The Middle Palaeolithic of South-eastern Europe

Abstract

Abstract This chapter reviews the Middle Palaeolithic of South-eastern Europe in light of the results obtained by recent research. A large territory from Slovenia in the north to Greece in the south and from Croatia in the west to Bulgaria and Romania in the east is covered by the chapter. The chronology and characteristics of defined technocomplexes from MIS 7 to MIS 3 are presented and discussed in their functional and environmental context. Examples of these technocomplexes include the so-called South-eastern European (Balkan) Charentian, so-called Micromousterian as both Charentian and a kind of Denticulate Mousterian, Typical Mousterian with Levallois technology and often with bifacial points and other industrial variants that appeared in the region during this period. We primarily consider aspects of technology, typology and stone raw-material procurement in chronological and regional context, but also included are aspects of palaeoecology and other patterns in our interpretations.