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71 - The Early and Middle Epipalaeolithic of Cisjordan

from Part VI: - Humans in the Levant

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 May 2017

Yehouda Enzel
Affiliation:
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Ofer Bar-Yosef
Affiliation:
Harvard University, Massachusetts
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Summary

This overview includes the history of research, as well as terminological, chronological and interpretative frameworks for Early and Middle Epi-Palaeolithic developments in the Levant in and west of the Rift Valley, from ~25 ka cal BP, through to the emergence of the Late Epi-Palaeolithic Natufian complex, ca. 15 ka cal BP. The Early Epi-Palaeolithic corresponds to the LGM, when conditions were cold and wet in the north, but more arid further south. It is characterised by the emergence of chipped stone industries with standardised microliths used as inserts in composite tools. Four lithic entities were defined and stylistic morphologies of the microliths: Masraqan (formerly ‘late Ahmarian’), Nebekian (hardly documented west of the Rift Valley), Kebaran (with regional variants) and Nizzanan. During the Middle Epi-Palaeolithic environmental conditions improved. Two contemporary complexes are documented: the pan-Levantine Geometric Kebaran (without use of the mbt); and the Negev and Sinai-based Mushabian (including Ramonian, with mbt). The appearance of huts, pounding technologies, combustion features and associated pyrotechnical developments during this period are discussed.
Type
Chapter
Information
Quaternary of the Levant
Environments, Climate Change, and Humans
, pp. 639 - 650
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2017

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