Original scientific paper

Vindija Cave and The Modern Human Peopling of Europe

Ivor Janković
Ivor Karavanić
James C. M. Ahern
Dejana Brajković
Jadranka Mauch Lenardić
Fred H. Smith

Abstract

Vindija cave in Croatia has yielded the youngest securely dated Neandertal skeletal remains in Central/Eastern Europe.
In addition, these remains have been found in association with archaeological material exhibiting Upper Paleolithic
elements. Due to its geographic location and date, the Vindija remains are particularly crucial for the understanding
of initial modern human peopling of Europe and the nature of the Neandertal demise. The significance of archaeological
and paleontological finds and hominin fossils from this site is discussed in the light of new finds at Vindija and
recent developments in the fields of paleoanthropology and prehistoric archaeology. Furthermore, the impact of revised
chronology for several crucial specimens and sites throughout Europe, including Vindija, is discussed.

Keywords

Vindija cave; modern human origins; Neandertals; human evolution; Upper Paleolithic

Hrčak ID:

27577

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/27577

Publication date:

12.5.2006.

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