Pages: 43-57

The article is devoted to the social structure of the Neanderthal society as reflected in the Middle Palaeolithic materials of the Crimea. A number of parameters related to the social and demographic structure of the Neanderthal society are discussed and assessed, including the probabale size of communities, the diversity of economic activities, the size of home ranges and economic areas, the nature and character of territoriality, the intensity of social ties between different groups, etc. The reconstructed estimates are compared with the coresponding data available for recent hunters-gatherers. It is concluded that Neanderthals communities shared many of their basic social and demographic characteristics with the communities of modern hunters-gatherers.

Keywords: Crimea, Middle Palaeolithic, Neanderthals, social structure, community

Information about author:

Vadim Stepanchuk (Kiev, Ukraine). Doctor of Historical Sciences. Institute of Archaeology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Geroev Stalingrada Ave., 12, Kiev, 04210, Ukraine
E-mail: [email protected]