Human hunting and site occupation intensity in the Early Epipaleolithic of the Jordanian western highlands

Munro, Natalie D.; Kennerty, Michael; Meier, Jacqueline; Samei, Siavash; al-Nahar, Maysoon; Olszewski, Deborah I.

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.05.051

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(21 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Our zooarchaeological evidence argues that these observations represent the earliest evidence of increased pressure on resources detected in Azraq Basin environments. Until this point, hunter-gatherer groups seem to have 'trodden lightly' in the steppe (a phrase borrowed from Munro et al, 2015). This is a localized picture however, since the eastern edge of the Azraq Basin supports gazelle herds in abundance during this period at late PPNB Dhuweila (seen also in the late Neolithic) (Betts, 1998;Martin, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study reveals diverse hunter-gatherer use of the wildlife through time and across the different locales examined, but what emerges is that human impacts on steppe and desert fauna through the Epipalaeolithic and PPNB seem both local and in many cases shortterm, unlike the large-game suppressed situations reported from west of the Rift Valley. Resource pressures leading to game overkill, whether population-driven or otherwise, are not currently apparent east of the Jordan River Munro et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Faunal turnover in the Azraq Basin, eastern Jordan 28,000 to 9000 cal yr BP, signalling climate change and human impact

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recent zooarchaeological analyses of game exploitation in the Epipalaeolithic of the Southern Levant identify a decline in large game in the Natufian, with corresponding increase in small prey, interpreted as hunting pressure driven by population expansion. To date, studies focus on the Mediterranean zone. This paper adopts similar approaches to examine Epipalaeolithic to Neolithic faunal data from 16 sites in the steppic Jordanian Azraq Basin. Results here reveal very different trends. Large game, mainly equids, fluctuate throughout the Epipalaeolithic, due to climatic conditions and available water/vegetation. Cattle thrive in the Azraq oasis, showing no decline in the Late Epipalaeolithic. Gazelle exploitation is predominant and sustainable throughout the Epipalaeolithic, even at Kharaneh IV and Wadi Jilat 6 ‘megasites’. However, PPNB assemblages from the limestone steppe show intensive game exploitation resulting from longer-stay settlement. The focused gazelle-hunting camp at Dhuweila in the basalt desert also shows pressure from indiscriminate culling impacting herd demography, interpreted as providing meat for onwards exchange. Human impacts on steppe fauna appear both local and in many cases short-term, unlike the large-game suppression reported from west of the Rift Valley. Resource pressures and game over-kill, whether population-driven or otherwise, are not currently apparent east of the Jordan River.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Faunal turnover in the Azraq Basin, eastern Jordan 28,000 to 9000 cal yr BP, signalling climate change and human impact

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Moreover, selective exploitation of large-size tortoises influences the size distribution of a population [ 103 , 104 ]. The phenomenon of tortoise body-size fluctuation through time has been well-documented in the Levant and is generally interpreted as body size diminution resulting from over-hunting [ 1 – 4 , 14 , 15 , 54 , 105 , 106 ]. The Ohalo II tortoises are small in size even relative to other Epipaleolithic assemblages ( Fig 13 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance or stress? Faunal exploitation patterns and subsistence strategies: The case study of Brush Hut 1 at Ohalo II, a submerged 23,000-year-old camp in the Sea of Galilee, Israel

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The submerged site of Ohalo II was occupied during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), between 23,500–22,500 cal BP, bridging the Upper Paleolithic/Epipaleolithic transition in the southern Levant. The site is known for the excellent preservation of its brush huts and botanical remains. This study examines the behavior of its past inhabitants through analysis of the entire faunal assemblage found on the three successive floors of Brush Hut 1. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to test differing models of prey choice and assess whether the observed resource diversification is the result of resource depression (explained by Optimal Foraging Theory) or resource abundance (explained by Niche Construction Theory). We focused on a quantitative, qualitative and spatial investigation of the more than 20,000 faunal remains, combining traditional zooarchaeological methods with microwear analysis of teeth and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) of burnt bones. Identification of faunal remains to the most detailed level possible, combined with analysis of skeletal element frequencies allowed reconstruction of a profile of the desired prey, highlighting the importance of small, expedient prey compared to larger game (ungulates). FTIR was used to identify degrees of burning and to develop a key to identifying burnt bones from water-logged environments. Availability of multiple food sources within a rich habitat may have driven exploitation of those varied local resources, rather than targeting energetically-rich large prey. The choice of a littoral habitat that could be intensively exploited is an example of niche selection. Comparison with contemporaneous and later sites contributes to the ongoing discussion about Early Epipaleolithic prey choice, and the impact, if any, of the LGM in the Jordan Valley. Ohalo II is an example of diverse prey choice motivated by abundance rather than stress, at a 23,000-year-old fisher-hunter-gatherers camp.

show abstract

“…This freshwater crab species is reported as having been abundant in the Azraq pools in the past, and its present eastern Mediterranean range includes Sinai, Jordan, southern Anatolia, and Greece (Bilgin and Fidanbaş, 2011). Potamon potamios has been identified from Paleolithic and Neolithic sites in the region (Turnbull and Reed, 1974; Edwards, 1991; Simmons et al, 2001; Munro et al, 2016) and was a potential dietary resource for the Paleolithic inhabitants of Azraq.…”

Section: Taxonomic and Osteological Representationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Faunal remains from recent excavations at Shishan Marsh 1 (SM1), a Late Lower Paleolithic open-air site in the Azraq Basin, Jordan

Pokines

Lister²,

Ames

et al. 2019

Quat. res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Excavations from 2013 to 2015 at the site of Shishan Marsh 1 (SM1) in the Azraq Basin of eastern Jordan have yielded substantial late middle Pleistocene lithic assemblages in association with faunal remains. Faunal preservation is poor, but multiple taxa have been identified, including cf. Panthera leo, Gazella sp., Bos cf. primigenius, Camelus sp., Equus spp., cf. Stephanorhinus hemitoechus, Palaeoloxodon cf. recki, and Elephas cf. hysudricus. The overall Azraq habitat may have been most similar to a savanna ecosystem, with a mixture of open grassland/shrub habitats and more closed vegetation along the wetlands margins. These taxa were drawn to the relatively lush oasis environment, where they were a dietary resource of the hominin groups exploiting the wetlands resources.

show abstract

Human hunting and site occupation intensity in the Early Epipaleolithic of the Jordanian western highlands

Abstract: 24We investigate the effects of the Last Glacial Maximum (~25,000-18,500 cal. BP) on 25 human hunting and settlement strategies through the study of faunal remains from four 26

Cited by 20 publications

References 24 publications

Faunal turnover in the Azraq Basin, eastern Jordan 28,000 to 9000 cal yr BP, signalling climate change and human impact

Faunal turnover in the Azraq Basin, eastern Jordan 28,000 to 9000 cal yr BP, signalling climate change and human impact

Abundance or stress? Faunal exploitation patterns and subsistence strategies: The case study of Brush Hut 1 at Ohalo II, a submerged 23,000-year-old camp in the Sea of Galilee, Israel

Faunal remains from recent excavations at Shishan Marsh 1 (SM1), a Late Lower Paleolithic open-air site in the Azraq Basin, Jordan

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About