Pleistocene Landscapes and Hominin Behavior in the Armenian Highlands

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Pleistocene Landscapes and Hominin Behavior in the Armenian Highlands" at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Armenian Highlands is a significant location for our interpretations of hominin dispersals and behavioral diversity, not least because of its position between the Levant and Eurasia. Prior to the late twentieth century, our understanding of Pleistocene archaeology in this region was hindered by a research emphasis on later periods, few stratified sites, and a dearth of chronometric dating. However, over the last 30 years there has been remarkable growth in the number and quality of international collaborative programs that have greatly expanded our geological and archaeological understanding of the region. In this symposium, discussions will explore new and ongoing investigations related to Pleistocene landscape formation, paleoenvironments, geochronology, and hominin behavior. This interdisciplinary research incorporates data and views from international teams with wide-ranging interests and specialties. With talks spanning the entire Pleistocene, this session has value for scholars in neighboring regions seeking to understand Lower, Middle, and Upper Paleolithic interregional dynamics.