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What evidence suggests that some Upper Paleolithic groups stayed in one place for long periods?
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Paleolithic Period
The Venus of Willendorf, a Upper Paleolithic limestone figurine originally colored with red ochre, 30,000ā25,000 bce, found at Willendorf, Lower Austria; in the Natural History Museum, Vienna.
During the Upper Paleolithic Period, evidence suggests that some groups maintained long-term habitation at specific locations through their social and economic strategies.1
Archaeologists identify such patterns of settlement through several key indicators:
- Built Environment: The presence of more permanent structures, such as hearths, pavements, and shelters constructed from skins on frames of bone or wood, indicates a greater investment of energy in construction and a more stable presence at a site.1
- Resource Management: While subsistence remained based on hunting and gathering, groups increasingly utilized reliable, diverse food sourcesāsuch as fish, shellfish, and rabbitsāalongside large game. This diversification allowed the majority of a population to remain at one location for extended periods while smaller groups departed to procure distant resources.1
- Archaeological Indicators: In broader archaeological contexts, sedentism is often identified by the presence of storage facilities, public buildings, and the remains of animals that thrive in human-occupied environments, such as mice.2
These developments reflect a shift toward more complex social and economic organization, enabling groups to adapt to harsh environments by establishing more stable, long-term settlements.1