Paleoenvironmental change and settlement dynamics in the Druze Marsh: Results of recent excavation at an open-air Paleolithic site

Ames, Christopher; Nowell, April; Córdova, Carlos E.; Pokines, James T.; Bisson, Michael S.

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2013.04.016

Cited by 24 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Quartz purification for these two samples followed the same routines as described in Schmidt et al (2015). Sample BT1385 originates from deposits within the Druze marshland near Azraq, Jordan, see Ames et al (2014) or Ames and Cordova (2015) for general information on the setting. Pure quartz was prepared as described in detail in Kolb et al (2016).…”

Section: Samples Sample Preparation and Irradiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quartz thermoluminescence spectra in the high-dose range

Schmidt

Woda

2019

Phys Chem Minerals

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The red thermoluminescence (RTL) emission of quartz is associated with advantageous features such as high saturation dose and good reproducibility. Previous studies, however, noted inexplicable RTL glow curve shapes with new peaks at large doses (kGy range). Here we present TL spectra of two granitic quartz samples over the additive γ-dose range 0.1-47.9 kGy. While for doses between 0.4 and 1 kGy the TL spectra are dominated by the red emission at 1.95 eV (630 nm), a blue emission at 2.67 eV (465 nm) becomes prominent for higher doses. For one sample, this blue component completely dominates the spectrum for doses >12.2 kGy with intensity maxima around 200 °C and >350 °C (heating rate 2 K s-1). The other sample still contains well resolvable red and blue emissions at the largest dose with similar TL peak positions. Signal saturation for the blue emission in the glow curve range 260-300 °C is not yet reached following an additive γ-dose of 47.9 kGy, whereas the red emission generally shows a more subdued signal response for doses >5-12 kGy. These findings agree qualitatively with additional monochromatic blue and red TL measurements on the same samples. The evolution of supplementary radiofluorescence spectra over the entire γ-dose range is more complex, but suggests that the sensitisation of the blue wavelength region occurs during heating and not during irradiation and through creation of electron traps rather than recombination centres (most likely [AlO4] 0 sites). The sharp sensitivity increase at 1 kGy might likewise be related to alkali ion redistribution and/or the removal of non-radiative competitive recombination pathways. While the blue emission still requires thorough investigation, care should be taken when recording RTL using optical filters since significant portions of the registered TL could originate from the blue component entering the RTL transmission window. In practical terms, the dose-dependent change in relative intensities of blue and red TL emissions might help in detecting exposure to high doses.

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Section: Samples Sample Preparation and Irradiationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quartz thermoluminescence spectra in the high-dose range

Schmidt

Woda

2019

Phys Chem Minerals

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“…Here, the occupational deposits extend much deeper (over 2 m below surface, and we have not yet reached fully sterile deposits) and intermix with water-lain deposits starting at 90 cm below the surface. Rather than rapid drying and disappearance of the wetland here, sediments suggest variable hydrological conditions, including tan-coloured clays and a greenish, carbonateenriched and ostracod-bearing clay, some of which are very similar to Pleistocene lake deposits noted from the Azraq Oasis (Jones and Richter, 2011;Ames et al, 2014). Two soundings, one located in between these areas and the other to the north, confirm the presence of distinct wetland deposits (similar to those in Area A) at the base of the site.…”

Section: Kharaneh IVmentioning

confidence: 49%

“…From its outer extent to the central oasis, the Azraq Basin includes a wide range of microhabitats, ranging from extreme desert to permanently watered oasis and the local flora and fauna reflect this diversity (Nelson, 1973). Although modern industrial-scale use of the Azraq water resources has caused extensive depletion, geoarchaeological studies (Cordova et al, 2008;Jones and Richter, 2011;Ames et al, 2013Ames et al, , 2014) suggest that a wetland, of one sort or another, was present in the Azraq Oasis for much of prehistory. This oasis served as an important and verdant locale for both local and migratory animal populations and, importantly for our purposes, local and migrating human populations.…”

Section: Azraq Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Palaeoenvironmental research documents generally good water availability throughout the basin in the later Pleistocene (Nelson, 1973;Besançon and Sanlaville, 1988;Besançon et al, 1989;Hunt, 1989;Cordova et al, 2008Cordova et al, , 2013Macumber, 2001;Jones and Richter, 2011;Garrard and Byrd, 2013;Ames et al, 2014;Jones et al, this volume). Previous archaeological research supports a lusher environment than today, noting a high density of Palaeolithic, EP and Neolithic sites, including some of the largest hunteregatherer sites in the region (Muheisen, 1988;Copeland and Hours, 1989;Rollefson et al, 1997Rollefson et al, , 2001Garrard and Byrd, 2013).…”

Section: Azraq Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Occupying wide open spaces? Late Pleistocene hunter–gatherer activities in the Eastern Levant

Maher

Macdonald

Allentuck

et al. 2016

Quaternary International

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a b s t r a c tWith a specific focus on eastern Jordan, the Epipalaeolithic Foragers in Azraq Project explores changing hunteregatherer strategies, behaviours and adaptations to this vast area throughout the Late Pleistocene. In particular, we examine how lifeways here (may have) differed from surrounding areas and what circumstances drew human and animal populations to the region. Integrating multiple material cultural and environmental datasets, we explore some of the strategies of these eastern Jordanian groups that resulted in changes in settlement, subsistence and interaction and, in some areas, the occupation of substantial aggregation sites. Five years of excavation at the aggregation site of Kharaneh IV suggest some very intriguing technological and social on-site activities, as well as adaptations to a dynamic landscape unlike that of today. Here we discuss particular aspects of the Kharaneh IV material record within the context of ongoing palaeoenvironmental reconstructions and place these findings in the wider spatial and temporal narratives of the Azraq Basin.

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“…Yellen 1977;Gould and Saggers 1985;O'Connell 1987;Brooks 1996;David and Kramer 2001). In recent years, a relatively large number of Middle Palaeolithic open-air sites have been discovered and investigated in the Levant (Hovers et al 2008Cordova et al 2011;Ames et al 2014;Kalbe et al 2014;Sharon and Oron, 2014;Zaidner et al 2014Zaidner et al , 2016; and see Hovers, 2017 for summary). Such sites need to be thoroughly investigated to attain a more complete understanding of Middle Palaeolithic decisions regarding settlement patterns, subsistence strategies and technological organisation (Hovers and Belfer-Cohen 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geoarchaeological Investigation of Site Formation and Depositional Environments at the Middle Palaeolithic Open-Air Site of ‘Ein Qashish, Israel

et al. 2018

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'Ein Qashish is a Middle Palaeolithic open-air site in the southern Levant, encompassing an excavated area of several hundred square meters and a 4.5-m thick stratigraphic section. Its placement within a fluvial system, combined with the presence of Neanderthal skeletal remains and diverse material culture finds, presents possibilities J Paleo Arch (2018) Palaeolithic. The aim of this study is to investigate the depositional and post-depositional processes at 'Ein Qashish, based on the stratigraphic section exposed in the 2013 excavation season. We employed field observations, sedimentology, micromorphology, mineralogy, elemental and isotopic analyses. Our results indicate that the sedimentary sequence, including four archaeological occupation levels, accumulated in a generally low-energy alluvial environment with evidence for syn-depositional localised seasonal water bodies. On-going post-depositional processes related to wetting and drying cycles include shrink-swell and calcite and gypsum pedofeatures. Bone mineral is relatively well preserved. The data suggest limited fluvial and argilliturbation reworking of artefacts, indicating that spatial patterning of lithic and bone assemblages is rather well preserved in some areas. The current analyses do not indicate the presence of combustion features or fire-related residues at the site, although burned lithics occur in low frequencies. The absence of combustion features in the large excavated area and deep stratigraphy contrasts with patterns observed in Middle Palaeolithic cave occupations in the region, adding nuance to a dataset that will enable a better understanding of human activities under sheltered and open-air conditions.

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Paleoenvironmental change and settlement dynamics in the Druze Marsh: Results of recent excavation at an open-air Paleolithic site

Cited by 24 publications

References 43 publications

Quartz thermoluminescence spectra in the high-dose range

Quartz thermoluminescence spectra in the high-dose range

Occupying wide open spaces? Late Pleistocene hunter–gatherer activities in the Eastern Levant

Geoarchaeological Investigation of Site Formation and Depositional Environments at the Middle Palaeolithic Open-Air Site of ‘Ein Qashish, Israel

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