Patricia Valensi, Eleni Psathi, Frédéric Lacombat.
Cervus elaphus remains of different Peistocene... more Patricia Valensi, Eleni Psathi, Frédéric Lacombat. Cervus elaphus remains of different Peistocene sites of Alpes-Maritimes and Liguria (Lazaret, Madonna dell'Arma, Fate, Manie, Santa Lucia Superiore) have been studied under a palaeontological and taphonomic point of view. The morphological and biometric analysis of teeth remains reveals variations related primarily to climatic changes and secondary to biological evolution. The taphonomic data suggest a systematic human hunting of red deer and transport of the entire carcass of these animals to the camps. Finally, red deer had been widely utilized by humans, using similar butchery procedures between the different sites.
Les restes de Cervus elaphus de différents sites pléistocènes des Alpes-Maritimes et de Ligurie (... more Les restes de Cervus elaphus de différents sites pléistocènes des Alpes-Maritimes et de Ligurie (Lazaret, Madonna dell' Arma, Fate, Manie, Santa Lucia Superiore) ont été étudiés, sous un angle paléontologique et taphonomique. L'analyse morphométrique des dents met en évidence ...
... and took part in the excavation. The excavation team included the archaeologistsEvgenia Pouli... more ... and took part in the excavation. The excavation team included the archaeologistsEvgenia Poulimenou, Athina Pitta, Anna Karachaliou and Nikos Petropoulos. The Annual of the British School at Athens, ( pp. ...
Kalamakia Cave (Areopolis, Greece) has yielded Neanderthal remains associated with numerous archa... more Kalamakia Cave (Areopolis, Greece) has yielded Neanderthal remains associated with numerous archaeological Middle Palaeolithic artefacts. Pollen analyses from speleothems synchronous of the prehistoric occupation provide palaeoenvironment information for the surrounding area. A dry episode is recorded with the mesophilous trees gradually being replaced by the herbaceous and some Mediterranean presteppic forest taxa. Faunal assemblages are consistent with pollen data and define the same landscape features. Archaeozoological study will enable to know whether Fallow Deer and Ibex overrepresentations are natural or related with specific game developed by Neanderthals. Résumé: La grotte de Kalamakia (Aréopolis, Grèce) a livré des restes humains néandertaliens associés à des vestiges archéologiques du Paléolithique moyen. Les analyses palynologiques de spéléothèmes contemporains de l'occupation préhistorique précisent les paléoenvironnements autour du site. Un épisode d'aridité enregistre le retrait des arbres mésophiles au profit de la strate herbacée et des éléments de la forêt présteppique méditerranéenne. Les assemblages fauniques convergent avec l'étude palynologique pour caractériser le milieu. Les études archéozoologiques permettront de savoir si la surreprésentation du Daim et du Bouquetin est naturelle ou le reflet d'une chasse spécialisée développée par les Néandertaliens.
Very numerous caves are opened on the western coast of Mani peninsula (Peloponnese, Southern Gree... more Very numerous caves are opened on the western coast of Mani peninsula (Peloponnese, Southern Greece), containing Upper Pleistocene fillings rich in archaeological material. In this paper, six of them (Kolominitsa, Kastanis, Skoini 4, Skoini 3, Tripsana, and Melitzia) are presented, in which test pits have been carried out and brought to light remains dated to the Upper Palaeolithic. Kolominitsa cave contains aurignacian levels, while in all the other caves the excavated levels have yielded gravettian– epigravettian material. The faunal study shows the progressive replacement of fallow deer (Dama dama) by red deer (Cervus elaphus) and, more generally, subsistence changes from Middle to Upper Palaeolithic. Résumé: Sur la côte occidentale de la péninsule du Mani (Péloponnèse, Grèce méridionale) s'ouvrent des très nombreuses grottes contenant des remplissages du Pléistocène supérieur, riches en matériel archéologique. Dans cette note sont présentées 6 grottes (Kolominitsa, Kastanis, Skoini 4, Skoini 3, Tripsana, et Melitzia), dans lesquelles des sondages effectués ont mis au jour des vestiges du Paléolithique supérieur. La grotte de Kolominitsa contient des couches de l'Aurignacien, alors que dans toutes les autres grottes, les couches fouillées ont livré du matériel appartenant au Gravettien-Epigravettien. L'étude faunique a mis en évidence le remplacement progressif du bouquetin (Dama dama) par le cerf élaphe (Cervus elaphus) et, de façon plus générale, des changements de subsistance par rapport au Paléolithique moyen.
The Kalamakia cave, a Middle Paleolithic site on the western coast of the Mani peninsula, Greece,... more The Kalamakia cave, a Middle Paleolithic site on the western coast of the Mani peninsula, Greece, was excavated in 1993e2006 by an interdisciplinary team from the Ephoreia of Paleoanthropology and Speleology (Greek Ministry of Culture) and the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris). The site is dated to between ca. 100,000 and >39,000 years BP (Before Present) and has yielded Mousterian lithics, a rich fauna, and human remains from several layers. The latter include 10 isolated teeth, a cranial frag- ment and three postcranial elements. The remains represent at least eight individuals, two of them subadults, and show both carnivore and anthropogenic modifications. They can be identified as Nean- derthal on the basis of diagnostic morphology on most specimens. A diet similar to that of Neanderthals from mixed habitat is suggested by our analysis of dental wear (occlusal fingerprint analysis) and microwear (occlusal texture microwear analysis), in agreement with the faunal and palynological ana- lyses of the site. These new fossils significantly expand the Neanderthal sample known from Greece. Together with the human specimens from Lakonis and Apidima, the Kalamakia human remains add to the growing evidence of a strong Neanderthal presence in the Mani region during the Late Pleistocene.
Systematic excavations on the peak Profitis Ilias at Mamousia in Achaia have exposed the remains ... more Systematic excavations on the peak Profitis Ilias at Mamousia in Achaia have exposed the remains of a sanctuary that may have belonged to the territory of ancient Keryneia. The Archaic peripteros dominated the peak. This temple, which dates between 500 and 490 B.C., was built of sandstone with simas, acroteria and pediment sculptures of insular marble. The shape of the crepis and comparanda suggest a pteron with 14 columns on its flanks. It is striking that the cella is unusually narrow, as is also the case with the contemporary temple of Athena in Alipheira. The remains of an altar and a small oikos are located east of the Archaic peripteral temple. The Archaic sanctuary was, in all likelihood, destroyed by the earthquake of 373 B.C. Excavations west of the large Archaic temple uncovered the remains of a smaller temple with two columns in antis and a square cella, which can be dated to the middle of the 4th century B.C.
The Kalamakia cave, a Middle Paleolithic site on the western coast of the Mani peninsula, Greece,... more The Kalamakia cave, a Middle Paleolithic site on the western coast of the Mani peninsula, Greece, was excavated in 1993–2006 by an interdisciplinary team from the Ephoreia of Paleoanthropology and Speleology (Greek Ministry of Culture) and the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (Paris). The site is dated to between ca. 100,000 and >39,000 years BP (Before Present) and has yielded Mousterian lithics, a rich fauna, and human remains from several layers. The latter include 10 isolated teeth, a cranial fragment and three postcranial elements. The remains represent at least eight individuals, two of them subadults, and show both carnivore and anthropogenic modifications. They can be identified as Neanderthal on the basis of diagnostic morphology on most specimens. A diet similar to that of Neanderthals from mixed habitat is suggested by our analysis of dental wear (occlusal fingerprint analysis) and microwear (occlusal texture microwear analysis), in agreement with the faunal and palynological analyses of the site. These new fossils significantly expand the Neanderthal sample known from Greece. Together with the human specimens from Lakonis and Apidima, the Kalamakia human remains add to the growing evidence of a strong Neanderthal presence in the Mani region during the Late Pleistocene.
Patricia Valensi, Eleni Psathi, Frédéric Lacombat.
Cervus elaphus remains of different Peistocene... more Patricia Valensi, Eleni Psathi, Frédéric Lacombat. Cervus elaphus remains of different Peistocene sites of Alpes-Maritimes and Liguria (Lazaret, Madonna dell'Arma, Fate, Manie, Santa Lucia Superiore) have been studied under a palaeontological and taphonomic point of view. The morphological and biometric analysis of teeth remains reveals variations related primarily to climatic changes and secondary to biological evolution. The taphonomic data suggest a systematic human hunting of red deer and transport of the entire carcass of these animals to the camps. Finally, red deer had been widely utilized by humans, using similar butchery procedures between the different sites.
Les restes de Cervus elaphus de différents sites pléistocènes des Alpes-Maritimes et de Ligurie (... more Les restes de Cervus elaphus de différents sites pléistocènes des Alpes-Maritimes et de Ligurie (Lazaret, Madonna dell' Arma, Fate, Manie, Santa Lucia Superiore) ont été étudiés, sous un angle paléontologique et taphonomique. L'analyse morphométrique des dents met en évidence ...
... and took part in the excavation. The excavation team included the archaeologistsEvgenia Pouli... more ... and took part in the excavation. The excavation team included the archaeologistsEvgenia Poulimenou, Athina Pitta, Anna Karachaliou and Nikos Petropoulos. The Annual of the British School at Athens, ( pp. ...
Kalamakia Cave (Areopolis, Greece) has yielded Neanderthal remains associated with numerous archa... more Kalamakia Cave (Areopolis, Greece) has yielded Neanderthal remains associated with numerous archaeological Middle Palaeolithic artefacts. Pollen analyses from speleothems synchronous of the prehistoric occupation provide palaeoenvironment information for the surrounding area. A dry episode is recorded with the mesophilous trees gradually being replaced by the herbaceous and some Mediterranean presteppic forest taxa. Faunal assemblages are consistent with pollen data and define the same landscape features. Archaeozoological study will enable to know whether Fallow Deer and Ibex overrepresentations are natural or related with specific game developed by Neanderthals. Résumé: La grotte de Kalamakia (Aréopolis, Grèce) a livré des restes humains néandertaliens associés à des vestiges archéologiques du Paléolithique moyen. Les analyses palynologiques de spéléothèmes contemporains de l'occupation préhistorique précisent les paléoenvironnements autour du site. Un épisode d'aridité enregistre le retrait des arbres mésophiles au profit de la strate herbacée et des éléments de la forêt présteppique méditerranéenne. Les assemblages fauniques convergent avec l'étude palynologique pour caractériser le milieu. Les études archéozoologiques permettront de savoir si la surreprésentation du Daim et du Bouquetin est naturelle ou le reflet d'une chasse spécialisée développée par les Néandertaliens.
Very numerous caves are opened on the western coast of Mani peninsula (Peloponnese, Southern Gree... more Very numerous caves are opened on the western coast of Mani peninsula (Peloponnese, Southern Greece), containing Upper Pleistocene fillings rich in archaeological material. In this paper, six of them (Kolominitsa, Kastanis, Skoini 4, Skoini 3, Tripsana, and Melitzia) are presented, in which test pits have been carried out and brought to light remains dated to the Upper Palaeolithic. Kolominitsa cave contains aurignacian levels, while in all the other caves the excavated levels have yielded gravettian– epigravettian material. The faunal study shows the progressive replacement of fallow deer (Dama dama) by red deer (Cervus elaphus) and, more generally, subsistence changes from Middle to Upper Palaeolithic. Résumé: Sur la côte occidentale de la péninsule du Mani (Péloponnèse, Grèce méridionale) s'ouvrent des très nombreuses grottes contenant des remplissages du Pléistocène supérieur, riches en matériel archéologique. Dans cette note sont présentées 6 grottes (Kolominitsa, Kastanis, Skoini 4, Skoini 3, Tripsana, et Melitzia), dans lesquelles des sondages effectués ont mis au jour des vestiges du Paléolithique supérieur. La grotte de Kolominitsa contient des couches de l'Aurignacien, alors que dans toutes les autres grottes, les couches fouillées ont livré du matériel appartenant au Gravettien-Epigravettien. L'étude faunique a mis en évidence le remplacement progressif du bouquetin (Dama dama) par le cerf élaphe (Cervus elaphus) et, de façon plus générale, des changements de subsistance par rapport au Paléolithique moyen.
The Kalamakia cave, a Middle Paleolithic site on the western coast of the Mani peninsula, Greece,... more The Kalamakia cave, a Middle Paleolithic site on the western coast of the Mani peninsula, Greece, was excavated in 1993e2006 by an interdisciplinary team from the Ephoreia of Paleoanthropology and Speleology (Greek Ministry of Culture) and the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris). The site is dated to between ca. 100,000 and >39,000 years BP (Before Present) and has yielded Mousterian lithics, a rich fauna, and human remains from several layers. The latter include 10 isolated teeth, a cranial frag- ment and three postcranial elements. The remains represent at least eight individuals, two of them subadults, and show both carnivore and anthropogenic modifications. They can be identified as Nean- derthal on the basis of diagnostic morphology on most specimens. A diet similar to that of Neanderthals from mixed habitat is suggested by our analysis of dental wear (occlusal fingerprint analysis) and microwear (occlusal texture microwear analysis), in agreement with the faunal and palynological ana- lyses of the site. These new fossils significantly expand the Neanderthal sample known from Greece. Together with the human specimens from Lakonis and Apidima, the Kalamakia human remains add to the growing evidence of a strong Neanderthal presence in the Mani region during the Late Pleistocene.
Systematic excavations on the peak Profitis Ilias at Mamousia in Achaia have exposed the remains ... more Systematic excavations on the peak Profitis Ilias at Mamousia in Achaia have exposed the remains of a sanctuary that may have belonged to the territory of ancient Keryneia. The Archaic peripteros dominated the peak. This temple, which dates between 500 and 490 B.C., was built of sandstone with simas, acroteria and pediment sculptures of insular marble. The shape of the crepis and comparanda suggest a pteron with 14 columns on its flanks. It is striking that the cella is unusually narrow, as is also the case with the contemporary temple of Athena in Alipheira. The remains of an altar and a small oikos are located east of the Archaic peripteral temple. The Archaic sanctuary was, in all likelihood, destroyed by the earthquake of 373 B.C. Excavations west of the large Archaic temple uncovered the remains of a smaller temple with two columns in antis and a square cella, which can be dated to the middle of the 4th century B.C.
The Kalamakia cave, a Middle Paleolithic site on the western coast of the Mani peninsula, Greece,... more The Kalamakia cave, a Middle Paleolithic site on the western coast of the Mani peninsula, Greece, was excavated in 1993–2006 by an interdisciplinary team from the Ephoreia of Paleoanthropology and Speleology (Greek Ministry of Culture) and the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (Paris). The site is dated to between ca. 100,000 and >39,000 years BP (Before Present) and has yielded Mousterian lithics, a rich fauna, and human remains from several layers. The latter include 10 isolated teeth, a cranial fragment and three postcranial elements. The remains represent at least eight individuals, two of them subadults, and show both carnivore and anthropogenic modifications. They can be identified as Neanderthal on the basis of diagnostic morphology on most specimens. A diet similar to that of Neanderthals from mixed habitat is suggested by our analysis of dental wear (occlusal fingerprint analysis) and microwear (occlusal texture microwear analysis), in agreement with the faunal and palynological analyses of the site. These new fossils significantly expand the Neanderthal sample known from Greece. Together with the human specimens from Lakonis and Apidima, the Kalamakia human remains add to the growing evidence of a strong Neanderthal presence in the Mani region during the Late Pleistocene.
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Papers by Eleni Psathi
Cervus elaphus remains of different Peistocene sites of Alpes-Maritimes and Liguria (Lazaret, Madonna dell'Arma, Fate, Manie, Santa Lucia Superiore) have been studied under a palaeontological and taphonomic point of view. The morphological and biometric analysis of teeth remains reveals variations related primarily to climatic changes and secondary to biological evolution. The taphonomic data suggest a systematic human hunting of red deer and transport of the entire carcass of these animals to the camps. Finally, red deer had been widely utilized by humans, using similar butchery procedures between the different sites.
Conference Presentations by Eleni Psathi
Cervus elaphus remains of different Peistocene sites of Alpes-Maritimes and Liguria (Lazaret, Madonna dell'Arma, Fate, Manie, Santa Lucia Superiore) have been studied under a palaeontological and taphonomic point of view. The morphological and biometric analysis of teeth remains reveals variations related primarily to climatic changes and secondary to biological evolution. The taphonomic data suggest a systematic human hunting of red deer and transport of the entire carcass of these animals to the camps. Finally, red deer had been widely utilized by humans, using similar butchery procedures between the different sites.