Middle Paleolithic Sites atop the Scoria Cones of the East Eifel Volcanic Field of the Central Rhine Valley

A Neanderthal skull and Middle Paleolithic artifacts were discovered within the volcanic craters of the East Eifel, dating to the penultimate glaciation. These findings, uncovered during 1980s excavations led by researchers at Monrepos, reveal diverse lithic assemblages with high technological variability, indicating the use of both local and non-local raw materials. Neanderthals likely occupied these elevated positions for strategic advantages, such as landscape visibility and water sources, which may have also attracted game. The study highlights the significance of scoria cones in Middle Paleolithic settlement dynamics, suggesting that unmined volcanic craters in the region could harbor similar archaeological deposits.

Bosinski, G., & Conard, N. J. (2024). Middle Paleolithic Sites atop the Scoria Cones of the East Eifel Volcanic Field of the Central Rhine Valley. The Rhine during the Middle Paleolithic: Boundary or Corridor?, 383–407. https://doi.org/10.51315/9783935751353.016