Early Upper Paleolithic Ornaments from Üçaǧizli Cave, Turkey

Beads and similar ornaments appear early in the archaeological record associated with modern humans (Homo sapiens), first in Africa and somewhat later in Eurasia. They are thought to be among the first indicators of human use of symbols. This paper discusses criteria used to distinguish early mollusk-shell beads from other kinds of shells in archaeological deposits, focusing on evidence from the site of Üçaǧizli Cave in Turkey. Upper Paleolithic beadmakers at this and other sites clearly preferred certain forms of shell for ornamental purposes, although the reasons for that selectivity remain obscure

Use-wear analysis of an Amudian laminar assemblage from the Acheuleo-Yabrudian of Qesem Cave, Israel

In this paper the results of use-wear analysis of an Amudian lithic assemblage recently discovered at Qesem Cave, Israel, arc presented. Although very old. this assemblage maintains well-preserved traces of use that indicate that butchering activities and plants collecting were carried out at the site. Cut marks on faunal remains confirm the observations obtained by use-wear analysis. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Ancient mitogenomes from Pre-Pottery Neolithic Central Anatolia and the effects of a Late Neolithic bottleneck in sheep (Ovis aries)

Occupied between ~10,300 and 9300 years ago, the Pre-Pottery Neolithic site of Aşıklı Höyük in Central Anatolia went through early phases of sheep domestication. Analysis of 629 mitochondrial genomes from this and numerous sites in Anatolia, southwest Asia, Europe, and Africa produced a phylogenetic tree with excessive coalescences (nodes) around the Neolithic, a potential signature of a domestication bottleneck. This is consistent with archeological evidence of sheep management at Aşıklı Höyük which transitioned from residential stabling to open pasturing over a millennium of site occupation. However, unexpectedly, we detected high genetic diversity throughout Aşıklı Höyük's occupation rather than a bottleneck. Instead, we detected a tenfold demographic bottleneck later in the Neolithic, which caused the fixation of mitochondrial haplogroup B in southwestern Anatolia. The mitochondrial genetic makeup that emerged was carried from the core region of early Neolithic sheep management into Europe and dominates the matrilineal diversity of both its ancient and the billion-strong modern sheep populations

Human predators and prey mortality/ editor: Stiner

xvii, 277, hal.: ill.; 21 cm

Hallan Çemi Tepesi : mise en évidence d'une forte exploitation du gibier associée à une exploitation intensive des plantes à graines au cours de la transition Epipaléolithique/Néolithique dans le sud-est de la Turquie

Les données fauniques du site d\u27Hallan Çemi Tepesi, dans le sud-est de la Turquie, révèlent à la fois d\u27importantes similitudes et d’importantes différences dans les stratégies de subsistance par rapport à ce qui est observé au Levant au cours de la transition entre l\u27Épipaléolithique et le Néolithique. La possibilité d’une large expansion de l’alimentation à Hallan Çemi Tepesi est étudiée sous l’angle de la diversité taxonomique et de la composition de la biomasse, de l’analyse anatomique des fragments de squelettes, des profils d’âge et des processus de transformation des carcasses. Les habitants de Hallan Çemi Tepesi ont chassé une grande variété d\u27animaux, incluant des moutons et des chèvres sauvages, des cochons, le Cerf élaphe et des tortues. Les petites espèces à déplacement rapide tels que les lièvres et les oiseaux sont comparativement peu représentées. Les petites espèces chassées à Hallan Çemi Tepesi sont comparables à celles observées dans certains sites du Natoufiens final, mais c’est l\u27exploitation des jeunes ongulés qui a dominé à Hallan Cemi. Le site présente des indices apparemment contradictoires d\u27une alimentation carnée composée d’une exploitation extrêmement développée des ressources animales et d’une exploitation intensive des plantes à graines. Un autre aspect qui confirme également l’exploitation intense des ressources animales est le prélèvement préférentiel des parties à fort apport en viande, en particulier la partie supérieure des membres avant. Parmi les hypothèses susceptibles d\u27expliquer ce contraste entre l\u27exploitation alimentaire de la viande et des plantes, il faut considérer la possibilité d\u27un élargissement du régime alimentaire en réponse à une forte concentration démographique (particulièrement en ce qui concerne l’exploitation des végétaux) et des comportements qui valorisèrent largement le gibier mais pas les autres éléments de la chaîne alimentaire.Faunal evidence from Hallan Çemi Tepesi in southeastern Turkey reveals important similarities and differences in subsistence patterns when compared to the Levant at the time of the Epipaleolithic-Neolithic transition. Possible diet breadth expansion is examined at Hallan Çemi based on prey species and biomass composition, body part analysis, age profiles, and carcass processing patterns. The occupants of Hallan Çemi hunted a wide range of animals, including wild sheep and goats, pigs, red deer, and tortoises. Low-ranked, fast-moving small game animals such as hares and avian fauna are comparatively rare. Small game use at Hallan Çemi resembles patterns observed in some late Natufian sites, but there is focused exploitation of young ungulates at Hallan Çemi. The site presents a seemingly contradictory pairing of a meat diet composed of high-ranked animal resources and intensive plant seed processing. Also supporting the overall picture of high-ranked animal exploitation are transport biases that favored the meatiest portions of ungulate carcasses, particularly the upper front limb region. Potential explanations for the contrasting meat and plant diet patterns must consider expanding diet breadth in response to demographic packing (expressed mainly in terms of plant exploitation) and display behaviors that emphasized large game but not other parts of the food supply.</p