Ongoing excavations at Kharaneh IV, an Early Epipaleolithic site in the Azraq Basin of Jordan, have revealed the remains of some early hut structures within deposits dated between 20,000-16,000 years ago.
Two Early Epipalaeolithic structures at Kharaneh IV, showing close-ups of features associated with the structures, including (A) a cache of burned gazelle and aurochsen horn cores at the edge of Structure 2, (B) a large stone associated with three caches of red ochre and pierced marine shells, and (C) articulated Bos primigenius lumbar vertebrae and ground stone fragments in the hut foundations. Photo courtesy Lisa Maher 2012The Epipaleolithic, that period in Levantine prehistory between the Upper Paleolithic and the Natufian, is when hunter-gatherers began to settle down and form communities. Kharaneh IV is similar in age to the site of Ayn Qassiya in Jordan, Abu Hureyra in Syria, and Kebara Cave and Ohalo II in Israel.
The houses at Kharaneh IV are represented by prepared clay basins, with what appears to be the burned remnants of a super structure. Several hearths and cache features have also been recorded at the site, including the remains of a pouch made from a fox pelt.
While not the earliest person-made structure in the world--similar hut structures are known from Upper Paleolithic sites such as Kostenki, at least 10,000 years earlier, the Kharaneh IV houses and the adjacent caches represent information about complex hunter-gatherer adaptation to different environments.
Close-up photographs of A-B) four articulated fox paws surrounding a worked flint bladelet core (B), probably representing the remains and contents of a fox pelt pouch and C) burnt gazelle horn cores still attached to skull at base, standing upright, adjacent to Structure 2. Photo courtesy Lisa Maher 2012The article describing the most recent discovery is an open access article (free download) published in PLoS ONE last week.
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