Solving the puzzle of neanderthal occupations: a reassessment of temporal indicators of occupation duration
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The identification of the duration of Neanderthal occupations is a tricky topic by the palimpsest nature of archaeological assemblages. This study explores the challenges associated with distinguishing between long and short-term occupations, using qualitative and quantitative data from relevant archaeological sites in the Late Middle Palaeolithic in Spain and south-eastern France. We highlight the proposed occupation models and their specific characteristics, considering the heterogeneity of archaeological evidence and the limitations of current methodologies. The article offers a reassessment of the topic, critically analysing the current indicators used to determine the duration of Neanderthal occupations. Furthermore, we discuss the complexity in defining the concepts of short and long-term occupation, emphasising the need for a multidisciplinary approach to fully understand the complexity of the practices of the Late Neanderthals.
Institutions: Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and the Evolution of Human Behaviour, University of Algarve, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Bordeaux, De la Préhistoire à l'Actuel : Culture, Environnement et Anthropologie, Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats
Language: English
Subfield: Anthropology
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,990
Awards: G1098247904, G121809054, G1249186732, G1292218736, G1855990336, G1921978523, G203129345, G2038104832, G2064873908, G2262748287, G2309174360, G2359068852, G2462415295, G2660406951, G279363373, G288263039, G2974527807, G2975900969, G2992438146, G3005324705, G320456524, G3303936258, G3436481988, G3469442988, G3480869486, G3518538256, G3546882995, G3681454997, G4042783231, G425668148, G430777504, G4392713262, G4843721692, G5211024484, G5228997236, G5359256755, G5385376234, G5421974903, G5801174435, G5845768719, G5852091828, G5913267992, G605062730, G6126151681, G6874511456, G69051668, G7084143925, G8430294048, G869884560, G8920660035, G8924909501, G99296377
OpenAlex ID: W4407596994