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

Autor: Ekshtain R; The Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel., Malinsky-Buller A; MONREPOS Archaeological Research Centre and Museum for Human Behavioural Evolution, Germany., Greenbaum N; Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel., Mitki N; The Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel., Stahlschmidt MC; School of Archaeology, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland., Shahack-Gross R; Department of Maritime Civilizations, Recanati Institute of Maritime Studies, Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel., Nir N; The Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel., Porat N; Geological Survey of Israel, Jerusalem, Israel., Bar-Yosef Mayer DE; The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel., Yeshurun R; Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel., Been E; Faculty of Health Professions, Ono Academic College, Kiryat Ono, Israel., Rak Y; Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel., Agha N; Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel., Brailovsky L; Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem, Israel., Krakovsky M; The Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel., Spivak P; Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem, Israel., Ullman M; The Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel., Vered A; Department of Bible, Archaeology, and Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel., Barzilai O; Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem, Israel., Hovers E; The Institute of Archaeology, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: PloS one [PLoS One] 2019 Jun 26; Vol. 14 (6), pp. e0215668. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Jun 26 (Print Publication: 2019).
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215668
Abstrakt: 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.
Competing Interests: The authors received funding from Derekh Eretz Inc. This does not alter our adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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