Neanderthal-Modern Human Interactions in the Southern Caucasus

Daniel S. Adler University of Connecticut [email protected] Major Research Questions

What was the palaeoenvironmental & temporal context of the Middle–Upper Palaeolithic transition?

Were Neanderthals & Modern Humans sympatric or allopatric?

If sympatric, what niches & resources were exploited & what kinds of interactions occurred?

If allopatric, what were the main differences in niche & resource exploitation?

What rifts or continuities in material culture & behavior can be identified between the LMP & EUP? What is the relevance? Sareki Klde Specific Hypotheses

HUNTING ABILITIES DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: species representation, mortality, sex ratios, life history characteristics

ARTIFACT DIVERSITY & “SOPHISTICATION” DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: core reduction, blank production, tool manufacture, use, recycling, & discard

SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS & INTERACTIONS DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: mobility, land-use, & raw material exploitation

Dmanisi Sources of Data

Archaeological Excavation Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction: D. Lordkipanidze (palynology), S. Weiner (mineralogy), C. Mallol & P. Goldberg (micromorphology), E. Allue (palaeobotany), & J. Agusti (microfauna) Chronometric Dating: T. Jull & E. Boaretto (AMS), J. Rink (ESR), & N. Mercier & H. Valladas (TL) Zooarchaeology & Taphonomy: G. Bar-Oz Lithic Analysis Mobility & Land-use Studies Human Behavioral Ecology Djruchula Cave GGeeooggrraapphhyy ooff tthhee LLaattee MMoouusstteerriiaann After Bar-Yosef and Pilbeam 2000

Eastern 40 Micoquian Eastern Micoquian/ para-Micoquian Chatelperronian 29 Szeletian 38/33 Uluzzian Levalloiso- 30 Charentian Mousterian 44 36 40/36 30 34- 36.5 30 30 30 40 Taurus-Zagros 30/28? Late Aterian Late Levantine 40 Mousterian Levalloiso- Mousterian 48/47

Lower Nile Valley Complex 50/45? Elbrus - --- 5642m >1 00 Kazbegi 0m - 5033m --- Black Caspian <100m - Sea ----3000m------Sea 36 00 --- Tbilisi m -3 * -- 60 -- 0m --- Aragac -

4090m - - Sevan - - * Baku 3 6 Yere*van 0 0 m - - - - Ararat 5165m

Van

Urmia

TERRA Satellite 2001 cold, dry airflow TEMPERATE ZONE

warm I humid SUBTROPICAL M A E airflow ZONE R G m U ID 0 S 0 R 0 2 ar a id irf low CONTINENTAL ZONE • Diversity in elevation & numerous river valleys draining Caucasus form a patchwork of rich & diverse ecological niches • Environments: open broad-leaved & coniferous woodlands interspersed with grasslands • Little evidence for dramatic environmental shifts during climatic oscillations of OIS 3

NORTH

North Profile 11

Chronology & Stratigraphy BP Weighted Method Mean AMS=37; TL=21; ESR=5; Total=63 19325 ± 89 2 AMS

2 21664 ± 159 2 AMS 3 27000 ± 260 2 AMS 4b 30600 ± 160 8 AMS 4c 33433 ± 249 6 AMS 4c 34314 ± 447 3 AMS 4d 5 BOUNDARY

36482 ± 517 3 AMS 6 44111 ± 2137 4 TL

42763 ± 806 7 AMS 7 46050 ± 2215 3 TL

41992 ± 846 4 AMS 42490 ± 1479 8 TL Layer 9: 48862 ± 3814 2 TL 42468 ± 2532 ESR (EU) Layer 10: 49910 ± 2587 4 TL North 45802 ± 2757 ESR (LU) GISP2 δ18O with Greenland Interstadials (G.I.) & Heinrich Events (H)

Middle Palaeolithic Upper Palaeolithic WARM 9 7&6 4d 4b-a 2 4c 10 8 5 3 1

14 12 8 3 1716 δ G.I. 15 5 1 10 7 4 8 13 11 6 2 O

9 ( 0 / 0 0 )

H6 H5a H5 H4 H3 H2 H1 H0 COLD Stable warm Trans Early cold LGM cold OIS 3 OIS 2 OIS 1 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 Cal ka BP Capra caucasica Layers 2–4 Layer 5 Layer 6 Layer 7 Total NISP 376 191 1408 1098 3073 MNI 5 4 14 12 35 MNE 162 70 458 384 1074 NISP:MNE 2.00 2.73 3.07 2.86 2.86 %Total NISP 89.74 92.7 95.65 96.57 95.02

Bison priscus Layers 2–4 Layer 5 Layer 6 Layer 7 Total NISP 26 15 57 30 128 MNI 3 1 1 1 6 MNE 17 10 23 18 68 NISP:MNE 1.53 1.50 2.48 1.67 1.88 %Total NISP 6.21 7.28 3.87 2.64 3.96 (Total: NISP = 3234, MNI = 53) Capra caucasica Bison priscus

Dr. K. Mikhailov Mortality vs. Lifespan for LMP Caucasian Tur

25 Prime Based on wear of Young 19.30 lower deciduous 20 4th premolar & 17.54 17.54 lower 3rd molar 14.03 (Stiner 1994) 15 12.28 10.53 Old 10 7.02 % Mortality n = 18 n = 38 n = 1 5 1.75 0 0 0 0-10 10-20 20-30 30-40 40-50 50-60 60-70 70-80 80-90 90-100

Layers 6–7 (N=57) % Lifespan (12 years) Young: 31.6% total sample Prime Age: 66.7% total sample Old: 1.7% total sample Survivorship and Mortality Modified triangular plot (after Steele & Weaver 2002)

: LMP Ortvale Klde OAld axi10s0% : MP Italy Prime-age : UP Italy Adults : MP Kebara gazelle : MP Kebara fallow deer : MP Kebara red deer : MP Gabasa 1 “ambush” hunting

       Juvenile B10 axi0%s C axiPrims e 100% Data after: Adler et al. (2005, 2006), Blasco Sancho (1995), Speth & Tchernov (1998), Stiner (1994, 2002) 1 y = -0.0004x + 0.5159 R2 = 0.0012, P=0.66 0.8

0.6

%MNI 0.4

0.2 y = -0.0011x + 0.5233 R2 = 0.0114, P=0.37 0 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 FUI K. Mikhailov Layer 6 % Survivorship Layer 7 % Survivorship mm NO Correlation 60 114/224 50 91/192

40 Full

30 15/56 Representation

OBS./EXP. 20 5/28 9/48 3/24 11/84 30/266 26/228 7/72 10 NO selective

0 Head Trunk Forelimb Hindlimb Toes transport by Layer 6 (NISP=1408, MNE=458) Layer 7 (NISP=1098, MNE=384) hominins 30

25

20 Bd 15

10 t=5.34, P<0.001

5 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 GLpe Weinstock 2000 Female (n=4), Male (n=9), UP (n=2), MP (n=11) Breadth (BD) vs length of 2nd phalange (GLpe) Mean size of LMP 40 35 30 sample > modern 25 Bd 20 15 t=4.42, P<0.001 sample 10 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 GL1 Female (n=4), Male (n=11), UP (n=3), MP (n=13) Two adult size Breadth (BD) vs length of astragalus (GL1) 30 groups = sexual 25

20 dimorphism HDH 15 t=2.79, P<0.01 10 35 37 39 41 43 45 47 49 51 BT DFA suggests ratio: Female (n=5), Male (n=11), MP (n=4) Height distal humerus (HDH) vs breadth trochlea (BT) ~66% females NO CULLING %Male %Female BY SEX 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

SUMMER 50 50 Alpine Meadow

WINTER 28 72 Forest Ortvale Klde

LMP 32 68

EUP 33 67 4500 Caucasian Tur SUMMER 4000 Migration 4200m 3500 CURRENT 3000 MIGRATORY RANGE 2500 Current 2000 sub-alpine zone 1500 WINTER 1000 800m CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS 500 *Ortvale 0 masl Klde AGGREGATION DISPERSAL WINTER SUMMER Births in (Oct–May) May–June (May–Oct)

Estrus/breeding Maternal groups of 12 late Nov–early Jan Solitary males 4500 Caucasian Tur SUMMER 4000 Migration 3500 OIS 3 3200m 3000 MIGRATORY 2500 RANGE

2000 1500 WINTER OIS 3 CAUCASUSsub-al pMOUNTAINSine 1000 800m zone 500 *Ortvale 0 masl Klde AGGREGATION DISPERSAL WINTER SUMMER Births in (Oct–May) May–June (May–Oct)

Estrus/breeding Maternal groups of 12 late Nov–early Jan Solitary males Cenomanian-Turonian Flint Kazkhi Region, Imeretia Local: ≤ 25 km

LMP: Full Reduction N= 22,051 99.6 % total (<5000/m3) Chikiani Obsidian, Lake Paravani, Djavakheti Region Non-local: ≥ 100 km

LMP: Curated Tools 0.4% total (<15/m3) Local/m3:Non-local/m3 = 236:1 100

Y 80 l C l l Core Reduction a N a a t t E n l e 60 e U o a i p p Q t n i i r r E Récurrent c o t t i R e t d n 40 n r F

i c e e e unidirectional e d s % c c i r

s i b n e o 20 d u

u Levallois i u r s r b c t 0 DORSAL SCAR PATTERNS Flake n=1597 Core n=234 Χ2= 357.26, df= 13, p≤0.001 2 Χ = 366.97, df= 4, p≤0.001 70 Mean Mean 18.8 40.9

50

n MLS Core 30 n=237 n=254

10

0 5cm 1-5 11-15 21-25 31-35 41-45 51-55 61-65 6-10 16-20 26-30 36-40 46-50 56-60 >65 LENGTH INTERVALS (mm) Core Management Techniques

Débordants

Outrepassé Flakes

0 5cm Blank Production:

Χ2=36.55, df=6, p≤0.001

100

Y 80 C N

E 60 U Q E

R 40

F Unidirectional elongated

% blanks 20

0 10-19 20-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 >70 LENGTH INTERVALS (mm) Faceted n=416 Plain n=769 0 5cm Tool Manufacture, Use, & Resharpening

0 5cm

Statistical analyses indicate that typological forms are due to resharpening and recycling rather than intentional production. 4500 RADIATING MOBILITY 4000 raw material WINTER (Oct–May) lower elevations acquisition 3500 3000 2500 OK 2000 BBC 1500 Ortvale CAUCASUS MOUNTAINS 1000 Klde ambush & floral 500 * butchery stations resources? 1. Neanderthal aggregation 2. Meat & fat procurement 3. Diet Breadth: >resource availability 4. Lower prey encounter rates at lower elevations 5. High-quality lithic raw material at lower elevations only 6. Provisioning of mobile individuals & small groups 7. Abbreviated reduction sequences & ephemeral sites The Late Mousterian of the Caucasus MEZMAISKAYA CAVE Non-Levallois LMP ~36 ka, EUP ~32 Ka Eastern European Micoquian based on 3 AMS dates

Capra Bison caucasica priscus Largely identical subsistence patterns (Capra & Bison) but ORTVALE KLDE LMP 36.5 ka, EUP 34.5 Ka regionally based on 63 AMS, TL, & ESR dates distinct lithic Levallois traditions Scraper Industry Regional Neanderthal Traditions Mezmaiskaya Western Northern ? Matuzka Kabazi I & V Crimea Caucasus Barakaevskaya Starosele Il’skaya I & II Monasheskaya

Black Sea Southern Caucasus ? Ortvale Klde Djruchula Cave ? Bronze Cave Sakazhia Cave ? ? Taurus-Zagros Karaïn Mousterian Kunji

Tigris Warwasi Euphrates Shanidar Bisitun Mediterranean Sea Late Levantine Amud Mousterian Kebara Dederiyeh? Quneitra? The Middle–Upper Palaeolithic Boundary

27000 ± 260 AMS 4b 30600 ± 160 AMS 4c 33433 ± 249 AMS 4c 34314 ± 447 AMS 4d

4d

5

5

5 36482 ± 517 AMS 5 Cenomanian-Turonian Flint Kazkhi Region, Imeretia Local: ≤ 25 km

EUP: Full Reduction N= 11,905 93.3% total (<5200/m3) Chikiani Obsidian, Lake Paravani, Djavakheti Region Non-local: ≥ 100 km

EUP: Full Reduction 6.7% total (<370/m3) Local/m3:Non-local/m3 = 14:1 non-Aurignacian bone and backed blade & bladelet industries Symbolic/Notational Behavior? HUNTING ABILITIES DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: species representation, mortality, sex ratios, life history characteristics

RESULTS: 1. Hunting abilities IDENTICAL 2. Change in hunting ≠ MP–UP transition 3. Hunting prowess ≠ proxy “modernity” 4. Hunting behavior = resource BBC availability & landscape knowledge ARTIFACT DIVERSITY & “SOPHISTICATION” DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS: core reduction, blank & tool production, use, recycling, & discard behaviors

Neanderthal Museum RESULTS: 1. LMP–EUP techno-typological traditions DISTINCT 2. Sophisticated Technology ≠ Sophisticated Adaptation 3. Technological Sophistication ≠ proxy “modernity” 4. Techno-typological traditions = cultural preference SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS & INTERACTIONS DISTINGUISH MODERN HUMANS FROM NEANDERTHALS TESTS:

BBC raw material exploitation, mobility, land use RESULTS: 1. LMP: <0.5% non-local raw materials (small, exhausted) - Small, local territories = less extensive mobility - Smaller social networks (100s km2) 2. EUP: >6% non-local raw materials (full reduction, >utility) - Large, regional territories = more extensive mobility - Larger social networks (1000s km2) The Transition in the Caucasus

MEZMAISKAYA CAVE LMP ~36 ka; EUP ~32 ka

Late BBC Neanderthal Refugia

ORTVALE KLDE LMP 36.5 ka; EUP 34.5 ka

? ? ? BREACH OF TRADITIONAL BIOGEOGRAPHIC BARRIER Geography of the Late Middle Palaeolithic

40 Eastern Micoquian Eastern Micoquian/ para-Micoquian Szeletian

Chatelperronian 29 38/33 U 44 30 lu Levalloiso- z z Mousterian 36 ia 40/36 n 36.5 Charentian 30 30 34/30 30 40 Taurus-Zagros

30/28? Late Levantine Late Aterian Mousterian 40 ? Levalloiso- Mousterian 48/47

Lower Nile Valley Complex 50/45? Conclusions of Research at Ortvale Klde

MP–UP transition occurred 36.5–34.5 ka, during a period of global climatic decline not well expressed in the region.

NO temporal evidence for sympatry. Interactions occurred to the south or too brief to be detected.

Continuity in hunting practices & the acquisition & exploitation of biogeographic information.

Real but insignificant rifts in lithic technology due to cultural preference not adaptive function.

Dramatic rifts in land use & mobility, and group & social network size. EUP penetration of Caucasus Mountains and cultural continuity in north & south. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS O. Bar-Yosef: Harvard University G. Bar-Oz: University of Haifa A. Belfer-Cohen: Hebrew University D. Lordkipanidze: Georgian State Museum N. Tushabramishvili: Georgian State Museum A. Vekua: Georgian State Museum

FUNDING L. S. B. Leakey Foundation Wenner-Gren Foundation (Grants 6881 & 7059) American School for Prehistoric Research Mellon Foundation Davis Center for Russian Studies