Preliminary Findings of the Balkan Paleo Project: Evidence of Human Activity at the “Gateway” of Europe During the Late Pleistocene
This paper describes the initial findings of the Balkan Paleo Project (BPP). The project seeks: 1 – to augment the evidence that can be used to test hypotheses about hominin and faunal dispersals into and out of Europe during the Pleistocene; 2 – to gather data for testing the hypotheses regarding t...
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Association of Bulgarian Archaeologists
2012-12-01
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Series: | Българско е-Списание за Археология |
Online Access: | https://be-ja.org/index.php/journal/article/view/31 |
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doaj-befbdcef3d6f4010b2319cbe2411323f2020-11-25T03:10:44ZbulAssociation of Bulgarian ArchaeologistsБългарско е-Списание за Археология1314-50882012-12-012212425Preliminary Findings of the Balkan Paleo Project: Evidence of Human Activity at the “Gateway” of Europe During the Late PleistoceneStefanka Ivanova0Maria Gurova1Nikolai Spassov2Vasil Popov3Jana Makedonska4Tsanko Tzankov5David S. Strait6National Institute of Archaeology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Saborna Str., 1000 SofiaNational Institute of Archaeology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Saborna Str., 1000 SofiaDepartment of Palaeontology and Mineralogy, National Museum of Natural History in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1000 SofiaDepartment of Community Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research in Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin Str., 1113 SofiaDepartment of Anthropology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Arts and Sciences 237, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222South-West University "Neofit Rilski", 66 Ivan Michailov st., 2700 BlagoevgradDepartment of Anthropology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Arts and Sciences 237, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222This paper describes the initial findings of the Balkan Paleo Project (BPP). The project seeks: 1 – to augment the evidence that can be used to test hypotheses about hominin and faunal dispersals into and out of Europe during the Pleistocene; 2 – to gather data for testing the hypotheses regarding the adaptation of early human populations to Eurasian ecosystems, the adjustment of their tool technologies, anatomical characteristics and behaviors in response to local climates and faunal evidence. These research objectives can only be achieved by identifying and excavating a broad spectrum of archaeological and paleontological sties that span the Pleistocene within the Balkan Peninsula. Results of BPP activities conducted in southern Bulgaria are reported here. These include excavations at the Arkata rockshelter and associated caves overlooking the Arda River near (Eastern Rhodopes, Krumovgrad district), the Leyarna caves and the previously known paleontological locality of Mechata Dupka (Strandzha Mountains, Malko Tarnovo district). These activities have expanded our understanding of ecological conditions along a potentially important pathway along which early humans may have dispersed into and out of Europe, and have for the first time documented the presence of Pleistocene humans within southeastern Bulgaria.https://be-ja.org/index.php/journal/article/view/31 |
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DOAJ |
language |
Bulgarian |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Stefanka Ivanova Maria Gurova Nikolai Spassov Vasil Popov Jana Makedonska Tsanko Tzankov David S. Strait |
spellingShingle |
Stefanka Ivanova Maria Gurova Nikolai Spassov Vasil Popov Jana Makedonska Tsanko Tzankov David S. Strait Preliminary Findings of the Balkan Paleo Project: Evidence of Human Activity at the “Gateway” of Europe During the Late Pleistocene Българско е-Списание за Археология |
author_facet |
Stefanka Ivanova Maria Gurova Nikolai Spassov Vasil Popov Jana Makedonska Tsanko Tzankov David S. Strait |
author_sort |
Stefanka Ivanova |
title |
Preliminary Findings of the Balkan Paleo Project: Evidence of Human Activity at the “Gateway” of Europe During the Late Pleistocene |
title_short |
Preliminary Findings of the Balkan Paleo Project: Evidence of Human Activity at the “Gateway” of Europe During the Late Pleistocene |
title_full |
Preliminary Findings of the Balkan Paleo Project: Evidence of Human Activity at the “Gateway” of Europe During the Late Pleistocene |
title_fullStr |
Preliminary Findings of the Balkan Paleo Project: Evidence of Human Activity at the “Gateway” of Europe During the Late Pleistocene |
title_full_unstemmed |
Preliminary Findings of the Balkan Paleo Project: Evidence of Human Activity at the “Gateway” of Europe During the Late Pleistocene |
title_sort |
preliminary findings of the balkan paleo project: evidence of human activity at the “gateway” of europe during the late pleistocene |
publisher |
Association of Bulgarian Archaeologists |
series |
Българско е-Списание за Археология |
issn |
1314-5088 |
publishDate |
2012-12-01 |
description |
This paper describes the initial findings of the Balkan Paleo Project (BPP). The project seeks: 1 – to augment the evidence that can be used to test hypotheses about hominin and faunal dispersals into and out of Europe during the Pleistocene; 2 – to gather data for testing the hypotheses regarding the adaptation of early human populations to Eurasian ecosystems, the adjustment of their tool technologies, anatomical characteristics and behaviors in response to local climates and faunal evidence.
These research objectives can only be achieved by identifying and excavating a broad spectrum of archaeological and paleontological sties that span the Pleistocene within the Balkan Peninsula. Results of BPP activities conducted in southern Bulgaria are reported here. These include excavations at the Arkata rockshelter and associated caves overlooking the Arda River near (Eastern Rhodopes, Krumovgrad district), the Leyarna caves and the previously known paleontological locality of Mechata Dupka (Strandzha Mountains, Malko Tarnovo district). These activities have expanded our understanding of ecological conditions along a potentially important pathway along which early humans may have dispersed into and out of Europe, and have for the first time documented the presence of Pleistocene humans within southeastern Bulgaria. |
url |
https://be-ja.org/index.php/journal/article/view/31 |
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