Middle Paleolithic

Coste Dorgali. Foto da collezione: Spiagge e coste della Sardegna, da Sardegna DigitalLibrary

The event that marks the entry into the Middle Paleolithic period is the appearance of the so-called Neanderthal man, whose skeletal remains, referable to more than 300 individuals found in southern and central Europe and in the Near and Middle East, were chronologically framed approximately 130,000 and 35,000 years ago. As far as Sardinia is concerned, at the current state of research, there are no reliable traces of the human presence on the island referring to the Middle Paleolithic. The only known clues come from the two findings (in the cave of Ziu Santòru and in the cave of Cala Ilùne, on the coast of Dorgali) of charcoal whips found in association with burned deer bones but without any lithic tools or human bones. These are, however, very weak clues. The absence of more consistent and reliable archaeological traces to be attributed to the Middle Paleolithic could simply be a gap in our knowledge and not an actual state of affairs.

Update

18/7/2025 - 12:32