Chronology of prehistoric sites from the Near and Middle East during the Middle and Upper Pleistocene: a unique terrestrial corridor between Africa and Eurasia

International audience ; Several possible paths could have been taken by the first hominins from Africa to reach Eurasia between 1.8 and 1.0 Ma. The unique terrestrial way is the Levantine corridor giving an access to Europe by Turkey or by the northern shores of the Black Sea, and to Asia by walking along the coasts or by swimming towards the Arabic peninsula. Since more than one Million years, a number of waves getting out and coming back were successive rending the Middle East at the center of a great archaeological interest. The period ranging between 200 and 100 ka was probably one of the most exciting if we think that several human species have coexisted in this area. Moreover this period can be covered by different dating methods yielding results which can be compared, renforcing the reliability of the chronological framework in which hominins evolved. This session is opened to bio and geochronologists working to develop a reliable chronological framework for Middle and Upper Pleistocene sites in this key-area at the crossroads of several continents. Aspects of the discussion can be approached through a methodological way or through the results obtained from the study of different sites.