Call for Papers – “Interdisciplinary Research into Cultural and Biological Transformations in the Paleolithic Period”

Ran Barkai will be guest editing a special issue of the open access journal Quaternary entitled “Interdisciplinary Research into Cultural and Biological Transformations in the Paleolithic Period”.

Hewill  be more than happy to advance bold, innovative and outside of the box analyses, hypothesis, data analysis and interpretations. However, any relevant perspective, thought, data presentation or model will be welcomed.

All papers will be of course peer reviewed. In some cases he can assist in negotiating the costs of open access publishing, so please do not let that be a major obstacle.

The incredibly long Paleolithic period is still considered by some as a stagnant phase in human cultural and biological evolution prior to the appearance of our direct ancestors. However, extensive interdisciplinary research in recent years has clearly demonstrated that this is not the case. Starting from the earliest stages of human presence on the planet some three million years ago, an impressive series of transformations, innovations, modifications and adaptations characterise our lineage. These changes in behaviour and culture took place alongside biological adaptations in human physical properties; faunal turnovers and extinctions as well as climatic fluctuations. This makes the Old Stone Age a hectic, dynamic and lively epoch worthy of investigation both in the diachronic and synchronic levels, in order to decipher the nature of transformations that characterize the emergence, prosperity and legacy of our lineage.

This Special Issue, “Interdisciplinary Research into Cultural and Biological Transformations in the Paleolithic Period”, aims to present the state-of-the-art as well as outside of the box studies regarding changes in human adaptation; human physiology; faunal diversity; climatic fluctuations as well as the possible nexus between these lines of inquiry. We especially seek innovative and provocative thinking related to, but not limited to: the emergence and disappearance of lithic technologies; the emergence and disappearance of human species and physical characteristics; turnovers and extinctions of prey animals; transformations in human diet and trophic levels; changes in burial practices and symbolic expressions, and so on and so forth. No chronological nor geographical boundaries are set, as long as the Lower, Middle, Upper and Epi Paleolithic periods are concerned. Particular case studies as well as more comprehensive overviews are welcomed.

Prof. Dr. Ran Barkai
Guest Editor

For more information please see the website here