The Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic of Sefunim Cave, Israel

Shimelmitz, Ron; Friesem, David E.; Clark, Jamie L.; Groman-Yaroslavski, Iris; Weissbrod, Lior; Porat, Naomi; Kandel, Andrew W.

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2017.05.039

Cited by 24 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…This process results from the movement of water within the sediments, as reflected also in the formation of travertine on the cave wall in this area. Decalcification is a common post-depositional process and was also reported in the Upper Palaeolithic deposits from the entrance of Sefunim Cave, located 50 km to the west of Shovakh Cave (Shimelmitz et al 2018). The presence of limestone fragments in En1 may explain why the carbonate concentrations in En1 and En2 are similar as shown from the ASF percentage (Table 1).…”

Section: The Rear Of the Cavesupporting

confidence: 60%

New Data from Shovakh Cave and Its Implications for Reconstructing Middle Paleolithic Settlement Patterns in the Amud Drainage, Israel

Friesem

Malinsky-Buller²,

Ekshtain

et al. 2019

J Paleo Arch

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This study presents the geoarchaeological and geochronological aspects of Shovakh Cave and the first comparative context to the nearby Amud Cave (~500 m downstream), providing an exceptional opportunity to explore the range of human behaviours within a small geographic area. Sediment samples from two newly excavated areas at the rear and entrance of the cave were analysed using infrared spectroscopy, micromorphology and phytolith analysis and dated through uranium-thorium and luminescence techniques. The rear of the cave shows carnivore activity and low artefact concentrations. It also exhibits a shift in sedimentation from wind-blown deposits to colluviation of terra rossa. Direct dating of the deposits associated with the Middle Palaeolithic (MP) occupation at this area could not be obtained due to the breccia forming at the lower part of the excavation area. However, the later phases of the Middle Palaeolithic occupation at this area gave an age estimate of 45.5 ± 3.7 ka. At the entrance of the cave, there are relatively more residues associated with human use of fire. Post-depositional processes in this area include decalcification of the upper layer, cementation of the lower layer and phosphatisation due to guano decomposition, which indicates that this area was probably roofed. The ages obtained in this area range between 67.5 ± 5.5 to 56.2 ± 5.9 ka, overlapping with the occupation time of Amud cave. The evidence from Shovakh Cave presents lower intensity of occupation compared to Amud, indicating variable modes of site use by humans in the Amud drainage during the Late Middle Palaeolithic.

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Section: The Rear Of the Cavesupporting

confidence: 60%

New Data from Shovakh Cave and Its Implications for Reconstructing Middle Paleolithic Settlement Patterns in the Amud Drainage, Israel

Friesem

Malinsky-Buller²,

Ekshtain

et al. 2019

J Paleo Arch

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“…21,000-18,000 cal BP (Goring-Morris & Belfer-Cohen 2017), yet a series of earlier dates (up to ca. 24,000 cal BP) are available for assemblages attributed to this culture (Edwards, Macumber & John Head 1996;Garrard & Byrd 2013;Shimelmitz et al 2018). Kebaran lithic assemblages are characterized by the production of non-geometric microliths, especially micropoints and obliquely truncated and backed bladelets (Kebara points), without microburin technique (MbT).…”

Section: Cultural Entities and Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alongside the lithic evidence, the EP archaeological record is characterized by a progressive increase in the importance of smaller ungulates and lower ranked prey in the faunal assemblages (Munro 2009b(Munro , 2009aMunro et al 2018;Stiner 2001;Stiner, Munro & Surovell 2000;Stutz, Munro & Bar-Oz 2009;Zeder 2012), by the development of ground-stone tools and possible plant cultivation (Dubreuil & Nadel 2015;Nadel et al 2012;Snir et al 2015;cf. Abbo & Gopher 2020), by the appearance of cemeteries (Bocquentin et al 2011;Maher et al 2011), and by the increased production of mobile art (Hovers 1990;Kaufman et al 2017;Shimelmitz et al 2018;Yaroshevich et al 2016). The greater investment in stylistic behavior (Sackett 1982(Sackett , 1986Wobst 1977) suggested by increasingly pronounced technological and typological differences, decorated items, and symbolism, combined with the intensification in the exploitation of local resources highlights a positive trend in population density, possibly corresponding to increased awareness of group identity and territoriality (Belfer-Cohen & Goring-Morris 2003;Maher, Richter & Stock 2012;Rosenberg 1990Rosenberg , 1998.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying Local Learning Communities During the Terminal Palaeolithic in the Southern Levant: Multi-scale 3-D Analysis of Flint Cores

Valletta

Dag

Grosman

2021

Journal of Computer Applications in Archaeology

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A methodology for identifying prehistoric local learning communities is proposed. We wish to test possible relationships among communities based on continuity and variability in lithic reduction sequence technological traits with different visibility and malleability. Quantitative features reflecting different technological traits are measured on 3-D models of flint cores in different scales: the ratio between core thickness and reduction surface width, the angle between subsequent bands of production blank scars to the relative striking platform, and the average curvature of the ridge between each blank scar striking platform pair. Continuity and variability in these features are used to establish the relations among lithic assemblages on different hierarchical levels: local learning communities and geographically widespread cultural lineages.The Late Upper Palaeolithic and the Epipalaeolithic of the Southern Levant (ca. 27,000-15,000 cal BP) provide an opportunity to test our method. A progressive increase in territoriality is hypothesized throughout this timespan, yet the precise timing and modes of this phenomenon need to be defined. The present study analyzes six core assemblages attributed to different cultural entities, representing chronologically separated occupations of the Ein Gev area and the coastal Sharon Plain. Continuity in technological traits between the Atlitian (ca. 27,000-26,000 cal BP) and Nizzanan (ca. 20,000-18,500 cal BP) occupations of the Ein Gev area suggests that the same learning community repeatedly settled there during a long time span. Two geographically separate learning communities were defined in the study areas within the Kebaran cultural entity (ca. 24,000-18,000 cal BP); the group occupying the Ein Gev area possibly continued to settle there during the Geometric Kebaran (ca. 18,000-15,000 cal BP). Continuity in more conservative traits of the reduction sequence allows to tie these two communities to the same cultural lineage. The ability to track prehistoric learning communities based on quantitative features helps increase the objectivity and the resolution in the reconstruction of past cultural dynamics.

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“…As part of a larger, ongoing study into the characteristics of DNA preservation in archaeological sediments, we collected samples at the site of Sefunim Cave in Israel (Fig. 1) 20,21 and tested whether they contained traces of ancient mammalian DNA.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Avraham Ronen, from the University of Haifa, excavated the site extensively during the 1960s, revealing a sequence of layers from the Middle Paleolithic to the historical periods 20 . Renewed excavations at the site since 2013 21 have focused on the entrance of the cave near the current dripline, an area that Ronen did not previously excavate due to the presence of massive limestone boulders.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Extended longevity of DNA preservation in Levantine Paleolithic sediments, Sefunim Cave, Israel

Slon

Clark

Friesem

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Paleogenomic research can elucidate the evolutionary history of human and faunal populations. Although the Levant is a key land-bridge between Africa and Eurasia, thus far, relatively little ancient DNA data has been generated from this region, since DNA degrades faster in warm climates. As sediments can be a source of ancient DNA, we analyzed 33 sediment samples from different sedimentological contexts in the Paleolithic layers of Sefunim Cave (Israel). Four contained traces of ancient Cervidae and Hyaenidae mitochondrial DNA. Dating by optical luminescence and radiocarbon indicates that the DNA comes from layers between 30,000 and 70,000 years old, surpassing theoretical expectations regarding the longevity of DNA deposited in such a warm environment. Both identified taxa are present in the zooarchaeological record of the site but have since gone extinct from the region, and a geoarchaeological study suggests little movement of the sediments after their deposition, lending further support to our findings. We provide details on the local conditions in the cave, which we hypothesize were particularly conducive to the long-term preservation of DNA—information that will be pertinent for future endeavors aimed at recovering ancient DNA from the Levant and other similarly challenging contexts.

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The Upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic of Sefunim Cave, Israel

Cited by 24 publications

References 35 publications

New Data from Shovakh Cave and Its Implications for Reconstructing Middle Paleolithic Settlement Patterns in the Amud Drainage, Israel

New Data from Shovakh Cave and Its Implications for Reconstructing Middle Paleolithic Settlement Patterns in the Amud Drainage, Israel

Identifying Local Learning Communities During the Terminal Palaeolithic in the Southern Levant: Multi-scale 3-D Analysis of Flint Cores

Extended longevity of DNA preservation in Levantine Paleolithic sediments, Sefunim Cave, Israel

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