Late Pleistocene Neanderthal occupation of Western Mani: The evidence from the Middle Palaeolithic assemblages of Mavri Spilia

摘要

This paper presents the results of the analysis of the lithics from the Palaeolithic layers of Mavri Spilia, excavated during the field season of 2013. For the most part, these lithic assemblages were associated with hearth formations, both at the back and at the entrance of the cave. A wide range of raw materials both local and non-local was used, most likely in the form of pebbles. Evidence points to the application of both Levallois and non-Levallois reduction sequences, with no indication that different techniques were applied on different materials. The most common retouched tool type is the scraper, with most of these being ordinary side scrapers and only a few indicating more invasive, Quina-like retouch. Using all available information, an attempt to understand the site in the context of the Late Pleistocene Neanderthal occupation of the Mani Peninsula is made and some tentative conclusions are drawn. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.