The environmental setting of Epipalaeolithic aggregation site Kharaneh IV

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe archaeological site of Kharaneh IV in Jordan's Azraq Basin, and its relatively near neighbour Jilat 6 show evidence of sustained occupation of substantial size through the Early to Middle Epipalaeolithic (c. 24,000e15,000 cal BP). Here, we review the geomorphological evidence for the environmental setting in which Kharaneh IV was established. The on-site stratigraphy is clearly differentiated from surrounding sediments, marked visually as well as by higher magnetic susceptibility values. Dating and analysis of offsite sediments show that a significant wetland existed at the site prior to and during early site occupation (~23,000e19,000 BP). This may explain why such a substantial site existed at this location. This wetland dating to the Last Glacial Maximum also provides important information on the palaeoenvironments and potential palaeoclimatic scenarios for today's eastern Jordanian desert, from where such evidence is scarce.

Risk, Reliability and Resilience: Phytolith Evidence for Alternative ‘Neolithization’ Pathways at Kharaneh IV in the Azraq Basin, Jordan

“…In this paper, new direct evidence of plant-use from phytolith analysis conducted on on-site sediments from Kharaneh IV in the Azraq Basin, Jordan ( Fig 1 ), is analyzed to consider how the inhabitants used plant resources. Given there is little local off-site sedimentary evidence to reconstruct the environment through most of the site’s occupation [ 35 ], the on-site evidence of plant use is also employed towards reconstructing the local environment. We argue that the evidence demonstrates these people employed a resilient plant use strategy that focused on the selection of risky and reliable resources, which may have facilitated their increasingly sedentary lifestyle and, therefore, represents the origins of an alternative and unexpected ‘Neolithization’ pathway.…”

“…The springs have a low discharge-to-replenishment ratio, with a residence time of 20,000 years [ 45 , 46 ]. In the past, prior to modern water demands, the springs provided a secure supply of water, even under arid conditions [ 35 , 44 , 47 ]. At present, the much-diminished modern wetland is located approximately 40 km northwest of the site.…”

“…At present, the much-diminished modern wetland is located approximately 40 km northwest of the site. However, in the past Kharaneh IV was situated on the periphery of the large Pleistocene wetland, surrounded by semi-arid steppe and parkland [ 35 , 44 , 48 – 53 ]. The wetland would have been a reliable resource-rich environment relative to the surrounding steppe and parkland [ 54 ], particularly during arid periods.…”

“…In the case of the Negev, the development of ancient water bodies was the result of accumulating aeolian sand deposits blocking the wadis, or dune-damming, not increased precipitation [ 59 ]. While in Azraq, the aquifers supplying the wetland are fed mainly by groundwater discharge with a millenial scale recharge rate [ 35 ], meaning that most of the water accumulating in the Late Pleistocene wetland was a result of increased preciptation thousands of years prior to the LGM.…”

“…Recent geoarchaeological analysis by Jones, Maher [ 35 ] demonstrates that the wetlands adjacent to Kharaneh IV date to between 23 and 19 ka years ago. At the base of the Early Epipaleolithic occupation (Area B) the wetland deposits are interstratified with the earliest occupation layers.…”