The Middle-Upper Paleolithic Transition Revisited

Abstract

The transition from tool industries traditionally seen as Middle Paleolithic to those perceived as Upper Paleolithic has for decades been assumed to coincide chronologically with the 'replacement' in Europe of the resident 'Neanderthals' by 'Invading',anatomically modem people' from Africa. The basis of this belief is critically examined in view of recent developments in the dating of hominin remains in Europe, and in the exposure of fake datings of several key specimens. It is shown that there is no comprehensive evidence that any of the Early Upper Paleolithic traditions were introduced by fully modem hominins, but that there was instead a gradual process of gracilization rather than outright replacement evident in the fossil record. The same is shown to occur with tool industries and paleoart production, which develop progressively and gradually. The gradual change from robust to gracile skeletal architecture is not limited to Europe; it is a feature of all four continents occupied by humans 50,000 years ago. If the Aurignacian rock art and portable art in Europe is by robusts, such as Neanderthaloids, which appears to be the case, the various versions of the African Eve hypothesis must be considered to be refuted decisively.