Paraskevi Elefanti

Our project entitled Neanderthal island colonization in the southern Ionian archipelago, western Greece, investigates the evolution of late Neanderthal subsistence, technology, and society during the millennium before they disappeared from the Eurasian archaeological record around forty thousand years ago. We concentrate on the growing evidence for the exploitation of novel landscapes, specifically the use of the Greek Ionian islands, including Kephalonia, Zakynthos and Ithaca. Our research questions are threefold. When did Neanderthal use of islands first take place? What were the potential drivers which led to the use of these landscapes and the adoption of seafaring? Finally, did the insular character of islands lead to the development of novel chipped stone traditions, and to what extent did the use of beach pebbles influence lithic technology? Two strands of evidence will enable us to answer these questions. First, systematic analysis of lithic assemblages from over 15 Palaeolithic findspots, estimated at around 3000 pieces in total. Secondly a targeted fieldwork including surveying promising areas on all three islands for Late Pleistocene fossil marine terraces, sampling for OSL dating of fossil marine terraces, and systematic raw material survey