Palaeolithic research in Western Achaïa

Research undertaken in western Achaïa within the last decade has led to the discovery of a number of Palaeolithic sites on marine terraces and in the Piros valley, as well as isolated sites elsewhere. Lithic artefacts discovered on Tyrrhenian terraces preserved on the N coast are attributed, for the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British School at Athens studies 1999-01, Vol.3, p.303-310
Main Author: Darlas, Andreas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Altitude
Coastal plains
Excavations
Marine isotope stages
Pebbles
Scrapers
Surface areas
Terraces
The Palaeolithic of the Ionian Islands and the Peloponnese
Transgression
Valleys
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Summary:Research undertaken in western Achaïa within the last decade has led to the discovery of a number of Palaeolithic sites on marine terraces and in the Piros valley, as well as isolated sites elsewhere. Lithic artefacts discovered on Tyrrhenian terraces preserved on the N coast are attributed, for the most part, to Mousterian industries. The partially preserved site of Mavri Myti has yielded a Middle Palaeolithic assemblage, rich in pebble-tools. The Piros valley has two principal terraces, while a third is poorly preserved Lithic artefacts found on the middle terrace belong essentially to Lower and Middle Palaeolithic industries with numerous debitage products and pebble-tools ('workshop areas'). The Middle Palaeolithic industries discovered here are attributed to the Typical Mousterian. The Levallois flaking technique is present, but not frequent. The lower terrace has also yielded some Middle Palaeolithic artefacts. Among the isolated sites, the most important is that of Eleochori, with a very rich archaic Aurignacian industry. The presence of Mousterian elements and bifacial leaf-shaped points indicates that the assemblage belongs to a transitional stage, from the Middle to the Upper Palaeolithic.
ISSN:2159-4996