Christina Papoulia | University of Crete (original) (raw)
Books by Christina Papoulia
Archaeology of the Ionia Sea
Papers by Christina Papoulia
Paleolithic artifacts collected in the course of archaeological and geological surveys at particu... more Paleolithic artifacts collected in the course of archaeological and geological surveys at particular islands of the NE Mediterranean have given birth to arguments for seaward Pleistocene dispersals. The consecutive implications for the seafaring abilities of archaic hominins have inevitably provoked an ongoing debate. The total lack of paleoanthropological evidence and, in most cases, the absence of a secure stratigraphic context leaves us with the only other pertinent tool of analysis, the stone tools. Preliminary reports presenting lithic collections from the islands have been published since at least the middle of the previous century, yet a coherent and critical review of the evidence has hitherto not been attempted. In the light of new paleogeographic reconstructions of the Aegean region, the already published collections are in this paper reviewed and evaluated in terms of their classifications and proposed cultural and chronological attributions and discussed in relation to the arguments for or against Pleistocene sea-crossings. Despite the scarcity of the evidence and the many problems associated with their documentation , context or interpretations, the lithic collections do provide specific information regarding the earliest sea-crossings in the region. Based on the available evidence, the majority of the artifacts collected from sites on islands that were most likely insular during parts of the Pleistocene have Middle Paleolithic technological and typological affinities, therefore an association with the Neanderthals is implied and the possible marine routes are proposed. Yet further research is needed in order to better appreciate the Greek Lower Paleolithic record, thus reevaluate the arguments for Lower Paleolithic sea-crossings in the Aegean.
Book Chapters by Christina Papoulia
A. Ruiz-Redondo and W. Davies (eds.)The Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherers of South-Eastern Europe, Proceedings of the British Academy, 2023
Archaeology of the Ionian Sea. Landscapes, seascapes and the circulation of people, goods and ideas from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Bronze Age, 2022
The Inner Ionian Archipelago, delimited by the coasts of Akarnania to the east and Lefkada, Kefal... more The Inner Ionian Archipelago, delimited by the coasts of Akarnania to the east and Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca to the west, is characterised by coastal lowlands, extended and intricate shorelines, complex inland topography, little arable land, seasonal and perennial wetlands and a karstic landscape featuring caves, rockshelters, dolines, and basins some of which are partly or totally submerged. Since 2010, the Teleboides, the northern cluster of islands, were at the focus of an intensive surface survey organised by the University of Crete in collaboration with the Ephorates of Αitoloakarnania and Lefkada, and Kefalonia and Ithaca. The survey project coupled with targeted small-scale excavation was designed to investigate the history of occupation and the cultural interconnections with settlements on the opposite mainland and the larger islands of the Ionian Sea. Between 2010 and 2012, through archaeological surface reconnaissance, our team covered an area of a little less than 7 km 2 on Meganisi, Thileia, Kythros, Tsokari, Petalou, Nisopoula, Phormikoula, Madouri, Atokos and Arkoudi. During the survey 30 sites dating from the Palaeolithic to the 19th century, with a hiatus between Late Antiquity and the 18th century, were discovered and mapped, and 20,000 portable artefacts were recovered. The finds bridge the gap between the archaeological record of the Ionian Sea and that of mainland Greece. In this paper we present the research objectives, the methodology of what we have termed a hybrid island archaeology approach, and the main results of the project based on the portable finds that span the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age.
Géoarchéologie des îles de Méditerranée - Geoarchaeology of the Mediterranean Islands
The oldest direct evidence of a boat from the Aegean is dated to the Neolithic and comes from a l... more The oldest direct evidence of a boat from the Aegean is dated to the Neolithic and comes from a lakeside settlement in NW Greece. However, indirect evidence in the form of structures, artefacts and aquatic resources are present on islands and date from at least the Mesolithic. Obsidian procurement networks testify to seagoing journeys since the Upper Palaeolithic, while a number of studies have recently suggested that the initial sea-crossings took place during earlier parts of the Pleistocene. At present there is no consensus regarding the exact date of the earliest successful attempts to cross the Mediterranean, thus rendering the extant pre-LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) evidence highly controversial. This paper reviews the geoarchaeological evidence for the early prehistoric sea-crossings in the Aegean (Eastern Mediterranean). It stresses the differences in character and scale between the initial serendipitous crossings and the fully-organised maritime networks of the later parts of prehistory. In view of the limited direct evidence, the examination of indirect forms, together with the information gained from ethnography and experimental archaeology, enables us to propose specific hypotheses regarding the nature of the crossings, the routes and the types of vessels used.
International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis Use-Wear 2012, pp. 714-726., Dec 2014
Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of a sample of flint and obsidian artefacts from an excavate... more Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of a sample of flint and obsidian artefacts from an excavated area with LN/FN/EB finds on the island of Gavdos has revealed use-wear traces and organic residues, very possibly of the hafting arrangement, on a black flint tool which appears to be the hafted element of a sickle. Here, the lithic assemblage is briefly presented, within its contexts, and preliminary results of the microscopic and chemical analysis of the organic residues are provided. Finally, an effort is made to discern the correlation of direct indications of hafting methods and wear traces, while reconstructing the life history of the artefact.
SOMA 2012. Identity and Connectivity: Proceedings of the 16th Symposium on Mediterranean Archaeology, Florence, Italy, 1–3 March 2012. Volume I. pp. 355-364., 2013
This paper presents the preliminary results of the technological and functional analysis of the c... more This paper presents the preliminary results of the technological and functional analysis of the chipped- stone assemblages associated with FN/EBA contexts from the island of Gavdos, northwestern Crete. The collection is dominated by artefacts made of black, fine-grained local flint. The use-wear analysis on the flint assemblage allows us to discuss how artefacts were treated and used to process different materials, and to interpret the materials worked and the activities involved. An important and unique element of the Gavdos material is the preservation of organic residues on one of the flint tools. Lastly, the provenance and procurement of the ‘exotic’ obsidian implements opens up the discussion regarding insularity and connectivity.
In sum, through this study we suggest that the lithic artefacts are essential tools in our attempt to understand peoples' preferences, behaviour and social networks. We present their technological characteristics and propose ways in which these artefacts had been used while incorporating them in their spatial, temporal and social context. In this perspective, tool use and activities taking place at the particular FN/EBA sites reflect choices – economic and/or social- and thus may imply cultural traditions that are connected or not with those from nearby Crete, or even farther in the Mediterranean.
THESPROTIA EXPEDITION II: ENVIRONMENT AND SETTLEMENT PATTERNS, 2011
PHYSIS L’ENVIRONNEMENT NATUREL ET LA RELATION HOMME-MILIEU DANS LE MONDE ÉGÉEN PROTOHISTORIQUE Actes de la 14e Rencontre égéenne internationale, Paris, Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art (INHA), 11-14 décembre 2012, 2014
ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2013, pp. 11-17., Nov 23, 2013
The area of the eastern Mediterranean is a focal point for the study of the earliest acts of glob... more The area of the eastern Mediterranean is a focal point for the study of the earliest acts of globalization. Palaeolithic archaeology provides the tools for the analysis and interpretation of the material record of the early hominins who passed through and occupied this part of the world. However, since the early Pleistocene, the constant environmental fluctuations between glacials and interglacials have caused major alterations in the ice sheets resulting in sea-level changes. Consequently, large land masses which could have been occupied by our early ancestors are now hidden deep below sea-level.
This paper deals with the current evidence for early migrations in the eastern Mediterranean and explores the potential of encountering Palaeolithic artifacts below the sea-level of the Aegean and Ionian Sea. Finally, the prospects for combined Palaeolithic and Underwater investigations and the need for an interdisciplinary collaboration is stressed.
ΤΟ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΕΡΓΟ ΣΤΗ ΒΟΡΕΙΟΔΥΤΙΚΗ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΚΑΙ ΤΑ ΝΗΣΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΙΟΝΙΟΥ, Ιωάννινα, 10-13 Δεκεμβρίου 2014, 2018
ΤΟ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΕΡΓΟ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΙΤΩΛΟΑΚΑΡΝΑΝΙΑ & ΤΗ ΛΕΥΚΑΔΑ Πρακτικά 2OY ΔΙΕΘΝOYΣ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟY & ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΟY ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΟY Ι.Π. Μεσολογγίου, 6 – 8 Δεκεμβρίου 2013, 2018
Lefkas is a mountainous island. It has a steep western coastline facing the open Ionian Sea and a... more Lefkas is a mountainous island. It has a steep western coastline facing the open Ionian Sea and a smooth northern and eastern coastline lying within the Inner Ionian Sea. The latter constitutes both a barrier and a bridge with the opposing landmass and the archipelago of the inner sea. Due to its rich tectonic history, Lefkas is endowed with a singular terrain and natural resources -high quality flints and cherts, wetlands, and karstic features- in the coastal and mountainous areas. The island was particularly attractive to the Middle Palaeolithic communities of western Greece. Archaeological research on the island, conducted now for more than a quarter of a century, offers robust evidence for recurring Neanderthal settlement. This study examines the Palaeolithic archaeology recovered from Lefkas, places it in its geological and palaeogeographic setting and presents new material recovered from the extensive site of the Karyotes alluvial fan.
Archaeology of the Ionia Sea
Paleolithic artifacts collected in the course of archaeological and geological surveys at particu... more Paleolithic artifacts collected in the course of archaeological and geological surveys at particular islands of the NE Mediterranean have given birth to arguments for seaward Pleistocene dispersals. The consecutive implications for the seafaring abilities of archaic hominins have inevitably provoked an ongoing debate. The total lack of paleoanthropological evidence and, in most cases, the absence of a secure stratigraphic context leaves us with the only other pertinent tool of analysis, the stone tools. Preliminary reports presenting lithic collections from the islands have been published since at least the middle of the previous century, yet a coherent and critical review of the evidence has hitherto not been attempted. In the light of new paleogeographic reconstructions of the Aegean region, the already published collections are in this paper reviewed and evaluated in terms of their classifications and proposed cultural and chronological attributions and discussed in relation to the arguments for or against Pleistocene sea-crossings. Despite the scarcity of the evidence and the many problems associated with their documentation , context or interpretations, the lithic collections do provide specific information regarding the earliest sea-crossings in the region. Based on the available evidence, the majority of the artifacts collected from sites on islands that were most likely insular during parts of the Pleistocene have Middle Paleolithic technological and typological affinities, therefore an association with the Neanderthals is implied and the possible marine routes are proposed. Yet further research is needed in order to better appreciate the Greek Lower Paleolithic record, thus reevaluate the arguments for Lower Paleolithic sea-crossings in the Aegean.
A. Ruiz-Redondo and W. Davies (eds.)The Prehistoric Hunter-Gatherers of South-Eastern Europe, Proceedings of the British Academy, 2023
Archaeology of the Ionian Sea. Landscapes, seascapes and the circulation of people, goods and ideas from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Bronze Age, 2022
The Inner Ionian Archipelago, delimited by the coasts of Akarnania to the east and Lefkada, Kefal... more The Inner Ionian Archipelago, delimited by the coasts of Akarnania to the east and Lefkada, Kefalonia and Ithaca to the west, is characterised by coastal lowlands, extended and intricate shorelines, complex inland topography, little arable land, seasonal and perennial wetlands and a karstic landscape featuring caves, rockshelters, dolines, and basins some of which are partly or totally submerged. Since 2010, the Teleboides, the northern cluster of islands, were at the focus of an intensive surface survey organised by the University of Crete in collaboration with the Ephorates of Αitoloakarnania and Lefkada, and Kefalonia and Ithaca. The survey project coupled with targeted small-scale excavation was designed to investigate the history of occupation and the cultural interconnections with settlements on the opposite mainland and the larger islands of the Ionian Sea. Between 2010 and 2012, through archaeological surface reconnaissance, our team covered an area of a little less than 7 km 2 on Meganisi, Thileia, Kythros, Tsokari, Petalou, Nisopoula, Phormikoula, Madouri, Atokos and Arkoudi. During the survey 30 sites dating from the Palaeolithic to the 19th century, with a hiatus between Late Antiquity and the 18th century, were discovered and mapped, and 20,000 portable artefacts were recovered. The finds bridge the gap between the archaeological record of the Ionian Sea and that of mainland Greece. In this paper we present the research objectives, the methodology of what we have termed a hybrid island archaeology approach, and the main results of the project based on the portable finds that span the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age.
Géoarchéologie des îles de Méditerranée - Geoarchaeology of the Mediterranean Islands
The oldest direct evidence of a boat from the Aegean is dated to the Neolithic and comes from a l... more The oldest direct evidence of a boat from the Aegean is dated to the Neolithic and comes from a lakeside settlement in NW Greece. However, indirect evidence in the form of structures, artefacts and aquatic resources are present on islands and date from at least the Mesolithic. Obsidian procurement networks testify to seagoing journeys since the Upper Palaeolithic, while a number of studies have recently suggested that the initial sea-crossings took place during earlier parts of the Pleistocene. At present there is no consensus regarding the exact date of the earliest successful attempts to cross the Mediterranean, thus rendering the extant pre-LGM (Last Glacial Maximum) evidence highly controversial. This paper reviews the geoarchaeological evidence for the early prehistoric sea-crossings in the Aegean (Eastern Mediterranean). It stresses the differences in character and scale between the initial serendipitous crossings and the fully-organised maritime networks of the later parts of prehistory. In view of the limited direct evidence, the examination of indirect forms, together with the information gained from ethnography and experimental archaeology, enables us to propose specific hypotheses regarding the nature of the crossings, the routes and the types of vessels used.
International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis Use-Wear 2012, pp. 714-726., Dec 2014
Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of a sample of flint and obsidian artefacts from an excavate... more Macroscopic and microscopic analysis of a sample of flint and obsidian artefacts from an excavated area with LN/FN/EB finds on the island of Gavdos has revealed use-wear traces and organic residues, very possibly of the hafting arrangement, on a black flint tool which appears to be the hafted element of a sickle. Here, the lithic assemblage is briefly presented, within its contexts, and preliminary results of the microscopic and chemical analysis of the organic residues are provided. Finally, an effort is made to discern the correlation of direct indications of hafting methods and wear traces, while reconstructing the life history of the artefact.
SOMA 2012. Identity and Connectivity: Proceedings of the 16th Symposium on Mediterranean Archaeology, Florence, Italy, 1–3 March 2012. Volume I. pp. 355-364., 2013
This paper presents the preliminary results of the technological and functional analysis of the c... more This paper presents the preliminary results of the technological and functional analysis of the chipped- stone assemblages associated with FN/EBA contexts from the island of Gavdos, northwestern Crete. The collection is dominated by artefacts made of black, fine-grained local flint. The use-wear analysis on the flint assemblage allows us to discuss how artefacts were treated and used to process different materials, and to interpret the materials worked and the activities involved. An important and unique element of the Gavdos material is the preservation of organic residues on one of the flint tools. Lastly, the provenance and procurement of the ‘exotic’ obsidian implements opens up the discussion regarding insularity and connectivity.
In sum, through this study we suggest that the lithic artefacts are essential tools in our attempt to understand peoples' preferences, behaviour and social networks. We present their technological characteristics and propose ways in which these artefacts had been used while incorporating them in their spatial, temporal and social context. In this perspective, tool use and activities taking place at the particular FN/EBA sites reflect choices – economic and/or social- and thus may imply cultural traditions that are connected or not with those from nearby Crete, or even farther in the Mediterranean.
THESPROTIA EXPEDITION II: ENVIRONMENT AND SETTLEMENT PATTERNS, 2011
PHYSIS L’ENVIRONNEMENT NATUREL ET LA RELATION HOMME-MILIEU DANS LE MONDE ÉGÉEN PROTOHISTORIQUE Actes de la 14e Rencontre égéenne internationale, Paris, Institut National d’Histoire de l’Art (INHA), 11-14 décembre 2012, 2014
ACUA Underwater Archaeology Proceedings 2013, pp. 11-17., Nov 23, 2013
The area of the eastern Mediterranean is a focal point for the study of the earliest acts of glob... more The area of the eastern Mediterranean is a focal point for the study of the earliest acts of globalization. Palaeolithic archaeology provides the tools for the analysis and interpretation of the material record of the early hominins who passed through and occupied this part of the world. However, since the early Pleistocene, the constant environmental fluctuations between glacials and interglacials have caused major alterations in the ice sheets resulting in sea-level changes. Consequently, large land masses which could have been occupied by our early ancestors are now hidden deep below sea-level.
This paper deals with the current evidence for early migrations in the eastern Mediterranean and explores the potential of encountering Palaeolithic artifacts below the sea-level of the Aegean and Ionian Sea. Finally, the prospects for combined Palaeolithic and Underwater investigations and the need for an interdisciplinary collaboration is stressed.
ΤΟ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΕΡΓΟ ΣΤΗ ΒΟΡΕΙΟΔΥΤΙΚΗ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΚΑΙ ΤΑ ΝΗΣΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΙΟΝΙΟΥ, Ιωάννινα, 10-13 Δεκεμβρίου 2014, 2018
ΤΟ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΕΡΓΟ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΙΤΩΛΟΑΚΑΡΝΑΝΙΑ & ΤΗ ΛΕΥΚΑΔΑ Πρακτικά 2OY ΔΙΕΘΝOYΣ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟY & ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΟY ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΟY Ι.Π. Μεσολογγίου, 6 – 8 Δεκεμβρίου 2013, 2018
Lefkas is a mountainous island. It has a steep western coastline facing the open Ionian Sea and a... more Lefkas is a mountainous island. It has a steep western coastline facing the open Ionian Sea and a smooth northern and eastern coastline lying within the Inner Ionian Sea. The latter constitutes both a barrier and a bridge with the opposing landmass and the archipelago of the inner sea. Due to its rich tectonic history, Lefkas is endowed with a singular terrain and natural resources -high quality flints and cherts, wetlands, and karstic features- in the coastal and mountainous areas. The island was particularly attractive to the Middle Palaeolithic communities of western Greece. Archaeological research on the island, conducted now for more than a quarter of a century, offers robust evidence for recurring Neanderthal settlement. This study examines the Palaeolithic archaeology recovered from Lefkas, places it in its geological and palaeogeographic setting and presents new material recovered from the extensive site of the Karyotes alluvial fan.
THESPROTIA I 1st INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF THESPROTIA (Igoumenitsa, 8-11 December 2016) ΘΕΣΠΡΩΤΙΑ Ι Α ́ΔΙΕΘΝΕΣ ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΚΑΙ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΚΟ ΣΥΝΕΔΡΙΟ ΓΙΑ ΤΗ ΘΕΣΠΡΩΤΙΑ (Ηγουμενίτσα, 8-11 Δεκεμβρίου 2016) ΠΡΑΚΤΙΚΑ PROCEEDINGS , 2019
Since the 1960s Thesprotia has played an important role in the exploration of the Palaeolithic Ar... more Since the 1960s Thesprotia has played an important role in the exploration of the Palaeolithic Archaeology in southeast Europe. Over the last two decades excavations and surveys conducted by the 8th and 32nd Ephorates of Antiquities and the Finnish Institute at Athens has brought to light a large number of new finds and sites. The systematic and comparative study of these new data sets is discussed here. It enriches our knowledge of the Palaeolithic settlement and invites us to reconsider earlier interpretations of the forager life and adaptations in this corner of Epirus.
In human evolutionary history, once it became possible to travel much farther than what the physi... more In human evolutionary history, once it became possible to travel much farther than what the physical body allowed, a radically new relationship with the physical and cultural environment was born. The construction of a material container for the body is one of the most impressive innovations associated with the evolution of human cognition. Interdisciplinary research into the origins of maritime travel suggests that intentional marine crossings date more than 50ka, yet poor preservation of actual vessels limits our understanding of Pleistocene naval engineering. Boatbuilding traces are particularly rare and questions concerning maritime technologies, chaine opératoires, and use-life of associated toolkits usually remain unanswered. To date, little work has thoroughly examined the decision-making processes that enacted such technological innovation and might have subsequently led to the major so-called 'transitions' in our cultural past. This talk focuses on the investigation of Pleistocene maritime technologies and boatbuilding techniques and presents an interdisciplinary approach incorporating theory, analytic techniques, and experimental archaeology protocols in order to examine the tools and techniques involved and the decisions taken.
Excavations and diachronic surveys in the Ionian Islands have offered a rich dataset of stone too... more Excavations and diachronic surveys in the Ionian Islands have offered a rich dataset of stone tools while absolute dates, organic remains and human fossils are mostly lacking. Diagnostic Middle Palaeolithic tools and techniques are abundant at the northernmost islands and sporadically present at the southernmost ones, while the Upper Palaeolithic and the Mesolithic remain elusive. A complex biography in terms of the region’s paleogeography complicates attempts of palaeoshoreline reconstructions. Coastal areas and their associated archaeology are often lost below the current sea level. In an archaeological record ‘haunted by absences’ (cf. Lucas 2010) making the most out of the available finds is an imperative and at the same time a very challenging task.
When, how and who managed to cross the sea in order to reach the islands of the Ionian region? The scrutiny of palaeolithic marine dispersals demonstrates various methodological challenges and epistemological biases that shape archaeological interpretations and build established narratives. To interpret is essentially to reconstruct the past via the use of formalisms, diverse methodologies and constant redefinitions of research objectives. Confronted by numerous constraints, the investigation of the relationship between palaeolithic communities and the sea is a research topic that regained attention since the early 2010s. Are goal-oriented sea-crossings a uniquely modern human characteristic, as it is often suggested? The use of different proxies combined with innovative methodologies may be able to offer new insight regarding this matter.
This paper presents a novel approach into the investigation of the human-sea relationship taking as a case study the Central Ionian Sea. Lithics serve as proxies for the identification of past mobility routes. Technological reconstructions and problem-solving experiments can address manufacturing techniques and artefact biographies. Computer simulations test probable, improbable, possible, and impossible sea-crossing scenarios and investigate the degree climatic fluctuations and unprecedented natural phenomena influence such activities and interactions.
Το αποτύπωμα της ανθρώπινης δραστηριότητας στο περιβάλλον γίνεται ολοένα και πιο ορατό. Το μέγεθο... more Το αποτύπωμα της ανθρώπινης δραστηριότητας στο περιβάλλον γίνεται ολοένα και πιο ορατό. Το μέγεθος της επίδρασης του ανθρώπινου πολιτισμού στο φυσικό περιβάλλον οδήγησε την επιστημονική κοινότητα στην επινόηση του όρου ‘Ανθρωπόκαινο’ προκειμένου να ορίσει το χρονικό διάστημα των ραγδαίων αυτών αλλαγών στο περιβάλλον που συντελείται στον παρόντα χρόνο. Ωστόσο, το ακριβές σημείο έναρξης της Ανθρωπόκαινου Εποχής έχει καθοριστεί και ανακαθοριστεί από διαφορετικές ειδικότητες επιστημόνων αποτελώντας αντικείμενο διαφωνιών. Μελετώντας τη στρωματογραφία της γης, μπορεί να υποστηριχθεί πως πρόκειται για μια μακρά διαδικασία με ρίζες στην Εποχή του Λίθου, ακόμη και αν τα αποτελέσματα της ανθρώπινης δραστηριότητας κατά τη διάρκεια του Πλειστόκαινου είναι σε πολύ μικρότερο εύρος εμφανή στα αρχαιολογικά κατάλοιπα.
Η παρούσα ανακοίνωση εστιάζει στη σχέση ανθρώπου και περιβάλλοντος υπό την οπτική των επιστημών που μελετούν την ιστορία της γης και την προϊστορία των ανθρώπινων κοινοτήτων. Αντλεί στοιχεία από παραδείγματα κλιματολογικών πιέσεων, μεταναστεύσεων, εξόρυξης, εκμετάλλευσης και εξάντλησης πρώτων υλών, εξαφάνισης ειδών, κ.α., και συζητά τις κοινωνικές αποκρίσεις στις προκλήσεις του φυσικού περιβάλλοντος όπως αυτές αποτυπώνονται στη στρωματογραφία της γης.
From tool curation strategies to re-occupation of the same sites, activities that demonstrate re-... more From tool curation strategies to re-occupation of the same sites, activities that demonstrate re-use, re-shaping or re-cycling of objects and landscapes are archaeologically visible in the material record since the Palaeolithic. Discarded stone tools are often later re-used, a core that produces flakes is further modified into a tool itself and vice versa. In the aftermath of the classic Mousterian Debate (or Bordes-Binford Debate), the concept of ramification (sensu Bourguignon et al. 2004) has been used to describe a systematic, rather than expedient, recycling system observed in Palaeolithic stone tool assemblages. Likewise, natural re-working of sediments due to erosional processes expose new raw material outcrops, or sea level fluctuations due to climate change produce land bridges that transform islands into continental extensions. Old material remains from littoral sites may be totally swept out to the sea through cycles of land uplift and inundation in order to reveal ‘new’, seemingly uninhabited, sites for the. successive occupants. Even the past itself and the ways in which it is re-presented is constantly being re-shaped and re-narrated due to the ever-emerging data and the novel approaches that challenge traditional narratives and beg for updated reconstructions of past behaviours.
The Palaeolithic period, spanning the largest part of our deep history, albeit its coarse temporal resolution provides a broad spectrum into the concept of recycling. This talk uses specific examples of object re-use and site re-occupation as case studies from the Greek Palaeolithic record in order to discuss (a) the life-histories of artefacts and sites that were re-visited by the same or different groups of people, including different species (Neanderthals and Homo sapiens), (b) the archaeological visibility of such activities and c) the methodological and epistemological ways in which the academic community re-visits the past and re-shapes established narratives.
The dynamic Ionian seascapes and coastscapes as well as the, now submerged, landscapes have signi... more The dynamic Ionian seascapes and coastscapes as well as the, now submerged, landscapes have significantly influenced human adaptations, mobility networks and economic activities with multifaceted implications in terms of socio-cultural organisation in each and every part of prehistory, from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. Lithics, the only type of artefacts perpetually used in the history of our species since the earliest of times, although abundant in the Ionian region, have not been adequately included in the historical narrative of western Greece up to its merits. A big number of published and unpublished lithic assemblages from surface collections, excavated open-air sites and caves from the Ionian islands and the Epirotic and Akarnanian coasts are able to provide significant clues about the way people moved across the landscapes and seascapes west of the Pindus mountain range, about the transportation of goods and the transmission of ideas, from a diachronic perspective. By examining the lithics as proxies for the circulation of people and ideas, it is possible to explore the diachronic and reciprocally transformative relationship between human communities and the sea, the critical role of coastal environments in the formation of small and extended networks of cultural and economic exchange and the implications in terms of behavioural, cognitive and social transformations within prehistoric societies and between them. This needs to be done through a holistic approach including macroscopic (typological and technological) analysis, microscopic use-wear and residue analysis, elemental analysis for the identification of the raw material sources and GIS analytic techniques.
The Central Ionian Sea is an ideal case study for the investigation of both terrestrial and marin... more The Central Ionian Sea is an ideal case study for the investigation of both terrestrial and marine crossings that may have occurred during the Pleistocene since its present-day coastal configuration differs significantly from the one that would have been encountered by Palaeolithic foragers. According to the latest palaeoshoreline reconstructions, most of the isles and islets of the area were connected to the opposite Akarnanian coasts. Land bridges, today submerged, hold clues for the terrestrial routes available during the low sea-level stands of MIS 2, MIS 4, MIS 6 and MIS 8. On the other hand, the islands of Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Ithaki and Atokos were for the most part separated from the mainland, thus, any artefact attributed to the Middle Palaeolithic would be an indication of marine rather than terrestrial crossing.
Survey projects conducted on islands of the Central Ionian Sea during the last two decades, at the Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago and at the Livatho Valley, Kefalonia by the University of Crete and the Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies respectively, in collaboration with the 34th and 35th Ephorate of Antiquities of the Greek Ministry of Culture, provide new, critical evidence and reveal the geographic extent of Pleistocene activity and the mobility patterns occurring in western Greece since at least the Middle Palaeolithic.
Περίπου μισό αιώνα μετά την πρωτοπόρο έρευνα του Α. Σορδίνα στα Ιόνια νησιά και την ανακ... more Περίπου μισό αιώνα μετά την πρωτοπόρο έρευνα του Α. Σορδίνα στα Ιόνια νησιά και την ανακάλυψη Μηλιακού οψιανού στο Σπήλαιο Φράγχθι, η ενσωμάτωση των νησιών στη συζήτηση της Παλαιολιθικής κατοίκησης του Αιγαιακού χώρου βρίσκεται ακόμα σε πρωτόλειο στάδιο και υπάρχουν σαφείς διαφοροποιήσεις σε σχέση με την Παλαιολιθική έρευνα που συντελείται στον ηπειρωτικό χώρο, ενώ το ερώτημα των δια θαλάσσης μετακινήσεων κατά το Πλειστόκαινο βασίζεται κυρίως σε αποσπασματικά δεδομένα και αμφισβητούμενες ερμηνείες.
Την τελευταία δεκαετία, συστηματικές έρευνες σε νησιά του Αιγαίου και του Ιονίου έχουν φέρει στο φως ευρήματα που αποδίδονται στην Παλαιολιθική περίοδο, θέτοντας εκ νέου ζητήματα που αφορούν την ιστορία της σχέσης του ανθρώπου με τη θάλασσα. Με αφορμή την αναζωπύρωση της συζήτησης αυτής, η παρούσα ανακοίνωση τοποθετεί το ερευνητικό πλαίσιο στα πρώτα στάδια της ιστορίας του ανθρώπου, για τα οποία η θάλασσα ερμηνεύεται πρωτίστως ως εμπόδιο, οι τυχόν μαρτυρίες ανθρωπογενούς δράσης σε νησιωτικά περιβάλλοντα, όχι μόνο στο Αιγαίο αλλά παγκοσμίως, αντιμετωπίζονται με μεγάλη δυσπιστία, και η κλιματική αλλαγή διαμορφώνει ραγδαία τον παλαιογεωγραφικό καμβά, άλλοτε κατακερματίζοντας το τοπίο σε νησιά και νησίδες και άλλοτε ενώνοντάς το με γέφυρες ξηράς.
Μεθοδολογικά και επιστημολογικά ζητήματα προσέγγισης και ερμηνείας των αρχαιολογικών δεδομένων αποτελούν τον κορμό της ανακοίνωσης μιας και καθορίζουν το αφήγημα της σχέσης του ανθρώπου με τη θάλασσα στο εκάστοτε ερμηνευτικό πλαίσιο, την εκάστοτε εποχή. Μεταξύ άλλων, τονίζεται η ανάγκη επαναξιολόγησης της σημασίας των επιφανειακών ευρημάτων καθώς και των εγγενών προβλημάτων μελέτης και ερμηνείας λίθινων εργαλειακών συνόλων, η ανάγκη κατανόησης των μεταβολών της θαλάσσιας στάθμης και η συμβολή της ανασύστασης των παλαιο-ακτογραμμών και της ενσωμάτωσης νέων μεθοδολογικών τάσεων της παγκόσμιας προϊστορικής έρευνας που αναδεικνύουν την ιδιαίτερη σημασία των καταποντισμένων Πλειστοκαινικών τοπίων της υφαλοκρηπίδας. Τέλος, με αφορμή τόσο τις εκούσιες όσο και τις ακούσιες μετακινήσεις που προτείνεται πως έλαβαν χώρα κατά το Πλειστόκαινο, διατυπώνονται σκέψεις σχετικά με τις – σχεδόν αναπόφευκτες – προκαταλήψεις που διακατέχουν τον μελετητή της απώτατης προϊστορίας, που αν και τείνει να αντιμετωπίζει τον ‘σύγχρονο άνθρωπο’ ως ‘έναν’ αποφεύγοντας παγίδες διαφοροποιήσεων με βάση στερεοτυπικές αντιλήψεις, δύσκολα ξεφεύγει από το ‘σύνδρομο ανωτερότητας του σύγχρονου ανθρώπου’ (sensu Villa & Roebroeks 2014) που, στην προκειμένη περίπτωση, στη θέση του ‘άλλου’ τοποθετεί τα προγενέστερα του σύγχρονου ανθρώπου είδη, όπως ο άνθρωπος του Νεάντερταλ ή ο Homo erectus.
Ο γεωγραφικός χώρος της Θεσπρωτίας αποτέλεσε κατά το παρελθόν ένα σημαντικό πεδίο για τη διερεύνη... more Ο γεωγραφικός χώρος της Θεσπρωτίας αποτέλεσε κατά το παρελθόν ένα σημαντικό πεδίο για τη διερεύνηση της Παλαιολιθικής Εποχής στη νοτιοανατολική Ευρώπη, προσελκύοντας ήδη από τη δεκαετία του 1960 τους «σκαπανείς» αυτού του αρχαιολογικού κλάδου στη χώρα μας. Μέσα από πολυάριθμα ευρήματα -απομεινάρια της δράσης των προϊστορικών ανθρωπιδών -η δραστηριότητα αυτή κατέδειξε τον πλούτο της κατοίκησης στην περιοχή κατά το Ανώτερο Πλειστόκαινο.
Την τελευταία εικοσαετία η παλαιολιθική έρευνα στη Θεσπρωτία προωθήθηκε περαιτέρω μέσα από τα σημαντικά προγράμματα της Η΄ και ΛΒ΄ Εφορείας Αρχαιοτήτων και του Φινλανδικού Ινστιτούτου στην Αθήνα (Thesprotia Expedition) με τη διεξαγωγή εκτεταμένων ανασκαφών και επιφανειακών ερευνών σε χώρους προϊστορικής δραστηριότητας, προσφέροντας ένα μεγάλο όγκο καινούργιων πρωτογενών δεδομένων.
Η συστηματική μελέτη, διεπιστημονική αξιολόγηση και συγκριτική θεώρηση των νέων αυτών στοιχείων εμπλουτίζει τις γνώσεις και αναθεωρεί παλιότερες ερμηνευτικές προσεγγίσεις για τη ζωή του παλαιολιθικού ανθρώπου, καθιστώντας την περιοχή βασικό σημείο αναφοράς στις προσπάθειες για τη σύνθεση του παλαιολιθικού αφηγήματος στη νότια Βαλκανική.
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The geographical area of Thesprotia has been an important field for the investigation of the Palaeolithic period in southeastern Europe attracting international “pioneers” already since the 1960s. The discovery of numerous finds – remnants of prehistoric hominin actions – revealed the abundance of settlement traces in the area during the Late Pleistocene.
In the last two decades, Palaeolithic research at Thesprotia was further endorsed through major programs conducted by the 8th and 32nd Ephorate of Antiquities and the Finnish Institute at Athens (Thesprotia Expedition). The pursuit of extensive excavation and survey projects in prehistoric activity areas has offered a large volume of new primary data.
The systematic study, the interdisciplinary assessment and the comparative validation of these new finds enriches our knowledge and revises traditional interpretative approaches to the lifestyle of the Palaeolithic individuals, making the area a key reference point in the efforts of synthesizing the Palaeolithic narrative in the southern Balkans.
The NE Mediterranean has witnessed a large number of terrestrial and maritime crossings since the... more The NE Mediterranean has witnessed a large number of terrestrial and maritime crossings since the Pleistocene. The geomorphology of the region, which today is characterised by numerous islands and islets, had in prehistoric times undergone many transformations due to sea level fluctuations. In the Aegean and Ionian Seas, many present-day islands were during the Late Pleistocene connected to the shores of the mainland (e.g. northern Ionian Islands connected to mainland NW Greece and eastern Aegean Islands connected to the west shores of Turkey), or connected to other neighbouring islands into a larger island (e.g. Cyclades). At the same time, islands such as Crete and Cyprus have been isolated throughout the Pleistocene.
This paper focuses on the human occupation of the northeastern Mediterranean islands and via a multidisciplinary approach it presents the archaeological, palaeoanthropological and palaeontological evidence within their palaeoenvironmental context. It briefly discusses the challenging evidence for the early Palaeolithic sea-crossings (before the LGM), in view of the many problems encountered due to low archaeological resolution and limited palaeogeographic reconstructions, in order to stress the differences in character and scale of these early, serendipitous crossings with those of the final Late Pleistocene (after the LGM) and the early Holocene, i.e. the Mesolithic, up until the more organised seafaring activities of the Neolithic which resulted in proper colonization of novel, insular territories. The geoarchaeological data of the NE Mediterranean islands are examined in juxtaposition with the current state of research in the Central Mediterranean islands (i.e. Corsica and Sardinia).
Lastly, this study proposes the possible sea-crossing routes and considers the prospects of combined terrestrial and underwater interdisciplinary investigations in the region.
Στην παρούσα ανακοίνωση παρουσιάζονται νεα στοιχεία απο υπαίθριους χωρους χρήσης της Μεσης ... more Στην παρούσα ανακοίνωση παρουσιάζονται νεα στοιχεία απο υπαίθριους χωρους χρήσης της Μεσης Παλαιολιθικής. Τα νεα δεδομενα, που προκύπτουν απο τις προσφατες και εν εξελίξει ερευνες στην περιοχή (Θεσπρωτία και Εσωτερικο Αρχιπελαγος Ιονίου) σε συνδυασμο με τις εως τωρα δημοσιευμενες θεσεις, μαρτυρούν σημαντικες τεχνικες, νοητικες και κοινωνικες δεξιοτητες για τις ομάδες των ανθρωπων του Νεαντερταλ που εζησαν στη ΒΔ Ελλάδα και στα νησιά του Ιονίου.
This paper presents new data from Middle Palaeolithic open-air sites. These data, coming from recent and on-going research programs in the region (Thesprotia and Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago), in addition to the already published material attest significant technical, cognitive and social capacities for the groups of Neanderthals who lived in NW Greece and the Ionian islands.
By focusing on the lithic evidence from the islands of the Aegean and Ionian Sea this paper discu... more By focusing on the lithic evidence from the islands of the Aegean and Ionian Sea this paper discusses the arguments for early Palaeolithic sea-crossings. Based on the geomorphology and the proposed sea-level reconstructions, the recently published collections together with new, under study data from the Inner Ionian Sea Archipelago are presented and the possible sea-routes are proposed. Were the early hominins which occupied the northeastern Mediterranean during the Lower and the Middle Palaeolithic cognitively, socially and technically competent for such an innovative and challenging task? The evidence at hand cannot but imply -at least- Neanderthal presence on certain islands of the Mediterranean.
The area of the eastern Mediterranean is a focal point for the study of the earliest acts of glob... more The area of the eastern Mediterranean is a focal point for the study of the earliest acts of globalisation. Palaeolithic archaeology provides the tools for the analysis and interpretation of the material record of the early hominins who passed through and occupied this part of the world. However, since the early pleistocene, the constant environmental fluctuations between glacials and interglacials have caused major alterations in the ice sheets resulting in sea-level fluctuations. Consequently, large land masses which could have been occupied by our early ancestors are now hidden deep below sea-level.
This presentation deals with the current evidence for early migrations in the eastern Mediterranean and explores the potential of encountering palaeolithic artefacts under the sea-level of the Aegean and Ionian Sea. It brings into sight the need for an interdisciplinary collaboration between palaeolithic archaeologists, palaeontologists, marine geologists and underwater archaeologists.
Functional analysis of a selected sample of fine grained flint and obsidian implements from an ar... more Functional analysis of a selected sample of fine grained flint and obsidian implements from an area with FN/EB I finds on the island of Gavdos, south of Crete, excavated during a project run by the University of Crete, revealed use-wear traces and organic residues of the hafting arrangement on some of them. Such finds are extremely rare in the Aegean geo-cultural context. In this study, we analyze and present the sample, examine the correlation of direct indications of hafting methods and wear traces on archaeological specimens and offer a new insight to the study of hafted tools.
The surfaces of the artifacts were examined for the presence of wear traces related to manufacture, use and hafting at low (10-64x) and high magnifications (50-300x). In order to investigate the technological behaviour and preferences of the knappers, we have also recorded the techno-typological and metrical characteristics of the sample, incorporated them in their spatial and temporal context, and searched for potential parallels with contemporary assemblages from nearby Crete and the Cyclades.
The post mortem treatment of the body is a crucial element of each culture and at the same time a... more The post mortem treatment of the body is a crucial element of each culture and at the same time a pan-human requisite. Archaeological evidence thoroughly confirms society’s care for the dead existing since Palaeolithic times. Information about different aspects of a culture and of its agents can be derived from the study of burial practices. This paper deals with the representation of the individual in the earliest intentional burials of Eurasia. Palaeolithic burials lack any complex architectural constructions; instead they consist of one or more skeletons, the objects surrounding them and the area where the cadaver was placed, usually a pit. Although the most elaborate burials come from Upper Palaeolithic contexts and are associated with modern humans, the presence of a large number of juvenile Neanderthal burials and the demonstrated care for the injured or the less physically capable cannot but propose strong social and emotional bonds between the individuals of a group. Upon death, such bonds would be expressed through mortuary rituals. These rituals can also serve social purposes; the construction and amplification of personal and social identity could be one of them. Thus, social bonds and cultural networks can in great extent benefit from these practices. The material culture associated with each burial varies both according to the mortuary rituals indicated by social structures and according to the individual itself, as conceived by its group. As Gamble (2007) points out the biological death of an individual is never the finishing point. At the moment of death a social being turns into a cadaver. The body can be regarded as a form of material culture, as an object, as soon as the transition to death is made. At this point, the control over the individual's body is no longer being imposed from the individual itself but from the others.
Phytoliths constitute microscopic plant biominerals and their analysis on artefacts contributes s... more Phytoliths constitute microscopic plant biominerals and their analysis on artefacts contributes significantly to the identification and study of plants in the archaeological record. An experimental knapped-stone assemblage was produced as part of the SeaROOTS, an interdisciplinary research project funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (H.F.R.I.) under the “3rd Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects to support Post-Doctoral Researchers” (Project Number: 7186). Within this project, a pilot study was conducted to investigate the preservation of phytoliths on a sample of experimentally produced stone tools used for cutting, chopping and pounding plant materials. This research integrates Experimental Archaeology with Phytolith Analysis with the aim to develop a methodology that optimises the ability to identify phytoliths preserved on knapped stone artefacts. To achieve this, two intermediate objectives are implemented: (a) the enrichment of the (archaeo)botanical reference record with phytoliths from modern plants and their association with specific experimentally produced stone artefacts, and (b) the investigation of the plant-related human activity during the Stone Age through the application of Phytolith Analysis on archaeological lithic finds from West Greece. Herein, the methodological considerations, the experimentally produced stone tools - relating to tool usage on selected plants, and the preliminary results of this pilot study are presented. Future systematic work, besides other tasks (e.g. use-wear distribution and micro-wear analysis across the active tools surfaces) will investigate the effects of firing on phytolith preservation and apply the methodology produced on archaeological assemblages from West Greece and other Mediterranean areas to gain more information regarding their natural and cultural contexts. Although Phytolith Analysis on knapped stone artefacts is a relatively recent analytical procedure, it is hoped that its integration with more established approaches (e.g. OLM, SEM/EDS, XRF, XRD) will contribute to a wider understanding of the use of lithic technology, and of matters related to the preservation of plant micro-remains on archaeological knapped stone assemblages depending on the biogeochemical burial environment.
This paper discusses the evidence for some of the oldest sea-crossing acts which occurred in the ... more This paper discusses the evidence for some of the oldest sea-crossing acts which occurred in the area of the Aegean. New interdisciplinary and on-going research imply that several unfamiliar, insular territories were for the first time occupied during the Pleistocene. This work draws upon the archaeological, geological and palaeoenvironmental data in order to talk about the technological and social aspects of these first maritime crossings and their agents.
In particular, by presenting the lithic evidence found on the islands of the southern Ionian and southern Aegean Sea and based on the palaeogeographic reconstructions of the Palaeolithic landscapes and seascapes, this study explores the cognitive and social capacities of the hominin individuals and groups which first used technological means in order to cross both the archipelagos and the open seas. It also proposes the possible maritime crossing routes and discusses the motives that potentially instigated such innovative and high-risk actions.
Perceptions about Neanderthal subsistence strategies, mental capacities, technical skills, and cu... more Perceptions about Neanderthal subsistence strategies, mental capacities, technical skills, and cultural innovations have traditionally been influenced by historical, anthropological and evolutionary trends since the dawn of the 20th century. However, recently, several “modern” characteristics such as complex cognitive skills, abstract reasoning, sophisticated knapping skills, landscape knowledge, risk-tolerance, efficiency and cooperation in difficult tasks (such as hunting large, dangerous mammals), verbal communication, personal ornamentation and aesthetic manifestation in the negotiation of their identity have been attributed to the Neanderthals, based on archaeological evidence coming from a large number of sites in Europe. Furthermore, certain islands of the northeastern Mediterranean have only recently provided a number of Levallois-Mousterian stone tools. Although it has widely been accepted that Homo sapiens was the only species capable of inhabiting island environments, recent and on-going interdisciplinary research support arguments for Middle Palaeolithic seafaring in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. At the same time, the possibility of Neanderthal individuals crossing the Gibraltar Strait remains open.
This poster presents the current evidence for Middle Palaeolithic sea-crossings, it proposes the possible crossing routes and discusses the technological, social and cognitive competences of the Neanderthals in the light of new and challenging data coming from the whole Mediterranean region.
This poster deals with the Middle Palaeolithic hunting tools and their spatial distribution in th... more This poster deals with the Middle Palaeolithic hunting tools and their spatial distribution in the area of what is now Northwestern Greece in order to talk about Neanderthal subsistence strategies, hunting skills, mental capacities and landscape familiarization. It presents a synthesis of the available lithic evidence from a large number of open-air sites, rockshelters and caves and provides new evidence from 'Mikro Karvounari', a small red-soil open-air site in Thesprotia, Epirus. The macroscopic lithic analysis of the tools and their spatial distribution imply that Middle Palaeolithic foragers had moved through the landscape not randomly but in a manner which suggests appreciation of its natural resources with Mikro Karvounari playing a central role in the Neanderthal mobility network of the particular region. In sum, this study argues for constituent social interaction between Neanderthal individuals, proves that these groups of hominins, apart from being efficient tool-makers, were also sophisticated hunters, and had profound knowledge of their environment as well as their preys' behaviour.
The Eastern Mediterranean's changing coastline has been both an obstacle and a crossing point for... more The Eastern Mediterranean's changing coastline has been both an obstacle and a crossing point for some of the earliest acts of human colonization. Early hominin adaptations and dispersals were significantly influenced by the seascapes and submerged Pleistocene landscapes. The choice of particular terrestrial and maritime migration routes, the subsistence strategies, the exploitation of marine resources, the settlement patterns and the origins of sea-faring would all have been shaped by the morphology of the palaeolandscapes. Recent interdisciplinary data and on-going research in the Northeastern Mediterranean propose that unfamiliar, insular territories were for the first time colonized during the Pleistocene. Due to sea-level fluctuations, several of the present-day islands of the Aegean and Ionian Sea were connected to mainland Greece or Turkey during most of the Pleistocene, while others seem to have been isolated since the Miocene.
This paper presents the archaeological evidence for early Palaeolithic settlements on the present-day islands of the Aegean and Ionian regions in order to talk about early land- and sea- crossings, it proposes the possible crossing routes and, finally, stresses the significance of the submerged landscapes and the need for targeted Underwater Palaeolithic investigations in this part of the continental shelf.
This paper presents the preliminary results of a research concerning pre- modern human occupation... more This paper presents the preliminary results of a research concerning pre- modern human occupation on island environments. It provides a synthesis of the available evidence for early human migration patterns in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, while taking into account the paleontological and geological record. Palaeoenvironmental studies have proved that the geomorphological changes, since the upper Pliocene through the lower Holocene, were crucial for the construction of the islands as we know them today. The constant environmental fluctuations between glacials and interglacials have caused major alterations in the ice sheets resulting in sea-level fluctuations. During the interglacials, the sea-level could rise up to 200m. The sea-level changes could either connect of disconnect the islands from the mainland. A large number of what are nowadays conceived as islands in the Aegean and Ionian Sea, were attached either to mainland Greece (eg. Corfu, Lefkas, etc.) or Asia Minor (eg. Lemnos, Lesvos, Kos etc.) during most of the Palaeolithic. On the other hand, islands such as Crete or Gavdos could have been reached exclusively via sea routes. How capable were our early ancestors of planning ahead such a crossing, anticipating the risks and manufacturing the means of navigation?
Up until recently, the earliest archaeological evidence for human navigation came from Australasia and was associated with our own species, Homo sapiens. However, recent archaeological surveys have shed new light on the issue of early sea-faring by providing examples of lithic artefacts which have been attributed to pre- modern human populations proposing dates as old as 130 kya, if not older (Strasser et al. 2010; Kopaka & Matzanas 2009). According to these arguments, the Aegean Sea was the area that witnessed the earliest successful acts of navigation. Along with these early travellers travelled their tools, the most perpetual element of their material culture, which today act as agents of accumulated knowledge, beliefs, and actions.
In short, this research, based on the available lithic and palaeoanthropological evidence from the Eastern Mediterranean, discusses and evaluates the possible scenarios for early sea- crossings by pre- sapiens species such as Homo neanderthalensis, Homo heidelbergensis or even Homo erectus. By examining the technological, social and cognitive skills of each of the aforementioned species, in juxtaposition with the paleoenvironmental reconstructions of the particular geographic region, this study provides interdisciplinary answers in certain focal questions regarding early navigation skills, proposes the possible crossing routes and poses even more questions that need to be answered in the future in order to appreciate our early ancestors' behaviour and preferences.
Palaeolithic Archaeology in Greece has for decades focused on the mainland and particularly on ce... more Palaeolithic Archaeology in Greece has for decades focused on the mainland and particularly on certain caves and rock-shelters of Epirus and the Peloponnese. One of the numerous reasons for the limited research on the Greek islands was, beyond doubt, the premise that early hominins were incapable of successfully crossing the open sea. The Greek Islands were not the place to look for them. Even though since the 1960s several lithic artefacts were collected from islands in the Ionian Sea (eg. Corfu, Kefalonia), it was not until the last few years when the archaeological community began to discuss the issue of early hominin occupation on island environments of the eastern Mediterranean and look at the old collections under a new prism. Recent projects in the southern Aegean have yielded challenging results (eg. Crete, Gaudos). However, most of the lithic assemblages come from open-air sites, and were collected in the course of archaeological surveys, therefore, until today there are no stratigraphic information. Based on technological and typological features these have been broadly attributed both to the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic.
This research presents and evaluates the available evidence for the hominin species who occupied the islands of the Eastern Mediterranean (Aegean and Ionian Sea) before the arrival of Homo sapiens. To do so, it draws upon the lithic finds, the geomorphological data and the sea level reconstructions of this tectonically active region. Furthermore, it discusses the possible scenarios of early “seafaring”, it provides the possible crossing routes while stressing the problems of such a hypothesis and, finally, explores the potential of certain islands to fill in the present gap in our knowledge regarding early hominin adaptations at this part of the earth.
The last decade has witnessed a cumulative interest in the prehistory of seafaring, particularly ... more The last decade has witnessed a cumulative interest in the prehistory of seafaring, particularly in the Aegean, followed by an intensification of field projects, a re-evaluation of old finds, and vigorous debates over freshly published data. Examples from the Mediterranean and beyond highlight the intricate nature and stiff reception of extraordinary discoveries, such as the presence of fossils or artefacts at insular environments associated with early chapters in the history of humankind. By taking as a case study the scrutiny of the earliest attempts of our genus to navigate the sea, this talk will focus on methodological aspects and epistemological biases that shape archaeological interpretations and build established narratives. It will discuss the academic community’s ‘adaptability’ to the ever- increasing evidence of innovative behaviour in the Palaeolithic. What will be shown is that even though ‘innovation’ is more directly linked with social rather than anatomical characteristics, it seems that the ‘modern-human superiority complex’ still dictates our response to the available archaeological record.
10-11 January 2020, at the Lecture Hall of the Italian School of Archaeology, Parthenonos 14, 117... more 10-11 January 2020, at the Lecture Hall of the Italian School of Archaeology, Parthenonos 14, 11742 Athens
The region of the Ionian Sea occupies a geographically complex area off the south western Balkan ... more The region of the Ionian Sea occupies a geographically complex area off the south western Balkan Peninsula, which since the Pleistocene underwent significant alterations due to tectonic activity and sea-level fluctuations. This dynamic environment presented different landscapes and seascapes to the human communities occupying the region at different times in the past, providing an ideal setting for their study from a diachronic perspective. The principal aim of this two-day conference is to investigate the reciprocally transformative relationship between human communities and natural setting and the multi-layered interconnections between sites, islands, archipelagos and the adjacent continental coasts during the periods ranging from early prehistory to the end of the Bronze Age. Fieldwork west of the Pindus mountain range has since the mid-20 th century produced a rich archaeological record dating back to the Palaeolithic. During the last twenty five years, the results from excavations and systematic survey projects have not only enriched but also altered our perception of settlement, subsistence, mobility and interaction patterns in the region. The investigation of these patterns and the processes of circulation of raw materials, artefacts and ideas sheds light on aspects of regional and interregional communication, collective memory and the creation of distinct identities within and between different cultural and social groups. We invite contributions from specialists in different fields working on topics including but not restricted to: site and regional organization, maritime connections, funerary landscapes, technology and craft production, short and long distance exchange. We also welcome phenomenological approaches and results from GIS studies, underwater archaeology and geoarchaeological projects, geospatial analyses and mobility network analyses. In this way we hope to address the dynamic relationships between human communities, questions relating to their relationship with the sea, the critical role of coastal environments in the formation of cultural and economic networks of exchange, and the associated social transformations these communities underwent, from the Palaeolithic to the end of the Bronze Age.
