An Aurignacian Assemblage from the Island of Lemnos (Greece): Some Aspects of the Beginning of the Upper Paleolithic in the Northeast Aegean
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. The Pournias Site
3. Materials and Methods
4. Results
5. Discussion
6. Conclusions
Supplementary Materials
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Efstratiou, N.; Biagi, P.; Starnini, E.; Kyriakou, D.; Eleftheriadou, A. Agia Marina and Peristereònas: Two Epipalaeolithic sites in the Island of Lemnos (Greece). J. Paleolit. Archaeol. 2022, 5, 5. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Efstratiou, N.; Biagi, P.; Starnini, E. The Epipalaeolithic Site of Ouriakos on the Island of Lemnos and its Place in the Late Pleistocene Peopling of the East Mediterranean Region. Adalya 2014, XVII, 1–23. [Google Scholar]
- Vacchi, M.; Rovere, A.; Chatzipetros, A.; Zouros, N.; Firpo, M. An updated database of Holocene relative sea level changes in NE Aegean Sea. Quat. Int. 2014, 328–329, 301–310. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lambeck, K.; Purcell, A. Sea-level change in the Mediterranean Sea since the LGM: Model predictions for tectonically stable areas. Quat. Sci. Rev. 2005, 24, 1969–1988. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lambeck, K. Sea-level change and shore-line evolution in Aegean Greece since Upper Palaeolithic time. Antiquity 1996, 70, 588–611. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lambeck, K.; Rouby, H.; Purcell, A.; Sun, Y.; Sambridge, M. Sea level and global ice volumes from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2014, 111, 15296–15303. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lykoussis, V. Sea-level changes and shelf break prograding sequences during the last 400ka in the Aegean margins: Subsidence rates and palaeogeographic implications. Cont. Shelf Res. 2009, 29, 2037–2044. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Koukousioura, O.; Kouli, K.; Gkouma, M.; Theocharidis, N.; Ntinou, M.; Chalkioti, A.; Dimou, V.-G.; Fatourou, E.; Navrozidou, V.; Kafetzidou, A.; et al. Reconstructing the Environmental Conditions in the Prehistoric Coastal Landscape of SE Lemnos Island (Greece) Since the Late Glacial. Water 2025, 17, 220. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bar-Yosef, O. Defining the Aurignacian. In Towards a Definition of the Aurignacian, Proceedings of the Symposium, Lisbon, Portugal, 25–30 June 2002; Bar-Yosef, O., Zilhão, J., Eds.; Trabalhos de Arqueologia: Lisbon, Portugal, 2006; Volume 45, pp. 11–20. [Google Scholar]
- Galanidou, N. Advances in the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic archaeology of Greece for the new millennium. Pharos 2014, 20, 1–40. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Galanidou, N.; Cole, J.; Iliopoulos, G.; McNabb, J. East meets West: The Middle Pleistocene site of Rodafnidia on Lesvos, Greece. Antiq. Proj. Gallery 2013, 87, 1–7. [Google Scholar]
- Sakellariou, D.; Galanidou, N. Aegean Pleistocene Landscapes Above and Below Sea-Level: Palaeogeographic Reconstruction and Hominin Dispersals. In Under the Sea: Archaeology and Palaeolandscapes of the Continental Shelf; Bailey, G., Harff, J., Sakellariou, D., Eds.; Springer: Cham, Germany, 2017; pp. 335–359. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Howitt-Marshall, D.; Runnels, C. Middle Pleistocene sea-crossings in the eastern Mediterranean? J. Anthropol. Archaeol. 2016, 42, 140–153. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Simmons, A.H. Stone Age Sailors. In Paleolithic Seafaring in the Mediterranean; Routledge: New York, NY, USA, 2016. [Google Scholar]
- Hoffecker, J.F. The Spread on Modern Humans in Europe. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2009, 106, 16040–16045. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Haws, J.A.; Benedetti, M.B.; Talamo, S.; Bicho, N.; Cascalheira, J.; Ellis, M.G.; Carvalho, M.M.; Fried, L.; Pereirai, T.; Zinsious, B.K. The early Aurignacian dispersal of modern humans into westernmost Eurasia. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2020, 117, 25414–25422. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Shao, Y.; Limberg, H.; Klein, K.; Wegener, C.; Schmidt, I.; Weniger, G.-C.; Hense, A.; Rostami, M. Human-existence probability of the Aurignacian techno-complex under extreme climate conditions. Quat. Sci. Rev. 2021, 263, 106995. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Shao, Y.; Wegener, C.; Klein, K.; Schmidt, I.; Weniger, G.-C. Reconstruction of human dispersal during Aurignacian on pan-European scale. Nat. Commun. 2024, 15, 7406. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chu, W.; McLin, S.; Wöstehoff, L.; Ciornei, A.; Gennai, J.; Marreiros, J.; Doboş, A. Aurignacian dynamics in Southeastern Europe based on spatial analysis, sediment geochemistry, raw materials, lithic analysis, and use-wear from Românești-Dumbrăvița. Sci. Rep. 2022, 12, 14152. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kozłowski, J.K.; Otte, M. The Formation of the Aurignacian in Europe. J. Anthropol. Res. 2000, 56, 513–534. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Yalçinkaya, I.; Otte, M. Début du Paléolithique supérieur à Karain (Turquie). L’Anthropologie 2000, 104, 51–62. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Koumouzelis, M.; Ginter, B.; Kozłowski, J.; Pawlinowski, M.; Bar-Yosef, O.; Albert, R.-M.; Litynska-Zajac, M.; Stworzewicz, E.; Wojtal, P.; Lipecki, G.; et al. The Early Upper Palaeolithic in Greece: The Excavations in Klisoura Cave. J. Archaeol. Sci. 2001, 28, 515–539. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Douka, K.; Perlès, C.; Valladas, H.; Vanhaeren, M.; Hedges, R.E.M. Franchthi Cave revisited: The age of the Aurignacian in south-eastern Europe. Antiquity 2011, 85, 1131–1150. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kozłowski, J.K. The Problem of Cultural Continuity between the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic in Central and Eastern Europe. In The Geography of Neandertals and Modern Humans in Europe and the Greater Mediterranean; Bar-Yosef, O., Pilbeam, D., Eds.; Peabody Museum Bulletin; Harvard University: Cambridge, MA, USA, 2000; Volume 8, pp. 77–108. [Google Scholar]
- Sidiropoulou, M.; Fouache, E.; Pavlopoulos, K.; Triantaphyllou, M.; Vouvalidis, K.; Syrides, G.; Greco, E. Geomorphological Evolution and Paleoenvironment Reconstruction in the Northeastern Part of Lemnos Island (North Aegean Sea). Aegaeum 2014, 37, 49–57. [Google Scholar]
- Bond, C.J. The value, meaning and protection of lithic scatters. Lithics 2011, 32, 29–48. [Google Scholar]
- Runnels, C.; Karimali, E.; Cullen, B. Early upper Palaeolithic Spilaion: An artifact-rich surface site. In Landscape Archaeology in Southern Epirus, Greece I; Wiseman, J., Zachos, K., Eds.; Hesperia Supplement 32; American School of Classical Studies at Athens: Athens, Greece, 2003; pp. 135–156. [Google Scholar]
- Laplace, G. Essai de typologie systématique. Ann. dell’Università Ferrara 1964, I (Suppl. II), 1–85. [Google Scholar]
- Martini, F. L’Epigravettiano di Poggio alla Malva (Firenze). Atti Della Soc. Toscana Sci. Nat. Mem. 1981, 88, 303–326. [Google Scholar]
- Le Bruns-Ricalens, F. Chronique d’une reconnaissance attendue. Outils “carénés”, outils “nucléiformes”: Nucléus à lamelles. Bilan après un siècle de recherches typologiques, technologiques et tracéologiques. Productions lamellaires attribuées à l’Aurignacien: Chaînes opératoires et perspectives technoculturelles. In Proceedings of the XIVe Congrès de l‘UISPP, Liège, Belgium, 2–8 September 2001; ArchéoLogiques: Luxembourg, 2005; Volume 1, pp. 23–72. [Google Scholar]
- Innocenti, F.; Manetti, P.; Mazzuoli, R.; Pertusati, P.; Fytikas, M.; Kolios, N.; Vougioukalakis, G.E.; Androulakakis, N.; Critelli, S.; Caracciolo, L. Geological map (scale 1:50,000) of Limnos Island (Greece): Explanatory notes. Acta Vulcanol. 2009, 21, 123–134. [Google Scholar]
- Anifadi, A.; Parcharidis, I.; Sykioti, O. Hydrothermal alteration zones detection in Limnos Island, through the application of Remote Sensing. Bull. Geol. Soc. Greece 2016, 50, 1595–1604. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bataille, G. Extracting the “Proto” from the Aurignacian. Distinct Production Sequences of Blades and Bladelets in the Lower Aurignacian Phase of Siuren I, Units H and G (Crimea). Mitteilungen Der Ges. Für Urgeschichte 2016, 25, 49–85. [Google Scholar]
- Gennai, J.; Peresani, M.; Richter, J. Blades, bladelets or blade(let)s? Investigating early Upper Palaeolithic technology and taxonomical considerations. Quartär 2021, 68, 71–116. [Google Scholar]
- Laplace, G. Recherches sur l’Origine et l’Evolution des Complexes Leptolithiques; l’École française de Rome: Rome, Italy, 1966; Volume 4, Available online: https://www.persee.fr/doc/efr_0000-0000_1966_mon_4_1 (accessed on 9 October 2024).
- Carter, T.; Daniel, A.; Contreras, D.A.; Holcomb, J.; Mihailović, D.A.; Karkanas, P.; Guérin, G.; Taffin, N.; Athanasoulis, D.; Lahaye, C. Earliest occupation of the Central Aegean (Naxos), Greece: Implications for hominin and Homo sapiens’ behavior and dispersals. Sci. Adv. 2019, 5, 10. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Teyssandier, N. Les débuts de l’Aurignacien dans leur cadre européen: Où en est-on? [The beginnings of the Aurignacian in a European framework: Where do we stand?]. Gall. Préhistoire 2023, 63, 103–152. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Teyssandier, N.; Bolus, M.; Conard, N. The Early Aurignacian in central Europe and its place in a European perspective. In Towards a Definition of the Aurignacian, Proceedings of the Symposium, Lisbon, Portugal, 25–30 June 2002; Bar-Yosef, O., Zilhão, J., Eds.; Trabalhos de Arqueologia: Lisbon, Portugal, 2006; Volume 45, pp. 241–256. [Google Scholar]
- Kuhn, S.L.; Brantingham, P.J.; Kerry, K.W. The Early Upper Palaeolithic and the Origin of Modern Humans. In The Early Upper Palaeolithic Beyond Western Europe; Brantingham, P.J., Kuhn, S.L., Kerry, K.W., Eds.; University of California Press: Berkeley, CA, USA; London, UK, 2004; pp. 242–248. [Google Scholar]
- Kozłowski, J.K. A dynamic view of Aurignacian technology. In Towards a Definition of the Aurignacian, Proceedings of the Symposium, Lisbon, Portugal, 25–30 June 2002; Bar-Yosef, O., Zilhão, J., Eds.; Trabalhos de Arqueologia: Lisbon, Portugal, 2006; Volume 45, pp. 21–34. [Google Scholar]
- Higham, T.; Wood, R.; Moreau, L.; Conard, N.; Ramsey, C.B. Comments on ’Human-climate interaction during the early Upper Paleolithic: Testing the hypothesis of an adaptive shift between the Proto-Aurignacian and the early Aurignacian’ by Banks. J. Hum. Evol. 2013, 65, 806–809. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Teyssandier, N.; Zilhão, J. On the entity and antiquity of the Aurignacian at Willendorf (Austria): Implications for modern human emergence in Europe. J. Paleolit. Archaeol. 2018, 1, 107–138. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Tourloukis, V.; Harvati, K. The Palaeolithic record of Greece: A synthesis of the evidence and a research agenda for the future. Quat. Int. 2017, 446, 48–65. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ligkovanlis, S. Megalo Karvounari Revisited. In Thesprotia Expedition II. Environment and Settlement Patterns; Forsén, B., Tikkala, E., Eds.; Finnish Institute at Athens: Athens, Greece, 2011; Volume XVI, pp. 159–180. [Google Scholar]
- Darlas, A. Palaeolithic Research in Western Achaïa. In The Palaeolithic Archaeology of Greece and Adjacent Areas, Proceedings of the ICOPAG Conference, Ioannina, Greece, September 1994; Bailey, G., Adam, E., Panagopoulou, E., Perlès, C., Zagros, C., Eds.; British School at Athens Studies: Athens, Greece, 1999; Volume 3, pp. 303–310. [Google Scholar]
- Siddall, M.; Rohling, E.J.; Thompson, W.G.; Waelbroeck, C. Marine isotope stage 3 sea level fluctuations: Data synthesis and new outlook. Rev. Geophys. 2008, 46, RG4003. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Benjamin, J.; Rovere, A.; Fontana, A.; Furlani, S.; Vacchi, M.; Inglis, R.H.; Galili, E.; Antonioli, F.; Sivan, D.; Miko, S.; et al. Late Quaternary sea-level changes and early human societies in the central and eastern Mediterranean Basin: An interdisciplinary review. Quat. Int. 2017, 449, 29–57. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Chalkioti, A. Reconstructing the Coastal Configuration of Lemnos Island (Northeast Aegean Sea, Greece). In Géoarchéologie Des îles De La Méditerranée; Ghilardi, M., Ed.; CNRS Éditions: Paris, France, 2016; pp. 109–118. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kuhn, S.L.; Pigati, J.; Karkanas, P.; Koumouzelis, M.; Kozłowski, J.K.; Ntinou, M.; Stiner, M.C. Radiocarbon dating results for the early Paleolithic of Klissoura Cave. Eurasian Prehist. 2010, 7, 37–46. [Google Scholar]
- Darlas, A.; Psathi, E. The Middle and Upper Paleolithic on the Western Coast of the Mani Peninsula (Southern Greece). In Paleoanthropology of the Balkans and Anatolia Human Evolution and Its Context; Harvati, K., Roksandic, M., Eds.; Springer Science + Business Media: Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 2016; pp. 95–117. [Google Scholar]
- Hauck, T.C.; Ruka, R.; Gjipali, I.; Richter, J.; Vogels, O. Recent discoveries of Aurignacian and Epigravettian sites in Albania. J. Field Archaeol. 2016, 41, 148–161. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bernabò Brea, L. Città preistorica nell’isola di Lemnos. In Monografie della Scuola Archeologica di Atene e delle Missioni Italiane in Oriente; Poliochni II.1, II.2; Bretschneider: Rome, Italy, 1976; Volume 2. [Google Scholar]
- Triantaphyllou, M.V.; Firkasis, N.; Tsourou, T.; Vassilakis, E.; Spyrou, E.; Koukousioura, O.; Oikonomou, A.; Skentos, A. “Geo-Archaeo-Routes” on the Island of Lemnos: The “Nalture” Experience as a Holistic Geotouristic Approach within the Geoethical Perspective. Geosciences 2023, 13, 143. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Menelaou, S.; Kouka, O.; Müller, N.S.; Kiriatzi, E. Longevity, creativity, and mobility at the “oldest city in Europe”: Ceramic traditions and cultural interactions at Poliochni Lemnos, northeast Aegean. Archaeol. Anthropol. Sci. 2024, 16, 179. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sakellariou, D.; Galanidou, N. Pleistocene submerged landscapes and Palaeolithic archaeology in the tectonically active Aegean region. In Geology and Archaeology: Submerged Landscapes of the Continental Shelf; Harff, J., Bailey, G., Lüth, F., Eds.; Geological Society: London, UK, 2016; Volume 411, pp. 145–178. [Google Scholar]
- Bulut, H.; Taşkıran, H.; Özçelik, K.; Karahan, G. Lower and Middle Palaeolithic evidence from the North Aegean coastline of Çanakkale, Turkey. Antiquity 2022, 96, 981–988. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Erdoğu, B.; Yücel, N.E.; Demir, K. The new evidence for the Palaeolithic on the island of Gökçeada (Imbros), north-eastern Aegean. J. Lithic Stud. 2021, 8, 5121. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Svoboda, J.A. The Aurignacian and after: Chronology, geography and cultural taxonomy in the Middle Danube region. In Towards a Definition of the Aurignacian, Proceedings of the Symposium, Lisbon, Portugal, 25–30 June 2002; Bar-Yosef, O., Zilhão, J., Eds.; Trabalhos de Arqueologia: Lisbon, Portugal, 2006; Volume 45, pp. 259–274. [Google Scholar]
- Bar-Yosef, O.; Pilbeam, D. (Eds.) Afterword. In The Geography of Neandertals and Modern Humans in Europe and the Greater Mediterranean; Peabody Museum Bulletin; Harvard University: Cambridge, MA, USA, 2000; Volume 8, pp. 183–187. [Google Scholar]
- Kuhn, S.L.; Stiner, M.C.; Güleç, E. Initial Upper Palaeolithic in south-central Turkey and its regional context: A preliminary report. Antiquity 1999, 73, 505–517. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Grøn, O.; Hermand, J.-P. Settlement archaeology under water. Practical, strategic and research perspective. In Proceedings of the 2015 IEEE/OES Acoustics in Underwater Geosciences Symposium (RIO Acoustics), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 29–31 July 2015; IEEE Foundation: Piscataway, NY, USA, 2015; pp. 1–5. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Grøn, O.; Boldreel, L.O.; Smith, M.F.; Joy, S.; Tayong Boumda, R.; Mäder, A.; Bleicher, N.; Madsen, B.; Cvikel, D.; Nilsson, B.; et al. Acoustic Mapping of Submerged Stone Age Sites—A HALD Approach. Remote Sens. 2021, 13, 445. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Balci, S. The Chipped Stone Industry of Aktopraklık C (Bursa). Preliminary Results. Anatolia Antiq. Eski Anadolu 2011, 19, 1–11. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Atakuman, C.; Erdoğu, B.; Gemici, H.C.; Baykara, I.; Karakoç, M.; Biagi, P.; Starnini, E.; Guilbeau, D.; Yücel, N.; Turan, D.; et al. Before the Neolithic in the Aegean: The Pleistocene and the Early Holocene record of Bozburun—Southwest Turkey. J. Isl. Coast. Archaeol. 2022, 17, 323–355. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Flörke, O.W.; Köhler-Herbertz, B.; Langer, K.; Tönges, I. Water in microcrystalline quartz of volcanic origin: Agates. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 1982, 80, 324–333. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Schmidt, P.; Bellot-Gurlet, L.; Slodczyk, A.; Fröhlich, F. A hitherto unrecognised band in the Raman spectra of silica rocks: Influence of hydroxylated Si–O bonds (silanole) on the Raman moganite band in chalcedony and flint (SiO2). Phys. Chem. Miner. 2012, 39, 455–464. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Artefact Type | Complete | Fragment | Total |
---|---|---|---|
Core | 2 | 6 | 8 (4.32%) |
Core rejuvenation | 1 | 0 | 1 (0.54%) |
Carinated end scraper | 13 | 20 | 33 (17.83%) |
Semicircular end scraper | 3 | 1 | 4 (2.16%) |
Long end scraper | 0 | 1 | 1 (0.54%) |
Short end scraper | 4 | 6 | 10 (5.40%) |
Side/transversal scraper | 3 | 3 | 6 (3.24%) |
Backed bladelet | 1 | 0 | 1 (0.54%) |
Bladelet | 2 | 4 | 6 (3.24%) |
Microbladelet | 0 | 2 | 2 (1.08%) |
Flakelet | 5 | 31 | 36 (19.45%) |
Microflakelet | 10 | 61 | 71 (38.37%) |
Tablette/Cornice | 3 | 0 | 3 (1.62%) |
Cortex beach pebble | 0 | 1 | 1 (0.54%) |
Chunk | 0 | 2 | 2 (1.08%) |
Totals | 47 (25.40%) | 138 (74.60%) | 185 (100%) |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Biagi, P.; Starnini, E.; Agafonova, Y.; Efstratiou, N.; Campomenosi, N.; Cabella, R. An Aurignacian Assemblage from the Island of Lemnos (Greece): Some Aspects of the Beginning of the Upper Paleolithic in the Northeast Aegean. Heritage 2025, 8, 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8040141
Biagi P, Starnini E, Agafonova Y, Efstratiou N, Campomenosi N, Cabella R. An Aurignacian Assemblage from the Island of Lemnos (Greece): Some Aspects of the Beginning of the Upper Paleolithic in the Northeast Aegean. Heritage. 2025; 8(4):141. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8040141
Chicago/Turabian StyleBiagi, Paolo, Elisabetta Starnini, Yulia Agafonova, Nikos Efstratiou, Nicola Campomenosi, and Roberto Cabella. 2025. "An Aurignacian Assemblage from the Island of Lemnos (Greece): Some Aspects of the Beginning of the Upper Paleolithic in the Northeast Aegean" Heritage 8, no. 4: 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8040141
APA StyleBiagi, P., Starnini, E., Agafonova, Y., Efstratiou, N., Campomenosi, N., & Cabella, R. (2025). An Aurignacian Assemblage from the Island of Lemnos (Greece): Some Aspects of the Beginning of the Upper Paleolithic in the Northeast Aegean. Heritage, 8(4), 141. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8040141