Upper Paleolithic - Cultures

Cultures

The Upper Paleolithic in the Franco-Cantabrian region:

• The Châtelperronian culture was located around central and south western France, and northern Spain. It appears to be derived from the earlier Mousterian culture, and represents the period of overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. This culture lasted from approximately 33,000 BCE to 27,000 BCE.
• The Aurignacian culture was located in Europe and south west Asia, and flourished between 32,000 BCE and 21,000 BCE. It may have been contemporary with the Périgordian (a contested grouping of the earlier Châtelperronian and later Gravettian cultures).
• The Gravettian culture was located across Europe. Gravettian sites generally date between 26,000 BCE to 20,000 BCE.
• The Solutrean culture was located in eastern France, Spain, and England. Solutrean artifacts have been dated to around 19000 BCE before mysteriously disappearing around 15,000 BCE.
• The Magdalenian culture left evidence from Portugal to Poland during the period from 16,000 BCE to 8000 BCE.

From the Synoptic table of the principal old world prehistoric cultures:

• central and east Europe:
  • 32,000 BCE, Gravettian culture in southern Ukraine.
  • 30,000 BCE, Szeletian culture
  • 20,000 BCE, Pavlovian, Aurignacian cultures
  • 11,000 BCE, Ahrensburg culture
  • 10,000 BCE, Epigravettian culture

• north and west Africa, and Sahara:
  • 30,000 BCE, Aterian culture
  • 10,000 BCE, Ibero-Maurusian (a.k.a. Oranian, Ouchtatian), and Sebilian cultures
  • 8000 BCE, Capsian culture

• central, south, and east Africa:
  • 50,000 BCE, Fauresmithian culture
  • 30,000 BCE, Stillbayan culture
  • 10,000 BCE, Lupembian culture
  • 9000 BCE, Magosian culture
  • 7000 BCE, Wiltonian culture
  • 3000 BCE, beginning of hunter-gatherer art in southern Africa

• West Asia (including Middle East):
  • 50,000 BCE, Jabroudian culture
  • 40,000 BCE, Amoudian culture
  • 30,000 BCE, Emirian culture
  • 20,000 BCE, Aurignacian culture
  • 10,000 BCE, Kebarian, Athlitian cultures
• south, central and northern Asia:
  • 30,000 BCE, Angara culture
  • 9000 BCE, Khandivili culture

• east and southeast Asia:
  • 80,000 BCE, Ordos culture
  • 50,000 BCE, Ngandong culture
  • 30,000 BCE, Sen-Doki culture
  • c. 14,000 BCE, Jōmon period starts in Ancient Japan.
  • 10,000 BCE, pre-Jōmon ceramic culture
  • 8000 BCE, Hoabinhian culture
  • 7000 BCE, Jōmon culture