The Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition occupations from Cova Foradada (Calafell, NE Iberia)

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215832
• Publication Date: 2019-05-16T17:38:16Z
• Authors: Juan I. Morales; Artur Cebrià; Aitor Burguet-Coca; Juan Luis Fernánd...; Gala García-Argudo; Antonio Rodríguez...; María Soto; Sahra Talamo; José-Miguel Tejero; Josep Vallverdú; Josep Maria Fullola
• Keywords: Aurignacian; Neanderthal; Middle Paleolithic; Upper Paleolithic; Sequence (biology); Mousterian; Paleoanthropology

The Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition in Europe covers the last millennia of Neanderthal life together with appearance and expansion Modern Human populations. Culturally, it is defined by Late Middle succession, Early Upper complexes like Châtelperronian (southwestern Europe), Protoaurignacian, Aurignacian. Up to now, southern boundary for has been established as being situated between France Iberia, Cantabrian façade Pyrenees. According this, central territories Iberia are claimed have refuge Neanderthals some additional after they were replaced anatomically Humans on rest continent. In this paper, we present sequence from Cova Foradada (Tarragona), a cave Catalan Mediterranean coastline. Archaeological research documented stratigraphic containing succession very short-term occupations pertaining Châtelperronian, Aurignacian, Gravettian. therefore represents southernmost Châtelperronian-Early Aurignacian ever Europe, significantly enlarging territorial distribution both cultures providing an important geographical chronological reference understanding disappearance complete Humans.