Ofer Bar-Yosef | Harvard University (original) (raw)

Papers by Ofer Bar-Yosef

PNAS USA, 2018

The Levantine Aurignacian is a unique phenomenon in the local Upper Paleolithic sequence, showing... more The Levantine Aurignacian is a unique phenomenon in the local Upper Paleolithic sequence, showing greater similarity to the West European classic Aurignacian than to the local Levantine archaeological entities preceding and following it. Herewith we highlight another unique characteristic of this entity, namely, the presence of symbolic objects in the form of notched bones (mostly gazelle scapulae) from the Aurignacian levels of Hayonim Cave, Lower Galilee, Israel. Through both macroscopic and microscopic analyses of the items, we suggest that they are not mere cut marks but rather are intentional (decorative?) human-made markings. The significance of this evidence for symbolic behavior is discussed in its chrono-cultural and geographical contexts. Notched bones are among the oldest symbolic expressions of anatomically modern humans. However, unlike other Paleolithic sites where such findings were reported in single numbers, the number of these items recovered at Hayonim Cave is sufficient to assume they possibly served as an emblem of the Levantine Aurignacian.

The study comprises an experimentally based investigation of interaction between temporal change ... more The study comprises an experimentally based investigation of interaction between temporal change in the morphology of microlithic tools and transformations in projectile technology during the Late Pleistocene in the Levant. Archery experiments with differently designed arrows fitted with various types of microliths representing subsequent Epipaleolithic cultures of the Levant allowed analyzing performance abilities of the arrows, identifying projectile damage types characteristic of particular hafting modes, detecting factors influencing the frequency of projectile damage and estimating the frequency of projectile damage expected to be found in archaeological samples. The data obtained through the experiments applied in the analysis of the archaeological microliths from Geometric Kebaran and Natufian sites in Israel indicate different approaches to the design of projectiles fitted with microliths characteristic for these cultures. The shift in design, associated with such important economic and social transformations as transition to sedentary settlements and a broad-spectrum economy, may reflect a demand for light, flexible and efficient projectile weapons requiring low time and labor investment for preparation and retooling. The use of such efficient weapons in conditions of growing population density and restricted areas available for Natufian hunter–gatherers can be considered as one of the factors that could have affected the subsequent transition to food production that took place in the early Holocene.

Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia, 2009

Weeds are currently present in a wide range of ecosystems worldwide. Although the beginning of th... more Weeds are currently present in a wide range of ecosystems worldwide. Although the beginning of their evolution is largely unknown, researchers assumed that they developed in tandem with cultivation since the appearance of agricultural habitats some 12,000 years ago. These rapidly-evolving plants invaded the human disturbed areas and thrived in the new habitat. Here we present unprecedented new findings of the presence of "proto-weeds" and small-scale trial cultivation in Ohalo II, a 23,000-year-old hunter-gatherers' sedentary camp on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Israel. We examined the plant remains retrieved from the site (ca. 150,000 specimens), placing particular emphasis on the search for evidence of plant cultivation by Ohalo II people and the presence of weed species. The archaeobotanically-rich plant assemblage demonstrates extensive human gathering of over 140 plant species and food preparation by grinding wild wheat and barley. Among these, we identified 13 well-known current weeds mixed with numerous seeds of wild emmer, barley, and oat. This collection provides the earliest evidence of a human-disturbed environment-at least 11 millennia before the onset of agriculture-that provided the conditions for the development of "proto-weeds", a prerequisite for weed evolution. Finally, we suggest that their presence indicates the earliest, small-scale attempt to cultivate wild cereals seen in the archaeological record.

In: T. Akazawa et al. (eds.), Dynamics of Learning in Neanderthals and Modern Humans Volume 1: Cultural Perspectives. Springer New-York. Pp. 7-20., 2013

Neanderthals, a European population was undoubtedly successful in surviving through several glac... more Neanderthals, a European population was undoubtedly successful in surviving through
several glacial periods. Their population, originally spread across Europe, composed of
small communities but succeeded to maintain their relationships and their mating systems
and thus secured their biological survival. Published samples of aDNA and teeth indicate
that they formed a particular population, although morphological deviations from the western
European relics are found at the edges of their geographic distribution. The expansions
of Neanderthals into western Asia and reaching the Altai Mountains refl ect their successful
adaptations to variable environments. Their demise was caused, among others, by the
expansion of groups of modern humans of African origins. The cultural traits of the new
invading and colonizing people included high degree of mobility, signs of group identity,
new cloths, use of ornaments, new hunting tools, and means of communication. The interactions
of modern humans with the Neanderthals, discussed in the paper, provide a foundation
for further research along economic and biological considerations that may provide a
more sound explanation for the disappearance of a past successful meta-population.

ABSTRACT: The development of prehistoric studies in Europe and Western Asia has powerfully influe... more ABSTRACT: The development of prehistoric studies in Europe and Western Asia has powerfully influenced the
terminology and conceptual frameworks of Palaeolithic archaeology. However, attempts to impose these on
archaeological records elsewhere, such as East Asia, risk seriously distorting interpretations of the material and a
failure to appreciate its significance. In particular, the Chinese Palaeolithic record provides major contrasts with
that of Europe and Western Asia, and challenges prevailing notions of hominins' cognitive and adaptative capabilities
based primarily on the lithic analysis. Early hominins beyond Africa were not tied to savanna environments and
were able to exploit a range of habitats as a result of the flexibility afforded them by social and cognitive
developments. Similarly, cultural influences conserved stone technologies, so that there is no necessary link between
tool forms, cognitive ability and habitat characteristics. However, study of tool reduction sequences provides insights
into the learning processes underlying the production of particular assemblages. Core and flake industries persisted
in China for much of the Pleistocene, and while hand axe assemblages are known from the south of the country, they
differ from those found in Europe and Africa. Levallois and several other Middle Palaeolithic industries are generally
absent, although some instances are known from western and northern areas of the country. Early (> 25 kya)
microlithic industries occur in north China, with late cobble tool assemblages in the south, probably coincident with
the extent of bamboo forests. South China also provides examples of pottery from Upper Palaeolithic contexts dating
from < 20 kya. The implications of these distinctive aspects of the Chinese archaeological record for understanding
past human behaviors are briefly discussed, as are some more general issues associated with modeling early human
cognition.

Heritage Turkey Issue 2, pages 16-18, 2012

This paper is not a comprehensive review of the entire geographic range of the lands that were th... more This paper is not a comprehensive review of the entire geographic range of the lands that were the source areas for the foragers
travelling to Cyprus during the Terminal Pleistocene or the colonists that settled in the island. Several selected issues for the rich
literature on the Neolithic of the eastern Mediterranean, namely the Levant and Anatolia are discussed in the text. The most basic
aspect is the diachronic changes in the socio-economy of the region, the emergence of cultivation as a prelude to full-fledged
farming and the domestication of goat, sheep, cattle and pig. The success of farming as a subsistence strategy is seen as leading
to experiments in new modes of social organization. The importance of networking and long distance connections is discussed
by stressing the poorly studied role of river transport cross the Mesopotamian lands, the eastern wing of the Fertile Crescent. The
more difficult crossing characterized the Levant. The success of long distance transfer of technology, plants and animals led to
the experimentations with social organizations. One that was tried and finally failed is the formation of the Göbekli Tepe culture
as a chiefdom. In addition potentials for conflicts are brought up and the closing remarks raise several options for the motivations
of foragers and later colonist to establish Cyprus as part of the Near Eastern Neolithic world.

Despite almost a century of research, the Chinese Paleolithic chronocultural sequence still remai... more Despite almost a century of research, the Chinese Paleolithic chronocultural sequence still remains incomplete, although the number of welldated sites is rapidly increasing. The Chinese Paleolithic is marked by the long persistence of core-and-flake and cobble-tool industries, so interpretation of cultural and social behavior of humans in East Asia based solely on comparison with the African and western Eurasian prehistoric sequences becomes problematic, such as in assessing cognitive evolutionary stages. For the Chinese Paleolithic, wood and bamboo likely served as raw materials for the production of daily objects since the arrival of the earliest migrants from western Asia, although poor preservation is a problem. Contrary to the notion of a "Movius Line" with handaxes not present on the China side, China does have a limited distribution of Acheulian bifaces and unifaces. Similarly, Middle Paleolithic assemblages are present in the Chinese sequence. Although the available raw materials have been assumed to have limited applicable knapping techniques in China, this notion is challenged by the appearance of microblade industries in the north in the Upper Paleolithic. In the south, early pottery making by foragers emerged 20,000 years ago, thus preceding the emergence of farming but heralding the long tradition of cooking in China.

Journal of Human Evolution, 2009

Qafzeh Cave, the burial grounds of several anatomically modern humans, producers of Mousterian in... more Qafzeh Cave, the burial grounds of several anatomically modern humans, producers of Mousterian industry, yielded archaeological evidence reflecting their modern behavior. Dated to 92ka BP, the lower layers at the site contained a series of hearths, several human graves, flint artifacts, animal bones, a collection of sea shells, lumps of red ochre, and an incised cortical flake. The marine shells were recovered from layers earlier than most of the graves except for one burial. The shells were collected and brought from the Mediterranean Sea shore some 35km away, and are complete Glycymeris bivalves, naturally perforated. Several valves bear traces of having been strung, and a few had ochre stains on them.

Scientific American, 1993

Nature, 1988

The Qafzeh 1 and Skhul 2,3 caves in Israel have yielded the remains of over 30 hominids. Despite ... more The Qafzeh 1 and Skhul 2,3 caves in Israel have yielded the remains of over 30 hominids. Despite their association with Mousterian deposits, these have been recognized as forerunners of other Homo sapiens sapiens on morphological grounds and have been called 'Proto-Cro- ...

Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, 2004

The beginning of agriculture is one of the most important developments in human history, with eno... more The beginning of agriculture is one of the most important developments in human history, with enormous consequences that paved the way for settled life and complex society. Much of the research on the origins of agriculture over the last 40 years has been guided by Flannery's [Flannery, K. V. (1969) in The Domestication and Exploitation of Plants and Animals, eds. Ucko, P. J. & Dimbleby, G. W. (Duckworth, London), pp. 73-100] ''broad spectrum revolution'' (BSR) hypothesis, which posits that the transition to farming in southwest Asia entailed a period during which foragers broadened their resource base to encompass a wide array of foods that were previously ignored in an attempt to overcome food shortages. Although these resources undoubtedly included plants, nearly all BSR hypothesis-inspired research has focused on animals because of a dearth of Upper Paleolithic archaeobotanical assemblages. Now, however, a collection of >90,000 plant remains, recently recovered from the Stone Age site Ohalo II (23,000 B.P.

Evolutionary Anthropology, 1993

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2001

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2000

An interpretation of the archaeological record, in particular that of a prehistoric cave site, is... more An interpretation of the archaeological record, in particular that of a prehistoric cave site, is complicated by the diversity of depositional and post-depositional processes that affect the material deposited. Here we propose to use the authigenic minerals that form in situ within the cave sediments to reconstruct the ancient chemical environments in the sediments. This can be done by experimentally determining the conditions under which each of the authigenic minerals are stable. Although this information is not available to date for minerals formed in a prehistoric cave, we present calculated stability field data for the relevant minerals. The results clearly demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. This information, particularly if based on measurements of real authigenic cave minerals, will facilitate an assessment of the completeness of the cave archaeological record. This is particularly important for determining whether or not the distributions of archaeologically important materials, such as bones, teeth, plant phytoliths, charcoal and ash, reflect their original burial distributions or were altered as a result of secondary diagenetic processes.

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2003

A study of the mineralogy and phytolith assemblages of hearths and their associated sediments in ... more A study of the mineralogy and phytolith assemblages of hearths and their associated sediments in Hayonim Cave, Israel, shows that wood ash is a major component of the sediments of both the Natufian (approximately 12,000 ) and the Mousterian deposits (approximately 100 to 250,000 ). Interestingly, phytolith analyses show that in the Natufian deposits grasses are the second most abundant form of vegetation preserved, whereas in the Mousterian deposits leaves of dicotyledonous plants are the second most abundant form of vegetation preserved. Significant differences were repeatedly observed in phytolith assemblages from closely associated but different stratigraphic layers, showing that vertical mixing of intact sediments is not intensive, and that there was a diverse input of vegetation over relatively short time periods. No consistent differences were observed in the mineralogy and the phytolith assemblages between hearths and their associated sediments. Both contain abundant ash components. This study demonstrates that quantitative analyses of phytoliths together with mineralogical analyses, can provide much information on the use of plants for fuel and other purposes by the cave occupants.

Journal of Human Evolution, 2002

The site of 'Ubeidiya is located in the Jordan Valley, Israel and has been biochronologically dat... more The site of 'Ubeidiya is located in the Jordan Valley, Israel and has been biochronologically dated to 1·5 m.y.a. It exhibits large lithic and faunal assemblages. Previous published hominid material includes a molar (UB 1701) and I 2 (UB 1700). A recent review of the faunal material from previous excavations has revealed a highly worn hominid right lateral lower incisor (UB 335). The tooth was found in situ in the Lower Pleistocene deposits of stratum I-26a, which is comprised of sand and conglomerates of flint, limestone and basalt indicative of a pebbled lakeshore environment. Taphonomic analysis of the macromammal assemblage indicates high-energy fluvial transport. Paleoecological reconstruction suggests a large woodland fauna with a small percent of open steppe species.

PNAS USA, 2018

The Levantine Aurignacian is a unique phenomenon in the local Upper Paleolithic sequence, showing... more The Levantine Aurignacian is a unique phenomenon in the local Upper Paleolithic sequence, showing greater similarity to the West European classic Aurignacian than to the local Levantine archaeological entities preceding and following it. Herewith we highlight another unique characteristic of this entity, namely, the presence of symbolic objects in the form of notched bones (mostly gazelle scapulae) from the Aurignacian levels of Hayonim Cave, Lower Galilee, Israel. Through both macroscopic and microscopic analyses of the items, we suggest that they are not mere cut marks but rather are intentional (decorative?) human-made markings. The significance of this evidence for symbolic behavior is discussed in its chrono-cultural and geographical contexts. Notched bones are among the oldest symbolic expressions of anatomically modern humans. However, unlike other Paleolithic sites where such findings were reported in single numbers, the number of these items recovered at Hayonim Cave is sufficient to assume they possibly served as an emblem of the Levantine Aurignacian.

The study comprises an experimentally based investigation of interaction between temporal change ... more The study comprises an experimentally based investigation of interaction between temporal change in the morphology of microlithic tools and transformations in projectile technology during the Late Pleistocene in the Levant. Archery experiments with differently designed arrows fitted with various types of microliths representing subsequent Epipaleolithic cultures of the Levant allowed analyzing performance abilities of the arrows, identifying projectile damage types characteristic of particular hafting modes, detecting factors influencing the frequency of projectile damage and estimating the frequency of projectile damage expected to be found in archaeological samples. The data obtained through the experiments applied in the analysis of the archaeological microliths from Geometric Kebaran and Natufian sites in Israel indicate different approaches to the design of projectiles fitted with microliths characteristic for these cultures. The shift in design, associated with such important economic and social transformations as transition to sedentary settlements and a broad-spectrum economy, may reflect a demand for light, flexible and efficient projectile weapons requiring low time and labor investment for preparation and retooling. The use of such efficient weapons in conditions of growing population density and restricted areas available for Natufian hunter–gatherers can be considered as one of the factors that could have affected the subsequent transition to food production that took place in the early Holocene.

Archaeology, Ethnology and Anthropology of Eurasia, 2009

Weeds are currently present in a wide range of ecosystems worldwide. Although the beginning of th... more Weeds are currently present in a wide range of ecosystems worldwide. Although the beginning of their evolution is largely unknown, researchers assumed that they developed in tandem with cultivation since the appearance of agricultural habitats some 12,000 years ago. These rapidly-evolving plants invaded the human disturbed areas and thrived in the new habitat. Here we present unprecedented new findings of the presence of "proto-weeds" and small-scale trial cultivation in Ohalo II, a 23,000-year-old hunter-gatherers' sedentary camp on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Israel. We examined the plant remains retrieved from the site (ca. 150,000 specimens), placing particular emphasis on the search for evidence of plant cultivation by Ohalo II people and the presence of weed species. The archaeobotanically-rich plant assemblage demonstrates extensive human gathering of over 140 plant species and food preparation by grinding wild wheat and barley. Among these, we identified 13 well-known current weeds mixed with numerous seeds of wild emmer, barley, and oat. This collection provides the earliest evidence of a human-disturbed environment-at least 11 millennia before the onset of agriculture-that provided the conditions for the development of "proto-weeds", a prerequisite for weed evolution. Finally, we suggest that their presence indicates the earliest, small-scale attempt to cultivate wild cereals seen in the archaeological record.

In: T. Akazawa et al. (eds.), Dynamics of Learning in Neanderthals and Modern Humans Volume 1: Cultural Perspectives. Springer New-York. Pp. 7-20., 2013

Neanderthals, a European population was undoubtedly successful in surviving through several glac... more Neanderthals, a European population was undoubtedly successful in surviving through
several glacial periods. Their population, originally spread across Europe, composed of
small communities but succeeded to maintain their relationships and their mating systems
and thus secured their biological survival. Published samples of aDNA and teeth indicate
that they formed a particular population, although morphological deviations from the western
European relics are found at the edges of their geographic distribution. The expansions
of Neanderthals into western Asia and reaching the Altai Mountains refl ect their successful
adaptations to variable environments. Their demise was caused, among others, by the
expansion of groups of modern humans of African origins. The cultural traits of the new
invading and colonizing people included high degree of mobility, signs of group identity,
new cloths, use of ornaments, new hunting tools, and means of communication. The interactions
of modern humans with the Neanderthals, discussed in the paper, provide a foundation
for further research along economic and biological considerations that may provide a
more sound explanation for the disappearance of a past successful meta-population.

ABSTRACT: The development of prehistoric studies in Europe and Western Asia has powerfully influe... more ABSTRACT: The development of prehistoric studies in Europe and Western Asia has powerfully influenced the
terminology and conceptual frameworks of Palaeolithic archaeology. However, attempts to impose these on
archaeological records elsewhere, such as East Asia, risk seriously distorting interpretations of the material and a
failure to appreciate its significance. In particular, the Chinese Palaeolithic record provides major contrasts with
that of Europe and Western Asia, and challenges prevailing notions of hominins' cognitive and adaptative capabilities
based primarily on the lithic analysis. Early hominins beyond Africa were not tied to savanna environments and
were able to exploit a range of habitats as a result of the flexibility afforded them by social and cognitive
developments. Similarly, cultural influences conserved stone technologies, so that there is no necessary link between
tool forms, cognitive ability and habitat characteristics. However, study of tool reduction sequences provides insights
into the learning processes underlying the production of particular assemblages. Core and flake industries persisted
in China for much of the Pleistocene, and while hand axe assemblages are known from the south of the country, they
differ from those found in Europe and Africa. Levallois and several other Middle Palaeolithic industries are generally
absent, although some instances are known from western and northern areas of the country. Early (> 25 kya)
microlithic industries occur in north China, with late cobble tool assemblages in the south, probably coincident with
the extent of bamboo forests. South China also provides examples of pottery from Upper Palaeolithic contexts dating
from < 20 kya. The implications of these distinctive aspects of the Chinese archaeological record for understanding
past human behaviors are briefly discussed, as are some more general issues associated with modeling early human
cognition.

Heritage Turkey Issue 2, pages 16-18, 2012

This paper is not a comprehensive review of the entire geographic range of the lands that were th... more This paper is not a comprehensive review of the entire geographic range of the lands that were the source areas for the foragers
travelling to Cyprus during the Terminal Pleistocene or the colonists that settled in the island. Several selected issues for the rich
literature on the Neolithic of the eastern Mediterranean, namely the Levant and Anatolia are discussed in the text. The most basic
aspect is the diachronic changes in the socio-economy of the region, the emergence of cultivation as a prelude to full-fledged
farming and the domestication of goat, sheep, cattle and pig. The success of farming as a subsistence strategy is seen as leading
to experiments in new modes of social organization. The importance of networking and long distance connections is discussed
by stressing the poorly studied role of river transport cross the Mesopotamian lands, the eastern wing of the Fertile Crescent. The
more difficult crossing characterized the Levant. The success of long distance transfer of technology, plants and animals led to
the experimentations with social organizations. One that was tried and finally failed is the formation of the Göbekli Tepe culture
as a chiefdom. In addition potentials for conflicts are brought up and the closing remarks raise several options for the motivations
of foragers and later colonist to establish Cyprus as part of the Near Eastern Neolithic world.

Despite almost a century of research, the Chinese Paleolithic chronocultural sequence still remai... more Despite almost a century of research, the Chinese Paleolithic chronocultural sequence still remains incomplete, although the number of welldated sites is rapidly increasing. The Chinese Paleolithic is marked by the long persistence of core-and-flake and cobble-tool industries, so interpretation of cultural and social behavior of humans in East Asia based solely on comparison with the African and western Eurasian prehistoric sequences becomes problematic, such as in assessing cognitive evolutionary stages. For the Chinese Paleolithic, wood and bamboo likely served as raw materials for the production of daily objects since the arrival of the earliest migrants from western Asia, although poor preservation is a problem. Contrary to the notion of a "Movius Line" with handaxes not present on the China side, China does have a limited distribution of Acheulian bifaces and unifaces. Similarly, Middle Paleolithic assemblages are present in the Chinese sequence. Although the available raw materials have been assumed to have limited applicable knapping techniques in China, this notion is challenged by the appearance of microblade industries in the north in the Upper Paleolithic. In the south, early pottery making by foragers emerged 20,000 years ago, thus preceding the emergence of farming but heralding the long tradition of cooking in China.

Journal of Human Evolution, 2009

Qafzeh Cave, the burial grounds of several anatomically modern humans, producers of Mousterian in... more Qafzeh Cave, the burial grounds of several anatomically modern humans, producers of Mousterian industry, yielded archaeological evidence reflecting their modern behavior. Dated to 92ka BP, the lower layers at the site contained a series of hearths, several human graves, flint artifacts, animal bones, a collection of sea shells, lumps of red ochre, and an incised cortical flake. The marine shells were recovered from layers earlier than most of the graves except for one burial. The shells were collected and brought from the Mediterranean Sea shore some 35km away, and are complete Glycymeris bivalves, naturally perforated. Several valves bear traces of having been strung, and a few had ochre stains on them.

Scientific American, 1993

Nature, 1988

The Qafzeh 1 and Skhul 2,3 caves in Israel have yielded the remains of over 30 hominids. Despite ... more The Qafzeh 1 and Skhul 2,3 caves in Israel have yielded the remains of over 30 hominids. Despite their association with Mousterian deposits, these have been recognized as forerunners of other Homo sapiens sapiens on morphological grounds and have been called 'Proto-Cro- ...

Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, 2004

The beginning of agriculture is one of the most important developments in human history, with eno... more The beginning of agriculture is one of the most important developments in human history, with enormous consequences that paved the way for settled life and complex society. Much of the research on the origins of agriculture over the last 40 years has been guided by Flannery's [Flannery, K. V. (1969) in The Domestication and Exploitation of Plants and Animals, eds. Ucko, P. J. & Dimbleby, G. W. (Duckworth, London), pp. 73-100] ''broad spectrum revolution'' (BSR) hypothesis, which posits that the transition to farming in southwest Asia entailed a period during which foragers broadened their resource base to encompass a wide array of foods that were previously ignored in an attempt to overcome food shortages. Although these resources undoubtedly included plants, nearly all BSR hypothesis-inspired research has focused on animals because of a dearth of Upper Paleolithic archaeobotanical assemblages. Now, however, a collection of >90,000 plant remains, recently recovered from the Stone Age site Ohalo II (23,000 B.P.

Evolutionary Anthropology, 1993

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2001

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2000

An interpretation of the archaeological record, in particular that of a prehistoric cave site, is... more An interpretation of the archaeological record, in particular that of a prehistoric cave site, is complicated by the diversity of depositional and post-depositional processes that affect the material deposited. Here we propose to use the authigenic minerals that form in situ within the cave sediments to reconstruct the ancient chemical environments in the sediments. This can be done by experimentally determining the conditions under which each of the authigenic minerals are stable. Although this information is not available to date for minerals formed in a prehistoric cave, we present calculated stability field data for the relevant minerals. The results clearly demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. This information, particularly if based on measurements of real authigenic cave minerals, will facilitate an assessment of the completeness of the cave archaeological record. This is particularly important for determining whether or not the distributions of archaeologically important materials, such as bones, teeth, plant phytoliths, charcoal and ash, reflect their original burial distributions or were altered as a result of secondary diagenetic processes.

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2003

A study of the mineralogy and phytolith assemblages of hearths and their associated sediments in ... more A study of the mineralogy and phytolith assemblages of hearths and their associated sediments in Hayonim Cave, Israel, shows that wood ash is a major component of the sediments of both the Natufian (approximately 12,000 ) and the Mousterian deposits (approximately 100 to 250,000 ). Interestingly, phytolith analyses show that in the Natufian deposits grasses are the second most abundant form of vegetation preserved, whereas in the Mousterian deposits leaves of dicotyledonous plants are the second most abundant form of vegetation preserved. Significant differences were repeatedly observed in phytolith assemblages from closely associated but different stratigraphic layers, showing that vertical mixing of intact sediments is not intensive, and that there was a diverse input of vegetation over relatively short time periods. No consistent differences were observed in the mineralogy and the phytolith assemblages between hearths and their associated sediments. Both contain abundant ash components. This study demonstrates that quantitative analyses of phytoliths together with mineralogical analyses, can provide much information on the use of plants for fuel and other purposes by the cave occupants.

Journal of Human Evolution, 2002

The site of 'Ubeidiya is located in the Jordan Valley, Israel and has been biochronologically dat... more The site of 'Ubeidiya is located in the Jordan Valley, Israel and has been biochronologically dated to 1·5 m.y.a. It exhibits large lithic and faunal assemblages. Previous published hominid material includes a molar (UB 1701) and I 2 (UB 1700). A recent review of the faunal material from previous excavations has revealed a highly worn hominid right lateral lower incisor (UB 335). The tooth was found in situ in the Lower Pleistocene deposits of stratum I-26a, which is comprised of sand and conglomerates of flint, limestone and basalt indicative of a pebbled lakeshore environment. Taphonomic analysis of the macromammal assemblage indicates high-energy fluvial transport. Paleoecological reconstruction suggests a large woodland fauna with a small percent of open steppe species.

A well in the Jordan Valley shows that the Neolithic revolution included an understanding of unde... more A well in the Jordan Valley shows that the Neolithic revolution included an understanding of underground water and how to access it. The excavation of the well in longtitudinal cross-section is also something of a revolution in fieldwork.

The cave site of Yuchanyan, situated in Daoxian County, Hunan Province is known, alongside Xianre... more The cave site of Yuchanyan, situated in Daoxian County, Hunan Province is known, alongside Xianrendong Cave in Jiangxi, for being one of two systematically dated Chinese sites to reveal remains of the earliest use of pottery – respectively at 18,600 cal BP and 20,000 cal BP - within the framework of a hunter-gatherer subsistence strategy. The caves have been investigated using geoarchaeological and micromorphological techniques to analyze site formation processes and patterns of site use. The study presented here is a preliminary micromorphological analysis of the fire features at Yuchanyan. Using FTIR directly on the clay aggregates and bone fragments in thin section, we extrapolated heating temperatures of the fire features. Analytical results indicate that the inhabitants of Yuchanyan maintained their fire temperatures between 500 and 700 Co for long periods of time. Thoroughly consumed wood fuel at Yuchanyan is one key aspect of the level of pyro-technological knowledge and also relates to a possible preference for boiling as a cooking method. This is the first step to a more comprehensive investigation of production techniques, cooking practices, and human behavior related to the earliest pottery.