Recent excavations at Bacho Kiro Cave in north Bulgaria have shed new light on the technological and behavioral shifts of Homo sapiens during the Initial Upper Palaeolithic (IUP) period. The site’s lithic assemblages, dated between 45,040 and 43,280 cal BP, include over two thousand artifacts attributed to early Homo sapiens.

The stone tools, primarily originating from Layer I, are found alongside diverse faunal remains, human fossils, and other decorative items such as pierced animal teeth pendants. This study offers insights into the technological aspects of these stone tools, including raw material origin, production techniques, on-site knapping activities, and the use-life of them. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of early Homo sapiens innovation and adaptation.

Key findings

The analysis of the raw materials indicates that early Homo sapiens in Bacho Kiro Cave (Central North Bulgaria) were supplied with Lower Cretaceous flint from the Ludogorie area in Northeastern Bulgaria and Upper Cretaceous flints from the vicinity of Nikopol, situated on the southern bank of the Danube River. This highlights their extensive mobility, transport of finished products (blades) and logistic networks, spanning distances of up to 190 km.

The techno-economic and typological analysis of the lithic assemblages demonstrate the use of both unidirectional and bidirectional non-Levallois laminar technology, likely employing volumetric concept. Systematic bipolar knapping and tool segmentation reflect complex on-site tool shaping and multifaceted lithic economy likely resulting from the remote sources of good quality flint.

Concerning cultural and behavioral evolution, evidence of on-site tool making is associated with increased butchering activities and the crafting of bone tools, personal ornaments as pendants. These findings demonstrate advanced cultural practices and an adaptive response to environmental challenges, highlighting the behavioral flexibility of early Homo sapiens at the onset of the Upper Palaeolithic.

The Bacho Kiro Cave is pivotal in understanding the technological and behavioral evolution of early Homo sapiens in Western Eurasia. The site’s well-dated contexts and diverse assemblages provide a detailed picture of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic, highlighting significant behavioral variability and adaptation. Future research aims to further explore these dynamics through detailed spatial analysis and raw material economy.

“Bacho Kiro Cave offers an exceptional opportunity to understand the technologies and organization of life of early Upper Paleolithic Homo sapiens,” says Tsenka Tsanova, the lead researcher of this study and coordinator of the interdisciplinary research. “Our findings highlight the complexity and adaptability of these ancient Homo sapiens who settled between the Danube and the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina).”

“The analysis of raw material origins at Bacho Kiro Cave reveals how the first European Homo sapiens anticipated their material needs well in advance of their arrival at the site,” reports Vincent Delvigne, the petrologist responsible for studying the lithic assemblage from Bacho Kiro Cave. “This observation foreshadows the movements of modern humans over the next 30 millennia, as groups developed mobility systems between settlements, sometimes located hundreds of kilometers apart.”

“The innovations, adaptations, and behavioral changes observed in Bacho Kiro Cave among the early Homo sapiens in Europe were neither isolated, temporary, nor random. For instance, their systematic supply of high-quality flint and flint blades from distant sources foreshadows an even greater entrepreneurial spirit and increased mobility in the evolution of this population. This led to their movement far to the east, with short-term settlements across Central, Eastern, and Northeastern Asia, ultimately culminating in their significant role in the colonization of the New World,” concludes Nikolay Sirakov, the Field Director of the excavation.