Lithic Variability and Techno-Economy of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic in the Levant

Abstract

The Levant forms a geographic bridge between Africa and Eurasia, making it a focal point for research on past human dispersals. The Initial Upper Palaeolithic (IUP) of the Levant is commonly associated with Homo sapiens’ dispersal from Africa to Eurasia, which is characterised by substantial changes in material culture when compared to the preceding Middle Palaeolithic. While many researchers have noticed considerable variability among these IUP lithic assemblages, a systematic evaluation is currently missing. The study presented here addresses this cavity by employing techno-typological data from relevant Levantine IUP assemblages. Statistical methods, namely principal component analysis (PCA) and linear
discriminant analysis (LDA) allow structuring these assemblages into distinct groups. These groups are then reviewed against palaeogeographic data and techno-economic behaviour patterns. Results show that IUP assemblages in the Mediterranean zone are similar to each other in regards to techno-typology, palaeogeography and techno-economic behaviour, being indicative of residential base camps. Contrastingly, assemblages in the semi-arid zone are more variable in regards to techno-typology and
techno-economy, indicating more specialised activities such as hunting/butchering, which is often combined with local raw material exploitation. (OPEN ACCESS)

• GQT1
• GQT3

Resources

Bibliography

Leder, D. (2018): Lithic Variability and Techno-Economy of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic in the Levant. Science Publishing Group – In: International Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 6(1), p: 23-36, DOI: 10.11648/j.ija.20180601.14