The stratigraphic context of Spy Cave and the timing of Neanderthal disappearance in Northwest Europe.

Deviese et al. argue that Neanderthals disappeared from Northwest Europe between 44,200 and 40,600 cal B.P. (1). The stratigraphy at Spy, however, qualifies this conclusion as premature. Except for Spy 572a, the dates are on skeletal parts found on the slope in front of the cave long after the fossil discoveries of 1885 and 1886, most probably in waste of earlier excavations. Some, however, can be morphologically associated with the 1886 Neanderthals, for which at least some stratigraphic evidence has been recorded. However limited, the latter cannot be disregarded when interpreting the historical significance of the compound-specific radiocarbon analysis dates. Importantly, so far only Spy I has been dated with the new protocol. The (comparatively recent) date on Spy 572a, a scapula possibly associated with Spy II, is rejected by Deviese et … [↵][1]1Email: philip.vanpeer{at}kuleuven.be. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1