During the Middle Paleolithic in Europe (200,000-40,000 years ago) both Neanderthals and Early Modern Humans shared the changing landscape.
This list of archaeological sites in Europe dated to the Middle Paleolithic was constructed as part of the Guide to Prehistoric Europe; also see the Middle Paleolithic Timeline and Definition for further information.
Ortvale Klde (Georgia)
Ortvale Klde ("Two Eyes Cave") is a shallow cave located in the footslopes of the Caucasus Mountains of the republic of Georgia. It was occupied by hominins—Neanderthals and Modern humans—between about 50,000 and 21,000 years ago, during the so-called Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic periods.
Gorham's Cave (Gibraltar)
Clive Finlayson, Gibraltar Museum
The archaeological site of Gorham's Cave is located on the British territory of Gibraltar, that rocky narrow strip of land that extends off Spain and points towards Morocco. Its Middle Paleolithic occupations are dated between 23,000 and 33,000 years ago, and the site represents the most recent Neanderthal occupation discovered to date.
Saint-Cesaire (France)
The archaeological site of Saint-Césaire contains a nearly complete 36,000 year old Neanderthal skeleton, associated with a stone tool kit that sparked a major change in archaeological understanding of the capabilities of Neanderthals.
Vindija Cave (Croatia)
Fred Smith, Northern Illinois University
Vindija Cave includes a total of 13 levels dated between 150,000 years ago and the present, spanning the upper part of the Lower Paleolithic, Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic periods.
Molodova (Ukraine)
Molodova I and V are two occupation levels of the same site located on the Dniester River in the Chernovtsy province of the Ukraine. The two Middle Paleolithic Mousterian components are Molodova I (> 44,000 BP) and Molodova V (between about 43,000 to 45,000 years ago).
La Ferrassie (France)
La Ferrassie cave is a very large rock shelter in the Les Eyzies region of the Perigord, Dordogne Valley, France. The site contains numerous Upper and Middle Paleolithic occupations, including Mousterian, Chatelperronian, Aurignacian, and Perigoridian.
Pontnewydd Cave (Wales)
Pontnewydd, discovered in the late 19th century, is a Middle and Lower Paleolithic (Middle Stone Age) cave site in North Wales, located in the steep valley of the Elwy river, with occupations dated beginning ~230,000 years ago.
La Chapelle-aux-Saints (France)
La Chapelle-aux-Saints is a rockshelter in France, where a Neanderthal man was (apparently intentionally buried, sometime between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago. It is one of the very rare examples that are accepted as an intentional burial by Neanderthals.
Abric Romaní (Catalonia)
The rockshelter of Abric Romaní is located in a cliff outside of the village of Capellades, in the Autonomous Community of Catalonia, some 50 kilometers west of Barcelona, Spain. Twelve occupation levels have been excavated, consisting of hearths and lithic and bone scatters, eleven (Level B to Level L) of which date to the Middle Paleolithic period, and one to the Early Upper Paleolithic
Sierra de Atapuerca (Spain)
The Sierra de Atapuerca is a region in Spain, known for its Lower and Middle Paleolithic caves.
Grotte du Renne (France)
Caron et al. 2011, PLoS ONE.
