RÉSUMÉ

The Korolevo 1 site provides a rich and unique cultural heritage, reflecting almost one million years of human settlement in western Ukraine. The site contains crucial transition phases, first from Lower to Middle Paleolithic cultures followed by the second transition to the Upper Paleolithic tradition. The quarrying activities, unfortunately, are destroying the site, while this iconic site can elucidate the unanswered questions regarding the roots of first inhabitant in the easternmost point of Europe. This project will carry a high controlled excavation at Korolevo 1. It contributes a robust new chrono-cultural evidences to key debates of Lower to Middle Paleolithic transition in eastern Europe. Methods to be applied include Paleopedology and Paleoenvironment analysis, TCN burial dating as well as techno-functional lithic analysis in the first field season. Petrology, Pyrotechnology examinations will be applied in the second archaeological season in the site. ROOT-MP project comprises six Work Packages (WP) to accomplish the action successfully and to reach the objectives on time. The WP includes: 1) Project Management, 2) Archaeological Data Collection 3) Korolevo Excavation season I, 4) Laboratory analysis, 5) Excavation season II and 6) Results communication, dissemination, and transferable skills. Fieldworks, excavations, insured through the international cooperation with the Ukrainian Archaeological Institute and the Absolute Dating Laboratory in the Czech Republic. Regarding the interdisciplinary aspects, the project utilizes the diversity and wealth of skills available within the ArScAn research unity UMR7041 with the help of the ArchéoScopie platform of the MSH Mondes. The project, in methodology of research, bind together the results of the Paleoenvironment and radiometric dating with lithic analysis in the first season. By applying contemporary analytical techniques to legacy collection of Korolevo 1 and taking maximum advantage of the areas of the old excavations at the site, the project will have maximum scientific impact with minimum financial cost. Finally, the project will help to establish the applicant as an independent researcher, adding new voice to the international community of scholars researching these issues.