Newly discovered archaeological sites (by period) overlain upon the palaeohydrological reconstruction of the Mundafan area.

<p>With palaeolake section locations and inferred extent data from Rosenberg et al., <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069665#pone.0069665-Rosenberg1" target="_blank">[23]</a>. Data is overlain upon Aster GDEM2 elevation data.</p

Regional archaeology and palaeohydrology of the Mundafan area.

<p>The remote sensing (RS) survey area is the region within which we have used the MF/SAM method to map palaeolake sediment and swamp outcrops (results displayed). Archaeological sites (by period, data from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069665#pone.0069665-Groucutt1" target="_blank">[3]</a>), modeled drainage, the maximum recorded extent of Mundafan palaeolake <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069665#pone.0069665-Rosenberg1" target="_blank">[23]</a>, LB2 and LB3 site locations and published palaeolake sediment occurrences <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069665#pone.0069665-Rosenberg1" target="_blank">[23]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069665#pone.0069665-McClure2" target="_blank">[37]</a> are displayed. All data is overlain upon SRTM V.4 elevation data <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069665#pone.0069665-Jarvis1" target="_blank">[48]</a>.</p

Neolithic arrowheads from Mundafan, in chert (sites MDF-12, 20, 21).

<p>1–8: flat bifacial tanged projectile points with symmetrical section and shoulders, 9: flat bifacial piece (preform of a projectile point?), 10–14: flat bifacial tanged projectile points with symmetrical section and wings. Drawings by M. Leroyer, CNRS.</p

Lithic artifacts discoveries from Mundafan palaeolake, selective collection from surface sites.

<p>Lithic artifacts discoveries from Mundafan palaeolake, selective collection from surface sites.</p

Palaeodrainage networks of Arabia.

<p>Key wadis are named, lakes discussed in the text located and labelled, and international borders area displayed by dashed lines. Drainage network data modeled through flow analyses (light blue) is superimposed upon SRTM V.4 elevation data <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069665#pone.0069665-Jarvis1" target="_blank">[48]</a>, overlain upon Natural Earth 2 data for the oceanic regions. Interpreted channel connections potentially active during recent wet phases are marked in white. The red box outlines the region shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0069665#pone-0069665-g004" target="_blank">figure 4</a>. Major wadis are numbered: 1- Wadi as Sirhan, 2-Wadi al Hamd, 3- Euphrates and associated Widyan, 4-Wadi al Batin, 5-Wadi Sahba, 6- Wadi ad Dawasir, 7- Wadi Hadramawt.</p

Levallois flakes from Mundafan, in chert.

<p>1,2: debordant Levallois flake; 3–6: centripetal (preferential?) Levallois flakes. Drawings by G. Devilder, CNRS.</p

Levallois cores from Mundafan, in chert.

<p>1,2,5,6: recurrent centripetal Levallois cores (5 might have been reused as a tool); 3,4: preferential Levallois cores with centripetal preparation. Drawings by G. Devilder, CNRS.</p

Obsidian analyses.

<p>Binary diagram Sm/Eu-Yb/Eu for the three analysed obsidian artifacts from Mundafan MDF-20 and for the main peralkaline obsidian sources from Anatolia and South Arabia.</p

General views of the Mundafan palaeolake.

<p>A: from Jebel Tuwayq to the West; B: from Jebel Tuwayq to the South; C: at MDF-12, remnants of lacustrine deposits, Jebel Tuwayq is in the background; D: in the middle of the Holocene palaeolake with its typical whitish indurated crust of gray marls.</p

Neolithic bifacial foliates from Mundafan, in chert (sites MDF-16, 20, 21).

<p><b>Drawings by M. Leroyer, CNRS.</b></p