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Approximate age:440,000 years old=average of minimum (0.1 Ma) and maximum (0.78 Ma)

Date based on: nothing See map of sites with similar ages

Dating reference: Pitsios T. 1999. Paleoanthropological research at the cave site of Apidima and the surrounding region (south Peloponnese, Greece). Anthropol Anzeiger 57:1?11.

Hominids: Homo heidelbergensis  Homo     

Archaeology:      

Important specimens: Two partial crania LAO 1/S1 and LAO 1/S2. Belong to either Homo heidelbergensis or Homo neanderthalensis.

Notes: Paleoanthropological excavations and surveys at the cave site of Apidima (South Peleponnese. Greece) during the last fifteen years brought to light paleontological findings and prehistoric artifacts, the number of which approximates 30,000 recorded and classified remains. In particular, the discovery of a significant number of human fossil bones which belong to 6-8 different individuals distinguishes Apidima as the most important paléoanthropological site in Greece. These fossil remains were found in different stratigraphic layers of the site corresponding to different phases of the human evolution during the middle and the upper Pleistocene. (Pitsios, 1999) There IS archaeology from this site, but it is not well-published, and the numerous stratigraphic levels makes difficult the extraction from the literature of the material culture associated with Apidima 1, which comes from the lower levels of the cave. The exact location of the mysterious Apidima cranium is unpublished, and the cranium itself has only recently been made avaiable to scientists. Excessive Gollum-like behavior has diminished the impact of this specimen.

Location: Mani, southern Peloponnese, Greece
Map location/coordinates reference: The location of this site is not published in detail (at least in English). The best, closest location is published in: Harvati, K., Panagopoulou, E., & Karkanas, P. (2003). First Neanderthal remains from Greece: the evidence from Lakonis. Journal of Human Evolution, 45(6), 465-473.

Key references: Harvati, K., & Delson, E. (1999). Conference Report: Paleoanthropology of the Mani Peninsula (Greece)= Rapport de confÈrence: PalÈoanthropologie de la pÈninsule de Mani (GrËce). Journal of human evolution, 36(3), 343-348. ; Pitsios, T. K. (1999). Paleoanthropological research at the cave site of Apidima and the surrounding region (South Peloponnese, Greece)= Etude palÈoanthropologique sur le site de la grotte d'Apidima et dans la rÈgion environnante (sud du PÈloponnËse, GrËce). Anthropologischer Anzeiger, 57(1), 1-11.