Sourcebook of Paleolithic Transitions

The Paleolithic period (2,000,000 years ago to 11,000 years ago) has a rather varied archaeological record - partially owing to the transitional processes that took place within its subdivisions (Lower Paleolithic: 2,000,000 years ago to 120,000 year ago; Middle Paleolithic: 300,000 years ago to 30,000 years ago; and Upper Paleolithic: 40,000 year ago to 11,000 year ago). These transitional times are not "set in stone" since new archaeological evidence can move these transition dates significantly. Because of this, the changes that characterize the end of one phase and the beginning of another merits a closer examination and treatment.

This sourcebook addresses the different transitional processes by examinating the nature and extent of behavioural changes, cultural patterns and differences that have been attributed to them. It brings together a global body of research and compares differing theoretical perspectives on the transitions - not only to compare and discuss results from the various areas, but also to evaluate the contrasts between the different archaeological traditions. The top researchers in both regional field research and theoretical aspects of this key event in human prehistory have contributed to build a seminal book from both an anthropological as well as theoretical viewpoint.

Sourcebook of Paleolithic Transitions will not only summarise past work, but will also assess current research strategies and the latest results - as well as discuss guidelines for the future. It will contribute to Paleolithic research, by providing the scientific community with an up-to-date publication which: (1) encompasses instrumental classic views, crucial to understanding how these phenomena have been studied; (2) includes current research and the newest developments, which have only been partially presented in specialised journals, usually constrained by tight word limits; (3) incorporates a joint and debated look to the future of this research, highlighting the outcome of the balance of many years of studies, and the most promising research leads for the coming years.

The multidisciplinary perspective of this work, combined with the latest information on research regarding these processes, will bring to the wider scientific community a much needed modern compendium in this field.