Neanderthals in the Levant: Behavioural Organization and the Beginnings of Human Modernity

337 Pages·2003·25.04 MB·English

by  Donald O. Henry

Neanderthals in the Levant
New Approaches to Anthropological Archaeology
Editor-in-Chief
Thomas E. Levy, University of California, San Diego
Series Editors
Guillermo Algaze, University of California, San Diego
Paul S. Goldstein, University of California, San Diego
Augustin F. C. Holl, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Joyce Marcus, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Anthropological Archaeology offers a methodologically refreshing approach to the study of
cultural evolution. It recognizes the fundamental role that anthropology now plays in
archaeology and also integrates the strengths of various research paradigms which
characterize archaeology on the world scene today, including new or processual, post-
processual, evolutionist, cognitive, symbolic, marxist, and historical archaeologies. It does so
by taking into account the cultural and, when possible, historical context of the material
remains being studied. This involves the development of models concerning the formative role
of cognition, symbolism, and ideology in human societies to explain the more material and
economic dimensions of human culture that are the natural purview of archaeological data. It
also involves an understanding of the cultural ecology of the societies being studied, and of the
limitations and opportunities that the environment imposes on the evolution or devolution of
human societies. Based on the assumption that cultures never develop in isolation,
Anthropological Archaeology takes a regional approach to tackling fundamental issues
concerning past cultural evolution anywhere in the world.
This new series welcomes proposals from 'intellectual foragers' whose interests combine
field research with theoretical studies of issues of cultural evolution in the past and in the ethno-
archaeological present. The series differs from much theoretical discourse in archaeology
today in that it is dedicated to publishing work firmly grounded in archaeological fact, while
also venturing to explore more speculative ideas about how cultures evolve and change.
Published titles in the series:
Wesf Africa During the Atlantic Slave Trade: Archaeological Perspectives, edited by
Christopher R. DeCorse
Egypf and fhe Levant: Interrelations from the 4th Through the Early 3rd Millennium B.C.E.,
edited by Edwin C. M. van den Brink and Thomas E. Levy
Landscapes, Rock-Art and the Dreaming: An Archaeology of Preunderstanding, Bruno David
Early Urbanizations in the Levant: A Regional Narrative, Raphael Greenberg
Neanderthals in the Levant
BEHAVIORAL ORGANIZATION AND THE BEGINNINGS OF
HUMAN MODERNITY
Edited by
Donald O. Henry
A\ continuum
WLONDON • NEW YORK
Continuum
The Tower Building, 11 York Road, London SE1 7NX
15 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010
First published 2003 by Continuum
© Donald O. Henry and contributors 2003
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 0-8264-5803-3 (hardback)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Neanderthals in the Levant: behavioral organization and the beginnings of human modernity / edited by
Donald O. Henry.
p. cm. — (New approaches to anthropological archaeology)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8264-5803-3
1. Neanderthals-Middle East. 2. Mousterian culture-Middle East. 3. Tor Faraj Cave Qordan) 4. Human
evolution. 5. Social evolution. 6. Middle East-Antiquities. I. Henry, Donald O. II. Series.
GN772.3.M6 N43 2003
569.9-dc21
2002067341
Typeset by BookEns Ltd, Royston, Herts.
Printed and Bound in Great Britain by The Cromwell Press, Trowbridge, Wilts.
Contents
List of Figures vii
List of Tables xi
List of Contributors xiii
Acknowledgements xv
Introduction
1 The Emergence of Modern Humans: Issues and Debates 3
Donald O. Henry
2 The Levant and the Modern Human Debate 1 2
Donald O. Henry
Case Study
3 A Case Study from Southern Jordan: Tor Faraj 33
Donald O. Henry
4 Human Behavior and the Stone Tools from Tor Faraj 60
Donald O. Henry
5 Small Lithic Debris Analysis 86
Teresa L. Armagan
6 Into the Mind of the Maker: Refitting Study and Technological Reconstructions 107
Yu. E. Demidenko and V.I. Usik
7 Middle Paleolithic Plant Exploitation: The Microbotanical Evidence 156
Arlene Miller Rosen
8 Formation Processes and Paleosurface Identification 1 72
Harold J. Hietala
vi CONTENTS
9 Site Structure and Material Patterning in Space on the Tor Faraj Living Floors 1 98
Harold J. Hietala
Summary
10 Behavioral Organization at Tor Faraj 237
Donald O. Henry
Appendix A: Alphabetical Listing of Attribute Definitions Used for the Tor Faraj 271
Small Lithic Debris Study
Teresa L. Armagann
Appendix B: Small Lithic Debris Analysis Results Tables 276
Teresa L. Armagan
Appendix C: Cross-Cultural Data for Hearths in Rockshelters 285
Donald O. Henry
Appendix D: Analysis of Sediments for Zinc and Phosphate Ions 288
Thomas M. Harrisis
References 296
Index 313
List of Figures
1.1 Map showing locations of sites 3.9 A view of the excavation during the
discussed in the chapter 1994 season
2.1 Map showing the locations of major 3.10 Mr. Faraj Suleiman Jadaylat for whom
sites in the Levant and northeast Africa the shelter is named
2.2 Illustrations of artifacts representing 3.11 The evolution of the Tor Faraj deposit
Levantine Mousterian D-type Industry 3.12 A view of the excavation from the
2.3 Illustrations of artifacts representing north, out of the alcove
Levantine Mousterian C-type Industry 3.13 The eastern part of the excavation
2.4 Illustrations of artifacts representing viewed from the back of the shelter
Levantine Mousterian B-type Industry 3.14 Stratigraphy of Unit A3 south face
2.5 A synthesis of chronometry, 3.15 Schematic cross-section of the Tor Faraj
archaeological units, hominids, and deposit showing successive brow
paleoenvironments of the Levant collapse and in-filling episodes
during the Late Pleistocene 3.16 Stratigraphic Profile 1 (south face) and
3.1 The location of Tor Faraj and the major Profile 2 (north face)
land-forms of southern Jordan 3.17 Stratigraphic Profile 3 (east face) and
3.2 Schematic cross-section ol the region Profile 4 (east face)
around Tor Faraj from northeast to 3.18 Stratigraphic Profile 5 (west face)
southwest showing the topography, 4.1 Illustrations of cores and refitted
environment, and bedrock lithology artifacts from Tor Faraj
3.3 A comparison of depositional 4.2 Illustrations of cores and core
successions and archaeological fragments on flakes from Tor Faraj
evidence from three localities in 4.3 Comparison of the lengths (mean and
southern Jordan in the vicinity of Tor range) of debitage and Levallois points
Faraj recovered from Tor Faraj
3.4 Looking at Tor Faraj from the west side 4.4 Illustrations of Levallois points from
of the Wadi Aheimir opposite the Tor Faraj
shelter 4.5 Illustrations of lithic artifacts from Tor
3.5 Looking out from Tor Faraj to the Faraj
outlet of the Wadi Aheimir and the 4.6 Illustrations of lithic artifacts from Tor
Hisma Basin Faraj
3.6 Elevational transects of the area within 4.7 Illustrations of lithic artifacts from Tor
a 5-km radius of Tor Faraj Faraj
3.7 Plan of Tor Faraj showing location of 4.8 Illustrations of lithic artifacts from Tor
excavation block relative to Bedouin Faraj
storehouse and back wall 4.9 Illustrations of lithic artifacts from Tor
3.8 Cross-section profile of Tor Faraj Faraj
showing the location of the excavation 4.10 Illustrations of lithic artifacts from Tor
block Faraj
viii | LIST OF FIGURES
4.11 Illustrations of lithic artifacts from Tor 6.22 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from
Faraj Tor Faraj: constellations 35, 36, and 37
4.12 Illustrations of lithic artifacts from Tor 6.23 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from
Faraj Tor Faraj: constellations 38 and 39
5.1 Maps of Floor I and Floor II at Tor 6.24 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from
Faraj showing the locations of small Tor Faraj: constellations 40, 41, 42, and
debris concentrations 43
5.2 Examples of small debris attributes 6.25 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from
recorded for the Tor Faraj assemblage Tor Faraj: constellations 44 and 45
6.1 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from 6.26 Other technologically informative
Tor Faraj: constellation 1 artifacts from Tor Faraj
6.2 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from 6.27 Schematic illustration of the reduction
Tor Faraj: constellations 1 and 2 sequence(s) reconstructed from the
6.3 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from refitting study of Tor Faraj artifacts
Tor Faraj: constellations 2 and 3 7.1 Plan map of Tor Faraj showing the
6.4 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from locations of samples for phytolith
Tor Faraj: constellation 4 analysis
6.5 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from 7.2 Phytolith of an unknown
Tor Faraj: constellation 5 monocotyledon stem from Sample TF-
6.6 Illustrations of refitted artifacts: 96-11
constellations 6, 7, 8, and 10 7.3 Percentages of pooid and panicoid
6.7 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from grass phytoliths at Tor Faraj
Tor Faraj: constellation 9, view 1 7.4 Phytolith from a date palm (Phoenix
6.8 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from dactyliferd) photographed from Sample
Tor Faraj: constellation 9, view 2 TF-96-7
6.9 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from 7.5 Distribution of phytoliths from
Tor Faraj: constellation 9, view 3 monocotyledons across Floor II
6.10 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from (hearth data not included) at Tor Faraj
Tor Faraj: constellations 11 and 12 7.6 Distribution of dicotyledon phytoliths
6.11 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from across Floor II (high dicot percentages
Tor Faraj: constellations 13, 14, 15, 16, from hearths not included) at Tor Faraj
and 17 7.7 Phytolith percentages of pooid,
6.12 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from panicoid, and long cells from stems
Tor Faraj: constellation 18 and leaves of plants, showing the plant
6.13 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from parts from which these phytoliths were
Tor Faraj: constellations 19, 20, 21, and derived at Tor Faraj
22 7.8 Phytolith percentages of dendritic
6.14 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from (floral/seed husk) long-cells showing
Tor Faraj: constellation 23 that the distribution of these differs
6.15 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from Tor from those of the other grass phytoliths
Faraj: constellations 24, 25A, and 25B on occupation surfaces but not in
6.16 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from hearths at Tor Faraj
Tor Faraj: constellations 25B and 25C 7.9 Distribution of phytoliths from date
6.17 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from palms (P. dactyliferd) across Floor II at
Tor Faraj: constellations 26, 27, and 28 Tor Faraj
6.18 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from 7.10 Distribution of phytoliths from seed
Tor Faraj: constellation 29 husk phytoliths across Floor II at Tor
6.19 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from Faraj
Tor Faraj: constellations 30 and 31 8.1 Spatial frequencies of large artifacts by
6.20 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from degree of patination at Tor Faraj
Tor Faraj: constellations 32, 33A, and 8.2 Spatial frequencies of chips by level at
33B Tor Faraj
6.21 Illustrations of refitted artifacts from 8.3 Counts of rocks, hearths, debitage, and
Tor Faraj: constellation 34 tools at Tor Faraj
LIST OF FIGURES | ix
8.4 Rock-hearth counts and debitage-tool 9.15 Point plots of artifact use-wear by
densities by level at Tor Faraj material and hardness classes at Tor
8.5 North-south and east-west profile Faraj
plots of rocks and hearths at Tor Faraj 9.16 Point plots of artifact use-wear with
8.6 Point plots of rocks and hearth material and processing interpretations
distributions by level at Tor Faraj at Tor Faraj
8.7 Point plots of primary and core 10.1 Histogram showing the directional
trimming elements at Tor Faraj distributions of plotted artifact
8.8 Areal definitions for Levels 160 to 170 orientations
and Levels 180 to 195 showing the 10.2 Plan of Tor Faraj showing the length of
spatial locations of all artifacts at Tor time (in hours) various parts of the
Faraj shelter are exposed to sunlight in July
8.9 Debitage reduction element scatter 10.3 Plan of Tor Faraj showing the distrib-
diagrams at Tor Faraj utions of hearths and chip
8.10 Flakes, blades, Levallois pieces, and concentrations
burin spall distributions at Tor Faraj 10.4 Plan of Tor Faraj showing the
8.11 Spatial distributions for generic cores, distributions of cores-from-nodules and
debitage, and tools at Tor Faraj cores-on-flakes (truncated faceted
8.12 Debitage and tool size by level at Tor pieces)
Faraj 10.5 Plan of Tor Faraj showing the
8.13 Diversity and evenness indices for tools distributions of Levallois points
and debitage by level at Tor Faraj 10.6 Plan of Tor Faraj showing the
9.1 Spatial frequencies of all artifacts by distributions of side-scrapers and
floor at Tor Faraj notches
9.2 Spatial frequencies of heavily patmated 10.7 Plan of Tor Faraj showing the
artifacts by floor at Tor Faraj distributions of hearths and their
9.3 Spatial frequencies of cores and cores- hearth-side activity zones
on-flakes by floor at Tor Faraj 10.8 Comparison distributions of hearths,
9.4 Spatial frequencies of initial core ash, and bedding at Tor Faraj with
reduction elements by floor at Tor Faraj ethnographic and archaeological
9.5 Spatial frequencies of all non-Levallois examples associated with modern
debitage by floor at Tor Faraj foragers
9.6 Spatial frequencies of all Levallois 10.9 Composite reconstruction of activity
debitage by floor at Tor Faraj areas at Tor Faraj
9.7 Spatial frequencies of all Levallois
points by floor at Tor Faraj
9.8 Spatial frequencies of retouched pieces Appendices
by floor at Tor Faraj
9.9 Point plots of retouched pieces by floor A.I Examples of distinctive expanding
at Tor Faraj billet (DEB) flakes
9.10 Point plots of burins and burin spalls A.2 Measurement of flake margin
by floor at Tor Faraj expansion
9.11 Point plots of Levallois points and A.3 Examples of Y flakes
notched pieces by floor A.4 Measurement of bilateral symmetry
9.12 Point plots of unretouched and A.5 Measurement of cross-sectional
retouched Levallois points at Tor Faraj symmetry
9.13 Spatial distribution of phosphorous D.I Fraction of total phosphate found in
levels for Floor II at Tor Faraj Extract III
9.14 Point plots of artifacts by generic use- D.2 Relationship between total phosphate
wear at Tor Faraj and total zinc