To browse Academia. Over the past 25 years, our knowledge of the Middle Palaeolithic has considerably increased. Significant developments have been made in the different disciplines forming the basis of Palaeolithic research on chronology, chronostratigraphy, palaeoenvironment, human behaviour, physical anthropology, genetics⦠These advances closely rely on data both from recent archaeological excavations and reexamination of old collections.
The major development of preventive archaeology has provided significantly larger amount of field data. This dataset complements the data obtained from programmed archaeology and reappraisal of old collection.
In addition, located in the heart of NorthWest Europe, Belgium acted as a crossroads, where influences from groups from both Western and Central Europe met and intermingled. This volume includes the abstracts from the 60 contributions presented by authors: 39 podium presentations, 18 posters and 3 presentations of the sites visited during the fieldtrip.
The Lower and Middle Palaeolithic in Belgium are represented in find-sites dispersed across a small territory with contrasting geographical and geological characteristics. The close proximity of caves and open-air sites, as well as the variable access to good sources of flint between regions are of special interest. The dataset is composed primarily of lithic assemblages, rich palaeontological and archae-ozoological documentation as well as Neandertal remains from 8 cave sites.
This large amount of data facilitates the development of a chronostratigraphic framework from the very beginning of the Middle Palaeolithic onset of MIS 8 to the end within the MIS 3, around 36 ka uncal BP. This archaeological documentation also reveals that lithic production variability is multifactorial and includes site function, cultural perspectives, and mobility patterns related to the exploitation of natural resources in contrasting environments.
