Late Pleistocene Holocene equids of Israel Zool-Jnl-Linnean-Soc-London 1980 (original) (raw)
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Journal of Human Evolution, 2009
The archaeological site of 'Ubeidiya provides a unique, rich faunal assemblage, as well as evidence for the presence of early hominins in the Levant. Paleontological analysis of the faunal community is pertinent to understanding the biochronology and the timing of hominin dispersal events from Africa to Eurasia. This study presents the large carnivores from the recent seasons of excavations (1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999) and previously published material. Based on biochronological correlations of the carnivore guild and paloemagnetism, the age of the site is 1.5-1.2 Ma. This date is 100-200,000 years earlier than previous estimates. Of specific importance is the presence of the African origin saber tooth Megantereon cf. M. whitei and the Eurasian origin canids Canis moschbachensis and Lycaon lycoanoides.
The Late Pleistocene Human species of Israel Les espèces humains
2002
The human remains from the Late Pleistocene Mousterian sites in modern day Israel raised the issue of variation for the first time in the history of paleoanthropology. Their current interpretation is both problematic, in that the sources of their variation still remain unresolved, and historic, in that attempts at resolution reflect the currently accepted philosophy of the paleoanthropologists as strongly as they reflect the nature of the data. Today this philosophy can be seen in the penchant of some paleoanthropologists to define species taxa on the basis of consistent differences, no matter how minute. Here, we examine the question of whether the observed variation in the cranial remains from Amud, Qafzeh, Skhul, and Tabun reflects species differences. We try to refute a hypothesis of no difference, and suggest new approaches for examining this phylogenetic question. We report on the distribution of a testing statistic based on the standard error of the slope of regressions relat...
New evidence for hominid presence in the Lower Pleistocene of the Southern Levant
Journal of Human Evolution, 2002
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.
First evidence of "ancient deer" (cervid) in the late Miocene Bira Formation, Northern Israel
PloS one, 2017
Despite the extensive geological and paleontological searches in the south Levant, no terrestrial fauna of late Neogene age was yet reported. Here, we report the first evidence of "ancient deer"-cervid in the late Miocene (Tortonian) lacustrine section of the Bira Formation at Hagal Stream, Jordan Valley, northern Israel. The section comprises rich assemblage of macrofauna fossils, mostly freshwater mollusks. The mammalian bone was discovered among the macrofauna fossils, and is described as an almost complete left humerus of an adult animal identified as an artiodactyls element probably of a cervid. This terrestrial mammal shares similar paleoenvironmental conditions with other contemporaneous localities, where cervids prevailed with bovids and other taxa. It appears that the freshwater lakes provided favorite habitat for the development of the cervids and possibly other mammals. The specific conditions of preservation of the cervid illuminate the role of post depositiona...
Article history: Available online xxx a b s t r a c t The site of 'Ubeidiya provides a unique paleontological record in the Early Pleistocene of the Levantine Corridor, with a rich faunal assemblage, as well as evidence for the presence of early hominins. This research presents a revision of the bovid record of the site found in the last seasons of excavations (1989e1999) as well as the previously published material. Five species of bovids have been identified [Bos oldowayensis, Bovini gen. et sp. indet. (cf. Bison sp.), Oryx sp., Antelopini gen. et sp. indet (cf. Pontoceros ambiguus/Spirocerus sp.), and Gazella sp. cf. Gazella gazella]. The paleoecological reconstruction of the site based on the bovid assemblages supported a non-homologous ecology not similar to any African environment today. This bovid assemblage is biochronologically compatible with previous ages proposed for the site based on the paleomagnetism and the carnivore guild, around 1.6e1.2 Ma.
Journal of Human Evolution, 2011
The Southern Levant is a pivotal area for the study of hominin paleoecology during the Lower Paleolithic, because of its location on the out-of-Africa dispersal route and its significant ecological diversity. Important information has been gained by archaeofaunal studies, which usually reveal that exploitation of diverse Mediterranean environments with woodlands, marshes and lake margins, represents a dominant subsistence strategy for Lower Paleolithic hominins. Here, we present new taxonomic and taphonomic data from two sites in the southern coastal plain of the Southern Levant, at the fringe of the Negev Desert: Bizat Ruhama (Early Pleistocene) and Nahal Hesi (Middle Pleistocene). The sites preserve anthropogenic faunas, with the former signaling a marrow-exploitation strategy, perhaps related to scavenging from carnivore kills, and the latter showing evidence for primary access to fleshed ungulate carcasses. The species composition of these Northern Negev sites is unique for the Levantine Lower Paleolithic in that these sites lack typical woodland and riparian species, probably indicating an open, relatively uniform environment with patchy water sources and trees, much like this semiarid region today. Bizat Ruhama and Nahal Hesi are among the only Levantine Lower Paleolithic faunas associated with such a setting, thereby widening the known spectrum of environments exploited by hominins in the region. It is suggested that the two sites, coupled with the nearby Late Pleistocene evidence, reflect a largely stable semiarid environment on the northwestern fringe of the Negev Desert throughout much of the Pleistocene.
New Middle Pleistocene dental remains from Qesem Cave (Israel
Ongoing fieldwork at the Middle Pleistocene site of Qesem Cave has resulted in the discovery of several new hominin teeth. These include a right upper deciduous canine (dc 1 ), a right lower first deciduous molar (dm 1 ), a right upper third premolar (P 3 ), a right lower second molar (M 2 ), a left lower third molar (M 3 ), and an incomplete tooth (represented only by a single root). The teeth come from different stratigraphic layers at the site and may cover a time span of up to 200 ka. These specimens represent different tooth classes than the previously reported teeth from the same site. The current study presents metric and morphological data on the new Qesem Cave teeth as well as a discussion of their taxonomic affinities. The deciduous teeth show some features which, tentatively, seem to depart from the general Neanderthal pattern. The P 3 and M 2 show relatively simplified occlusal morphologies and lack "massadditive" traits. The Qesem Cave permanent teeth seem to largely conform to the recently defined Eurasian dental pattern. The relatively large M 2 shows a clear, continuous midtrigonid crest, but lacks a hypoconlulid. The M 3 shows numerous accessory crests and furrows on the crown surface and also shows a nearly continuous midtrigonid crest. Thus, like the previously reported teeth from Qesem Cave, the new dental remains show some features that seem more consistent with fossils of early H. sapiens from the sites of Qafzeh and Skhul and some features which appear to align them with the Neanderthals. Given the uncertainties regarding the phylogenetic polarity of several of these features, a conclusive taxonomic diagnosis remains elusive and must await the discovery of additional, more complete remains from the site.
Paleopathology survey of ancient mammal bones in Israel
Veterinarija ir …, 2008
Abstract. In this paper, we present a survey of pathologies found on post-cranial and cranial bones of mammals from eight archaeological sites in Israel. The chronology of the sites spans from the Neolithic to Biblical, Middle Ages and Ottoman periods. This study is the first of its kind ...
Rantis Cave is a recently discovered filled cave in central Israel, displaying a rich faunal accumulation of micromammals, ungulates and carnivores. U-Th dating assigns the beginning of accumulation to ca. 140 ka. The accumulation is culturally assigned to the late half of the Middle Paleolithic (MP) period. Single-grain optically stimulated luminescence measurements attest to a complex sedimentological history. We present the cross-disciplinary results of taphonomic and geomorphological analyses, which point to the cave serving as a natural pitfall trap for the large fauna, with little human or carnivore activity. The fauna is dominated by Dama among the ungulates and by Microtus among the micromammals. These data in conjunction with ungulate tooth mesowear analysis suggest a xeric Mediterranean environment on the eastern margin of the southern Levantine foothills. The relative taxonomic abundance of ungulate taxa shows some differences from anthropogenic MP sites, possibly reflecting the prey choice patterns of MP hunters. Overall, the natural accumulation scenario for Rantis Cave provides a rare paleoenvironmental and paleoeconomic reference to the rich anthropogenic MP faunas of the Southern Levant, enabling the reconstruction of a rich and diverse environmental setting for this important human dispersal route.
Journal of Human Evolution, 2008
Three assemblages of fallow deer (Dama sp.) bones excavated from the early middle Pleistocene (oxygen isotope stage 18) layers of the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel, furnish evidence of systematic and repeated exploitation of complete carcasses by hominins. The excellent state of preservation of the bones and the presence of only minimal signs of carnivore involvement permit an investigation of the role of hominins as the primary agents responsible for the damage to these bones. Hominin expertise in dealing with fallow deer carcasses is manifested by cut marks, percussion marks, and hack marks on the bones. The archaeozoological analysis of the anatomical position and frequency of these marks suggests that carcass processing followed systematic practices that reflect an in-depth knowledge of fallow deer anatomy and a consistent behavioral strategy. These assemblages represent one of the earliest examples of methodological butchering practices in Eurasia. The evidence of carcass processing observed at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov resembles that seen in late Pleistocene sites in Israel, which were inhabited by modern humans. We interpret the Gesher Benot Ya'aqov data as indicating that the Acheulian hunters at the site (1) were proficient communicators and learners and (2) possessed anatomical knowledge, considerable manual skill, impressive technological abilities, and foresight.