Submerged palaeolandscapes and Palaeolithic archaeology: a methodological review

Submerged continental shelves represent a vast, largely unexplored archive of Pleistocene and Holocene coastal land-scapes that were repeatedly exposed and inundated by sea-level fluctuations. These presently drowned environments are increasingly recognised as potential Palaeolithic occupation, yet their reconstruction remains methodologically challenging. This short review synthesises key approaches currently used to reconstruct palaeoshorelines and evaluate the potential for submerged prehistoric sites, with particular emphasis on Palaeolithic archaeology. We distinguish four broad classes of methods: (i) global and regional conceptual frameworks based on global sea-level histories and global digital elevation models (DEMs); (ii) basin-scale models of shelf exposure and emergence timing that integrate gridded bathymetry with simplified sea-level models and long-term vertical land motion; (iii) locally constrained relative sea-level models derived from isolation basins, stratigraphy and geochronology, coupled with high- resolution topography to predict elevation areas of highest archaeological potential and (iv) high-resolution reconstructions that combine seismic stratigraphy, palaeotopographic modelling and corrections for sediment burial, together with object-specific geophys-ical detection methods such as the acoustic identification of knapped flint scatters. Across these studies, we identify recurrent gaps and propose a concise checklist for future work. The ultimate goal is to move from descriptive mapping of lost lands towards reproducible palaeogeographic models that can effectively drive the discovery of submerged Palaeolithic sites.