Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Archaeology in North Iberia. New data and perspectives

Abstract North Iberia is a key region for studying prehistoric hunter-gatherer societies in Europe. The Special Issue brings together studies on the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic in this northern fringe of the Iberian Peninsula, but also contributions referring to adjacent or surrounding areas. Research in North Iberia began in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and has been especially marked by historical-cultural archaeology, while feeling the influence of the processual approach since the 1960s. The last synthesis on the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic in the region was published 15 years ago; since then a large volume of information has been generated and new avenues of research have been opened up. The 12 contributions to this issue reflect the recent outlook of research in the region, with specific studies on geoarchaeology, lithic industry, fauna, mortuary sites and cave art. This Special Issue also includes interdisciplinary studies of sites that have been the subject of fieldwork since the 1980s or 90s, and the reappraisal, through new fieldwork, of archaeological sequences excavated before that time.