Women in...
Middle Paleolithic
Between 250,000 and 35,000 years before the present. It is the moment in which the Homo neanderthalensis appear in Europe whose material culture is known as mousterian.
They lived in Europe and the Near East. Hybridization with Homo sapiens seems to be clearly established in some European sites, as DNA analysis shows, although it does not seem to be widespread throughout Europe.
During this period the use of fire by the Neanderthal human groups is generalized and a great technological progression is observed in the manufacture of lithic instruments with the development of new knapping techniques that improve the efficiency of the tools.
These groups produce the first manifestations related to symbolic abstraction, non-figurative representations, the first ornaments as well as the first evidences of burials.
Hunting, scavenging and the collection of fruits and vegetables are the basic means of subsistence, adapting to the different territories in which these groups live in Europe.
The application of diverse analytics on the human remains allow a greater approach to the daily life of these societies and allow to know aspects about the diet, its exchange networks, the work done by each sex, etc.
Picture: Homo neanderthalensis. Illustrated by Andrés Marín
Homo neanderthalensis Paleolítico Medio. Ilustrado por Andrés Marín
Archaeological Sites
PASTWOMEN CALENDAR
Happy 2026!
As every year, the Pastwomen calendar is here. For now, it's only available in Spanish; we'll be uploading versions in other languages in the coming days.
DOCUMENTARY AWARD
The documentary Off the Archeological Record, produced by the UAB and the Pastwomen network, has been awarded the EITB prize for gender perspective at the 25th edition of the Bidasoa International Archaeological Film Festival (FICAB), held in November 2025. To watch the documentary trailer, click here.
