The View From Across the Pyrenees: Changing Perspectives on the Middle-Upper Paleolithic Transition in Spanish Prehistory
Journal:
Espacio, Tiempo y Forma, Serie I, Prehlstoria y Arqueologia
Number:
Volume:
t 13
Year:
2000
Pages:
79-87
Keywords:
Middle-Upper Paleolithic transition, Mousterian, Chatelperronian, Aurignacian, Neanderthals, modern humans, Spain
ISBN:
ISSN:
URL:
Abstract:
Understandings of the Middle-Upper Paleolithic transition by prehistorians working in Spain have changed in the course of the last century. Most workers have associated this transition with the replacement of Neanderthals by anatomically modern humans, although in the context of persistent disagreements over the nature and extent of movements of populations and cultural influences into Spain from North Africa and from France. The current relevant archaeological database is of unprecedented quality and quantity. However, in the wake of indications of an early appearance of the Aurignacian in northern Spain, and the late persistence of the Mousterian and Neanderthals in southern Spain and Portugal, there is currently considerable disagreement over the nature of the Middle-Upper Paleolithic transition in the peninsula.
