Sedentism and plant cultivation in northeast China emerged during affluent conditions

The reasons and processes that led hunter-gatherers to transition into a sedentary and agricultural way of life are a fundamental unresolved question of human history. Here we present results of excavations of two single-occupation early Neolithic sites (dated to 7.9 and 7.4 ka) and two high-resolution archaeological surveys in northeast China, which capture the earliest stages of sedentism and millet cultivation in the second oldest center of domestication in the Old World. The transition to sedentism coincided with a significant transition to wetter conditions in north China, at 8.1–7.9 ka. We suggest that these wetter conditions were an empirical precondition that facilitated the complex transitional process to sedentism and eventually millet domestication in north China. Interestingly, sedentism and plant domestication followed different trajectories. The sedentary way of life and cultural norms evolved rapidly, within a few hundred years, we find complex sedentary villages inhabiting the landscape. However, the process of plant domestication, progressed slowly over several millennia. Our earliest evidence for the beginning of the domestication process appear in the context of an already complex sedentary village (late Xinglongwa culture), a half millennia after the onset of cultivation, and even in this phase domesticated plants and animals were rare, suggesting that the transition to domesticated (sensu stricto) plants in affluent areas might have not played a substantial role in the transition to sedentary societies

Geometric Kebaran sites in Nahal Rut Area, Western Negev, Israel

The Nahal Rut — Nahal Nizzana area is very rich in sites of the Terminal Pleistocene times. The report below describes the cultural assemblages of four Geometric Kebaran sites adjacent to Nahal Rut : Nahal Rut 48A - Nahal Rut 48D. These are four clusters which are a few hundred meters apart. The lithic assemblages are dominated by the trapeze/rectangles although there are some intrusive elements. Of special interest are decorated ostrich egg shell fragments and beads found in two of the sites.La région de Nahat Rut — Nahal Nizzana regorge de sites datant de la fin du Pleistocene. Ce rapport décrit les assemblages culturels de quatre sites du Kébarien géométrique jouxtant Nahal Rut : Nahal Rut 48A — Nahal Rut 48D. Ils constituent 4 groupes distants les uns des autres de quelques centaines de mètres. Les éléments dominants des assemblages lithiques sont les trapèzes rectangles, bien que s'y ajoutent parfois des éléments intrusifs. Les fragments de coquilles d'œufs d'autruche décorés et les colliers trouvés dans deux de ces sites présentent un intérêt tout particulier.Gilead I., Marder Ofer. Geometric Kebaran sites in Nahal Rut Area, Western Negev, Israel. In: Paléorient, 1989, vol. 15, n°2. pp. 123-137

Tzur Natan, a Pre-Pottery Neolithic A Site in Central Israel and Observations on Regional Settlement Patterns

Abstract: The results of salvage investigations conducted at the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) site of Tzur Natan are described. The site is located on the western fl anks of the Samarian Hills bordering the central coastal plain (Shephelah). The excavations revealed no architectural features but numerous cupmarked bedrock installations. The small fi nds included fl int and groundstone artefacts, as well as a small faunal assemblage. The vast majority of the fl int tools can be attributed to the PPNA, although there may also be a small Middle Epipalaeolithic Geometric Kebaran element present. Notable are the numbers of bifacial tools, some sickle blades, but few projectile points. Local settlement patterns are discussed in light of several other recent investigations of PPNA sites in the region. In addition to a few larger permanent settlements with architecture, such as Hatoula and Nahal Oren, at the western edges of the Judean, Samarian and Carmel hills, there are numbers of more ephemeral sites, also located on the fl anks of the hill zone. These have little or no architectural remains but quantities of cup-marked installations and groundstone are found in addition to lithic tool assemblages. These smaller sites perhaps focused primarily on (seasonal?) processing of (vegetal?) resources, as well as the production and use of bifacials. Some sickle blades are found but projectile points are rare or absent. Few, if any, PPNA sites are documented actually within the coastal plain. This settlement pattern contrasts markedly with the Early and Middle Epipalaeolithic and the PPNB, but may refl ect some continuity from the Late Natufi an.Résumé: Cet article décrit les résultats de la fouille de sauvetage effectuée à Tzur Natan, un site du Néolithique pré-céramique A (PPNA), situé sur le fl anc occidental des collines de Samarie en bordure de la plaine centrale côtière, la Shephelah. De nombreuses installations à cupules creusées dans le rocher ont été mises au jour, mais aucun vestige architectural ne l’a été. Des outils en silex et des objets en pierre ainsi qu’un petit ensemble faunique ont été découverts. La majorité des outils en silex peut être attribuée au PPNA bien qu’un faible nombre d’éléments épipaléolithiques (Kébarien géométrique) sont aussi présents. Il faut signaler de nombreux bifaces, quelques lames de faucille, mais peu de pointes de projectiles. L’organisation de l’espace est discutée, à la lumière de plusieurs autres fouilles récentes effectuées dans la région sur des sites PPNA. Aux quelques grands établissements permanents qui présentent de l’architecture tels que Hatoula et Nahal Oren, s’ajoute en bordure des collines de Judée, de Samarie et du Carmel, un certain nombre de sites éphémères qui se situent également sur les fl ancs de la zone de collines. Ceux-ci ont peu ou pas de restes d’architecture mais recèlent tous un grand nombre de cupules creusées dans le rocher et, outre l’industrie lithique, d’objets en pierre. Ces gisements, de surface plus réduite, pourraient avoir été utilisés prioritairement pour le traitement (saisonnier?) de ressources (végétales?), mais également pour la production d’outils bifaciaux. Sur ces sites se trouvent des lames de faucilles et, quand il y en a, de très rares pointes de projectile. Sur la plaine côtière, peu de sites PPNA, même s’il y en a, sont en fait décrits. Cette installation, même si elle est très différente de celles de l’Épipaléolithique ancien ou moyen et des sites PPNB, pourrait néanmoins montrer une certaine continuité avec le Natoufi en récent.Marder Ofer, Goring-Morris A. Nigel, Khalaily Hamoudi, Milevski Ianir, Rabinovich Rivka, Zbenovich Vladimir. Tzur Natan, a Pre-Pottery Neolithic A Site in Central Israel and Observations on Regional Settlement Patterns. In: Paléorient, 2007, vol. 33, n°2. pp. 79-100

Fat Residue and Use-Wear Found on Acheulian Biface and Scraper Associated with Butchered Elephant Remains at the Site of Revadim, Israel

<div><p>The archaeological record indicates that elephants must have played a significant role in early human diet and culture during Palaeolithic times in the Old World. However, the nature of interactions between early humans and elephants is still under discussion. Elephant remains are found in Palaeolithic sites, both open-air and cave sites, in Europe, Asia, the Levant, and Africa. In some cases elephant and mammoth remains indicate evidence for butchering and marrow extraction performed by humans. Revadim Quarry (Israel) is a Late Acheulian site where elephant remains were found in association with characteristic Lower Palaeolithic flint tools. In this paper we present results regarding the use of Palaeolithic tools in processing animal carcasses and rare identification of fat residue preserved on Lower Palaeolithic tools. Our results shed new light on the use of Palaeolithic stone tools and provide, for the first time, direct evidence (residue) of animal exploitation through the use of an Acheulian biface and a scraper. The association of an elephant rib bearing cut marks with these tools may reinforce the view suggesting the use of Palaeolithic stone tools in the consumption of large game.</p></div