Early Upper Paleolithic cultural variability in the Southern Levant: New evidence from Nahal Rahaf 2 Rockshelter, Judean Desert, Israel

Shemer, Maayan; Greenbaum, Noam; Mayer, Daniella E. Bar-Yosef; Tejero, José-Miguel; Langgut, Dafna; Gnezdilov, Dariya Lokshin; Barzilai, Omry; Marder, Ofer; Marom, Nimrod

doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2023.103342

Cited by 7 publications

(25 citation statements)

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“…The diminishing of the arboreal cover is attributed to human influence on the natural environment [ 45 , 46 ]. The same phenomenon has recently been observed in the Middle Paleolithic Judean Desert [ 47 ], and in the Iron Age southern Arabah [ 26 ].…”

Section: The Negev Highlandssupporting

confidence: 79%

Environment, subsistence strategies and settlement seasonality in the Negev Highlands (Israel) during the Bronze and Iron Ages: The palynological evidence

Langgut

Finkelstein

2023

PLoS ONE

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The Negev Highlands arid region (southern Levant) shows evidence of sharp settlement fluctuations, with several periods of strong human activity separated by centuries with no evidence of sedentary life. In this study, we used the palynological method in order to shed light on the region’s demographic history in the Bronze and Iron Ages. Fifty-four samples of pollen were collected and analyzed from secure archaeological contexts in four Negev Highlands sites: Nahal Boqer 66, dated to the Early Bronze Age and Early Intermediate Bronze Age (ca. 3200–2200 BCE); Ein Ziq, dated to the Early Intermediate Bronze Age (ca. 2500–2200 BCE); Mashabe Sade, dated to the Intermediate Bronze Age (ca. 2500–2000 BCE); and Haroa, dated to the Iron Age IIA (ca. late 10th through 9th centuries BCE). Our study revealed no evidence of cereal cultivation, with some hints that the inhabitants’ diets may have included plants gathered from the wild. Only one of the sites, Nahal Boqer 66, showed micro-indicators of animal dung remains, suggesting that the inhabitants herded animals. The palynological evidence did, however, emphasize that the livestock there were not fed or supplemented with agricultural by-products but rather grazed freely on wild vegetation. The pollen data also suggest that all four sites were occupied only during late winter and spring. The activity in the Negev Highlands during the third millennium BCE was probably related to the copper industry in the Arabah and to copper transportation to settled neighboring lands, especially Egypt. A relatively humid climate supported the trade through the Negev Highlands. Deterioration in both climate conditions and settlement activity was documented in the second half of the Intermediate Bronze Age.

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Section: The Negev Highlandssupporting

confidence: 79%

Environment, subsistence strategies and settlement seasonality in the Negev Highlands (Israel) during the Bronze and Iron Ages: The palynological evidence

Langgut

Finkelstein

2023

PLoS ONE

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“…Three cultural entities were traditionally associated with the LUP: The Atlitian (Phase V of the six-phase model), found primarily in the Mediterranean region; the Arkov-Divshon, a desert-adapted entity that was broadly defined at the end of the twentieth century based on sites in the Negev, Sinai, and southern Jordan; and the Masraqan, often referred to as “Late Ahmarian” (e.g., Bar-Yosef & Belfer-Cohen, 2010 ; Belfer-Cohen & Goring-Morris, 2003 ; Gilead, 1991 ; Kadowaki et al, 2015 ; Marks, 1981 , 2003 ). However, all three suffered from broad techno-typological descriptions and poorly established chronology that impeded a comprehensive, comparative characterization (e.g., Bar-Yosef, 2006 ; Belfer-Cohen & Goring-Morris, 2003 , 2018 ; Goring-Morris & Belfer-Cohen, 2020 ; Shemer et al, 2023 ; Williams, 2003 , 2006 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Table 1 presents a summary of characteristic features of the flint assemblages from primary occupation layers associated with the three cultural entities, demonstrating this issue. Some of the variability was addressed, ascribed to differences in excavation and processing methodology (i.e., in el-Wad and el-Khiam), to the incompleteness of the examined assemblages (i.e., in Yabrud and Ksâr ‘Akil), to the effect of post-depositional erosion (i.e., in Arkov and possibly Ramat Materd I), and to possible local adaptation and differences in site function (i.e., in Nahal Ein Gev I and Fazael IX, e.g., Belfer-Cohen et al, 2004 ; Ghazi, 2013 ; Shemer et al, 2023 ; Williams, 2003 ). As an alternative, the Arkov-Divshon and the Atlitian were grouped under the general description of “flake-based industries” of the Levantine Upper Paleolithic (e.g., Bar-Yosef & Belfer-Cohen, 1996 ; Belfer-Cohen & Goring-Morris, 2003 , 2018 ; Gilead, 1981 , 1991 ; Marks, 1981 , 2003 ; Williams, 2003 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1 ). The two sites contain well-preserved stratified sequences ascribed to the Levantine Aurignacian and the Atlitian at Manot Cave, and Arkov-Divshon at Nahal Rahaf 2 Rockshelter (Shemer et al, 2023 , 2024 ). The study focused on the characterization of lithic industries, combining radiocarbon chronology and considering high-resolution stratigraphy and site formation processes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These were used as the basis for chrono-cultural affiliations. The complete analyses of each of the case studies were published separately (Shemer et al, 2023 , 2024 ) and are summarized here. These provided the database for the suggestions and ideas presented in this paper.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cultural Dynamics in the Levantine Upper Paleolithic, ca. 40–33 ky BP: Insights Based on Recent Advances in the Study of the Levantine Aurignacian, the Arkov-Divshon, and the Atlitian

Shemer,

Barzilai,

Marder

2024

J Paleo Arch

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The chrono-cultural sequence of the Levantine Upper Paleolithic went through several major revisions during approximately a century of focused research, each revision contributing to shedding light on the mosaic of cultural entities and the complex social and cultural dynamics composing the Levantine Upper Paleolithic. The current state of research suggests the co-inhabitance of two cultural groups: the Early Ahmarian and the Levantine Aurignacian. Two other cultural entities, the Arkov-Divshon and the Atlitian, are regarded as younger manifestations and were tentatively suggested to relate to the Levantine Aurignacian. This paper presents a research synthesis of two case studies: Manot Cave, located in western Galilee, Israel, and Nahal Rahaf 2 Rockshelter in the Judean Desert. The application of high-resolution excavation methods, alongside detailed documentation of the stratigraphy and site-formation processes and wide-scale radiocarbon-based absolute dating, marked these sites as ideal for chrono-cultural study through the analyses of flint industries. The results indicate a clear distinction between the Levantine Aurignacian and the Arkov-Divshon/Atlitian industries and a chronological overlap between the Arkov-Divshon, Levantine Aurignacian, and possibly with the Early Ahmarian. Subsequently, we suggest another revision of the currently accepted chrono-cultural model: not two, but at least three cultural entities co-inhabited the Levant at ca. 40–30 ky cal BP. This study further suggests an evolvement of the Atlitian flint industries from the Arkov-Divshon and stresses the foreign cultural features of the Levantine Aurignacian. These results were used to construct an updated model of migration and possible interaction patterns.

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Intra-site variability – Analysis, characterization, and cultural affiliation of the Upper Paleolithic sequence of Manot Cave (western Galilee, Israel)

Shemer,

Barzilai,

Boaretto

et al. 2024

Archaeological Research in Asia

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Early Upper Paleolithic cultural variability in the Southern Levant: New evidence from Nahal Rahaf 2 Rockshelter, Judean Desert, Israel

Cited by 7 publications

References 96 publications

Environment, subsistence strategies and settlement seasonality in the Negev Highlands (Israel) during the Bronze and Iron Ages: The palynological evidence

Environment, subsistence strategies and settlement seasonality in the Negev Highlands (Israel) during the Bronze and Iron Ages: The palynological evidence

Cultural Dynamics in the Levantine Upper Paleolithic, ca. 40–33 ky BP: Insights Based on Recent Advances in the Study of the Levantine Aurignacian, the Arkov-Divshon, and the Atlitian

Intra-site variability – Analysis, characterization, and cultural affiliation of the Upper Paleolithic sequence of Manot Cave (western Galilee, Israel)

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