Aurignacian dynamics in Southeastern Europe based on spatial analysis, sediment geochemistry, raw materials, lithic analysis, and use-wear from Românești-Dumbrăvița

Scientific Reports, vol. 12, pp. 14152

Abstract

The Aurignacian is one of the first cultural-technological traditions commonly associated with the expansion of Homo sapiens in Europe. Early Homo sapiens demographics across the continent are therefore typically inferred using the distribution of Aurignacian assemblages. Western Romania has been used as a tie-point to connect the well-researched lithic assemblages from the eastern Mediterranean and Western Europe through its early Homo sapiens fossils. However, Romania's archeological record remains underexplored thereby hindering our ability to directly connect better understood regions through time and space. Here we report on excavations from the open-air Middle/Upper Paleolithic site of Românești-Dumbrăvița I in southwestern Romania. Three stratified Paleolithic assemblages were extensively excavated within a 1-m-thick eolian-deposited sequence. Spatial, geochemical, raw material, techno-typological, and use-wear analysis of the site reveal patterns of artifact configuration, resource exploitation, fire history, knapping objectives, and functionality. Taken together, Românești-Dumbrăvița I is the first well-contextualized archeological site in close spatiotemporal proximity to many early, well-preserved human fossils and in East-Central Europe.

Authors 7

1. Wei Chu corresponding Aachen Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University

   Leiden University · University of Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands. w.chu@arch.leidenuniv.nl

   Institute of Prehistoric Archeology, University of Cologne, Weyertal 125, 50923, Cologne, Germany. w.chu@arch.leidenuniv.nl

   Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Scott D. McLin

   Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment · University of Tübingen

   Affiliation as printed

   Paleoanthropology, Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Paleoenvironment, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

3. Luisa Wöstehoff

   University of Bonn

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, Soil Science and Soil Ecology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

4. Alexandru Ciornei

   Romanian Academy

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Paleolithic Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, "Vasile Parvan" of the Romanian Academy, 11 Henri Coanda Street, Sector 1, 010667, Bucharest, Romania

5. Jacopo Gennai

   University of Cologne

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Prehistoric Archeology, University of Cologne, Weyertal 125, 50923, Cologne, Germany

6. João Marreiros

   Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz · LEIZA - Leibniz-Zentrum für Archäologie · Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and the Evolution of Human Behaviour · University of Algarve

   Affiliation as printed

   ICArEHB - Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal

   Institute for Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archeology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

   Laboratory for Traceology and Controlled Experiments (TraCEr), MONREPOS - Archaeological Research Centre and Museum for Human Behavioural Evolution, RGZM, Mainz, Germany

   Laboratory for Traceology and Controlled Experiments (TraCEr), MONREPOS – Archaeological Research Centre and Museum for Human Behavioural Evolution, RGZM, Mainz, Germany

7. Adrian Doboş

   Romanian Academy

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Paleolithic Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, "Vasile Parvan" of the Romanian Academy, 11 Henri Coanda Street, Sector 1, 010667, Bucharest, Romania