The Mediterranean and the Black Sea: Introduction

摘要: The chapters in this section cover a very large area and two major marine basins, reflecting the somewhat scattered distribution of underwater finds patchy record research. Nevertheless, there are concentrations with detail quality evidence to match best that has been found around coastlines north-west Europe. also includes types sites preservation material items have no equivalent elsewhere, including submerged village settlements timber-built platforms dwelling structures, remains stone-built dwellings, burials, street plans, water wells other features. Most these Neolithic or Bronze Age date, but earlier extending back as far Middle Palaeolithic. represented include caves containing deposits palaeontological archaeological remains. Sea-level change presents complex story region, especially southern Italy Aegean Black Sea, intensive research focussed on issue, implications for changing palaeogeography islands possibility sea crossings maritime connections. This introductory overview brings together results from under four main themes: caves, crossings, mapping landscapes predictive modelling site locations settlements. New active is way some regions, extension survey more deeply areas continental shelf. These suggest considerable potential new discoveries need extend coastal states so made little contribution prehistoric archaeology landscapes.