The Middle to Upper Paleolithic Transition in Siberia: Three Regional Sketches for Replacement

Abstract

This article considers aspects of the replacement of Neanderthals by Modern humans through the archaeological record of three regions in west, central, and east Siberia: the Urals, the Altai, and Lake Baikal. In the process of constructing the database for the Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans (RNMH) project, the archaeological resources from those areas were found to be relatively enriched. Here, I focus on the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition period, and review the aspects of the transition/replacement in each area. In conclusion, I can point to distinct regional variations in the process transition/replacement that were developed in the Altai, the Urals, and the Lake Baikal.