The Middle Palaeolithic research in Romania. Past and current issues

Abstract

This paper presents some new results concerning the Middle Palaeolithic in Romania. Recent research on loess‐ paleosoil sequences and tephra deposits has provided an accurate picture on the geochronology of the Pleistocene. Reliable absolute ages indicate that some Middle Palaeolithic occupations are much older than previously assumed, namely they date back to the Middle Pleistocene. Lithic industries, both coming from old and recent excavations were (re) interpreted from new perspectives, other than cultural-historical ones. The study of fauna still leaves to be desired, as it needs to go beyond mere taxa identification. Many loci that have yielded surface collections of lithics that could belong to the Middle Palaeolithic indicate a great potential for discovering new sites in Romania

Keywords

• middle palaeolithic
• romania
• geochronology
• radiocarbon dating
• archaeozoology
• lihtic analysis
• hominin fossils