Between the 28th and the 31st of August, our team attended the 2024 European Association of Archaeologists (EAA) Annual Meeting in Rome, where they presented their latest research and sparked lively discussions across various topics. The conference was an excellent opportunity to showcase new insights related to our project, as well as to highlight methodological and theoretical innovations within each team member’s specific area of expertise.
Nolan Ferar kicked off our contributions with a presentation on the challenges of interpreting lithic assemblages from the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition, which are often characterized by the use of low-cost, expedient reduction strategies involving materials like quartz and quartzite. Nolan’s experimental studies will provide new insights into the technological behaviors of late Neanderthal populations and the factors influencing their survival.
Javier Sánchez-Martínez presented his research on the Cova Gran de Santa Linya site in Northeastern Iberia, where he used lithic refitting and spatial analysis to examine the impact of site formation processes on the preservation of archaeological layers. His findings revealed that the lithic assemblages remained largely undisturbed by post-depositional events, offering new insights into Palaeolithic human activity and site organization.
Joana Belmiro introduced the LusoLit project, a new online reference collection for chert in western Iberia. This initiative aims to improve our understanding of lithic raw material procurement and exchange networks across the Iberian Peninsula, supporting collaboration and accessibility in the field.
Guillermo Alzate presented his research on site formation processes at the Escoural Cave. Using advanced soil micromorphology and geochemical analysis, he explored interactions between Neanderthals and carnivores, offering new insights into how these groups shared and used the cave environment.
Milena Carvalho contributed with her research on the diet and ecological strategies of Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens at the Lapa do Picareiro site in central Portugal. Focusing on the well-preserved faunal assemblages from the site, she presented new zooarchaeological and taphonomic data from the terminal Mousterian and early Aurignacian layers. Her findings highlighted differences in hunting strategies and dietary preferences, offering insights into how these populations responded to environmental shifts during the critical Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition. Milena’s work adds depth to our understanding of human adaptation and resilience in this understudied region.
Following this, Jonathan Haws discussed the role of calcareous landscapes in western Iberia, such as those found in Estremadura and Algarve, in shaping human-environment interactions during the Late Pleistocene. He emphasized the importance of sites like Lapa do Picareiro, with its extensive archaeological and paleoenvironmental records, in understanding long-term patterns of human settlement and adaptation over the past 60,000 years.
Jovan Galfi presented an innovative approach for using the vertical distribution of artifacts as a proxy to establish more accurate archaeological stratigraphies. His work at the Vale Boi site demonstrated the potential of spatial analysis in refining our interpretations of site use and formation, highlighting discrepancies between preliminary and post-excavation units.
Jovan’s presentation was part of a session organized by Lucía Cobo-Sánchez, which focused on advancing intra-site spatial analysis techniques. Her session featured discussions on refining the characterization of Paleolithic activity areas, including her own work on spatial modeling of experimental knapping distributions.
Our team’s presentations at the EAA 2024 meeting showcased a wide array of research, from examining human-environment interactions and technological behaviors to refining archaeological stratigraphy and site use interpretations. These contributions underscored our commitment to deepening our understanding of the past through varied approaches and sparked meaningful discussions across multiple areas of archaeological research. We look forward to continuing these conversations and sharing more discoveries in the future!
Our team also participated at the European Society for the Study of Human Evolution in Zagreb, between the 11th and the 15th of September. Milena Carvalho presented a poster on “Human Diet in Central Portugal during the Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition: The Case from Lapa do Picareiro.” Her presentation at ESHE focused on her ongoing research into the dietary adaptations of Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens, providing further insights into how these populations navigated changing environments in the region.
Finally, at the 5th biennial Microvertebrates Working Group (MVWG) meeting, 9th-13th September, in Warsaw, Nompumelelo Maringa presented her research on reconstructing Late Pleistocene environments at Lapa do Picareiro, Portugal, using micromammal fossil assemblages. Her study analyzed the taxonomic composition and taphonomic modifications of these remains, providing detailed insights into past ecological conditions and complementing other palaeoenvironmental data from the site.
It was an inspiring couple of weeks for our team, filled with new ideas, collaborations, and discoveries. We’re excited to see where these conversations will lead next. Stay tuned for more updates as our research evolves!
