Chronostratigraphic context of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition. Recent data from Belgium

Abstract The chronological and palaeoenvironmental context for the industries identified in Europe during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition (MUPT) is not accurately known. This situation is mainly due to insufficient knowledge of the context of the archaeological data, much of which comes from old excavations. Any major progress in the understanding of the MUPT can only be achieved with the study of long sedimentary sequences providing a semi-continuous record and situating archaeological remains in a reliable palaeoenvironmental and chronological framework. Strict attention must also be paid to stratigraphic control and site formation processes. Interdisciplinary studies undertaken over the last ten years in Belgium contribute to research on the MUPT. Belgium plays an important role due to its specific geological context that includes many caves, a well-developed loess cover which acts as a reference sequence for the Upper Pleistocene and the presence of tephras. This enables detailed reconstruction of climatic change and more accurate chronological control in cave sequences; initial results from new fieldwork on long sequences are presented here (Walou and Scladina Caves as well as the open-air site of Maisieres-Canal). Combined with results of recent analyses on old material (mainly from the Spy and Trou de l’Abime collections), they enable establishment of a reliable and more accurate chronostratigraphic framework for the archaeological assemblages and provide new data on the humans responsible for them. Thus, around 45,000 BP, a Mousterian industry was made by Neandertals in Trou de l’Abime. Around 40,000–38,000 BP, Belgium was still occupied by Neandertals associated with a typical Middle Palaeolithic as shown in Walou. The Spy Neandertals have recently been directly dated by 14 C to 36,000 BP, but the techniques of the early excavations prevent clear identification of the associated industry; still, the 14 C results are more coherent with the Lincombian-Ranisian-Jerzmanowician (LRJ) chronology than the Mousterian, both of which are identified at Spy. The earliest convincing age for the Belgian Aurignacian is about 32,000–33,000 BP (Maisieres-Canal and Spy).