The first Neanderthal remains from an open-air Middle Palaeolithic site in the Levant

The late Middle Palaeolithic (MP) settlement patterns in the Levant included the repeated use of caves and open landscape sites. The fossil record shows that two types of hominins occupied the region during this period - Neandertals and Homo sapiens. Until recently, diagnostic fossil remains were found only at cave sites. Because the two populations in this region left similar material cultural remains, it was impossible to attribute any open-air site to either species. In this study, we present newly discovered fossil remains from intact archaeological layers of the open-air site 'Ein Qashish, in northern Israel. The hominin remains represent three individuals: EQH1, a nondiagnostic skull fragment; EQH2, an upper right third molar (RM3); and EQH3, lower limb bones of a young Neandertal male. EQH2 and EQH3 constitute the first diagnostic anatomical remains of Neandertals at an open-air site in the Levant. The optically stimulated luminescence ages suggest that Neandertals repeatedly visited 'Ein Qashish between 70 and 60 ka. The discovery of Neandertals at open-air sites during the late MP reinforces the view that Neandertals were a resilient population in the Levant shortly before Upper Palaeolithic Homo sapiens populated the region

Persistent Neanderthal occupation of the open-air site of ‘Ein Qashish, Israel

Over the last two decades, much of the recent efforts dedicated to the Levantine Middle Paleolithic has concentrated on the role of open-air sites in the settlement system in the region. Here focus on the site of ‘Ein Qashish as a cases study. Located in present-day northern Israel, the area of this site is estimated to have been >1300 m2, of which ca. 670 were excavated. The site is located at the confluence of the Qishon stream with a small tributary running off the eastern flanks of the Mt. Carmel. At the area of this confluence, water channels and alluvial deposits created a dynamic depositional environment. Four Archaeological Units were identified in a 4.5-m thick stratigraphic sequence were dated by Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) to between—71 and 54 ka, and probably shorter time span–~70-~60 ka. Here we present the diverse material culture remains from the site (lithics, including refitted sequences; modified limestone pieces; molluscs; faunal remains) against their changing paleogeographic backdrop. Skeletal evidence suggests that these remains were associated with Neanderthals. The large-scale repeated accumulation of late Middle Paleolithic remains in the same place on the landscape provides a unique opportunity to address questions of occupation duration and intensity in open-air sites. We find that each occupation was of ephemeral nature, yet presents a range of activities, suggesting that the locale has been used as a generalized residential site rather than specialized task-specific ones. This role of ‘Ein Qashish did not change through time, suggesting that during the late Middle Paleolithic settlement system in this part of the southern Levant were stable

New Data from Shovakh Cave and Its Implications for Reconstructing Middle Paleolithic Settlement Patterns in the Amud Drainage, Israel

Abstract: This study presents the geoarchaeological and geochronological aspects of Shovakh Cave and the first comparative context to the nearby Amud Cave (~ 500 m downstream), providing an exceptional opportunity to explore the range of human behaviours within a small geographic area. Sediment samples from two newly excavated areas at the rear and entrance of the cave were analysed using infrared spectroscopy, micromorphology and phytolith analysis and dated through uranium-thorium and luminescence techniques. The rear of the cave shows carnivore activity and low artefact concentrations. It also exhibits a shift in sedimentation from wind-blown deposits to colluviation of terra rossa. Direct dating of the deposits associated with the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) occupation at this area could not be obtained due to the breccia forming at the lower part of the excavation area. However, the later phases of the Middle Palaeolithic occupation at this area gave an age estimate of 45.5 ± 3.7 ka. At the entrance of the cave, there are relatively more residues associated with human use of fire. Post-depositional processes in this area include decalcification of the upper layer, cementation of the lower layer and phosphatisation due to guano decomposition, which indicates that this area was probably roofed. The ages obtained in this area range between 67.5 ± 5.5 to 56.2 ± 5.9 ka, overlapping with the occupation time of Amud cave. The evidence from Shovakh Cave presents lower intensity of occupation compared to Amud, indicating variable modes of site use by humans in the Amud drainage during the Late Middle Palaeolithic

Middle Palaeolithic raw material procurement and early stage reduction at Jubbah, Saudi Arabia

Several hundred Middle Palaeolithic (MP) archaeological sites have now been identified in the Arabian Peninsula. However, the study of lithic raw material properties and related procurement behaviours is still in its infancy. Here we describe raw material procurement and early stage lithic reduction at MP sites in the Jubbah palaeolake basin, in the Nefud Desert, northern Saudi Arabia. We describe the sites identified during our surveys, and we use petrographic studies to demonstrate that MP assemblages were mostly produced from differing forms of ferruginous quartzite. These raw materials do not substantially vary in composition, although they are not identical in terms of factors such as grain size and the proportion of iron oxide. We then describe the lithic technology at these sites, with a particular focus on the largest assemblage identified, Jebel Katefeh-12 (JKF-12), which provides detailed information on lithic reduction at a quartzite source. Analyses from this site are then considered together with data from other MP sites in the Jubbah basin, where similar raw material was used. The results indicate that factors such as initial clast size/shape and reduction intensity play important roles in influencing aspects of morphological and technological variability. Our results suggest that incursions of MP populations into northern Arabia were probably temporally limited, as might be expected in a marginal and generally arid region. MP raw material procurement sites provide a highly visible signal of these ephemeral incursions, providing information on the ways that human populations adapted to the challenging conditions of the Saharo-Arabian arid belt. © 201

Givat Rabi East. a New Middle Paleolithic Knapping Site in the Lower Galilee (Israel)

Givat Rabi East is a newly-discovered flint outcrops centrally located within the Galilee in relative proximity to several Middle Paleolithic sites. In this paper we present the site and discuss the function of a dense accumulation of Middle Paleolithic flint knapping wastes excavated on its eastern edge. Our results suggest that the knapping wastes are likely the remains of a Mousterian workshop site. In comparison to the workshop site at Sede Ilan, located 15 km to the east where flint was quarried, the Givat Rabi East flint knappers collected eroded flint blocks in situ. The Lithic evidence indicates that the knapping sequences were initiated at the site. Furthermore several Levallois knapping methods had been employed. Therefore we suggest that the lithic assemblage left at Givat Rabi East represent knapping activities of several groups who exploited this location during the Middle Paleolithic period. Subsequently some of the lithic material (e. g. unfinished cores, Levallois blanks) was taken to other locations (e. g., caves) in order to continue the knapping sequence. The site location combined with the characteristics of the debitage and cores found within it, suggests that Givat Rabi East could have been one of the flint source for Qafzeh Cave and perhaps to other Mousterian cave sites.Givat Rabi Est est un affleurement de silex récemment découvert dans le centre de la Galilée, à proximité de plusieurs sites du Paléolithique moyen. Cet article présente le site et traite de l’utilisation d’un amas de déchets de taille du Paléolithique moyen, fouillée sur son bord oriental. Les résultats suggèrent que les déchets de taille sont probablement les vestiges d’un atelier moustérien. En comparaison avec le site d’atelier de Sde Ilan, situé à 15 km à l’est, où le silex à été extrait, à Givat Rabi Est les tailleurs ont acquis le silex par ramassage de blocs de silex qui ont été érodés in situ. L’assemblage lithique indique que les séquences de taille étaient initiées sur le site et que plusieurs méthodes de Levallois ont été utilisées. Par conséquent, nous suggérons que les assemblages lithiques qui ont été laissés à Givat Rabi Est représentent des activités de taille de plusieurs groupes, qui ont utilisé cet emplacement pendant le Paléolithique moyen. Une partie du matériau lithique était emportée en d’autres lieux (par exemple des grottes) pour continuer la séquence de taille. L’emplacement du site, tout comme les caractéristiques du débitage, laissent supposer que le site de Givat Rabi Est a pu être utilisé comme une source de silex pour la grotte de Qafzeh et peut-être pour d’autres grottes moustériennes.Ekshtain Ravid, Barzilai Omry, Inbar Moshe, Milevski Ianir, Ullman Micka. Givat Rabi East. a New Middle Paleolithic Knapping Site in the Lower Galilee (Israel) . In: Paléorient, 2011, vol. 37, n°2. pp. 107-122

Late Pleistocene age and archaeological context for the hominin calvaria from GvJm-22 (Lukenya Hill, Kenya)

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