preliminary findings of the balkan paleo

Preliminary Findings of the Balkan Paleo Project: Evidence of Human Activity at the “Gateway” of Europe During the Late Pleistocene

Stefanka Ivanova, Maria Gurova, Nikolai Spassov, Vasil Popov, Jana Makedonska, Tsanko Tzankov, David S. Strait*

This paper describes the initial findings of the Balkan Paleo Project (BPP). This project has two long-term objectives pertaining to hominin biogeography and behavioral ecol-ogy. First, the project seeks to augment the evidence that can be used to test hypotheses about hominin and faunal dispersals into and out of Europe during the Pleistocene, and to assess whether or not those dispersals were associated with glacial cycles. Second, the project seeks to gather data that can be used to test hypotheses regarding the adaptation of early human populations to Eurasian ecosystems, in particular the adjustment of their tool technologies, anatomical characteristics and behaviors in response to local climates and predator and prey diversity. These research objectives can only be achieved by identifying and excavating a broad spectrum of archaeological and paleontological sites that span the Pleistocene within the Balkan Peninsula. As part of this research program, the BPP has con-ducted surveys and excavations at various localities across Bulgaria. Results of BPP activi-ties conducted in southern Bulgaria are reported here.

Background to the Balkan Paleo project

Nearly all hypotheses pertaining to the origin of hominins in Europe, the origin of the Neanderthals, and the origin of modern humans relate either directly or indirectly to bio-geography and ecology (e.g., Stringer 2002; Conard, Bolus 2003; Dennell, Roebroeks 2005; Hublin 2009). Specifically, these hypotheses all make predictions concerning the timing of hominin and other mammalian dispersals into and out of Europe, the connections between eastern and western European hominin populations, the species-level identity of the fossil hominins who were dispersing, and the climatic conditions that would have influenced ho-minin behaviors. Given that the Balkan Peninsula represents one of only two pathways into

Студии и Статии / StudieS and paperS

* Corresponding author, University at Albany (NY, USA), <[email protected]>

Be-JABulgarian e-Journal of Archaeology

Бе-САБългарско е-Списание за Археология

2/2012http://be-ja.orgISSN: 1314-5088

Fig. 1. Possible dispersal routes into Europe. As a generalization, hominins together with fauna could have reached Europe either from the north of the Black Sea basin, or via the Balkan

Peninsula. Dispersals out of Europe could have used the same paths in reverse direction. Note the geographically restricted area through which the Balkan route passes. Satellite image from Google

Earth. Figure by D. Strait and N.SpassovОбр. 1. Възможни пътища на придвижване към Европа. Хоминините и фауната като цяло биха могли да достигнат Европа придвижвайки се северно от Черно море или през

Балканския полуостров. Придвижването от/извън Европа би могло да става по тези пътища в обратна посока. За отбелязване е географски ограничената територия на

Балканския път. Сателитно изображение от Google Earth с обозначения от Д. Страйт и Н. Стасов

and out of Europe during the Pleistocene (the other being the Eurasian steppes north of the Black Sea [Spassov 2003]), that Balkan climatic conditions evidently differed from those of Western Europe, and that Bulgaria encompasses most of the Balkan corridor, it is evident that fieldwork in Bulgaria is absolutely critical to addressing these hypotheses.

The Balkan Peninsula is positioned at the southeastern gateway of Europe. As such, it lies upon one of very few pathways along which Pleistocene humans may have dispersed into or out of the continent. Note that “dispersal” does not refer simply to the “marching”

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S. Ivanova, M. Gurova, N. Spassov, V. Popov, J. Makedonska, Ts. Tzankov, D. S. Strait

of hominins into and out of the continent, but refers also to the more passive process by which populations shift, contract or expand their ranges over time in response, presum-ably, to environmental conditions. These dispersals pertain to some of the most important research questions in paleoanthropology: When did hominins first arrive in Europe (e.g., Spassov 2001; Arzarello et al. 2007; Guadelli et al. 2005), and to which species did they belong (e.g., Carbonell et al., 2008)? Were hominin dispersals throughout the Pleistocene influenced by climate change and, in particular, the advance and retreat of continental glaciers (e.g., Hublin 2009)? Were there cultural connections with or gene flow between hominin popula-tions in Europe, Asia Minor and/or Eurasia at various times during the Pleistocene? When, precisely, did anatomically modern humans disperse into Europe (e.g., Trinkaus et al. 2003; Soficaru et al. 2005; Rougier et al. 2007; Benazzi et al. 2011; Higham et al. 2011), and does the appearance of Upper Paleolithic tool industries coincide with this dispersal (e.g., Stringer, 2002; Benazzi et al. 2011; Higham et al. 2011)? These questions are biogeographic in nature, and thus can be addressed at least in part by understanding the archaeological, paleonto-logical and ecological records of the regions through which hominins dispersed. For ex-ample, regarding the earliest dispersal of Homo into Europe, an analysis of Plio-Pleistocene Southeastern European fauna indicates that open landscapes were widespread at that time. This evidently facilitated dispersals into Europe of faunal elements related to steppe/open forest conditions. These dispersals may have traversed the Bosphorus corresponding to the periodic appearance of a land bridge (Spassov 2003). Homo might reasonably be considered to be among these open habitat species.

The number of “routes” along which Pleistocene hominins could have dispersed into and out of Europe is very small. These routes are, of course, heuristic abstractions, but they are useful concepts for focusing discussion. The proximity of northern Africa to the Iberian Peninsula might seem to make such a route possible, but it is unlikely that a land bridge would have joined the two continents given that the floor of the Strait of Gibraltar (the Camarinal Sill) is of sufficient depth that it would likely have remained submerged even during those periods in the Pleistocene when sea levels were low, and the question has been raised as to whether or not hominins could have traversed a patent strait (e.g., Bailey et al. 2008). Another route might involve dispersals between Eurasia and Europe along the northern margin of the Black Sea Basin (Fig. 1), including along terrain that is currently un-derwater but would have been exposed periodically during the Pleistocene. Indeed, there is evidence that hominins occupied the Crimea at Sinyaya Balka at least 1.2 mya (Shchelinsky et al. 2010). Thus, it is plausible that hominins may have dispersed along a northern route in the event that climatic conditions were favorable. Alternatively, dispersals along the lower latitudes of the Mediterranean coast would certainly have been favored by milder climatic conditions (e.g., Hublin 2009). Unfortunately, some of the evidence of a coastal dispersal is almost certainly submerged under currently high sea levels (e.g., Bailey 2008). Likewise, di-rect evidence of dispersals around the southern and western margins of the Black Sea basin (where hominins would eventually find the Danube and other river valleys that might serve as conduits into the heart of Europe [e.g., Conard, Bolus 2003]) may also be underwater. The last remaining likely dispersal route into and out of Europe would be across the Balkan Peninsula (rather than along its coastal margins). Of course, the distinction between coastal and “over land” routes may be artificial, but the fact remains that the modern landscape of the peninsula is marked by several river valleys that may have been conduits of dispersal. The potential importance of river valleys as human dispersal routes has long been noted (e.g., Conard, Bolus 2003), and at present, there are five major river valleys (Struma, Mesta,

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Preliminary Findings of the Balkan Paleo Project: Evidence of Human Activity at the “Gateway” ...

Fig. 2. View of Arkata from the north. The arch, from which the site complex gets its name is visible to the right. Figure by M.Gurova

Обр. 2. Поглед към Арката от север. Самата арка дала име на комплекса е локализирана в дясната част на панорамата. Снимка – М. Гюрова

Fig. 3. Sketch plan of the Arkata site complex, showing the location of eight caves and/or cave niches, numbered from east to west. The arch of the rockshelter covers Caves 6–8.

Drawing by M. Zlatkova, S. PetkovОбр. 3. План на комплекса Арката с локализацията на осемте пещери/навеси номериране

от изток на запад. Скица – М. Златкова, С. Петков

Arda, Maritza and Tundzha, from west to east, respectively) that originate in southern Bul-garia and traverse much or part of the southern Balkan Peninsula before draining into the Mediterranean. A caveat is that the Balkan Peninsula is tectonically active, and the present day topography may differ from that of the Pleistocene (e.g., Tzankov et al. 2005). None-theless, it is a reasonable working hypothesis to suppose that these river valleys may have

Fig. 2. Обр. 2.

Fig. 3. Обр. 3.

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played an important role in mammalian (and human) dispersals.A full understanding of biogeography entails more than simply establishing the pat-

tern by which hominins dispersed into and out of Europe. It also entails understanding the processes that led to those dispersals. Thus, it will be necessary to assess the manner in which hominins exploited resources in their environment, and whether or not their be-haviors changed in association with climate change. Behavioral assessment of this kind is needed in order understand the precise manner in which hominins may or may not have been stressed by ecological conditions. These stresses presumably represent pressures that would have led either to population dispersals and/or morphological/behavioral evolu-tion.

In order to assess the biogeographic and ecological questions described above, the BPP undertook surveys and excavations designed to identify promising sites preserving evidence of Pleistocene occupations across Bulgaria. In 2008 and 2009, the BPP excavated at Arkata Rockshelter overlooking the Arda River in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains. In 2010, a survey of caves was conducted in the Strandzha Mountains east of the lower Tundzha Valley and test excavations were undertaken in two adjacent caves, Malkata Leyarna and Goliama Leyarna. Fossils were also collected from a known paleontological locality, Me-chata Dupka. In 2011, a survey was conducted in the upper Tundzha Valley and nearby regions in the Balkan Mountains. Excavation was undertaken in 2011 and 2012 in Magura Cave along the southern margin of the Danube River watershed. Finally, surveys for cave and open-air sites in northwest and northeast Bulgaria were conducted in 2012. Results from Arkata, the Leyarna caves, and Mechata Dupka are described here.

Arkata Rockshelter

Translated into English, Arkata means “the Arch“. The name is apt, for it refers to the “roof“ of a massive rockshelter whose dominant visible feature is a stone arch left behind by rockfall (Fig. 2). The Arkata site-complex comprises a rockshelter and eight caves and/or cave-like niches (Fig. 3) located in the cliff of a massif overlooking the Arda River in the eastern Rhodope Mountains of southeast Bulgaria (Fig. 4). Cave 8 (a small depression in the wall of the rockshelter; Fig. 5) was excavated briefly in 2008, and results from that season have been described elsewhere (Gurova, Ivanova 2008).

The site is located on the southern shore of the River Arda, 6 kilometers east of the natural phenomenon “Devil’s Bridge” near the dam Momin kladenec. The site is in the limestones that build the massif of the peak Erenertepe (altitude: 443.0 m), north of the village of Oreshari (county of Krumovgrad). These rocks are a part of a large organogenic carbonate lens in Upper Eocene sandy clays, clayey sandstones, tuffites and tuffs and their overlapping Oligocene rhyolites (nowadays preserved north of the River Arda in the land belonging to the village of Dolno Cherkovishte). During the Pleistocene the limestones of the carbonate lens north of the village of Oreshari were subjected to intense karstification and associated cave formation. Listric faults (Fig. 6) resulted in the displacement of separate fragments of the carbonate lens and correspondingly of its caves. These processes have led to the current position of the site, a few tens of meters above the current Arda riverbed. The broad, arch-like feature formed during the cutting of a karst cavity in one listric fault, paral-lel to the River Arda and the collapse of its northern block. This fault and a few other listric faults subparallel to it have formed the steep rock swath on the southern bank of the Arda.

In 2009, trenches were excavated in Caves 5, 7 and 8 (Иванова и др. 2010). In Cave 5,

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Fig. 4. Google Earth images of A) the Balkan Peninsula and B) the Arda River near the village of G. Cherkovishte. The position of Arkata is indicated by arrows. Figure by D. Strait.

Обр. 4. Google Earth изображения на А) Балканския полуостров и Б) река Арда в близост до с. Г. Черковище. Комплексът Арката е обозначен със стрелка. Адаптация на картите – Д. Страйт

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a trench measuring 2.5 by 2 meters was dug to a depth of 2.40 m from the surface (Fig. 7). A Holocene layer, 20cm thick, contained pottery sherds from the Chalcolithic and Bronze periods and a limited collection of undiagnostic flint artifacts. The Pleistocene sediments contained many limestone blocks with varying degrees of weathering but were otherwise sterile. In Cave 7 (Fig. 8), a large, pre-existing pit was cleaned to produce a 3.5m x 3m trench. A 20–40 cm thick layer was excavated in which flint artifacts, bones and fragmented ceramics were found belong to the Chalcolithic and later periods. Quaternary sediments were found below 80 cm depth containing limestone blocks and friable areas of weathered limestone. A low density of artifacts (Fig. 9) was recovered belonging to the Upper Paleo-lithic, and it is possible that a few flakes from the deepest sediments are Middle Paleolithic. Sixty-two artifacts were recovered, including 4 flake cores, 33 flakes, 12 blades, 5 debitage fragments, and 1 retouched tool (an atypical scraper made from a flake). The excavation reached bedrock at 3.5m.

In Cave 8, which is a niche in the base of the larger Arkata Rockshelter, the trench from 2008 was expanded by 1 m to the west. Bedrock was reached at 2.5–3 m below the surface, and Pleistocene sediments were similar in nature to those in Cave 7. One hundred and thirty-eight stone artifacts with Upper Paleolithic characteristics were recovered. The artifacts (Fig. 10) were manufactured from local raw materials including jasper and chal-cedony, and consist of 2 blade cores, 73 flakes of which half possess a maximum dimension

Fig. 5. Views of Cave 8 at Arkata as seen from the north (right panel) and west (along the length of the rockshelter; left panel). Figure by S. IvanovaОбр. 5. Пещера 8 от Арката – поглед от север (дясно) и запад

(по протежение на навеса – ляво). Снимки – С. Иванова

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Fig. 6. Paleogeographic reconstruction of the Arkata landscape. Figure by Tz. Tzankov.Обр. 6. Палеогеографска реконструкция на пейзажа в района на Арката.

Рисунки – Ц. Цанков

of between 5 and 7 cm, 34 blades derived from unidirectional cores, and 28 amorphous debitage fragments (debitage from production). There are no chronologically diagnostic forms in the sample collected in 2009, but a Gravettian point was recovered in 2008; so the assemblage is certainly Upper Paleolithic and an attribution to the Gravettian is likely.

A representative sample of 130 artifacts from the 2008 and 2009 seasons has been subjected to use-wear analysis, including 7 tools, 78 blades, 41 flakes, 1 burin spall and 3 miscellaneous pieces. Only two other Upper Paleolithic assemblages from Bulgaria have been analyzed in this fashion – the Gravettian samples from the open-air site of Chuchura

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(Orhpei I) (western Rhodopes) and the Temnata Dupka Cave (northern Bulgaria) (Gyurova 1995; Gurova 1998; Giourova, Stchelinski 1994)1. Use-wear analysis was performed using a MBS-10 (x100) microscope; microphotographs were taken using a Kayence VHX-100k

1 The work was done by M. Gurova despite the different translation of the name by the publishers, made without the agreement of the author.

Fig. 7. Cave 5. A) Looking out of the cave. B) Excavation trench following the removal of Holocene deposits. C) Photograph and D) drawing of section profile (esat)). Figure by M. Gurova

Обр. 7. Пещера 5. А) Поглед от вътрешността; B) Сондажът по време на отнемане на холоценските наслаги; С) Снимка и D) рисунка на източния профил.

Изготвил – М. Гюрова

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digital microscope.The flint artifacts from Arkata are very well preserved, with fresh edges suitable for

use-wear observation and with very few postdepositional alterations on the artifact sur-faces. A variety of use-wear traces were identified. ”Cutting” is the most common operation detected among the used artifacts, and the materials worked included meat, hide, bone, wood and soft stone (Figs. 11, 12).

The microfauna from Arkata is composed of modern species (Table 1), but the species’ abundance is quite distinct from that characteristic of modern ecosystems. Chionomys nivalis prevails. This species is encountered in the region today, but is quite rare. It is thought to be an indicator of a relatively cool climate (cooler than today). The proportions of the other taxa represented also differ from those in the modern environment. In sum, the microfaunal assemblage shows that the deposits most likely date to the Late Pleistocene. The climate was cooler and drier than at present, but not as cold or dry as northern Bulgaria during the same time period.

Fig. 8. Cave 7. A) Before excavation and B) during excavation. C) Photograph and D) drawing of section profile (north).

Figure by S. IvanovaОбр. 8. Пещера 7. А) Преди разкопките и B) по време на разкопките;

С) Снимка и D) рисунка на северния профил. Изготвил – С. Иванова

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Fig. 9. Lithic artifacts from Cave 7. Figure by S. IvanovaОбр. 9. Кремъчни артефакти от пещера 7. Снимки – С. Иванова

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Fig. 10. Lithic artifacts from Cave 8. Figure by M. GurovaОбр. 10. Кремъчни артефакти от пещера 8. Снимкa – М. Гюрова

Sample: А8/4 А9/5 А8/2 А8/1 А8/8 А8/7 А8/6 А8/9 А8/10

depth[cm]:

Species

82-102 166-186 166-186 169-189 ~206 187-207 190-210 ~225 ~234

Sorex minutus - - - 4 3 - - - -Sorex araneus - - - - - - - - -Crocidura leucodon - - - 6 - - 3 - -Myotis ex gr. blythi-myotis

- - - 3 - - - - 1

Spermophilus citellus 1 - - 6 1 - - 1 1nannospalax sp. - - - 1 - - - - -apodemus sp. 1 - 2 17 - - - - -Mesocricetus newtoni - - - 6 - - 1 - -Clethrionomys glareolus

1 - - 2 - - - - -

arvicola sp. - - - 2 - - - - -Chionomys nivalis 6 - 9 37 3 - 6 - 1Microtus subterraneus - - 1 8 2 - 2 - -Microtus ex gr. arvalis 2 - - 4 - - 3 - -Microtini (M3) - - - 23 - - - - -Arvicolidae indet. - - - 250 - - - 1 -

Table 1. Species distribution and number of identifiable bones (mainly teeth) of small mammals of the Late Pleistocene sediments from cave of the Arkata Rockshelter (eastern Rhodopes).

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Fig. 11. Flint artifacts from Arkata (cave 8, 2008 season) and associated micro-wear traces: 2a and 2b – virgin edges; 3a and 6a – sawing soft stone ; 8a – hide processing. Microphotograph

magnification – x75. Figure by M. GurovaОбр. 11. Кремъчни артефакти от Арката (пещера 8, сезон 2008) и асоциираните с тях

микроследи: 2b – неизползвани ръбове; 3a and 6a – издълбаване/прорязване на мека скална порода; 8a – обработка на кожа. Увеличение на микроснимките – x75. Снимки и рисунки – М. Гюрова

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Fig. 12. Flint artifacts from Arkata (cave 8, 2009 season) and associated micro-wear traces: 2a – cutting meat/hide; 3a – virgin edge; 4a and 5a – sawing wood; 7a – post-depositional alteration.

Microphotograph magnification – x75. Figure by M. GurovaОбр. 12. Кремъчни артефакти от Арката (пещера 8, сезон 2009) и асоциираните с тях микроследи: 2а – рязане на месо/кожа; 3a – неизползвани ръбове; 4а и 5а – рязане на дърво;

7a – пост-депозиционни следи. Увеличение на микроснимките – x75. Снимки и рисунки – М. Гюрова

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Fig. 13. The Leуarna caves in the Strandzha Mountains. Malkata Leyarna is to the left and Golyama Leyarna is to the right. Figure by M. Gurova

Обр. 13. Пещерите Леярни в Страднжа: Малката Леярна – ляво, Голямата – дясно на снимката. Снимка – М. Гюрова

Macrofaunal remains from Arkata include Cervus elephus, Capra cf. ibex, Bison cf. pris-cus, and Equus cf. germanicus transilvanicus and these are also consistent with a Late Pleis-tocene age and relatively open landscapes.

Leyarna Caves

In collaboration with local speleologists, the BPP visited approximately 30 caves dis-tributed throughout the Strandzha Mountains east of the Tundzha Valley. Two adjacent caves (Malkata Leyarna and Goliamata Leyarna) were selected for test excavations (Fig. 13) near the village of Mladezhko, in the county of Malko Tarnovo (Fig. 14). These caves lie within a complex of four caves whose entrances are only a few meters apart. The cave entrances are localized in the base of a rock ring/crown and are oriented in an east-west di-rection. The caves are found approximately 25 meters above the level of the Tumna (Dark) River, about 2 kilometers from the confluence of the Tumna and Mladezhka rivers. The caves are formed in marbled limestones. Archaeological remains were found in one of the caves (Malkata Leyarna).

Malkata Leyarna (Leyarna 2; the small Leyarna): The cave is 23 meters in length and 6 meters in breadth, with a height of 3-8 meters. A 2x2 meter pit was dug that was

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Fig. 14. Google Earth images of the Balkan Peninsula (above) and the village of Mladezhko (below). The position of the Leyarna cave complex is indicated by arrows. Figure by David Strait.

Обр. 14. Google Earth изображения на Балканския полуостров (горе ) и Село Младежко (долу). Пещерният комплекс на Леярните е обозначен със стрелка. Адаптация на

картите – Д. Страйт

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Fig. 15. Test trench in Malkata Leyarna. Figure by S. IvanovaОбра. 15. Сондаж в Малката Леярна. Снимка – С. Иванова

Fig. 16. Malkata Leyarna, section profile with layers 1 – 4 labeled. Figure by S. IvanovaОбр. 16. Малката Леярна – профил с обозначение на пластовете. Снимка – С. Иванова

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subsequently increased by 0.5 meters in the northwestern direction (Fig. 15). On the surface of the cave floor there are numerous indications of past human activity, including pottery sherds from the Copper, Bronze, Iron and Medieval periods. Numerous pre-existing pits have disturbed and displaced the upper part of the sediments. In places, these disturbances reach the bedrock (in the north-eastern profile). The BPP pit was dug to a depth of 160 cm. In the southeastern part of the pit (close to the bottom of the cave), an uneven bedrock was revealed. Close to the entrance of the cave (northwest), the dip of the bedrock is almost 40 degrees and the thickness of the cave sediments gradually increases.

Four lithostratigraphic units were distinguished during the excavation (Fig. 16). Lay-er 1 consists of loose sediment formed by the mixing of prehistoric and recent deposits. This layer contained numerous bones and ceramic fragments. Layer 2 is a dark red-brownish fine clay. It is possible that the dark coloration has an organic origin. This layer was sterile.

Layer 3 is beige-brown compact clay containing a small quantity of limestone frag-ments/blocks of various sizes. Lighter facies of Layer 3 can be observed in the northwestern and southwestern profiles. This layer contains an assemblage of microfauna characteristic of the Upper Pleistocene (Table 2). A long flint flake was found in the northwestern part of the excavation, which may have been detached from a double platform core (Fig. 17). This artifact is consistent with an Upper Paleolithic technology.

Table 2. Microfauna from Malkata Leyarna, Layers 3 and 4.

SpeciesLayer 3:Mesocricetus newtoni (Romanian, or Dobrudja hamster)eolagurus luteus (Yellow steppe lemming)terricola subterraneus (Subterranean European pine vole)Microtus arvalis agrestis (Common or short-tailed vole)Chionomys nivalis (European snow vole)

Layer 4:Bufo sp. (Frog)Lepus sp. (Hare)

Layer 4 is compact, gray-greenish clay that is calcified at places. The remains of mac-romammals are found in this layer (Table 3), particularly in proximity to the northwestern profile. This layer also yielded a flint flake with Middle Paleolithic characteristics that is likely to have been detached from a discoidal core. This artifact is consistent with a Middle Paleolithic technology.

Table 3. Macrofauna from Malkata Leyarna, Layer 4.

Species

equus cf. germanicus transilvanicus (Eastern European broad-hoofed horse)Crocuta spelaea (Cave hyena)ursus spelaeus (Cave bear)ursus cf. ingressus (Eastern cave bear)Capra ibex? (Alpine ibex)Vulpes vulpesCuon sp.? (Red wolf )

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Fig. 17. Lithic artifacts recovered from Layer 3 in Malkata Leyarna. Figure by S. IvanovaОбр. 17. Малката Леярна – кремъчни артефакти от пласт 3. Снимка – С. Иванова

The faunal remains from the site yield important chronological and ecological infor-mation. The microfauna from Layer 3 unambiguously indicates an Upper Pleistocene age (Table 2). These species are characteristic of open, steppe habitats and of a dry and cold climate; they are not encountered in this region today. The presence of Eolagurus luteus is notable. This is a steppe or semi-desert species, which at the present time is present in Central Asia. During the cold and dry episodes of the Pleistocene, this species dispersed into Eastern Europe. In Bulgaria, it is extremely rare in Pleistocene deposits, being found only in northern Bulgaria. It had been thought that during the otherwise cold periods of the Pleistocene, the climate in Strandzha was comparatively mild and wet, and that this part of Europe was a refugium for warm-adapted species (Spassov, Popov 2007). The microfauna from the Leyarna caves contradict this view. Apparently, in the region of Strandzha, as in the rest of Bulgaria, steppe habitats were widespread, under the influence of a dry and cold climate during glacial periods, especially in the terminal Pleistocene. Refugia probably existed in Western Asia, from where, during the Holocene, warm- and humid-adapted spe-cies of plants and animals (many of which are relicts from the Tertiary), dispersed to the west, mainly in Strandzha and the eastern Balkans.

The macrofauna from Layer 4 is also indicative of an Upper Pleistocene age (Fig. 18). The presence of Ursus ingressus (see Rabeder et al. 2004) is suggested by a vestigial first premolar alveolus in a mandibular specimen. This tooth is lost completely in late popula-tions of the more common U. spelaeus (Bonifay 1966). This specimen may be indicative ei-ther of an archaic population of cave bear within the U. spelaeus lineage, or most probably of overlapping ranges between different species of bear in the Late Pleistocene of the Balkans. The origin of U. ingressus is possibly related to the Transcaucasian region. It could be the typical cave bear of the beginning of the Late Pleistocene of the Balkans, where it probably

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coexisted in the upper levels of the Late Pleistocene with the western immigrant – U. spelae-us. Moreover, Cuon may be present (based on the presence of a third upper incisor, smaller than the one of the wolf and similar in size to that of C. familiaris) as well as Capra ibex. The presence of the latter is unexpected given that this taxon is typically found in habitats with greater topographic relief than is characteristic of the Strandzha region.

Given the biochronological dates provided by the fauna, the artifacts from Layers 3 and 4 probably constitute the first evidence for the presence of humans in the Strandzha region during the Upper Pleistocene.

Mechata Dupka

The BPP very briefly collected fossils from the known paleontological locality of Me-chata Dupka near the village of Stoilovo. The species composition of this sample (Tables 4, 5) corresponds to results from previous investigations of this cave, which yielded several thousand identifiable bones. The uppermost layers of the cave appear to correspond to the late Middle Pleistocene or to the Upper Pleistocene. The species composition indicates the presence of a mosaic landscape of forests and open habitats, which existed in a cooler and dryer climate compared to the present day. The sediment likely accumulated during a cli-matic episode that was slightly warmer than that of Malkata Leyarna.

Table 4. Microfauna from Mechata Dupka.

Species

Crocidura leucodon (Bi-colored white-toothed shrew)Myotis blythii (Lesser mouse-eared bat)Lepus europaeus (European brown hare)Ochotona pusilla (Steppe pika)Glis glis (Fat dormouse)apodemus flavicollis (Yellow-necked mouse)Mesocricetus newtoni (Romanian, or Dobrudja hamster)terricola subterraneus (subterranean European pine vole)Microtus arvalis (Common vole)

Table 5. Macrofauna from Mechata Dupka.Species

Crocuta spelaea (Cave hyena)ursus spelaeus s. l. (Cave bear)Bison aff. priscus (Long-horned bison)

Conclusion

To date the BPP has expanded the number of Paleolithic sites known from Bulgar-ia, and expanded the geographic scope of this knowledge. These activities have revealed greater ecological complexity than anticipated, and have documented the first in situ Upper and Middle Paleolithic assemblages from southern Bulgaria. In order to meet the ultimate

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objectives of the BPP regarding hominin biogeography and ecology, it will be necessary to identify further sites suitable for long term excavation that sample time periods throughout the Pleistocene. There is no reason to doubt that Bulgaria will continue to yield sites that will ultimately prove critical to understanding the dispersals of Pleistocene humans into and out of Europe and how those dispersals were influenced by ecology.

Acknowledgements

The Balkan Paleo Project gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Amer-ica for Bulgaria Foundation, the American Research Center in Sofia, and the University at Albany (State University of New York).

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Предварителни резултати на „Балканския Палео Проект”: свиделства за човешка дейност на „прага“ на Европа

през късния плейстоцен

Стефанка Иванова, Мария Гюрова, Николай Спасов, Васил Попов, Жана Македонска, Цанко Цанков, Дейвид Страйт

Резюме

Статията представя предварителните резултати на „Балканския Палео Проект (БПП)”. Проектът има две дългосрочни научни цели насочени към биогеографияга и поведенческата екология на хоминините. Първо, проектът се стреми да разшири данните, които биха могли да се използват за проверка на хипотезите за разпрос-транението на фауна и хоминини към и извън Европа през плейстоцена като спе-циално внимание се обръща на възможността това разпространение да е свързано, или респектиктивно да не е свързано, с ледниковите цикли. Втората цел на проекта е събирането на данни, с които да се подложи на проверка хипотезата за адаптаци-ята на ранните човешки популации към Евразийските екосистеми и по-специално, приспособяването на техните технологии, анатомични характеристики и поведение към местния климат и разнообразието от плячка versus хищници. Тези научни цели са постижими само с идентифицирането и проучването на широк спектър от архео-логически и палеонтологически обекти, отнасящи се към плейстоцена на Балканския полуостров. В рамките на тази научна програма БПП проведе проучвания (издирва-ния) и разкопки на различни места в Бьлгария, чиито резултати са представени в на-стоящата статия. Те включват разкопките на скалния навес Арката и свързаните с него пещери, намиращи се над река Арда в близост до с. Орешари (община Крумовград), проучванията в пещерите Малка и Голяма Леярна в Странджа близо до с. Младежко и известния палеонтологически обект Мечата дупка край с. Стоилово (община Малко Търново). Тази научна дейност разшири познанията ни относно екологическите ус-ловия в един потенциално важен пьт на придвижване на най-ранните представители на човешкия род към и от Европа и регистрира за прьв пьт присьствието на човешка популация през плейстоцена в югоизточна България.

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preliminary findings of the balkan paleo

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