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A cautionary tale from the Adriatic Palaeolithic: reassessing the stratigraphic reliability of Sandalja II cave (Istria, Croatia).

Ruiz-Redondo, A., Vander Linden, M., Radovic, S., Karavanic, I. and Vukosavljevic, N., 2024. A cautionary tale from the Adriatic Palaeolithic: reassessing the stratigraphic reliability of Sandalja II cave (Istria, Croatia). Comptes Rendus Palevol, 23 (15), 197-210.

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DOI: 10.5852/cr-palevol2024v23a15

Abstract

Šandalja II has been a reference site for numerous decades for the definition and study of the Eastern Adriatic Upper Palaeolithic and corresponding techno-complexes. This is due both to its extensive material record, and the purported presence of some otherwise elusive techno-complexes in the area, such as the Aurignacian and the Early Epigravettian. In this paper, we present two new series of C14-AMS dates (from layers H, E, C/d and A/d) to assess the validity of its archaeological sequence, together with previously obtained radiocarbon dates, both AMS and conventional. The results show, unambiguously, the lack of reliability of the stratigraphy defined for the site during the excavation. A simple chronometric deconstruction reveals, at the very least, that the assemblages from Šandalja II can no longer be considered and used as an example of the diachronic evolution within the Aurignacian and Epigravettian of the Eastern Adriatic, thus calling for a further reevaluation of features defined for the Adriatic Upper Palaeolithic on the basis on the assemblages from Šandalja II. Hence Šandalja II joins an increasing list of so-called reference sites which must not be considered as “referential” anymore.

Item Type:Article
ISSN:1631-0683
Uncontrolled Keywords:Upper Palaeolithic; Aurignacian; Epigravettian; Adriatic Basin; Sandalja II cave; radiocarbon dating; stratigraphy; chronology
Group:Faculty of Science & Technology
ID Code:39747
Deposited By: Symplectic RT2
Deposited On:29 Apr 2024 07:39
Last Modified:29 Apr 2024 07:39

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