Early Maritime Activity on the Dead Sea: Bitumen Harvesting and the Possible Use of Reed Watercraft

Oron, Asaf; Galili, Ehud; Hadas, Gideon; Klein, Micha

doi:10.1007/s11457-015-9135-2

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…obs.) and Dead Sea bitumen on sickle blades from Atlit-Yam [89]. Furthermore, it was recently argued that evidence for olive horticulture in the vicinity of Tel Tsaf, where the tree does not occur naturally, speaks for the exchange of knowledge and genetic material between the Carmel Cost and the central Jordan Valley [90,91].…”

Section: Dating Considerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Unseen Record: Ninth–Seventh Millennia Cal. BP Wooden and Basketry Objects from Submerged Settlements off the Carmel Coast, Israel

Rosenberg,

Galili,

Langgut

2023

Forests

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Wood and basketry artefacts rarely survive in the prehistoric record since they require exceptional conditions for preservation; as a result, the current knowledge about when and how prehistoric societies used these basic organic raw materials is limited. Focusing on the southern Levant, we discuss for the first time a collection of 16 late prehistoric organic artefacts found in underwater research conducted in the last forty years off the coast of the Carmel Ridge (Israel). The waterlogged finds, including bowls, shafts, a wedge, a trough, a pitchfork, logs, a mat, and a basket, were found at sites spanning from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic to Middle Chalcolithic periods (ninth–seventh millennia cal. BP), constituting an unprecedented record of prehistoric wood and other perishable materials, providing us with new information about raw material preferences and manufacturing technologies.

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Section: Dating Considerationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Unseen Record: Ninth–Seventh Millennia Cal. BP Wooden and Basketry Objects from Submerged Settlements off the Carmel Coast, Israel

Rosenberg,

Galili,

Langgut

2023

Forests

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“…Asphaltum (bitumen/tar) is a natural substance that has been used by humans for 70,000 years (Boëda et al, 2008), and in this region, there is evidence of its use dating back more than 9,000 years (Erlandson et al, 2008;Hodgson 2004;McCawley 1996;Salwen 2011). Importantly, it was used as an adhesive in technologies, such as hafting projectile points to shafts, and as a water-proofing agent for woven water bottles and watercraft that were integral to the maritime hunter-gathers cultures in the region (Connan 1999;Fauvelle 2014;Oron et al, 2015). Some of the larger known tar seeps on the adjacent mainland have extensive archaeological sites near them (Moore et al, 2007;Gamble 2008), and archaeological sites on the NCI contain evidence of asphaltum use throughout human occupation of the islands (Braje et al, 2005;Brown 2016).…”

Section: Santa Cruz Passage and Crescent Baymentioning

confidence: 99%

Soils and terrestrial sediments on the seafloor: Refining archaeological paleoshoreline estimates and paleoenvironmental reconstruction off the California coast

et al. 2022

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On global, regional, and local scales, sea level histories and paleoshoreline reconstructions are critical to understanding the deep history of human adaptations in island and coastal settings. The distance of any individual site from the coast strongly influences decisions about the transport of coastal resources and has a direct impact on human settlement and resources procurement strategies. Our ability, then, to identify relic productive habitats, such as wetlands, that were subaerial during time periods relevant to human occupation, is critical to models of human settlement and resource patterning that guide our search to identify cultural resources. Accurate location of productive habitats becomes more critical when searching for terminal Pleistocene sites submerged by postglacial marine transgression. While paleoshoreline reconstructions and sea level histories can provide a baseline for identifying drowned and ancient coastal ecosystems, post-transgressive sediment deposited on the seafloor can skew accurate paleoshoreline location. To correct for this, we used sub-bottom profiling data from the southern California Coast to determine revised paleoshoreline locations and to identify sonar signatures indicative of paleogeographic contexts that may harbor wetland environments. These data were used to define core sample locations that resulted in the identification of submerged, preserved paleosols. The paleosols data, presented here for the first time, have provided information on ancient landscapes and relic habitats that were subaerial prior to postglacial sea level rise. In our study area on the continental shelf off the California Channel Islands archipelago, the paleosols correspond to a critical period of shifting habitats, evolving landscapes, species extinctions, and the arrival of humans into a rapidly changing ecosystem.

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“…The mechanical properties of the fibers they are composed of make reeds strong and elastic [2]. For this reason, reeds have been used for various purposes throughout human history, for example, in the construction of huts [3], rafts and boats [4], tools, and common objects [5]. Reeds have played an important role in the development of music and continue to be used to produce woodwind instruments such as clarinets [6] and the Japanese hichikiri [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The High Potential of Micro-Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Identification of Archaeological Reeds: The Case Study of Tutankhamun

Moricca,

Stagno,

Hamza

et al. 2023

Heritage

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This study explores the potential of micro-magnetic resonance imaging (μ-MRI) for identifying archaeological reeds found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Reed plants had various historical uses in the past, with ancient Egyptians extensively employing them for crafting a wide range of items. The distinct cross-sectional characteristics of Arundo donax (giant reed) and Phragmites australis (common reed) are observed and described via optical microscopy and μ-MRI in this study. While optical microscopy offers higher resolution, μ-MRI provides advantages for studying archaeobotanical specimens, as it eliminates the need for mechanical sectioning and potentially damaging fragile samples. The application of μ-MRI on a selected archaeological reed allowed us to identify it as Phragmites australis, showing that μ-MRI can yield clear images, maintaining the integrity of the sample. In contrast, diagnostic features appeared greatly deformed on the thin section observed via optical microscopy. Despite the limitations related to the sample size and the need for sample soaking, μ-MRI presents a valuable tool for analyzing archaeological remains in the field of cultural heritage, with the potential for broader applications. Overall, this study contributes to expanding the toolkit available to researchers studying plant remains, providing insights into reed identification and preservation in archaeological contexts.

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Early Maritime Activity on the Dead Sea: Bitumen Harvesting and the Possible Use of Reed Watercraft

Cited by 11 publications

References 56 publications

The Unseen Record: Ninth–Seventh Millennia Cal. BP Wooden and Basketry Objects from Submerged Settlements off the Carmel Coast, Israel

The Unseen Record: Ninth–Seventh Millennia Cal. BP Wooden and Basketry Objects from Submerged Settlements off the Carmel Coast, Israel

Soils and terrestrial sediments on the seafloor: Refining archaeological paleoshoreline estimates and paleoenvironmental reconstruction off the California coast

The High Potential of Micro-Magnetic Resonance Imaging for the Identification of Archaeological Reeds: The Case Study of Tutankhamun

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