ABOUT THE PROJECT

The project proposes a new approach to the Palaeolithic lithic assemblages in the Carpathian region of Romania by understanding the adaptive response of the human communities in relation to the paleoenvironment. The study involves a techno-functional approach, different from traditional typological analyses that will include, apart from the identification of lithic reduction technical stages, analyses of use-wear, performed with different types of microscopy. The results of the analysis of lithic materials will be correlated with studies on the palaeoenvironment, raw material sources, the exploitation of animal resources etc. This will verify if, apart from cultural characteristics, the similarities and differences among Palaeolithic communities in the Carpathian region are due to the influence of several factors: climate oscillations, hunting of certain animal species, availability of raw material and/or its selection. Studying the adaptation to mountain environments of various communities, with occupations spanned over a long chronological timeline (between 60,000 and 15,000 years BP) may provide essential information about the evolution of technical behaviour in the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic in this area. In addition, new research directions will be opened concerning the beginning of the Upper Palaeolithic in eastern Carpathians and the characterisation of the emergence and evolution of different cultural manifestations within the Upper Palaeolithic in Eastern Europe.

RESEARCH TEAM

ELENA-CRISTINA NIȚU (Project leader; senior researcher, expert archaeologist), “Princely Court” National Museum Târgovişte

ResearchGate profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elena-Cristina-Nitu

Scopus Author ID: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=35264519200

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8736-336X

VASILE DIACONU (CS III-senior researcher, expert archaeologist), Neamț National Museum

CONSTANTIN PREOTEASA (CS III-senior researcher, expert archaeologist), Neamț National Museum

FLORIN-IONUȚ LUPU (PhD candidate, curator first degree, beginner archaeologist), “Princely Court” National Museum Târgovişte

MARIAN LEU (PhD candidate, curator II degree, beginner archaeologist), “Princely Court” National Museum Târgovişte

HORIA GHIȚĂ (graduate student, Master’s degree, beginner archaeologist, curator II degree), “Princely Court” National Museum Târgovişte

ARTICLES

Elena-Cristina Nițu, Randall White, Marin Cârciumaru, Ovidiu Cîrstina, Florin Ionuț-Lupu, Marian Leu, Mihai Straticiuc, Tiberiu Bogdan Sava, Adrian Bălășescu, Mihaela Manea, Stelian Grigore, Robert Sîrbu, A new Palaeolithic female figurine from Piatra Neamț, Romania, L'Anthropologie, 2022, accepted paper.

Marin Cârciumaru, Elena-Cristina Nițu, Roxana Dobrescu, Ovidiu Cîrstina, Florin Ionuț Lupu, Marian Leu, Chronostratigraphy and the Palaeoenvironment of the Bistrița Valley. New Interpretations and a Critical Retrospective Evaluation, L'Anthropologie, 2022, accepted paper.

COMMUNICATION

Elena-Cristina Nițu, Some remarks on the technical behavior in the Mousterian from the Carpathian caves, Sesiunea Națională de Comunicări Științifice “Cultură şi Civilizaţie la Dunărea de Jos”, Călărași, 2-4 iunie 2022.

Florin-Ionuț Lupu, Marian Leu, Chronostratigraphy of the Paleolithic occupations and some observations on the paleoenvironment in the Bistrița Valley, Sesiunea Națională de Comunicări Științifice “Cultură şi Civilizaţie la Dunărea de Jos”, Călărași, 2-4 iunie 2022;

Elena-Cristina Nițu, Marin Cârciumaru, Florin Ionuț-Lupu, Marian Leu, Ovidiu Cîrstina, Horia Ghiță, Vasile Diaconu, Constantin Preoteasa, Stelian Grigore, Recent archaeological research at Poiana Cireșului-Piatra Neamț site: the general characteristics of Paleolithic occupations, Simpozionul Național „PETRODAVA”, ediția a III-a Piatra-Neamț, 13-15 octombrie 2022.

Elena-Cristina Nițu, Marco Peresani, Marian Leu, Florin Ionuț-Lupu, Marin Cârciumaru, Ovidiu Cîrstina, Horia Ghiță, Vasile Diaconu, Constantin Preoteasa, The recent Bistrița Valley Paleolithic surveys (northeastern Romania): preliminary results, Simpozionul Național „Petrodava”, ediția a III-a Piatra-Neamț, 13-15 octombrie 2022.

Marin Cârciumaru, Roxana Dobrescu, Elena-Cristina Nițu, Ovidiu Cîrstina, Florin Ionuț-Lupu, Marian Leu, Stelian Grigore, Horia Ghiță, Paleoenvironement of the Bistrița Valley and chronology of Paleolithic man in the last 30,000 years, Simpozionul Național „Petrodava”, ediția a III-a Piatra-Neamț, 13-15 octombrie 2022.