The Greek Stone Age has been an active field of research, very much favored by the archaeology of caves. This presentation will demonstrate the wide research potential of cave contexts for the Greek prehistoric record, as emerging from their character as multi-temporal and multi-functional sites where subsequent time periods and cultures are able to survive in long depositional sequences. Against a rich account of sites and artifacts from older investigations, the presentation will show the latest discoveries on the use of caves by hunter-gatherers and early farmers of the Greek mainland and the Aegean. Major focus will be placed on fresh insights into the social, ritual and mortuary behavior of the Stone Age communities and implications for complex worldviews on cave symbolism.
Stone Age and Cave Archaeology in Greece
