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The Middle and Upper Paleolithic on the Western Coast of the Mani Peninsula (Southern Greece)

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Paleoanthropology of the Balkans and Anatolia

Part of the book series: Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology ((VERT))

Abstract

Along the western coast of the Mani peninsula (S. Greece) numerous caves with Upper Pleistocene and Early Holocene deposits, preserving cultural remains from the Middle Paleolithic to the end of the Neolithic, form an important group of archaeological sites located in a restricted geographic area. Excavations have been carried out in seven of these caves. The excavation of Kalamakia yielded data about the Middle Paleolithic, while the other six caves have yielded remains of all Upper Paleolithic phases. Of particular interest is the discovery of transitional Middle-Upper Paleolithic layers in Kolominitsa cave. Although preliminary, this evidence demonstrates the importance of systematic research on a regional scale through the comparative study of neighboring and contemporaneous sites. Finally, these sites enable us to date the arrival of anatomically modern humans in this area and to study subsequent ecological and cultural changes.

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Acknowledgements

The investigations in the Mani peninsula have been funded by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture (Ephoreia of Paleoanthopology-Speleology), the J. F. Costopoulos Foundation, the Institute for Aegean Prehistory, the Psychas Foundation, and the Municipality of Eastern Mani. All the above institutions are gratefully acknowledged. We also thank the three anonymous reviewers and the Editors for their very useful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ephoreia of Paleoanthropology and Speleology, Ardittou 34b, Athens, 11636, Greece

    Andreas Darlas

  2. Ephoreia of Antiquities of Arcadia, Kalavryton 211, Tripolis, 22100, Greece

    Eleni Psathi

Authors
  1. Andreas Darlas
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  2. Eleni Psathi
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Correspondence to Andreas Darlas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Paleoanthropology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Katerina Harvati

  2. Department of Anthropology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Mirjana Roksandic

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Darlas, A., Psathi, E. (2016). The Middle and Upper Paleolithic on the Western Coast of the Mani Peninsula (Southern Greece). In: Harvati, K., Roksandic, M. (eds) Paleoanthropology of the Balkans and Anatolia. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-0874-4_7

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