The Epipalaeolithic in context
Subtitle: palaeolandscapes and prehistoric occupation of Wadi Ziqlab, northern Jordan.
Published: 2005
Language: eng
Number of pages: 519
Description: The present research involves the application of geoarchaeological theory and methods to the archaeological record of northern Jordan. A geoarchaeological survey conducted in 2000 and 2001 focussed on documenting and sampling ancient river terraces in Wadi Ziqlab, Jordan. It aimed to reconstruct Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene palaeolandscapes and river valley changes and relate Quaternary landscape changes to shifts in settlement and land-use throughout prehistory. Micromorphology has proven particularly useful at identifying a Pleistocene palaeosol that once comprised a continuous soil cover throughout the main river valley during the Middle Epipalaeolithic and confirming stratigraphic correlations between examined sections.Excavations at a Middle Epipalaeolithic site, `Uyyun al-Hammam, have emphasized regional variability in the nature of site occupation for this time period (ca. 15 000 BP). Sites in the Mediterranean zone are typically substantial sites, with occupations characterised by single-component, thick deposits containing high densities of lithics, fauna and other cultural material. They may have been occupied for longer durations, or, repeatedly occupied over several years. Contrary to current cultural-chronological reconstructions, `Uyyun al-Hammam appears more similar to these larger Mediterranean-zone sites in Israel than to other nearby, contemporary sites in Jordan. Finally, the assemblage at `Uyyun al-Hammam supports the notion that the social and technological complexity witnessed in the Natufian period represents a culmination of gradual changes beginning during the climatic optimum of the Bolling-Allerod in the Early and Middle Epipalaeolithic [Byrd, 1998 #622].*This dissertation is a compound document (contains both a paper copy and a CD as part of the dissertation). The CD requires the following system requirements: Microsoft Office.In addition, this research emphasizes the importance of local geoarchaeological investigations when reconstructing settlement patterns and site-formation processes. In Wadi Ziqlab, Epipalaeolithic sites appeared lacking from the archaeological record until a purposive survey was designed to focus on particular landscape elements, such as ancient river terraces, useful for palaeolandscape reconstruction. Detecting sites and contextualising their occurrence and distribution in the landscape requires a detailed understanding of geomorphological processes of landscape change. Often, the distribution of archaeological material on the landscape is as much the result of natural factors, like erosion and alluviation, as cultural processes.*
Notes: Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-06, Section: A, page: 2267.