Middle and early Upper Paleolithic settlement of the Georgian caucasus: A general perspective

IF 3.3 1区地球科学 Q1 GEOGRAPHY, PHYSICAL

Quaternary Science Reviews Pub Date : 2025-08-20 DOI:10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109556

Nikoloz Tsikaridze , Ana Mgeladze , Tamar Aghapishvili , Levan Tielidze , Reed Coil , Rusudan Chagelishvili , Eliso Kvavadze , Nikoloz Tskvitinidze , Giorgi Kopaliani , Nikoloz Vanishvili , Guram Dvali , Archil Khachapuridze , Sandrine Prat , Stéphane Péan , Simon Puaud , Stéphanie Bonilauri , Stéphane Jaillet , Erwan Messager , Marie-Hélène Moncel , Marylène Patou-Mathis , Giorgi Nioradze

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Abstract

The extent of the Middle Paleolithic (MP) and the transition between the Middle and Upper Paleolithic (UP) in the South Caucasus have been studied for decades, but still many questions remain. In the South Caucasus, there are few securely dated MP and UP sites, despite being rich in cave settlements typologically attributed to these periods. In this article we will be concentrating on the Georgian side of the Caucasus, where only a few Paleolithic sites have been excavated using modern standards. Newly launched archaeological research in the caves of Tsutskhavti, Sakazhia, and Ortvala, and upcoming work at Tsopi and Djruchula, gives us a unique opportunity to expand interdisciplinary research on questions surrounding the origins of the MP and the chronology of the MP/UP transition in Georgia. In this article, we discuss preliminary results of ongoing research and discoveries at the MP and UP sites of Georgia.

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旧石器时代中期和早期格鲁吉亚高加索地区的定居点：一般观点

南高加索地区中旧石器时代（MP）的范围和中旧石器时代与上旧石器时代（UP）之间的过渡已经进行了几十年的研究，但仍存在许多问题。在南高加索，尽管有丰富的洞穴定居点类型学上归因于这些时期，但很少有可靠的MP和UP遗址。在这篇文章中，我们将集中在高加索的格鲁吉亚一侧，那里只有少数旧石器时代的遗址被用现代标准挖掘出来。在Tsutskhavti， Sakazhia和Ortvala的洞穴中新开展的考古研究，以及即将在Tsopi和Djruchula进行的工作，为我们提供了一个独特的机会，可以扩大围绕MP起源和MP/UP在格鲁吉亚过渡的年表问题的跨学科研究。在这篇文章中，我们讨论了正在进行的研究和发现的初步结果在MP和UP地点格鲁吉亚。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Quaternary Science Reviews 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

15.00%

发文量

388

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Quaternary Science Reviews caters for all aspects of Quaternary science, and includes, for example, geology, geomorphology, geography, archaeology, soil science, palaeobotany, palaeontology, palaeoclimatology and the full range of applicable dating methods. The dividing line between what constitutes the review paper and one which contains new original data is not easy to establish, so QSR also publishes papers with new data especially if these perform a review function. All the Quaternary sciences are changing rapidly and subject to re-evaluation as the pace of discovery quickens; thus the diverse but comprehensive role of Quaternary Science Reviews keeps readers abreast of the wider issues relating to new developments in the field.