open overlay panelStefanoBenazzi
Università di Bologna, Dipartimento di Beni Culturali, Via Degli Ariani, 1, 48121, Ravenna, Italy