Abstract

Across Europe between 50-40,000 we witness the appearance of an archaeological record that has been described as transitional between the preceding Neanderthal Middle Palaeolithic and the subsequent Upper Palaeolithic associated with our species, Homo sapiens. The underlying behavioural, cultural and environmental mechanisms behind this turnover, which culminated in Neanderthal extinction, remain heavily debated. Traditional discussions of this so-called Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition have focused on specific lithic techno-typologies. However, recent years have witnessed considerable advancements in biomolecular approaches especially in the study of ancient proteins and DNA . These methods have allowed researchers to more fully exploit archaeological bone remains providing unique behavioural data, identifying previously “invisible” hominin remains and provide novel and in depth information on behaviour and population interactions during this crucial period in human evolution. This talk will present results of case studies from two sites Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria) and lsenhöhle in Ranis (Germany) where the makers of these transitional tool kits were uncertain. Results illustrate previously unknown evidence for Homo sapiens forcing us to reconsider our models of Neanderthal-Homo sapiens interaction, behavior and coexistence.