The nature of Nubian: Current global perspectives on Nubian Levallois technology and Middle Palaeolithic cultural dynamics

Nubian Levallois technology and its relationship to a broad cultural entity, the Nubian Complex, are important themes in understanding Late Pleistocene human behaviour. First described in North-east Africa, the subsequent identification of this distinctive lithic technology in other parts of Africa, the Levant and Arabia has fuelled debates on its role in human adaptations, population dynamics and cultural traditions. The last 10 years in particular have seen a resurgence of interest in, and controversy surrounding, these concepts. In light of this, a workshop was held in February 2022 at the Interdisciplinary Center for Archaeology and Evolution of Human Behaviour at the University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal. “The Nature of Nubian: developing current global perspectives on Nubian Levallois technology and the Nubian Complex” brought together 22 international researchers for presentations and discussion around pertinent themes. This special issue shares papers presented at and arising out of this workshop, as well as welcoming additional contributions on the complex topic of ‘Nubian’ in current Middle Palaeolithic research.