UPPER PLEISTOCENE PREHISTORY IN PORTUGUESE ESTREMADURA - RESULTS OF PRELIMINARY RESEARCH

The Upper Pleistocene prehistory of Portugal is among the least known of any area of Western Europe. Recent survey and excavations have revealed that southern Portuguese Estremadura may well be as rich in the full range of prehistoric sites as any part of Iberia. Numerous open and cave sites with intact cultural deposits have been located that range from the Mousterian through the early Neolithic. While the work is ongoing, there is now good evidence, in terms of absolute chronology and material remains, for both strong parallels with the rest of SW Europe and some markedly local cultural expressions.