Correction to: Occupying Cave-Sites: A Case Study from Azokh 1 Cave (Southern Caucasus)

The Caucasus is an important intercontinental passageway for fauna and hominin dispersal from Africa to Eurasia. Numerous Pleistocene sites emphasise the importance of this region for the study of human evolution and hominin ‘Out of Africa’ dispersals. The Azokh 1 site in the Southern Caucasus provides a stratigraphic sequence, the renewed excavations of which have shown the presence of well-contextualised lithic and faunal assemblages dated between 300 and 100 ka associated with hominin remains (Homo heidelbergensis and Homo neanderthalensis) also found in the site. Faunal assemblages are dominated by cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) remains resulting from their hibernation at the rear of the cave. Recent taphonomic studies indicate the in-situ exploitation of some of these remains. Other faunal remains, mainly herbivore, some showing signs of human activity, were most likely introduced into the cave by hominins. The study of lithic artefacts suggests an incomplete operative chain for all raw materials with a general absence of knapping debris, unknapped cobbles/pebbles, rare cores and refits. Techno-typologically, these assemblages display characteristics that link them to Late Acheulean or Early Mousterian and Levallois Mousterian traditions. The faunal and lithic assemblages originate from the rear of the cave. Research results, including some preliminary data on lithic use-wear, along with analyses of spatial distribution and post-depositional modification, indicate that occupation of the cave was short and seasonal in character. Cave bears were an important factor affecting the duration of hominin occupation of the cave. The characteristics of the lithic assemblages suggest mobile toolkits, with some isolated evidence of in situ knapping and retouching activities.