Goring-Morris, A. N. 1980. Late Quaternary Sites in Wadi Fazael, Lower Jordan Valley. Unpublished MA...

LATE QUATERNARY SITES IN WADI FAZAEL,

LOWER JORDAN VALLEY

submitted by Adrian Nigel Goring-Morris

In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree Department of Prehistory Institute of Archaeology Hebrew University of Jerusalem July 1980

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Goring-Morris: Wadi Fazael MA Thesis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements List of Figures List of Tables v Chapter I: The Lower Jordan Valley Research Project 1 1. Introduction 2. Research Aims and Methodology 3. Environmental Setting 4. Survey Results 5. Stratigraphy 6. Palynology. Chapter II: Upper Palaeolithic Sites 1. Fazael IX 2. Fazael X-XI 3. Discussion Chapter III: Kebaran Sites 1. Fazael IIIB 2. Fazael IIID Fazael IIIA 4. Fazael VII 5. Discussion Chapter IV: Kebaran A Occurrences 1. Fazael IIIC 2. Fazael VIII 3. Discussion Chapter V: Late Quaternary Occupations in the Lower Jordan Valley Chapter VI: Conclusions Appendix: Detailed debitage counts and type lists Bibliography

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am indebted to Professor O. Bar-Yosef who has directed me in my studies

and who has supervised the present research project. He has been a constant

source of encouragement, constructive criticism and stimulation throughout

the course of the work, from the field to the laboratory.

Dr. P. Goldberg has provided numerous insights into the geology of the area

under study.

Dr. S. Davis kindly identified the faunal remains, and H. Mienis, some of the

molluscs.

J. Schuldenrein has permitted me to make use of his preliminary

geomorphological results, the topic of a PhD. thesis.

Gila Allon has provided information on the pollen results from Wadi Fazael,

the subject of her M.A. thesis.

Dalia Enoch, O. Bar-Yosef and the author drew the illustrations.

My colleagues, Naama Goren, Anna Belfer-Cohen, U. Baruch, I. Gilead, and G.

Martin have offered numerous useful criticisms.

Finally, I wish to thank Frieda for her continual support and encouragement.

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LIST OF FIGURES 1. General location map of Wadi Fazael. 2. Map of Wadi Fazael-Salibiya region, showing surveyed areas. 3. Map of Wadi Fazael, showing site locations and geological localities. 4. Long profile and section of Wadi Fazael Section at Fazael VII-VIII. 5. Section at Fazael VII-VIII. 6. Section at Fazael III. 7. Lake Lisan. 8. Bone tools from Upper Palaeolithic sites in Wadi Fazael. 9. Cumulative graph of tools from Upper Palaeolithic sites. 10. Tools from Fazael IX. 11. Tools from Fazael IX. 12. Rose diagram of burins from Fazael IX and Ksar Akil 6. 13. Section of Fazael X test pit. 14. Fragment of basalt grinding stone from Fazael X. 15. Tools from Fazael X. 16. Tools from Fazael X. 17. Tools from Fazael X. 18. Tools from Fazael XI. 19. Tools from Fazael XI. 20. Cumulative graph of burins from Upper Palaeolithic sites. 21. Cumulative graph of microliths. 22. Plan of the Fazael III area. 23. Cumulative graph of Kebaran sites. 24. Tools from Fazael IIIB. 25. Tools from Fazael IIIB. 26. Microlith attributes from Kebaran sites. 27. Tools from Fazael IIID. 28. Tools from Fazael IIIA. 29. Tools from Fazael IIIA. 30. Tools from Fazael IIIA. 31. Stone tools from Fazael VII. 32. Tools from Fazael VII. 33. Tools from Fazael VII. 34. Tools from Fazael VII. 35. Cumulative graph of microliths from Kebaran sites. 36. Tools from Fazael IIIC. 37. Tools from Fazael VIII. 38. Burins from sites in Wadi Fazael. 39. Microliths from sites in Wadi Fazael.

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LIST OF TABLES 1. Geomorphic Sequence of the Late Quaternary/Holocene in Wadi Fazael and in the Salibiya Area. 2. Palynological Results from Wadi Fazael. 3. Megafaunal Assemblages from Sites in the Lower Jordan Valley. 4. Molluscan Assemblages from Sites in Wadi Fazael. 5. Debitage Frequencies in Upper Palaeolithic Assemblages. 6. Tool Frequencies in Upper Palaeolithic Assemblages. 7. Restricted Burin Indices for Upper Palaeolithic Sites. 8. Attributes of Burins on Concave Notch or Truncation from Fazael IX and Ksar Akil, Layer 6. 9. Microlith Attributes from Fazael X-XI. 10. Debitage Frequencies in Kebaran Sites. 11. Tool Frequencies in Kebaran Sites. 12. Micropoint Attributes in Kebaran Sites. 13. Obliquely Truncated and Backed Microlith Attributes. 14. Microgravette Variant Attributes from Fazael VII. 15. Debitage Frequencies in Geometric Kebaran A Sites. 16. Tool Frequencies in Geometric Kebaran A Sites. 17. Trapeze/Rectangle Attributes. 18. Tool Densities for Sites in Lower Jordan Valley. 19. Range of Elevations for Sites in Survey Area, by Period.

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INTRODUCTION

Prehistoric research projects in the southern Levant in the past decade have

demonstrated a marked shift in emphasis; whereas investigations were

previously mostly concerned with reconstructing stratigraphic sequences in

the confines of repeatedly occupied cave locations, more recent projects have

focused rather on regional studies (Wendorf 1968; Wendorf and Schild 1976;

Marks 1976, 1978; Bar-Yosef and Phillips 1977). This tendency reflects

changing concerns in prehistoric research. Earlier, primary interest focused

on the construction of unilinear chronostratigraphic sequences within the

micro-environmental constraints of caves. Regional studies, however, attempt

to define man/land relationships on both temporal and spatial levels, so that

emphasis is focused upon environmental reconstruction and settlement

pattern analysis. The wealth of data that has recently accrued, particularly for

the Late Quaternary-Early Holocene, indicates that development was more

complex than previously suspected, being dendritic rather than unilinear,

which reinforces the argument for localized regional studies prior to more

general schemes. In addition, it has become apparent that cave locations were

the exception rather than the rule for occupation (Bar-Yosef and Martin in

press).

It was within the framework of a restricted regional research project of the

Late Quaternary-Early Holocene of the Lower Jordan Valley that the study of

Wadi Fazael was initiated. A preliminary report has already appeared (Bar-

Yosef, Goldberg and Leveson 1974), but subsequently a large body of

additional data has been gathered.

Research Aims and Methodology

The present study is part of a larger ongoing project in the Lower Jordan

Valley initiated by Prof. O. Bar-Yosef of the Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew

University of Jerusalem in 1971. Funds for emergency excavations were also

provided by the Military Government in Judea and Samaria.

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The stimulus for the research project was the belief that the unique

geographical situation of the Lower Jordan Valley could contribute to a more

thorough comprehension of the transition from hunting and gathering

communities to societies based upon the domestication of plants and animals

(Binford 1968). The information gathered could then be used for comparison

with other regions, such as the Judean Desert, the Coastal Plain and the Sea of

Galilee, amongst other areas.

A reconnaissance survey revealed several potentially promising wadi systems

draining the Samarian hills into the Lower Jordan Valley (Fig. 1). Wadi Fazael

was chosen as the primary focus for research for several reasons; the

abundance of prehistoric sites discovered during the preliminary survey,

accessibility and constraints, and the danger to the sites posed by the rapid

development of the area. Previous prehistoric research in the Lower Jordan

Valley, with the exception of the excavation of Jericho by Kenyon, was lacking

(though see Vita Finzi 1964).

An interdisciplinary approach was initiated to maximalize the data base. This

included archaeology, geology, geomorphology, palaeozoology and palynology.

For logistical reasons, concentrated field seasons proved impractical, so that

the work was carried during day outings in the winter months.

The original focus of research was a 4 km stretch of Wadi Fazael, from the

lower Samarian hills downstream to its outlet in the Lower Jordan Valley, and

including the alluvial fan. Subsequently, the survey area was enlarged to the

north and south along the Jordan Valley-Samarian hills interface, to include a

swathe 11 x 4km in extent (Fig. 2) (Schuldenrein 1978; Schuldenrein and

Goldberg in press). Since the original systematic survey of Wadi Fazael itself,

further sites have been discovered in the course of repeated visits to the area.

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The initial emphasis of the project, following the survey, was focused on the

systematic retrieval of sufficient lithic, faunal, palynological and

sedimentological samples for comparative studies. In view of the density of

many of the sites limited test trenches of up to 4m² frequently provided ample

samples. Wherever possible, sites were excavated in ¼m² quadrants and, in

the absence of natural stratigraphy, in 5cm spits. The entire recovered matrix

was dry and wet sieved through 1.5mm mesh to ensure maximum recovery.

Natural and other constraints did not always complete standardization of

recovery techniques, although full details of the methodology employed

accompanies each of the site reports described below.

The sites reported in this work include those in Wadi Fazael assigned to the

Upper Palaeolithic, Kebaran and Geometric Kebaran A. However, since the

project is still in progress this is more in the nature of an interim report, and

several sites remain to be tested. Also, the limited extent of the test trenches

precludes the possibility of intra-site analysis. Nevertheless, it is believed that

the present work provides an opportunity to summarize the available data,

highlight problems, and stimulate lines of inquiry for more specific

investigation in future. In short, it represents a preliminary report, rather than

a more exhaustive final report.

Following description of the environmental setting, the principal sites

discovered during the survey are briefly summarized The stratigraphic

sequence, together with the palynological results are then presented in order

to provide a framework for the individual site reports.

The site reports appear chronologically by general period or industry. The

specific site locations are described individually as is the stratigraphic

situation of each. Pollen results are presented, where present, together with

the faunal counts. Analyses of the lithic assemblages follow, with quantitative

and general qualitative descriptions. In certain instances, specific debitage or

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tool types are investigated in greater depth, where thought to provide further

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insight as to the nature of an assemblage. However, as noted above, it is

beyond the scope of the present study to provide an exhaustive technological

analysis of all aspects of the assemblages.

The type list of Bar-Yosef (1970a) was employed for the typological analysis of

the lithic assemblages. This was deemed the most suitable for comparisons

with other Epipalaeolithic industries assemblages in the southern Levant. The

Upper Palaeolithic assemblages reported here were also found to be amenable

to the same type list. Besides, the type list can be quite readily adapted to the

London Type List (Hours 1974).

The final section of each chapter of site reports is devoted to a discussion of

the sites, their relative chronological assignment and their significance within

the wider framework of prehistory in the southern Levant.

The concluding chapter represents an attempt to view the sites in Wad Fazael

and in the survey area from a chronological perspective, including discussion

of features such as site densities and distributions, specific site locations,

faunal assemblages and geomorphological changes. The intention is thus an

essay to document the dynamic patterns of man/land relationships through

time. Finally, a brief summary of the necessarily preliminary results obtained

to date is presented.

Environmental Setting

Wadi Fazael is one of the major wadi systems draining the eastern slopes of

the Samarian Hills between the Dead Sea and the Beth Shan Valley, which

form part of the Jordan Rift Valley. The bedrock, in a 3km east-west transect

from its juncture with the Jordan graben consists of Senonian, Upper

Cenomanian/Turonian and Lower Cenomanian. Eocene outcrops occur in the

adjacent, area the north. These limestones and dolomites have been folded

and faulted, with the principal faulting trending NNW-SSE, forming the

western edge of the graben.

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Soil types are mostly of the terra rosa-brown rendzina-pale rendzina

association of Dan et al. (1972), although patches of alluvial and colluvial soils

are also found in the lower portions of the valley. It is with latter that all of the

sites studied are associated.

Wadi Fazael and the other wadis to the north and south are set in relatively

steep, rock-walled valleys with bedrock floors, with a gradient of ca.

100m/km. At its juncture with the Jordan Valley Wadi Fazael is some 100m

wide, and 3 km upstream at its confluence with Wadi Habala is ca. 200m wide

(Fig. 3). A small perennial spring is located at this point. A massive alluvial fan

has built up around the mouth of Wadi Fazael where it issues into the Rift

Valley.

The present climate is arid/semi-arid, with 100-200mm precipitation per

annum, all concentrated in the winter months. This is largely the result of the

rain-shadow effect of the Samarian Hills on the western side of the Jordan

Valley. Flash floods occur with some frequency during winter months the

result of rainfall in the higher Samarian Hills.

The effect of the steep drop in altitude is illustrated in a 15km west to east

transect, in which the floral communities shift Mediterranean Batha-Garigue

to Irano-Turonian shrub steppes and finally into Saharo-Sindian vegetation

(Zohary 1962). In the lower reaches of Wadi Fazael the main families

represented are cereals Compositae, Umbelliferae and Liliaceae, the latter

due of spring at the confluence of Wadis Fazael and Habala.

The numerous caves in the lower reaches of the wadi are occupied during the

winter months by Bedouin shepherds.

Survey Results

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The sites discovered in the course of the survey were labelled according to the

names of topographical features in the vicinity followed by Roman numerals.

The survey was carried out systematically by foot according to topography and

was later supplemented by random transects (see Bar-Yosef and Goren in

press). A brief description of the Wadi Fazael sites and some of the other

important sites in the survey area follows (see Figs. 2-3):

Fazael I: a small Levallois assemblage found in a brown clayey deposit which

interfingers with Lisan marls on the alluvial fan.

Fazael II: a small Neolithic occurrence found on the Upper Terrace. This is the

only assemblage found on the southern bank of Wadi Fazael. Tools include

transversal axes, scrapers and burins. The site may be in situ.

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Fazael III1*: a sequence of three Kebaran, one Geometric Kebaran A, one

possible Neolithic and an extensive Chalcolithic occupation were found in the

section of the alluvial fan.

Fazael IV: a Late Natufian assemblage in a colluvial deposit capping the Upper

Terrace at the junction of Wadis Fazael and Dukana. Probably less than

300m² in extent, the sample from a limited test pit has been briefly described

(Bar-Yosef et al. 1974), No architectural features have been discerned and the

ground stone tool assemblage is limited. Stone beads and marine molluscs are

present, including an Indo-Pacific species. The lithic assemblage in eludes a

relatively high frequency of sickle blades, small lunates with bipolar backing,

triangles and double backed borers. The microburin technique (Bar-Yosef et

al. 1974; also Echegaray 1978a) is abundant (IMbtr 49.9). The rarity of

scrapers and burins is noteworthy.

Fazael V: a very restricted, possibly Kebaran, findspot in a clay deposit on the

same terrace as Fazael VI.

Fazael VI: an extensive Early Natufian site found within a colluvial deposit

capping the terrace at the junction of Wadis Fazael and Habala. Though

partially reworked and deflated, a test pit revealed the occupation to be up to

1m thick. The site extends over at least 500m². No architectural features have

been discerned to date, but there is a rich ground stone (basalt) industry.

Similarly, there is a rich but poorly preserved bone tool assemblage. Marine

molluscs are abundant. A series of bedrock mortars occurs on the slopes

immediately to the east of and above the site, but it cannot be ascertained

whether they relate to the site. The lithic assemblage includes large Helwan

lunates and blades. Sickle blades are not common, nor are scrapers and

burins. The microburin technique is absent. Trapezes are present, but it

remains unclear whether these are intrusive. The assemblage is currently

being analysed by O. Bar-Yosef.

1 Sites reported in detail in the present work.

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Fazael VII* & Fazael VIII*: two assemblages, one Kebaran and the other

Geometric Kebaran A, were exposed in the section of Wadi Habala.

Fazael IX*: an Upper Palaeolithic assemblage in a colluvial deposit

immediately downstream from Fazael V-VI.

Fazael X* & Fazael XI*: Upper Palaeolithic assemblages in a colluvial deposit

located at the debouchment of Wadi Fazael in into the Jordan Valley. Fazael

XI may merely represent the lateral extension of Fazael X.

Fazael XII: an extensive in situ occurrence in a colluvial deposit some 600m

upstream from Fazael X, from which are eroding abundant faunal and lithic

assemblages. It is probably Kebaran, although excavation is required for

confirmation.

Urkan el-Rubb II: a small in situ Kebaran assemblage within an extensive

basin of Wadi el-Ahmar, formed by a hill that separates the basin from the

Jordan Valley. It was found in the upper part of a 15m alluvial terrace and

remains to be tested.

Urkan el-Rubb IV: an extensive in situ Geometric Kebaran A assemblage in an

alluvial context some 30m southeast of el-Rubb II.

Gilgal I: an extensive PPNA site with architecture excavated by T. Noy (1977).

It contains rich groundstone tool, lithic and faunal assemblages. Located atop

a ridge formed by localized faulting some 7km south of Wadi Fazael.

Netiv Hagdud: a 15 dunam PPNA tell with 2-3m deposits located 1.5km west

of Gilgal I, near the foot of the slopes bordering the Jordan Rift. Architecture

is abundant (including mudbrick) and there are groundstone tool, lithic and

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faunal assemblages. C14 dates of 7,840±380 and 8,230±300 B.C. (RT-502A &

RT-502C) are available (Bar-Yosef pers. comm.).

Salibiya XII: a restricted Early Natufian assemblage associated with a pebble

conglomerate on the alluvial fan of Wadi Salibiya, between Gilgal and Netiv

Hagdud. No architecture, although bedrock mortars do occur, the site

probably does not exceed 150m².

Salibiya I-VIII: a series of in situ late Natufian assemblages clustered in the

basin between Gilgal I and Netiv Hagdud. The occurrences are found within

swamp-like sediments overlying terminal Lisan deposits and are capped by

the pinkish alluvial fan deposits of Wadi Salibiya. The largest site, and the only

one tested to date, Salibiya I extends over 500m² and includes rich faunal and

lithic assemblages with small bipolar lunates and sickle blades. The

microburin technique is absent. There is no evidence for architecture (Bar-

Yosef pers. comm.).

Tala’at Zarah I-II: two restricted Epipalaeolithic occurrences, one Kebaran

and the other, Geometric Kebaran A associated with alluvial deposits on the

northern bank of Wadi Tala’at Zarah, not far from its debouchment into the

Jordan Rift. Both remain to be tested.

Stratigraphy

The Late Pleistocene/Holocene stratigraphic sequence in the lower reaches of

Wadi Fazael is characterized by episodes of alluviation, separated by phases of

erosion and colluviation. As a result of the alternating aggradation and

downcutting, terraces have been produced, two of which are clearly visible

today. Active erosion is presently the dominant mode. Exposures at five

localities have provided the basis for the scheme described below (Figs. 3-4),

which has been modified from Bar-Yosef, Goldberg and Leveson (1974).

A) Gravel/Conglomerate/Travertine Complex:

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At the base of the sequence occur relatively massive, poorly sorted deposits,

consisting of sub-rounded pebbles and cobbles, with a minor fine-grained

component. These are found at Localities 1, 2, 3, and 5. They are quite similar

to those that line the present wadi floor. In places the deposits are cemented.

At Locality 3, in the vicinity of the present spring, massive tufa and travertine

deposits up to 2.5m thick occur laterally. Travertine samples have yielded

Th/U dates of 136,000+9,000 B.P. and 63,000±4,000 B.P. (Schwarz,

Goldberg, and Blackwell, in press). Although the authors place more

confidence on the earlier date on the basis of the nature of the sample, the

later date appears to be more consistent with the archaeological data.

Scattered Levallois flakes, of either Lower or Middle Palaeolithic date, were

found on the surface of the terrace at Locality 3. Terrigenous sediments

interfingers with the Lisan Formation at Fazael I, to the east of Locality 5 on

the alluvial fan, and contain a Middle Palaeolithic occurrence of Levallois

flakes. The chronological context is clearly tied to that of Lake Lisan.

The available evidence thus indicates that the gravel/travertine complex was

deposited over a long period, from the end of the Lower Palaeolithic through

Middle Palaeolithic times. A phase of extensive erosion subsequently ensued,

during which the wadi cut through the entire section, 16m as presently

exposed.

B) Upper Part of the Sequence:

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The remainder of the sequence at Wadi Fazael for consists of finer-grained

deposits of interbedded silty clays and gravels. These sediments, associated

with occupations, are best documented at Localities 3, 4 and 5.

At both Localities 3 and 5 limited colluvial sediments ware found at the base of

the hill slopes. At Locality 3 this deposit unconformably overlies the eroded

travertines, while at Locality 5 it unconformably overlies the massive gravels.

At both localities late Upper Palaeolithic industries were found in situ. The

sediments consist of a blocky brownish clayey colluvium with numerous

angular, poorly sorted stones, and do not exceed 1m thickness. These deposits

predate the reminder of the sequence in which Epipalaeolithic assemblages

were found. At Locality 3 the rest of the section can be described as follows

(Fig. 5):

Unit 1: the lower part consists of horizontally interbedded, coarse and fine

sub-angular to sub-rounded gravel 1.5m thick. It contains relatively little fine-

grained matrix. Accumulations of large boulders occur in places. The gravel

contains patches of reddish-brown hard, blocky clay.

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The upper part of the unit, 40-150cm thick, is much finer grained and consists

of predominantly yellowish-red silty clay with a few fine grained gravel

stringers up to 10cm thick. To the south, where this part of the unit thickens

slightly, the Kebaran site of Fazael VII is located.

Unit 2: the top of Unit 1 is truncated by channel deposits of poorly sorted

sub-angular to sub-rounded gravels (2-30cm) in a reddish-brown silty clay

matrix. Only one of the three channels exposed in the section is shown in

Figure 5. They are up to 1.5m thick and 5-6m wide.

Unit 3: a blocky yellowish-red clayey colluvium 50-70cm thick clearly

truncates the channel gravels in the northern half of the profile. This unit

contained the Geometric Kebaran A occupation of Fazael VIII.

Unit 4: a generally coarse, sub-rounded gravel with a poorly sorted clayey-fine

granule yellowish-red matrix appears in the southern half of the profile. It

contains several large boulders and truncated Unit 1. It is thought to represent

a colluvial sediment, although its correlation with Unit 3 remains to be

established.

Above the exposure shown in Figure 5 and on the travertine/gravel complex

are the remains of the extensive in situ Early Natufian site of Fazael VI. The

site occurs in a dark brown stony silty clay 1m thick, in which thinly laminated

clays indicate local ponding.

The section at Locality 3 characterizes most of the Fazael sequence. Some

400m to the south, at Locality 4, there is a 5m terrace. Although exposures are

poor, the bulk of the sediments appear similar to those at Locality 3, and

occasional Kebaran artefacts on the slopes of the terrace confirm this cor-

relation. It is capped by a 40cm thick colluvial deposit of brownish heavy clay

with angular stones that contains the Late Natufian site of Fazael. IV.

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C) The Lower Terrace:

Closer to the wadi there is another terrace, 2.5m high. This terrace was located

at several points along the course of the wadi and clearly postdates the

"Kebaran" fill. Although it is probably historical, the exact dating of this cycle

of downcutting remains to be elucidated.

D) The Alluvial Fan Deposits:

From the outlet of Wadi Fazael into the Jordan Valley a section extending

400m long has been exposed on the left bank to reveal the gravel and clay

deposits of the alluvial fan (Locality 5). The entire exposure is about 11m thick

and may be summarized as follows (Fig. 6):

The basal 8m consist of predominantly sub-angular to sub-rounded gravel in a

yellowish-red clayey matrix. Within these gravels are massive clay layers up to

1.5m thick. Although no artifacts have been recovered, they appear to relate to

the late Lower Palaeolithic/Middle Palaeolithic sedimentary cycle as

previously described.

At the interface between the alluvial fan and the hills to the west at the outlet

of Wadi Fazael occurs a localized thin colluvial sediment consisting of a

brownish-yellow blocky clay with numerous angular stones. It contained the

late Upper Palaeolithic sites of Fazael X and XI. This colluvium clearly

unconformably overlies the massive gravels plastered to the bedrock bank on

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the wadi at this point. The remains of an extensive Chalcolithic settlement on

this part of the alluvial fan, however, preclude precise definition of the

relationship between this colluvial cap and the upper alluvial fan deposits.

But, on the basis of the lithic assemblages, it appears that the colluvium

predates most, if not all of the massive brownish clay layers frequently

separated by thin continuous gravel bands that occur on the fan further to the

east, and which contain numerous Epipalaeolithic and later assemblages.

The upper 3m of the section unconformably overlie the basal gravels and

represent the alluviation of the "Kebaran." The following layers have been

defined (from the top):

Layer 1: a colluvial deposit capped by recent soil. The remains of an extensive

Chalcolithic settlement protrude onto the surface from Fazael III to Fazael

X-XI.

Layer 2a: a gravel lens, up to 40cm thick, immediately to the east of the

structure shown in Figure 6. This layer contains numerous angular

fire-cracked stones and dark grey/brown organic matter. A limited assemblage

(Fazael IIIE) of rolled and burnt blades, some partially retouched, was

recovered. This may be of Neolithic date.

Layer 2b: a brown, loamy clay, 30-60cm thick, that was archaeologically

sterile.

Layer 3: this comprised angular limestone, chalk and flint gravel of cobbles

and pebbles 5-7cm thick. The Geometric Kebaran A assemblage of Fazael IIIC

(designated FzIII3 by Bar-Yosef et al. 1974) was retrieved from within and on

top of this layer. The slightly rolled and abraded state of the artefacts, together

with the presence of intrusive elements, indicates that the assemblage has

been slightly washed from its original position. The gravels wedge upwards to

the west.

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Layer 4: a brown clay level, 30-150cm thick, containing calcareous stains in its

lower part. The top is eroded and covered by the gravels of Layer 3. This

deposit contains the Kebaran assemblage of Fazael IIIA (formerly FzIII4).

Layer 5: a thin angular gravel horizon, 5-8cm thick that wedges out to the east.

Layer 6: this consisted of a greyish-brown clay deposit with calcareous stains.

The lithic assemblage of Fazael IIIB (formerly FzIII6) was recovered from the

top of the level, some 5m east of Fazael IIIA, from the section of a small gully.

Some 100m further east another small Kebaran assemblage, Fazael IIID, was

located in a grey marly clay deposit that can probably be correlated with Layer

6.

Layer 7: a thin gravel band, 5-10cm thick, was reported by Bar-Yosef et al.

(1974) to have contained an indeterminate blade industry. However, it has not

been possible to relocate this occurrence, perhaps due to continued erosion of

the section.

The comprehensive study of Lake Lisan by Neev and Emery (1967) provided a

basic framework for an understanding of the Late Pleistocene/Holocene lake

sequence in the Jordan Valley. Continued research has provided further

refinement particularly of the terminal stages of Lake Lisan (Begin et al. 1974;

Neev and Hall 1977). While changes in the lake's level do not appear to have

influenced geomorphic processes in the wadis draining into the Jordan Valley,

an understanding of the development of the lake within a chronological

framework is vital for a study of site distributions in areas immediately

adjacent to Lake Lisan. The Fazael-Salibiya area seems to have been

tectonically stable since the late Pleistocene, so that changes in altitude can be

ruled out. There is general agreement that Lake Lisan developed some 60,000

years ago from the earlier freshwater fauna lake. Lake Lisan progressively

became more saline, most probably the result of a period of relative aridity,

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though less dry than at present. Two sedimentological units have been

recognized, the earlier "Laminated Member," and the "White Cliff Member" of

the Lisan Formation. The lake has been viewed as having terminated quite

rapidly about 16,000 B.C., the result of subsidence of the Dead Sea and Lake

Kinneret basins, combined with a continued drying trend. The "Unnamed

Clastic Unit" (Begin et al. 1974) or "Fazael Formation" (Horowitz 1977)

overlies the Lisan Formation and consists of alluvial silts and clays that may

be correlated with the upper part of the alluvial fan of Wadi Fazael. Begin

views this as representing a pluvial period. More recently, Neev and Hall

(1977) have modified previous conceptions of the closing stages of Lake Lisan,

on the basis of recent C14 dates and sediments at the southern end of Lake

Kinneret, among others.

In their reconstruction of the closing stages of Lake Lisan, Neev and Hall show

that about 16,000 B.C. the lake level fell by more than one third of its volume,

from its maximum of -180 m (Fig. 7). However, they cite evidence for a return

to its former level about 14,000-13,000 B.C., where it remained for about

2,500 years. During the 10th millennium B.C. the lake, including the Dead Sea

basin, is supposed to have dried up, only to refill again ca. 7,000 B.C. to about

one third of its capacity, i.e., slightly more extensive than the present Dead

Sea. The 5th millennium B.C. witnessed another drying trend, with only the

northern basin of the Dead Sea filled, whence it expanded yet again during the

2nd millennium B.C, to about half of its capacity. Neev and Hall suggest that

the principal agent governing this complex series of fluctuations is climatic,

following the initial tectonic subsidence of the Kinneret and northern Dead

Sea basins.

Table 1 summarizes the geomorphic sequence in Wadi Fazael. Bar-Yosef,

Goldberg and Leveson (1974) proposed that three possible mechanisms could

explain the complex sequence of events described above. These were tectonics,

23


base level changes and climatic fluctuations. They concluded that the latter

mechanism is the most convincing explanation. Although the Jordan Rift

Valley is known to be unstable, during the Late Upper Pleistocene tectonics

are documented only in the Kinneret and Dead Sea basins (Neev and Emery

1967; Horowitz 1971). Repeated tectonic episodes would be necessary to

account for the sequence. Besides, tectonics cannot explain the late Upper

24


25

Palaeolithic and Natufian periods of colluviation. Base level change also

cannot be invoked to explain this phenomenon. Furthermore, it is most

unlikely that base level changes could have been responsible for such large-

scale deposits. If, however, base level changes did control the manner of

sedimentation, then it is likely that they themselves were caused by climatic

changes (Neev and Emery 1967; Neev and Hall 1977). Finally, the

gravel/travertine complex appears to represent a radically different

hydrological regime from that responsible for the overlying finer grained

gravels.

1

TABLE 1: Geomorphic Sequence of the Late Quaternary/Holocene in Wadi Fazael and a Tentative Correlation with the Salibiya/Netiv Hagdud Area (modified after Bar-Yosef et al. 1974).

FAZAEL: Geological Event or Deposit LOCUS SITE NETIV

HAGDUD/SALIBIYA 10. Erosion to present day Gullying, continuing to

present 9. Alluviation of Lower Terrace Chalcolithic? Pink colluvial/alluvial fan

deposits 8b Erosion continues at least to present wadi bed 3 Neolithic? Fz II, Fz IIIE? Gilgal I, Netiv

Hagdud

8a Colluviation of dark stoney clay 4 Late/Final Natufian: Fz IV, Sal I-VIII, Gilgal III Swampy, localized ponding 4 Early Natufian: Fz VI, Sal XII Retreat of Lisan 7b Erosion at least to present wadi bed and

deposition of gravels. Probably coeval with 7a 3 Unit 4

7a Colluviation of yellowish red stoney clay 3 Unit 3 Geometric Kebaran: Fz IlIC, Fz VIII, U er-Rubb IV, W Ahmar II, T Zarah II

6. Minor channeling phase and infilling 3 Unit 2 5. Alluviation of gravels and clays, 3-5 m thick 3 Unit 1 Kebaran: Fz VII, Fz IIIA, Fz IIIB, Fz IIID, Fz V,

Fz XII, U er-Rubb II; W Ahmar I, T Zarah I Lisan sediments

4. Limited colluviation of brownish yellow stoney clay

3 Late/Terminal Upper Palaeolithic: Fz XI, Fz X, Fz IX

3. Erosion, at least 16 m. 2. Alluviation of gravels; travertines 1 and 2 Middle/Lower Palaeolithic: Fz I

Downcutting to Wadi bed 1.

Thus, climatic fluctuations seem to have brought about responses in the fluvial

system resulting in the observed geomorphic changes. The sequence may thus

be interpreted as follows:

1. Gravel/Travertine Complex: these massive coarse deposits are indicative of

a moister climate, with increased runoff and greater stream competence. The

upper part of the complex, at least, interfingers with the Lisan Formation,

which has been interpreted as representative of a wetter period (Neev and

Emery 1967). The sediments are clearly different from conditions today, where

erosion is the dominant mechanism. The same has been proposed for similar

massive Middle Palaeolithic travertines and and gravels at Avdat and Qadesh

Barnea in the Negev (Goldberg 1976, pers. comm.).

2. Post Gravel Erosion: the presence of late Upper Palaeolithic in situ

occurrences in colluvial deposits unconformably overlying the

gravel/travertine complex indicates that the erosion of latter took place prior

to occupation of the sites, i.e., at some time between the Middle Palaeolithic

and the middle of the Upper Palaeolithic. This further argues against base

levels dominating depositional modes, since Lake Lisan was at its maximum

for all of this period. Numerous cave sites in Palestine display evidence

widespread erosion at the end of the Middle Palaeolithic and beginning of

Upper Palaeolithic (Bar-Yosef and Vandermeersch 1972). Similarly, in the

Negev and Qadesh Barnea, Goldberg has noted extensive erosion of Middle

Palaeolithic gravels prior to the Aurignacian.

3. Upper Part of the Sequence - silty clay alluvium and colluvium. These

younger sediments belong to the same depositional mode. The change from

erosional to depositional mechanisms seems to have been triggered by a

return to wetter conditions, though probably not as intense as during the

Middle Palaeolithic. This is indicated by their finer grain size, less torrential

bedding and the lack of travertines. The restricted late Upper Palaeolithic

1


2

colluvial deposits are probably the result of dryish conditions with sparse

vegetation facilitating slopewash.

The post Kebaran channelling phase (No. 6, Table 1) and overlying colluvium

and alluvium of the Geometric Kebaran A seem to represent a continuation of

this depositional phase, but at a slower and intensive pace. The Natufian

signifies the culmination in depositional intensity, indicating drier conditions

similar to those in the late Upper Palaeolithic.

Palynological Results:

The pollen record of Wadi Fazael was researched by G. Allon (1976, 1979). The

results are presented in Table 2 and may be briefly summarized as follows:

Recent samples from various locations in the wadi were dominated by

Graminae or Compositae. The A.P. frequency ranged between 4-6%, with

Quercus, Pinus halepensis or Olea europea being the dominant element

dependant on locality, and a minor component of Poterium spinosum.

Unfortunately, no results are available for the Upper Palaeolithic sites. The

Kebaran sites yielded higher percentages of A.P. than the recent samples, as at

Fazael IIID (26%) and Fazael VII (32%), although the small sample from

Fazael IIIA yielded only 7% A.P. In all instances Quercus and Pinus halepensis

form, the main component, with lesser frequencies of Olea europea and

Tamarix.

The spectrum from the Geometric Kebaran A site of Fazael IIIC included 34%

A.P. (the sample from Fazael VIII proved to be sterile) with Quercus, Pinus

halepensis, Olea europea and Poterium spinosum.

The limited sample from the Early Natufian site of Fazael VI yielded 14% A.P.

with Olea europea and Acacia. The Late Natufian of Fazael IV shows a

TABLE 2: Pollen Results from Wadi Fazael (after Allon 1976). A) Frequencies of Main Groups; B) Arboreal Pollen Counts RECENT

SITE Fz I Fz IIIA Fz VII Fz IIIC Fz VI Fz IV Chalc. 1 2 3 SAMPLE SIZE 88 81 194 160 44 449 456 406 442 A) Arboreal Pollen 26 7 32 34 14 4 4 5 4 6 Compositae 32 33 23 24 32 64 42 49 38 24 Graminae 40 52 39 26 54 29 27 41 42 47 Chenopodiceae - - 3 10 - 1 16 4 5 11 Others 2 8 3 6 - 2 11 1 11 12 B) Acacia - 2 4 2 2 - - - - - Olea europea 1 3 10 14 4 4 6 6 2 10 Pinus halepensis 7 - 18 16 - 8 6 6 8 6 Poterium spinosum - - 2 4 - - 5 4 4 8 Quercus sp. 12 1 22 18 - 4 - 8 4 2 Rosaceae - - 2 - - - - - - - Tamarix sp. 3 - 4 - - 10 - - - - TOTAL: 23 6 62 54 6 26 17 24 18 26

dominance of Compositae (64%) over Graminae (29%) in contrast to the

other sites described above, where Graminae form the major component. The

4% A.P. includes Tamarix and Pinus halepensis with the lesser presence of

Olea europea and Quercus.

The Chalcolithic sample from Fazael III was similarly dominated by

Compositae (42%) and the 4% A.P. includes Olea europea, Pinus halepensis

and Poterium spinosum.

It should be noted that continued research by U. Baruch has been unable to

duplicate these results (pers. comm.). It remains unclear whether this is the

result of differing extraction techniques or whether, as Baruch claims, pollen

preservation in terrestrial sediments is poor, and that the results presented

above represent recent contamination. However, it must be admitted that

Allon's results are in general accord with the environmental sequence

reconstructed for the terminal Pleistocene/Holocene on the basis of other

research methods, such as geomorphology and site distribution patterns, etc.

Thus it appears that a moister interlude may be detected Geometric Kebaran A

times, with a subsequent aridifying trend during the Natufian.


UPPER PALAEOLITHIC SITES

Subsequent to the publication of the preliminary report (Bar-Yosef et al. 1974)

three Upper Palaeolithic sites were discovered, all eroding from restricted

colluvial deposits. Although the three sites appear to be broadly contemporary

on stratigraphic grounds, two distinct lithic traditions are present.

1. Fazael IX

The site was discovered in 1976 eroding from a localized colluvial deposit

some 150m downstream from the confluence of Wadis Fazael and Habala (Fig.

3). The valley is some 200m wide and curves slightly to the north at this point.

The site is located on the left bank, within the nick, 20m from and 12m above

the present wadi course, providing unimpeded observation of the immediate

area to the south and east. The colluvial deposit is restricted to the base of the

hill-slope and unconformably overlies the eroded and weathered Middle

Palaeolithic travertines (Fig. 4). Immediately to the west the dip of the

bedrock has created a small bluff shielding the site from that direction. The

site is presently eroding along a 13m front; this, together with the steep

gradient of the slope to the north, indicates that the site probably never

exceeded 100-150m² in extent.

A small test pit of 3m² was excavated in ¼m² quadrants and 5cm spits to a

maximum depth of 50cm. Although large limestone blocks littered the surface,

these were not encountered in situ. The top 5-15cm were disturbed, and

included intrusive Chalcolithic flint and pottery. Below this the sediment

consisted of a soft, blocky fine-grained light brown matrix, and included

éboulis up to 10cm diameter. Bones and flint were abundant but did not

appear to be horizontally arranged. Minor alterations in the colour and texture

of the sediment, together with the vertical distribution of the artefacts,

indicate the probable presence of two occupation horizons. However, the

limited nature of the sondage precluded conclusive confirmation of this

impression. Matrix samples were collected for palynological and sedimentary

analysis.

2


Fauna: A rich faunal assemblage, some quite heavily encrusted, was recovered

from the test pit. The megafaunal remains included gazelle (72%), Persian

fallow deer (19%), goat, aurochs and roe deer, and wild boar, and red deer

(Table 3). Hare was also present and carnivores were represented by the red

fox and wild cat. Freshwater crab and avifauna were also recovered, although

the latter await identification as to species. Melanopsis was the only

freshwater mollusc encountered, while the marine molluscan assemblage

included single specimens of Mitrella gerdillei, Columbella rustica, and Nassa

sp., all Mediterranean species (Table 4).

Bone Tools: A relatively abundant collection of bone tools was recovered,

considering the limited extent of the test pit. All but one piece come from the

lowest 10cm of the excavation. The pieces include:

1) A complete elongated awl on a gazelle metapodium, 6.5cm long (Fig. 8:3).

Three similar awls were described from el-Wad E (Aurignacian) by Garrod

(1937: Fig. 1:1).

2) A complete elongated awl on a broken gazelle? long bone, 8.0cm long (Fig.

8:1). The piece is asymmetrical and twisted in profile, with concave sides, and

is similar to an awl reported from Ksar Akil Level 8 by Newcomer (1974: Fig.

3:7).

3) A complete short awl made on a gazelle distal meta?carpus, 3.1cm long (Fig.

8:8). This is almost identical to an awl from Fazael X (Fig. 7:6 and see below).

4) A deer antler fragment, 1.1cm long, which has had the tip obliquely out and

truncated (Fig. 8:5). The function of this piece is unclear, although it may

perhaps be part of a bipoint.

3


4

Table 3: Megafauna from Sites in the Lower Jordan Valley. Identifications by S.J.M. Davis. Absolute counts and Frequencies (in parentheses).

Sus scrofa Capreolus Capra Bos Cervus elaphus

Gazella gazella

Dama mesopotamica

N SITE PERIOD

Salibiya I Late Natufian 111½ - 4 1 ?1 1 - 118½ (94) (3) (1)

Fazael IV Late Natufian 18 ?present present - - - - 20 Fazael VI Early Natufian 22 1 - 3 present - 30 Fazael VIII Geom. Keb. A 2 4 - - - 6 Fazael VII Kebaran 4½ 3½ 3 1 - 12 Fazael. IIIA Kebaran 84½ 20 2 2½ 6 ?1 - 116½

(73) (18) (2) (2) (5) Fazael XI Upper Pal. 6 4 - - 1 - - 11 Fazael X Upper Pal. 123½ 15 1 - - - - 139½

(89) (11) (1) Fazael IX Upper Pal. 81½ 21 1 1½ 5½ 2 ?1 113½


2

TABLE 4: Molluscan Fauna from Site in the Jordan Valley. A) Marine; B) Freshwater. Identifications by S.J.M. Davis & H. Mienis. SPECIES Fz IV Fz VI Fz VII Fz IIIA Fz XI Fz X Fz IX Cardium glaucum 2 - - - - 1 - Columbella rustica - - 2 - - 10 1 Dentalium sp. 11 31 - 4 4 220 - Fossil Dentalium 1 - - - - - - Euplica turturina (Lam*) 1 - - - - - - Glycimeris sp. - - 1 - - - - Mitra cornicula - - - 1 - - - Mitrella gerdillei pediculus - - 1 10 20 61 1 Trivia sp. - - - - 1 - - Nassa sp. 8 18 - 2 - - 1 TOTAL: 23 49 4 16 25 292 3 Melanopsis sp. + 31 1 2 2 40 3 Theodoxus sp. + 2 - - - - -

* An Indo-pacific species

5) A polished rib? fragment, 2.6cm long.

Although bone tools are documented from Upper Palaeolithic contexts in the

Levant, they have generally received but cursory attention in the literature

(Newcomer 1974). The apparent paucity of bone tools during the Upper

Palaeolithic may eventually prove to be incorrect, as the density of bone tools

at Fazael IX and X indicate. Also, a rich bone tool assemblage has been

recovered from Hayonim, Level D (Bar-Yosef and Belfer-Cohen, pers.

comms.), indicating that bone tools, albeit functional and not artistic, may

prove to have played a greater role in the material culture of the Upper

Palaeolithic than hitherto recognized.

Stone Tools: A large broken U-shaped basalt bowl was found protruding above

the surface of the excavated area. The presence of intrusive Chalcolithic

elements in the area indicates, however, that its association with the Upper

Palaeolithic occupation should treated with scepticism, as should the bedrock

mortar located some 10m to the east on a travertine outcrop.

Three hammerstones were found in situ, two from to the base of the test pit.

These are ovaloid limestone wadi cobbles, and the two complete examples

weigh 825gm and 950gm. All three display signs of battering at both ends, and

all have red ochre stains covering the battered areas. Small nodules of ochre,

usually red, but also yellow, were found throughout the excavation in some

abundance, and some tools and debitage were ochre smeared. A similar

phenomenon has been noted in Upper Palaeolithic contexts from northern

Sinai (Bar-Yosef and Belfer 1977) and Hayonim Cave, Level D (Belfer-Cohen,

pers. comm.).

The Lithic Assemblage: An abundant lithic assemblage was recovered from the

test pit. Although two occupation horizons may be present, no differences in


terms of technology or typology could be discerned; accordingly, the

description below treats the sample as a single assemblage.

The raw material, in common with most of the other Fazael assemblages,

consists of a cherty flint, in this instance with a predominantly light

greenish-brown patina. Many of the artefacts were covered with light

encrustations. The material is fresh. The few clearly intrusive Chalcolithic

elements from near the surface were easily recognizable and were excluded

from the analysis.

Table 5: Debitage Frequencies in Upper Palaeolithic assemblages. Site Fazael IX Fazael X Fazael XI N 5,242 29,475 576 Primary Elements 5.8 7.2 9.4 Flakes 46.2 28.5 36.5 Blade/lets 4.5 58.1 47.6 Core Trimming Elements 0.8 3.6 4.5 Burin Spalls 42.7 2.6 2.1 TOTAL: 100.0 100.0 100.0 Cores 25 183 12 Tool:Core Ratio 27.4 10.0 5.2 N 5,951 31,480 650 Cores 0.4 0.6 1.8 Debitage 88.1 93.6 88.6 Tools 11.5 5.8 9.5 TOTAL: 100.0 100.0 100.00

Debitage: The basic technology of the assemblage was clearly orientated to the

production of flakes. The 25 cores present included only one single platform

bladelet core and came from close to the surface. The other cores are all flake

cores, and include 11 single platform examples, five 90º cores, and a single

opposed platform core. There are six amorphous and two broken cores. In all

instances platform preparation is minimal. Compared with the tools and much

of the debitage, the cores are of small size, indicating extensive flaking to the

point of exhaustion. The core ratio of 27.4:1 is particularly striking and is

2


usually double or more than that for the other assemblages studied, most of

which are microlithic (Table 5). By contrast with Fazael IX, the otherwise

comparable assemblage at Nahal Ein Gev I produced a tool:core ratio of 3.9:1

(Bar-Yosef 1973). This indicates that primary knapping took elsewhere on the

site or, alternatively, that initial core reduction was carried out at another

location. It should be noted that cores were virtually absent among the

numerous eroded tools scattering the slope below the occupation.

The distinctive nature of this assemblage is readily apparent in the debitage

courts and frequencies (Table 5). The debitage:tool ratio falls within the range

of the other assemblages in Wadi Fazael, thus accentuating the anomaly in the

tool:core ratio. Flakes are 10 times more frequent than blades. Burin spalls are

particularly prevalent, accounting for 43% of the debitage; the significance of

this category is elaborated below. Core trimming elements are conspicuously

rare, and reflect the crude flake technology of the industry.

The flakes are particularly distinctive and two principal types may be

recognized. The first type is generally quite large and thick, retaining much of

the plain striking platform, with a wide flaking angle. The bulb of percussion is

well-developed and bulbar scars are extensive. The point of percussion tends

to protrude and double points of percussion occur quite frequently. Thus, the

use of a hard hammer is clearly documented, a point reinforced by tip

above-mentioned presence of relatively heavy hammerstones.

The second flake type is apparently the by-product of burin manufacture and

renewal. These flakes are generally smaller than most of the other flake

debitage. In order to create a deep or notch for transformation into a burin, a

heavy blow was struck, usually at the distal end of a large, thick flake in order

to obtain a "Clactonian" concave truncation. In many instances the burins

display evidence that two or more successive blows were necessary to produce

the desired concave notch. Accordingly, the flake removed has a flat striking

platform (the ventral face of the flake from which it was struck) which, when

3


viewed from above, is frequently concave. The piece is generally about twice as

wide as is long. Several of these flakes display previous burin blows and hence

represent burin renewal by refashioning of the "Clactonian" notch. These

distinctive flakes are precisely the waste (chutes) posited by Newcomer (1971:

Fig. 1) at Ksar Akil Layer 6. At that site, however, the excavators had discarded

the debitage, precluding direct confirmation of the technique. Perusal of the

flake debitage from Nahal Ein Gev I indicates that the same technique is

present there. It therefore appears appropriate to employ the term "Clactonian

spall'' in describing this flake type.

Tools: The general tool counts and frequencies are presented in Table 6, while

the detailed counts and cumulative frequencies are shown in Appendix 2 and

Fig. 9. The total sample of 670 tools is clearly dominated by those on flakes.

Table 6: Tool Frequencies in Upper Palaeolithic Sites. SITE FAZAEL IX FAZAEL X FAZAEL XI N 684 1,822 62 Scrapers 1.6 5.4 17.7 Carinated 0.4 8.7 1.6 Burin/Scrapers 0.6 0.8 1.6 Burins 67.4 9.5 6.5 Retouched Blades 2.9 1.5 3.2 Truncations 3.1 1.3 - Microliths 4.7 57.0 56.5 Geometrics 2.2 1.0 4.8 Notches 6.7 6.3 3.2 Others 10.4 8.6 4.8 TOTAL: 99.9 100.0 99.9

Scrapers (11): these are not common and comprise simple flake types for the

most part. Nosed forms (3) are almost absent, as are "Aurignacian" elements

in general. Burin/Scrapers (4) are also infrequent.

Burins (461): the predominance of this tool class is the most characteristic

feature of the assemblage, accounting for almost 70% of the sample (Fig.

10:1-3, 5-8; Fig. 11:4-10). They form a homogenous and well-made group and

4


most are made on large thick flakes. Truncated types are clearly the dominant

form as shown in the restricted indices (Table 7 and Fig. 12).

Table 7: Restricted Burin Indices for Upper Palaeolithic

Assemblages

Fazael IX Fazael X

IBdr 3.3 29.5

IBnr 6.1 12.7

IBtr 86.9 40.1

5


6


7


The dihedral types are not well-executed and display little internal

homogeneity, with double dihedral and angle burins being the most common

forms. Burins on a natural pan are more common and tend to occur on breaks

(Fig. 10:1).

The vast majority, however, comprise burins on truncations, which form a

unified group, with those on a "Clactonian" notch being particularly prevalent.

8


These include both burins on a concave truncation (207) and transverse

burins on a lateral notch (61). These types were treated as a single group for

the purpose of more detailed attribute analysis, the results of which are

compared with those for Ksar Akil Layer 6 (Newcomer 1971) (Table 8). The

burins on a "Clactonian" notch from Fazael IX are clearly longer, wider and

thicker than those at Ksar Akil 6, though may be the result of raw material

availabilities. The metric attributes of the same type from Nahal Ein Gev I

appear closer to the results obtained for Fazael IX, on the basis of a cursory

examination of the former pieces. Most of the burins at Fazael IX have a flat

butt, whereas at Ksar Akil the striking platform was generally not retained. In

both instances these types form the dominant butt forms. The rose diagram in

Fig. 12 shows the position of the flaking axis in relation to the notch and

cutting edge for the two series. They show a high degree of correlation,

Table 8: Attributes of Burins on Concave Notch or Truncation. Fazael IX Ksar Akil 6* N % N % 1. Length 15-25 mm 4 1.7 25-35 78 33.4 Mean=27 mm 35-45 95 40.8 45-55 41 17.6 55-65 11 4.7 65-75 3 1.3 75-85 1 0.4 TOTAL: 233 2. Form of Butt Without 98 39.5 45 52.3 Flat 131 52.8 28 32.6 Faceted 6 2.4 12 13.9 Dihedral 7 2.8 1 1.2 Punctiform 6 2.4 - - TOTAL: 262 86 3. Shape of Notch 48 18.6 44 51.2 16 6.2 5 5.8 65 25.2 19 22.1 100 38.8 16 18.6 29 11.2 2 2.3 Total: 258 86 4. Cutting Edge 144 55.0 57 66.3 90 34.4 19 22.1 21 8.0 10 11.6 6 2.3 - - Total: 262 86

9


5. Type of Notch Clactonian 161 61.5 60 69.8 Retouched 101 38.5 26 30.2 TOTAL: 262 86 6. Number of Blows Comprising Cutting Edge 1 215 82.1 35 40.7 2 42 16.0 39 45.3 3 5 1.9 12 14.0 TOTAL: 262 86 7. Width 10-20 mm 26 9.9 20-30 107 40.8 Mean=25 mm. 30-40 97 37.0 40-50 30 11.5 50-60 2 0.8 TOTAL: 262 86 8. Thickness 5-10 mm 81 30.9 10-15 124 47.3 Mean=10 mm. 15-20 42 16.0 20-25 11 4.2 25+ 4 1.5 TOTAL: 262 86 * after Newcomer 1971

although the Fazael IX pieces tend to be more offset, with transverse examples

more common. Both sets display a preference for manufacturing the burin at

the distal tip, as is to be expected. In virtually all instances at both sites the

burin blow was directed to the left side of the notch, when the piece is viewed

dorsal face up. This could perhaps reflect the dextral preferences of the

makers. The notch is most frequently asymmetrical in both assemblages,

although at Fazael IX the burin blow was usually delivered at the higher end,

whereas at Ksar Akil 6 the lower side was preferred.

Cutting edges were generally straight when viewed from above, and generally

inclined onto the ventral surface, although a few at Fazael IX have the cutting

edge inclined onto the dorsal surface (Fig. 10:5). The notches are most

frequently "Clactonian," although at Fazael IX most of these display further

retouch (67%). The majority of the pieces at Fazael IX show evidence for a

single removal blow, whereas at Ksar Akil 6 many display the negatives of two

spalls. The notch renewal technique described above may account for this

discrepancy.

10


The series from the two sites are clearly closely correlated, in spite of minor

variations, and indicate a common technological tradition with regards this

burin type. The examples from Nahal Ein Gev I appear to be even closer to

those from Fazael IX, although this remains to be rigorously tested (see Bar-

Yosef 1973).

Burins on oblique (35) and convex (19) truncations also occur with some

frequency (Fig. 11:5-6; Fig. 10:2-4), as do multiple burins on truncations (48)

(Fig. 11:4, 10). There are 22 multiple mixed burins.

Backed Blades (20): these include five blades retouched on both edges, and

three alternately retouched blades. There are also five curved backed blades.

Truncations (21): several of these places, mostly on flakes, are clearly pieces

abandoned in the process of burin manufacture, prior to the removal of burin

spalls.

Microliths (32): although this category is restricted and forms but 5% of the

assemblage, the stratigraphic provenance of most of the pieces is secure. Also

several are made on burin spalls. Most are of the simple retouched or backed

varieties, although two obliquely truncated pieces and two curved pointed

bladelets also occur.

Geometrics (15): the stratigraphic position of most of these pieces is less

certain, although it is unlikely that they are all intrusive. All are rectangle and

are trapeze variants. Similar pieces have been documented at Nahal Ein Gev I

(Bar-Yosef 1973), and also claimed to be part of the problematic Level 9-10

assemblage at el-Khiam (Echegaray, 1966, 1978b).

The presence of Geometrics in assemblages with a dominance of burins on

truncations is interesting, since there are certain Geometric Kebaran A

11


assemblages in which truncated burins form a distinctive element, e.g., Soreq

33M (Goring-Morris and Schuldenrein in press), and at Hofith (Bar-Yosef

1970). Geometrics and burins on truncations also form important elements in

basal Hefziba Level B4+C(5) (Kaufman 1976). The trapeze/rectangles at

Fazael IX are mostly abruptly backed and the majority are 4-5mm wide.

Notches and Denticulates (46); included in this category are pieces which, like

some of the truncations, are probably abandoned in the process of burin

manufacture since they include "Clactonian" notches. Six denticulates also

appear.

Others (71): apart from varia, this category includes 25 retouched flakes, a

raclette and a sidescraper.

The assemblage from Fazael IX can be characterized technologically as that of

a thick flake industry produced by direct hard hammer. Burins are the

dominant tool class, particularly those on "Clactonian" truncations and

notches. Other categories, such as microliths and scrapers, occur only

sporadically. The nature of the lithic material presently eroding downslope

from the archaeological layer. indicates that the sample from the test pit is

representative of the occupation as a whole, rather than a specialized activity

area within the site. Similarly, the rich and varied faunal assemblage, the

depth of the archaeological layer and the presence of a relatively rich bone tool

collection all argue against an interpretation of specific task occupation.

Rather, an intensive, perhaps repeated (if two or more horizons do eventually

prove to be present) general-purpose occupation appears to be the preferred

interpretation of the site on the basis of the available evidence. It clear

however, that more extensive excavation is necessary to elucidate the

stratigraphic and spatial problems in order to fully comprehend the site

function.

Fazael X-XI

12


The sites of Fazael X-XI were discovered by chance in 1976 eroding from a

localized colluvial deposit on the left bank of Wadi Fazael, at the point where it

issues from the hills into the Jordan Valley (Fig. 3). This shallow colluvium

unconformably overlies the Middle Palaeolithic massive gravels. Although no

direct confirmation is possible, the colluvium appears to wedge out to the east

on the alluvial fan and to be overlain by these Epipalaeolithic and later alluvial

deposits. It seems probable that it can be correlated with the similar colluvial

sediments at Fazael IX, some 3km upstream. The shallow remains of a

Chalcolithic settlement overlie Fazael X-XI and extend over much of the fan.

The sites are located 11m above the present wadi bed and thus dominate the

exit of the wadi from hills, which at this point narrows to about 100m. An

extensive view of the alluvial fan is provided from this vantage point, at an

elevation of ca. -175m, so that at the time of occupation the shores of Lake

Lisan were probably quite close-by to the east.

Surface indications suggest that Fazael X may be quite extensive and may

exceed 200m², although the overlying Chalcolithic settlement makes

estimation difficult. However, it is possible that, Fazael XI, located some 25m

to the west, may represent the lateral extension of Fazael X in view of the

similarity in the assemblages. The slope steep at this point and a small cave is

located some 50m to the north.

At Fazael X a 4 x 1m test trench was placed parallel to the strike of the slope, at

the point of greatest surface density of artefacts. Excavation was by ¼m²

quadrants and 5cm horizontal spits. The surface was littered with limestone

blocks, mostly the eroded remains of the Chalcolithic settlement. Intrusive

Chalcolithic pottery and flints were encountered in the top 5-10cm (Fig. 13).

Below this the sediment consisted of small limestone éboulis with occasional

larger blocks in a light brown fine-grained matrix. 40-50cm below the

arbitrary datum the flint was mostly horizontal, and from 50-70cm depth the

matrix became progressively siltier and yellower in colour. Bedrock was

encountered at 55cm at the western end of the trench, but sloped down quite

13


steeply to the east. The maximum depth of the occupation was 60cm.

Although analysis of artefact densities indicates the probable presence of at

least two occupation horizons, these were not visible in the field. Soil samples

were collected for palynological and sediment analysis.

At Fazael XI a small test pit of ¼m² was excavated to a depth of about 25cm

in 5cm spits, in order to confirm that an in situ occupation was present.

Further testing is clearly warranted to ascertain the nature of the relationship

with Fazael X. Initial indications suggest that the two assemblages are

contemporary.

Fauna: An abundant faunal assemblage was recovered from Fazael X, with

many of the bones having light encrustations. The assemblage, though

abundant, is limited in variety (Table 3), the megafauna being dominated by

gazelle, with rare persian fallow deer and a single specimen of wild boar.

Among the smaller mammalian remains are hare and red fox. A single

fragment of ostrich eggshell was also found.

An extremely rich marine molluscan assemblage was also recovered (Table 4).

These Included 220 Dentalia, which range in size from complete specimens

more than 2cm long to minute cut beads less than 2mm long. On occasion

examples were found with the tip of one piece wedged into the base of

another. Mitrella was also common, many with small holes pierced laterally.

Columbella rustica was present as was a single fragment of Cardium. All of

these molluscs appear to be of Mediterranean origin.

14


A total of 11 bones could be identified at Fazael XI. They comprised gazelle,

persian fallow deer and a single specimen of goat. 25 marine molluscs

included Mitrella gerdillei, Dentalium, and a single example of Trivia. The

freshwater mollusca at both sites comprised Melanopsis.

Bone Tools: Four bone tools were recovered at Fazael X. They include:

1) A long, thin broken bone point, 6.7cm long, with a maximum thickness of

5mm (Fig. 8:2). It tapers to a polished tip and has a U-shaped cross-section

near the base.

2) A complete short awl on a gazelle distal meta?carpus and is 2.4cm long

(Fig. 8:6). Slightly shorter than the piece from Fazael IX, it is in all other

respects identical to the latter.

3) Another broken bone point, 3.0cm long (Fig. 8:4). It is broken at both ends

and has a slightly oval cross-section.

4) A modified female? gazelle horn core fragment, 3.0cm long. The tip is

battered and burnt. It could represent either a punch or a bipoint.

The pieces were retrieved from varying depths in the excavation, although

three came from Square J10.

At Fazael XI a single broken elongated awl, 5.7cm long, was discovered (Fig.

8:7). It appears to be identical to a complete specimen on a gazelle

metapodium from Fazael IX (Fig. 8:3).

These pieces duplicate most of those present at Fazael IX, with the addition of

long, narrow bone points at Fazael X.

15


Stone Tools: A total of 11 complete or fragmentary stone tools were recovered

from Fazael X. These included a fragment of a grinding stone of fine-grained

basalt (Fig. 14). This has a marked concavity and signs of grinding on its upper

surface. A basalt(?) pebble was used as an upper handstone. This piece, of

fine-grained material, is oval in shape and fairly flat in profile. One of the

surfaces has clear signs of grinding. Another unidentifiable fragment of

coarser grained basalt was also found. The stratigraphic provenance of both

pieces appears secure and both were heavily encrusted. The closest sources of

basalt are some 10-15km to the north. These pieces add to the increasing

number of basalt and other grinding stones from Upper Palaeolithic contexts,

as at Qafzeh (Ronen and Vandermeersch 1972: Fig. 8) and at Ein Aqev (Marks

1976: Fig. 9-28).

16


Other pieces included a crude "core" on soft limestone, with large flakes

removed from all surfaces, and seven mostly fragmentary hammerstones on

soft limestone pebbles.

From Fazael XI a large battered limestone flake and a battered limestone

pebble were found.

The Lithic Assemblages: Relative to the size of the test pits exceedingly

abundant lithic assemblages were recovered from Fazael X and XI. Although

two or more occupation horizons may be present at Fazael X, no technological

or typological differences could be detected, so the sample was accordingly

treated as a single unit.

Wadi pebbles seem to have been the preferred raw material used at both sites.

The flint is cherty and mostly a light greyish-brown, with most of the pieces

being lightly encrusted. The artefacts are all fresh. At Fazael X concentrations

of burnt material were noted. Intrusive Chalcolithic elements in the top

10-15cm could be identified with ease due to differences in raw material and

patination; these were excluded from the counts.

Debitage: The lithic technology of both assemblages was clearly orientated to

the production of blades and, especially, bladelets. This is evident from the

183 cores, which were counted at Fazael X. These are predominantly of the

single striking platform variety and frequently display evidence for intensive

preparation of the striking platform, thus producing a carinated edge.

Indeed, difficulties were encountered in the distinction between cores, core

scrapers (Types 14-19 of Bar-Yosef) and nucleiform (polyhedral) burins, a

problem discussed by Bar-Yosef (1970: 204-7) and Ferring (1976). This is

particularly acute in instances where microliths form a major component in an

assemblage such as Fazael, X. There appears to be no simple solution,

particularly since possible primary and secondary functions of the pieces can

17


render even microwear analysis biased. Accordingly, it was decided to transfer

Types 16-19 from the tool counts to the cores. Although Types 14-15 and the

nucleiform burin could all have produced blade spalls for subsequent

modification as microliths, the fact that they occur on flakes was thought

sufficient technologically and morphologically to warrant their retention as

tools. This appears to be the most appropriate interim approach, at least until

methods such as that described by Cahen, Keeley and Van Noten (1979) are

applied. The 12 cores from Fazael XI include nine single platform bladelet

cores, two single platform bladelet cores on flakes, one of which is massive and

was-subsequently used as a hammerstone, and one amorphous flake core.

The debitage counts and frequencies are presented in Table 5. At Fazael X

blades and bladelets are twice as common as flakes. Bladelets are particularly

profuse and frequently display curved profiles. Core trimming elements and

primary elements are relatively rare, certainly in comparison with the

Epipalaeolithic assemblages from Wadi Fazael. Since there is no reason to

doubt that core reduction was carried out on site, this is perhaps a reflection of

the intensive bladelet orientation of the technologies at Fazael X-XI. Debitage

accounts for almost 94% of the lithic assemblage at Fazael X and 89% at

Fazael XI. The more limited sample from Fazael XI displays a lesser tendency

for blades and bladelets in relation to flakes than at Fazael X.

Tools: Fazael X provided a total sample of 1,822 tools, while Fazael XI

produced 62 tools. The general tool counts and frequencies are presented in

Table 6, and the detailed counts and cumulative frequencies are shown in

Appendix 1 and Fig. 8.

The typology from Fazael X is clearly dominated by bladelet and blade tools

(Figs. 15-17):

Scrapers (98): Scrapers on flakes and on blades occur in almost equal

proportions. Amongst the former most are simple, although thumbnail,

18


transverse and simple examples are also found. The endscrapers on blades are

for the most part simple, although several display lateral notches. Ogival

scrapers and double endscrapers are also present.

Carinated scrapers (159): Nosed scrapers are almost absent. The problem of

carinated scrapers has been discussed above. However, the carinated scrapers

on flakes are clearly dominated by the narrow type. These frequently approach

the nucleiform burin form. Distinction was made on the basis of a flat removal

surface along the whole length of the flake and extensive fine retouch around

the entire working edge for the narrow carinated scraper.

Burins (173): The scraper:burin ratio is 1:1.8 and clearly favours the latter.

Burins account for almost 10% of the assemblage, and the frequencies of the

major types is shown by the restricted indices (Table 7). Among the dihedral

burins simple offset types are especially common (22). There are also 10

double dihedral examples. The 22 burins on a natural pan occur on broken

blades for the most part. Truncated burins form the dominant element of this

tool category. These are most frequently on concave truncations (27) and

retouched notches (12). The truncations and notches are frequently

"Clactonian." This, combined with the fact that most occur on flakes, is

reminiscent of the Fazael IX assemblage. Burins on oblique truncations (11)

are also quite common, as are multiple burins on truncations (11). There are 15

nucleiform burins, which, as noted above, tend to grade into the narrow

carinated scraper class.

Retouched Blades (27): This category is not especially profuse or distinctive. It

includes 10 simple partially retouched blades, and six inversely or alternately

retouched pieces.

Truncations (24): These comprise three truncated backed pieces and 21 simple

truncated blades.

19


20


21


22


Microliths (1,038): This category forms the major element in the assemblage,

accounting for 57% of the tools (Fig. 17). The vast majority, when the broken

fragments (344) are excluded, comprise partially or completely retouched or

backed bladelets (597). These and indeed most of the other microliths present

appear to span the full range of variability of a single tool type. Distinction

between backed and retouched bladelets is somewhat arbitrary, since many of

the pieces display abrupt, semi-abrupt and fine retouch grading into one

another along the length of the microlith. Fine "Ouchtata" retouch is a notable

feature. The bladelets, when complete, tend to be long and narrow, with a

slightly curved and twisted profile. Retouch is invariably more abrupt at the

proximal end and frequently does not reach to the distal tip. Eleven microliths

are retouched along both edges, 18 are alternately retouched and 16 have

inverse retouch. Most of the latter can be defined as Dufour bladelets, since

they tend to have twisted profiles.

There are 17 obliquely truncated bladelets, 12 of which are backed. Although

these represent but 1.6% of the microliths, these are believed to be of

significance, as are the 21 curved backed bladelets (2.2%). Four of the latter

were defined as narrow micropoints with basal truncation, and three as

narrow micropoints.

Geometrics (18): This class is not an important element in the assemblage,

accounting for just 1% of the assemblage. With the exception of a single

proto-triangle, they comprise trapeze/rectangle variants. Since many of the

latter derive from close to the surface of the excavation, there remains the

possibility that at least some may be intrusive.

Notches and Denticulates (114): This category is quite well represented,

forming 6% of the assemblage. Most occur on blades, as single or double

notches, which are usually large.

23


Others (157): Apart from 104 pieces counted as varia, these include 37

retouched flakes, two pièces esquillées, five sidescrapers, one awl, seven lames

à machure, and a single chopping tool. The last piece is on a massive flint

nodule weighing 1.9 kg and is double patinated.

The sample from Fazael XI comprises 62 tools only (Figs. 18-19). The 11

scrapers are almost evenly divided between flake and blade types. Among the

latter two are double endscrapers. The four burins are all on a natural pan.

This and the scraper:burin ratio of 1:0.4 are the main discrepancies between

Fazael X and XI. However, the sample size of the latter should be borne in

mind. The 35 microliths comprise, apart from nine broken fragments, 22

partially or completely retouched or backed bladelets, most falling in the

retouched category, a single inversely retouched bladelet and three obliquely

truncated bladelets, none of which is backed. The observations for the

retouched and backed bladelet series from Fazael X are equally valid for the

set from Fazael XI. The three geometrics are also of the trapeze/rectangle

variety.

Given the sample size from Fazael XI the correlation between the two

assemblages can immediately be seen to be close, indicating that they

represent either lateral extensions of the same site or two adjacent but closely

contemporary occupations. The following discussion will therefore treat them

as belonging to a single industrial tradition.

The Fazael X-XI assemblages may be summarized as belonging to a

predominantly microlithic technological tradition, in which retouched

microliths comprise the principal element, and burins outnumber scrapers.

Carinated elements, whether defined as scrapers or cores, constitute a

significant feature of the industry.

24


25


26


Discussion:

From the above descriptions it is readily apparent that two radically different

Upper Palaeolithic lithic traditions are represented in Wadi Fazael, based

upon both technological and typological criteria. One tradition is flake

orientated with a heavy dependency upon burins, while the other is

predominantly microlithic.

Until recently, a relatively straightforward, basically unilinear development

was accepted for the Upper Palaeolithic (Neuville 1951; Garrod 1937; Perrot

1968; Copeland 1975). However, intensive research, particularly in the arid

regions of the southern Levant, has lately indicated that the Upper Palaeolithic

was much more complex than hitherto recognized. Although the wealth of

recent data remains to be fully digested, it is nevertheless clear that several

contemporary lithic traditions probably co-existed during the Upper

Palaeolithic. Such a dendritic model helps explain several previously

anomalous assemblages that could not satisfactorily be included within a

unilinear progression. The assemblages from Wadi Fazael indicate that a

multi-tradition development also pertained further north in Palestine.

Comparison on the basis of technological and typological criteria

reveals several other late Upper Palaeolithic assemblages that resemble that

from Fazael IX. These include Nahal Ein Gev I (Bar-Yosef 1973), Ksar Akil

Layer 6 (=Phase IV) (Ewing 1947; Dortch 1970; Tixier 1975), el-Khiam 9-10

(=Layer E) (Echegaray 1966; Neuville 1951), and Nahal Oren Pit B7 (Bar-Yosef

1970). Together with other assemblages such as El Wad C (Garrod 1937),

Yabrud II2 (Rust 1950), they were assigned to Neuville's Upper Palaeolithic

“Stage V” and Garrod's ''Atlitian,'' primarily on the basis of the dominance of

burins over scrapers. Both viewed these assemblages as culminating a

unilinear Upper Palaeolithic (="Aurignacian") development. More recently,

Copeland, Hours and Aurenche (1970) and Copeland (1975) have preferred to

designate these assemblages as "Levantine Aurignacian C," in order to

emphasize the supposed cultural continuum. Many of the assemblages cited

27


above were dug at a time when excavation techniques were less refined and

several have never been adequately reported. Others, such as el-Khiam and

Nahal Oren, occur in talus deposits. Detailed comparisons are thus

problematic. However, on the basis of the more recently excavated sites of

Nahal in Gev I, Fazael IX and probably also the untested Wadi Malih VI (Bar-

Yosef pers. comm.), the association of these assemblages with the "Levantine

Aurignacian" must be questioned, since they display few of the features

commonly associated with that tradition. While is premature to propose the

introduction of a new industrial taxon, it is nevertheless obvious that a

re-examination of the terminal Upper Palaeolithic in the Levant is warranted.

While several assemblages, such as el-Wad C; Antelias, Level 2-1; Abou Halka;

Yabrud II3-1; Nahal Oren, Pit G2-G3; and Ein Aqev, may indeed be viewed as

the culmination of the Levantine Aurignacian lithic tradition; others, such as

Fazael IX, Nahal Ein Gev I, and perhaps also el-Khiam 9-10, and Wadi Malih

VI, should be attributed to another, as yet, poorly defined entity. Ksar Akil 6

and Nahal Oren, Pit B7 appear to be intermediate.

A distinction between Upper and Epipalaeolithic industries in the Levant was

previously based principally on the absence or presence of a significant

microlithic element. However, of late the presence of heavy microlith

assemblages from unequivocal Upper Palaeolithic contexts has been securely

documented, particularly from the arid regions of the southern Levant. These

sites include Lagama X (Gilead 1977) and Ein Aqev East (Ferring 1977) as well

as the recently discovered sites of Azariq XIII, Ramat Matred IV and Har

Lavan IV in the Negev (pers. obs.). While some of these sites are undoubtedly

of terminal Upper Palaeolithic date, the heavily microlithic assemblage from

Lagama IIID (Gilead 1977) is dated to ca. 28,000 B.C. The contemporaneity of

several parallel lithic traditions with in the Upper Palaeolithic in the south is

thus becoming apparent (Bar-Yosef in press; Marks 1977; Gilead in press).

Further to the north parallel, though not necessarily identical regional,

developments are to be expected, and can perhaps account for otherwise

28


anomalous assemblages, such as Qafzeh (Ronen and Vandermeersch 1972)

and Masaraq e-Na'aj (Perrot 1955).

In the absence of radiometric dates the assignment of the Fazael X-XI industry

is problematic. However, on stratigraphic and typological grounds there is

some evidence that the assemblages can be assigned to the terminal Upper

Palaeolithic rather than to the Epipalaeolithic. If the proposed correlation of

the colluvial sediments at Fazael X-XI with those at Fazael IX is valid, then all

three assemblages belong to a geomorphological cycle that appears precede

the depositional regime pertaining during which the Kebaran sites in Wadi

Fazael were occupied. The burin-rich flake industry of Fazael IX is securely

assigned to the late Upper Palaeolithic, although it is radically different from

the Fazael X-XI industry.

On typological grounds there are reasons to suspect that the Fazael X-XI

industry is different from the Kebaran complex in Palestine. Within Israel, the

microlith element in all Kebaran assemblages are always absolutely

dominated by micropoints and/or obliquely truncated bladelets, when the

fragments are excluded. However, by contrast, at Fazael X these elements

together account for but 4.7% of the identifiable microliths, while at Fazael XI

they are completely absent (Fig. 15 and Appendix). Instead, the microlithic

assemblages are characterized by the absolute dominance of retouched

bladelets at Fazael X (67%) and Fazael XI (73%), a feature which is reinforced

when the backed bladelets are included as representing the continuum of a

single tool type to reach 89% and 85% respectively. Kebaran assemblages in

Israel, however, generally produce 15% of these two types combined, although

on occasion they rarely reach 30%, in this context a gradation appears to be

apparent from south to north and, where stratigraphic details are available,

through time, with retouched and backed bladelets more frequent to the north

and in the lower levels of Kebaran sites, e.g., Hayonim Cave and Ein Gev I-II

(Bar-Yosef 1970).

29


30


It is only in the Lebanon that assemblages with comparable microlithic

assemblages are found, as at Ksar Akil (Bar-Yosef 1970) and at Jiita (Hours

1966, 1976). However, the detailed work of Hours (1976) clearly indicates that

a local tradition dominated by retouched bladelets is present throughout the

Lebanese Kebaran succession, where micropoints are absent and obliquely

truncated bladelets never exceed 15% of the microliths. It is of interest to note

that finely retouched bladelets are especially prevalent during Hours'

Kébarien ancien, as expressed at Jiita II2 and V and probably also at Ksar Akil

I-IV. Unfortunately, the Ksar Akil V assemblage (=Tixier's Phase III?) remains

to be adequately published. Although certain similarities with the Lebanese

Kebaran sequence are indicated, caution is necessitated in view of the

geographical distance from the Lower Jordan Valley.

Closer at hand in the Judean Desert is the Upper Palaeolithic assemblage of

Masaraq e-Na'aj, briefly described by Perrot (1955). Recent re-examination of

the assemblage revealed the presence of numerous finely retouched bladelets

(Gilead pers. comm.). This site clearly warrants more detailed investigation.

Turning to the Negev and northern Sinai, several predominantly microlithic

Upper Palaeolithic assemblages have recently been reported. These include

Lagama IIID and Lagama X (Gilead 1977) and Ein Aqev East (Ferring 1977), in

addition to the recently discovered sites of Har Lavan V (Gilead pers. comm.),

Wadi Sudr 6 (Barukh pers. comm.), and Azariq XIIII (pers. obs.). All of these

assemblages are microlithic, in which partially or completely retouched

bladelets constitute the most characteristic element. Fine, Ouchtata retouch is

common. Lagama IIID is securely dated by a radiocarbon determination of

about 28,000 B.C. and the microliths are mostly backed. On stratigraphic

grounds Lagama X is clearly of Upper Palaeolithic date, though more precise

dating is presently not possible. Ein Aqev East has been correlated with the

terminal Upper Palaeolithic Aurignacian assemblage from Ein Aqev that has a

series of 5 radiocarbon dates indicating occupation during the 16th millennium

B.C. The situation at the Negev and Sinai sites is of interest, since different but

31


contemporary Upper Palaeolithic traditions are clearly documented; the

"Aurignacian" at Avdat and Qadesh Barnea, the "Lagaman" at Gebel Maghara,

Qadesh Barnea and Avdat, and a probable unnamed microlithic industry at

Gebel Maghara, Avdat, as well as at Ramat Matred and Nizzana. In sum, the

Fazael X-XI assemblages appear to denote the presence of a previously

undocumented bladelet industry in central and northern Israel (except

perhaps at Masaraq e-Na'aj). Stratigraphic considerations and the

demonstrated typological discrepancies between Fazael X-XI and Kebaran or

other Epipalaeolithic industries indicate that it should be assigned to the Late

Upper Palaeolithic.

32


KEBARAN OCCURRENCES:

Four Kebaran in situ assemblages have been investigated in Wadi Fazael. Of

these, three have yielded sufficiently profuse lithic samples for detailed

comparative analysis. Three of the assemblages are found in the Fazael III

area, which permits chronological ordering within the Kebaran on the basis of

stratigraphy. Both at this location and at Fazael VII the Kebaran assemblages

are overlain by Geometric Kebaran A occurrences. A fifth probable Kebaran

site (Fazael XII) has recently been discovered and promises to yield significant

lithic and faunal samples in the future.

The sequence in the Fazael III area provides one of the more complete

Epipalaeolithic sequences available in the Levant. A preliminary report (Bar-

Yosef, Goldberg and Leveson 1974) has already documented the broad

outlines of the sequence. Continued excavation has greatly increased the

samples, which are herein described detail.

1. Fazael IIIB

The site of Fazael IIIB (=Fazael III6 of the preliminary report) was discovered

during the preliminary reconnaissance survey in 1971, eroding from a small

gully in the section of the fan, some 300m east of the location where Wadi

Fazael issues from the hills into the Jordan Valley (Fig. 3). Situated on the

bank of the wadi at about 185-190m below sea level, the occurrence provides a

commanding view of the alluvial fan to the south, east and, to a lesser extent,

north. It also dominates the narrow entrance to the wadi and provides a view

of the slopes of the lower step.

It is clear that the site was discovered immediately prior to its total destruction

by ongoing erosion. It has been possible to observe the continuation of this

process every winter during the past nine years as each rain has incised the

gully more deeply to the north into the alluvial fan, i.e., at right angles to the

main wadi section (Fig. 22). As a result, only 2.5m² remained to be excavated.

However, the fact that the occupation horizon does not extend across to the

33


section 4m away on the other side of the gully is indicative that the site was

originally restricted and never exceeded 50m².

The stratigraphy of the vicinity has been described in detail above. The

occupation was found in the top 10-20cm of an alluvial greyish-brown clay

deposit, containing calcareous stains (Layer 6 of Fig. 6). Internal micro-

stratigraphy within the layer was not observed, and so excavation was carried

out by 5cm spits and ¼m² quadrants. Although a few bone fragments were

recovered, these could not be identified. Molluscs were absent and pollen

samples proved to be sterile. Sedimentological analysis is currently under way.

Small lumps of ochre, mostly red, were present in the occupation horizon.

The Lithic Assemblage: The sample described briefly by Bar-Yosef et al. (1974)

has subsequently been enlarged by further excavation and surface collection

from the foot of the section, Small wadi pebbles were apparently the preferred

raw material. The artefacts bear a grey patination and the flint, though

homogenous, is cherty. The artefacts are all uniformly fresh.

Debitage: The basic lithic technology of the assemblage was to the production

of blades and bladelets. This is reflected by the 58 cores recovered, which

34


include 41 with single platforms, eight with double platforms, and a single

changed orientation core. Flake cores comprise three amorphous and one

multiple platform examples. There are also four broken cores. Many of the

single platform type approach the carinated core scraper form.

Debitage counts and frequencies are shown in Table 8, where it can be seen

that blades were clearly the preferred blank form. Primary elements are

relatively numerous, indicating that initial core reduction took place at the

site. This may also reflect the small size of the wadi pebbles used for cores. In

this context it is of interest to note the ratio of tools per core (6.1:1), the lowest

figure recorded for all of the Fazael assemblages studied herein.

Tools: The assemblage produced a total sample of 353 tools. The general

counts and frequencies are presented in Table 7, and the detailed counts and

cumulative frequencies are shown in Appendix 1 and Fig. 23.

Scrapers (20): Scrapers on flakes (11) and on blades (9) occur with almost

equal frequencies. All but two of the former are of the simple unretouched

type. Minute scrapers are absent. Amongst the endscrapers on blades, one is

retouched, two are ogival, and another two are double (Fig. 24:1-3).

Carinated scrapers (6): These include one thick nosed scraper and five

carinated types on flakes, two of which are thick.

Burins (19): This class occurs with almost the same frequency as scrapers. The

burin sample is probably too restricted for a coherent pattern to emerge.

There are five dihedral burins, one of which is double, and burins on a natural

pan. The seven burins on truncations include two on lateral retouch (Fig.

24:4-7).

35


Retouched and Backed Blades (34): This category is relatively common,

although most are either partially retouched (12) or broken fragments (8).

36


37


38


39


There are, however, four distinctive backed blades and four curved backed

blades.

Truncations (18): This class is relatively well represented in the assemblage.

Included are several pieces with a partial truncation and a snap. Though these

occur on blades (i.e., they are wider than 9mm), it appears that they may

represent microliths, probably micropoints, abandoned in the process of

manufacture. The snap differs from that usually produced by the microburin

technique.

Points (1): This is a Falita point variant.

Microliths (213): This category accounts for about 60% of the assemblage, the

lowest frequency of all the Kebaran assemblages in Wadi Fazael. However,

only 25% of the class are broken fragments. There are nine retouched and ten

backed bladelets. However, the most characteristic microliths are of two types,

the obliquely truncated class and, especially, the micropoint category. The 16

obliquely truncated bladelets include 10 which are unretouched. Several of

these give the impression that they are merely unfinished micropoints, rather

than the obliquely truncated bladelet form frequently encountered in many

Kebaran assemblages; the blanks on which they are made leave the impression

of being shorter and wider in the present instance. The microliths, however,

are clearly dominated by the micropoint and its variants (Types 61-65), as

shown by the ratio of 7.25:1 between these and the obliquely truncated

bladelets (Fig. 25). The 116 micropoints include 13 curved pointed backed

bladelets, six of which are narrow. The 103 micropoints sensu stricto are

predominantly of the narrow type (96), of which 30 have basal truncations.

Truncations are either straight (34%), oblique (24%), obtuse (24%), or ogival

(17%). The complete micropoints mostly fall within the 30-35mm length

category (Table 12). Micropoint widths range for the most part between

6-9mm with a mode in the 7mm category (Fig. 26). It is of interest to note that

amongst the narrow micropoints those with basal truncations tend to be

40


slightly wider than those without basal modification. The micropoints tend to

be retouched along the left edge of the bladelet (57%). The type of retouch is

preponderantly abrupt (76%), though semi-abrupt (22%) and fine retouch also

occurs (Fig. 25).

Geometrics (3): These include one triangle, a proto-trapeze and a trapeze.

Notches and Denticulates (10): This category comprises but 2.8% of the

assemblage. They are evenly divided between large and small double or single

notches.

Others (24): Included are 16 retouched flakes and two racloirs.

The assemblage from Fazael IIIB clearly represents a blade/ bladelet industry,

in which the tools are clearly characterized by the microlithic element,

particularly micropoints, with low scraper, burin and retouched blade

frequencies. On this basis the site clearly falls within the broad parameters of

the Kebaran complex.

The available evidence is indicative of a small, ephemeral occupation. The

limited extent and depth of the occurrence are reminiscent of some

Epipalaeolithic sites from the Coastal Plain and the Negev and northern Sinai,

and is suggestive of a relatively short duration. The absence of preserved

faunal or other organic remains precludes further observations as to site

function, etc.

2. Fazael IIID

This small occurrence was discovered some 75m to the east of Fazael IIIB,

eroding from a greenish-grey marly clay deposit near the top of the wadi

section. This deposit can probably be correlated with Layer 6 of the section at

Fazael IIIA-B. Careful cleaning of the section produced the small sample

described below, since excavation proved impractical. The artefacts were

41


concentrated towards the base of the layer in an horizon 10-20cm thick. Field

observations clearly indicate that the occupation was restricted and probably

never exceeded 10-20m². No faunal remains were preserved. However, pollen

analysis provided a sample of 88 grains with 26% A.P. dominated by Quercus

(Table 2). The site has since been destroyed.

The Lithic Assemblage: Wadi pebbles were the only source of raw material.

The flint is grey, cherty and in fresh condition.

Debitage: Knapping at the site was clearly orientated to the production of

bladelets. The five cores comprise four with single platforms and a single

opposed platform core. All are for the production of bladelets. The debitage

frequencies are presented in Table 10. Blades and bladelets outnumber flakes

in a ratio of about 3:1. Primary elements and also core trimming elements are

relatively profuse, although the frequencies may be biased in view of the

limited nature of the sample.

Table 10: Debitage Frequencies in Kebaran Sites. SITE FAZAEL

IIIB FAZAEL

IIID FAZAEL

IIIA FAZAEL VII

N 1,498 356 12,281 1,428 Primary Elements 15.2 18.3 9.1 10.3 Flakes 30.8 16.9 26.3 29.9 Blade/lets 43.8 49.2 52.4 42.9 Core Trimming Elements 9.0 14.9 9.0 11.1 Burin Spalls 1.2 1.7 3.2 5.9 TOTAL: 100.0 100.0 99.9 100.1 Cores 58 5 158 37 Tool:Core Ratio 6.1 8.6 19.4 9.2 N 1,909 404 15,551 1,804 Cores 3.0 1.2 1.0 2.1 Debitage 78.5 88.1 79.0 79.2 Tools 18.5 10.6 20.0 18.8 TOTAL 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.1

42


Tools: Although the sample is limited to a total of 43 tools (Table 11 and

Appendix A), it is nevertheless quite distinctive (Fig. 27).

The two endscrapers are both simple on blades. The two burins include one

straight dihedral example and the other on a natural pan. There are also two

retouched blades and a truncated piece.

43


The microliths, however, are the characteristic feature of the assemblage. The

32 pieces in this category include five fragments. There are six obliquely

truncated bladelets, four of which are backed. The latter approach the narrow

curved backed bladelet form. Two of the truncations occur on the distal tip.

The most notable element amongst the microliths, however, is the 16

micropoints, which, in this instance, all take the form of the narrow curved

pointed backed bladelet. These, in common with all the microliths, are

particularly narrow.

Discussion:

The extremely restricted nature of this sample precludes detailed discussion.

However, it clearly represents a very small ephemeral occupation of short

duration, characterized by a bladelet technology. The microlithic component,

as well as the stratigraphic situation, however, permit assignment to the

Kebaran.

Table 11: Tool Frequencies in Kebaran Assemblages. SITE FAZAEL

IIIB FAZAEL

IIID FAZAEL IIIA FAZAEL

VII N 353 43 3,108 339 Scrapers 5.6 4.7 2.0 3.8 Carinated Scrapers 1.7 - 0.4 - Burin/Scrapers 0.3 - 0.3 0.6 Burins 5.4 4.7 5.3 6.2 Retouched Blades 9.6 4.7 2.8 2.9 Truncations 5.1 2.3 0.5 2.1 Points 0.3 - - - Microliths 60.3 74.4 80.5 73.7 Geometrics 0.8 - 1.3 2.4 Microburins 1.1 - 0.3 0.3 Notches 2.8 7.0 3.6 3.2 Others 6.8 2.3 3.1 4.7 TOTAL: 99.8 100.1 100.1 99.9

1. Fazael IIIA

The site of Fazael IIIA (= Fazael III4 of the preliminary report) was one of the

first to be discovered during the survey and has already been briefly described

44


(Bar-Yosef, Goldberg and Leveson 1974). The assemblage was found eroding

from the section of the alluvial fan 15m southwest of Fazael IIIB. The

immediate environmental surroundings and the natural advantages of the

specific site location have already been enumerated above, in the description

of Fazael IIIB.

Fazael IIIA was found being exposed by deflation and erosion on a small

natural step at the top of the wadi section. While the processes of erosion

continue to expose the site, it is clear that most of the site has remained intact,

so that the original site size can be reliably estimated at about 75-100m², i.e.,

considerably more extensive than the other Kebaran sites studied herein.

Subsequent to the preliminary report, the site has been further investigated,

so that a total of 13.5m² has been partially or completely excavated to date.

The grid was arranged on the step to include the southwestern and southern

eroded portions of the site. It is only at the northern end of the grid that the

top of the occupation layer remained intact. The archaeological horizon

occurred in Layer as described above. This sediment consisted of a soft brown

clay matrix with a small gravel element, 30-150cm thick. The depth of the

occupation layer at the northern end of the grid reached ca. 40cm. No micro-

stratigraphy could be discerned in the field or subsequently, so the site was

excavated by arbitrary 5cm in ¼m² quadrants.

Pollen analysis of the occupation level yielded a sample of 81 grains (Table 2

and G. Allon 1971). The spectrum was dominated by Graminae, as at the other

Kebaran sites analysed. However, the low frequency of A.P. (7%) is in contrast

to the results from both Fazael IIID and Fazael VII. Unless the relatively small

sample size has induced a bias, this would appear to indicate drier conditions

at Fazael IIIA than at either the possibly earlier Fazael IIID or later Fazael VII.

Fauna: An abundant faunal assemblage of 116½ identifiable bones was

recovered from the excavation (Table 3). Most of the bones were covered with

light encrustations. The megafauna are dominated by gazelle (73%). Also

45


present are Persian fallow deer (18%), as well as less frequent goat, roe deer,

wild boar and possible aurochs remains. Smaller faunal elements comprised

hare.

The 16 marine molluscs included Mitrella gerdillei pediculus, Dentalium,

Nassa sp., and Mitra cornicula, while the freshwater molluscs consisted, of

Melanopsis sp. (Table 4).

A bone bead, together with another of steatite (?), probably represent intrusive

elements from the Chalcolithic settlement overlying the site. Otherwise no

bone tools were found.

The Lithic Assemblage: The sample reported briefly in the preliminary report

has since been considerably enlarged by further excavation. No ground stone

tools have been found, although ochre, mostly red but also yellow, was present

in some quantity. Small light greenish-grey chert wadi pebbles were the

preferred raw material employed in common with the other assemblages in

Wadi Fazael. Some use of a finer grained pinkish flint is also documented.

Debitage: The debitage counts and frequencies (Table 10) clearly demonstrate

that the basic lithic technology was the production of bladelets and blades. The

vast majority of the 160 cores is for bladelets, mostly with single striking

platforms (61%), although opposed platform cores (18%) as well as changed

orientation (8%), multiple (4%) and amorphous (5%) types also occur (Fig.

28). A further seven cores were broken. The ratio of 19 tools per core is more

than twice that encountered amongst the other Epipalaeolithic assemblages in

Wadi Fazael, and is probably indicative of a high degree of efficiency in core

reduction, although an alternative explanation could involve intra-site

variability. (Fig. 28:1-3, 6-8)

Bladelets and blades are absolutely dominant in the debitage assemblage, with

the former clearly representing the principal blank form desired. Primary

46


47


48


49


elements and core trimming elements fall within the parameters of the other

Kebaran sites studied.

Tools: An abundant sample totalling 3,108 tools has been recovered from the

excavation (Figs. 28-30). A further 239 tools surface collections are not

included in the description otherwise stated. Clearly intrusive Chalcolithic

elements, especially from close to the surface of the occupation, could easily be

distinguished on the basis of patina and raw material and were therefore

excluded from the tool counts. The general counts and frequencies by tool

class are shown in Table detailed counts and cumulative frequencies appear in

the Appendix.

Scrapers (61): Flake types (41) clearly outnumber endscrapers on blades. Most

of the former are simple and usually unretouched. The presence of 12

thumbnail scrapers is noteworthy. Transversal and rounded scrapers are rare.

Most of the end scrapers on blades are also simple (12), although those with a

lateral notch (5) and three ogival pieces are present. Considering the sample

size, the absence of double end scrapers is of interest. In general, when

compared with the other Kebaran sites in Wadi Fazael, scrapers are poorly

represented at Fazael IIIA (Fig. 29:1-4).

Carinated scrapers (11): With the decision to include Types 16-20 amongst the

cores, which in view of the high ratio of tools to-cores at Fazael IIIA, appears

to be warranted. This general category is not well-represented in the

assemblage. Included are five nosed scrapers, mostly atypical, and six

carinated scrapers on flakes, all but one of the narrow variety.

Burins (164): This category is quite well represented in the assemblage though

still within the range of the other Kebaran sites. Yet, compared with the

scrapers, burins at Fazael IIIA are more than twice as frequent. Burins on

truncation are clearly the dominant form as illustrated by the following

indices:

50


IBdr 18.9

IBnr 8.5

IBtr 56.7

Amongst the dihedral burins, dejété types are most frequent (14), followed by

the straight form (8). Burins on truncation are most commonly concave (43),

oblique (17), or multiple (15) and tend to occur on thick flakes. Transverse

burins, whether on lateral retouch or on a notch, are relatively rare. The 12

carinated (nucleiform) burins are notable in that Fazael IIIA is the only

Kebaran assemblage in Wadi Fazael in which they are represented (Fig.

28:4-5; Fig. 29:6-9).

Although the burin samples from the other Kebaran assemblages studied here

are wanting, none indicates any particular preference for any of the three

principal burin forms. However, the emphasis on truncated forms at Fazael

IIIA is to some extent paralleled at Fazael X and clearly accentuated at Fazael

IX, the two Upper Palaeolithic occurrences in Wadi Fazael. In both latter

instances there is a distinct tendency for transverse burins on a notch amongst

the truncated type, a feature less pronounced at Fazael IIIA, as is the general

frequency of burins within the whole assemblage. Bar-Yosef (1970:154-156)

has discussed the wide divergence in the presence of burins and the variations

in the main burin types within Kebaran assemblages. He was, however, unable

to trace any particular temporal or spatial trends, beyond noting a probable

tradition in the use of truncated burins at some sites. Whether this really does

represent a continuation of Terminal Upper Palaeolithic traditions or is of a

functional nature requires further documentation and microwear analysis.

Amongst Kebaran assemblages, however, it is clear that the burin class at

Fazael IIIA falls within the lower range of burin frequencies in Kebaran sites

(Bar-Yosef 1970: Fig. 124), and that the emphasis on truncated forms is

paralleled at Kfar Darom 3, 13 and 28. Givat Ha'esev and Soreq 33M, as well

51


as the problematic assemblage of Nahal Oren Pit B7, so that a trend for

truncated types can perhaps be discerned in the southern Coastal Plain.

Microliths (2,501): The IM constitutes 80.5 and is thus the most distinctive

feature in the assemblage (Fig. 30). Indeed, this is the highest index for all the

assemblages studied. 33% of the microliths are broken fragments. Amongst

the remainder, although all types are represented, it is apparent that microlith

production was aimed at the production of two or three basic forms. The 213

retouched bladelets are only partially retouched for the most part (128), and

there are 134 backed bladelets, of which 67 are only partially backed. Nine

alternately retouched and 12 inversely retouched bladelets were recovered.

The principal form, however, is the obliquely truncated bladelet; of 632 pieces

included in this category, 428 are backed. The 599 micropoints are dominated

by the narrow curved pointed backed bladelets (555). Distinction, between

this last type and the obliquely truncated backed class is problematic, since

these two types actually appear to merely represent the range of variability of a

single form, as the angle of truncation becomes progressively more obtuse. A

similar problem of definition of these two types was encountered at Ein Gev I

(Bar-Yosef 1970). Indeed, the morphological similarities of the two types

between Fazael IIIA and Ein Gev I are striking, notwithstanding the

apparently slightly different criteria employed for defining each type. The

impression that the two forms merely represent part of a continuum is

reinforced by several further observations. At Fazael IIIA the metric attributes

for each type produced identical modes and similar distributions for both

widths (3-4mm) and lengths (20-25mm) (Tables 12-13 and Fig. 26). In both

instances retouch was most often abrupt, although semi-abrupt retouch was

also present. Recognition of the distal and proximal ends of the microliths was

problematic, given the narrowness of most pieces and the type of flint on

which they are made, which may account for the discrepancy between the

backed edges. The obliquely truncated backed pieces appear to be retouched

along the right lateral edge (as at Fazael VII), while the opposite appears to be

52


the case for the micropoints (as at Fazael IIIB). Truncations, where

determinable, are most

Table 12: Micropoint Attributes (Types 61-65).

FAZAEL IIIB FAZAEL IIIA N % N % A) Length* 10-15 mm - - - - 15-20 2 4.3 5 12.8 20-25 8 17.4 17 43.6 25-30 8 17.4 9 23.1 30-35 19 41.3 7 17.9 35-40 8 17.4 1 2.6 40-45 1 2.2 - - 45-50 - - - - 50-55 - - - - Total: 46 39 B) Width 3.0-4.0 mm - - 22 16.1 4.0-5.0 - - 78 59.9 5.0-6.0 5 4.2 21 15.3 6.0-7.0 32 26.9 7 5.1 7.0-8.0 45 37.8 4 2.9 8.0-9.0 23 19.3 4 2.9 9.0-10.0 9 7.6 1 0.7 10.0-11.0 5 4.2 - - Total: 119 137 C) Backed Edge Left 69 57.5 56 40.9 Right 51 42.5 38 27.7 Indeterminate - - 43 31.4 Total: 120 137 D) Retouch Bipolar - - 2 1.5 Abrupt 91 75.8 93 67.9 Semi-abrupt 26 21.7 28 20.4 Fine 3 2.5 14 10.2 Total: 120 137 E) Form of Basal Truncation Ogival 7 17.0 Oblique 10 24.0 Obtuse 10 24.0 Straight 14 34.0 Total: 41

*Complete pieces only.

53


Table 13: Obliquely Truncated and Backed Microlith Attributes.

Fazael IIIA Fazael VII N % N % A) Lengths* 10-15 mm 1 2.6 1 15-20 5 12.8 - 20-25 15 38.5 - 25-30 11 28.2 2 30-35 6 15.4 3 30-35 - - 3 35-40 - - 1 45-50 - - 1 50-55 - - - 55-60 1 2.6 - Total: 39 11 B) Widths 3.0-4.0 mm 87 23.2 - 4.0-5.0 220 58.6 29 40.3 5.0-6.0 51 13.6 35 48.6 6.0-7.0 12 3.2 6 8.3 7.0-8.0 5 1.3 1 1.4 8.0-9.0 - - - - 9.0-10.0 - - 1 1.4 Total: 375 72 C) Truncation Proximal 207 55.2 68 94.4 Distal 42 11.2 1 1.4 Indeterminate 126 33.6 3 4.2 Total: 375 72 D) Backed Edge Left 116 30.9 7 9.7 Right 133 35.5 63 87.5 Indeterminate 126 33.6 2 2.8 Total: 375 72 E) Type of Retouch Bipolar 8 2.1 1 1.4 Abrupt 219 58.4 43 59.7 Semi-abrupt 125 33.3 25 34.7 Fine 23 6.1 3 4.2 Total: 375 72 F) Shape of Back Straight 194 52.2 47 65.3 Convex 158 42.5 20 26.8 Concave 8 2.2 3 4.2 Irregular 12 3.2 2 2.8 Total: 372 72 * Complete specimens only

54


frequently proximal. In general, the narrowness and fragility of the microliths

is notable, a feature shared by Fazael IIID in contrast to the more robust

nature of the microliths at Fazael IIIB.

Geometrics (41): The index of Geometrics is only 1.3. They include six

proto-triangles and scalene triangles, and 34 rectangles and trapezes, most

broken. Some of the trapezes and rectangles may possibly be intrusive from

Fazael IIIC.

Notches and Denticulates (111): These mostly occur on blades, and usually

take the form of poorly defined large notches.

Others (95): This category includes 39 retouched flakes, five raclettes and four

borers. The rest are classified as varia.

The assemblage recovered from Fazael IIIA represents a bladelet/blade

industry in which the tools are heavily dominated by the microlithic element,

particularly obliquely truncated bladelets and micropoints. Among other

categories, the burins form an important class, while scrapers are relatively

rare. The assemblage can thus be assigned to the Kebaran complex.

The estimated site size, artefact and faunal densities, and the depth of the

archaeological layer are all indicative of an intensive and quite protracted,

perhaps repeated, occupation of the same location.

4. Fazael VII

This site, briefly mentioned in the preliminary report by Bar-Yosef, Goldberg

and Leveson (1974), was discovered early during the survey, eroding from

near the base of a 4m high section on the left bank of Wadi Habala, some

100m upstream from its confluence with Wadi Fazael. In this area the

wadi-widens somewhat and a spring is formed at the confluence of the two

wadis, some 2½ km upstream from the mouth of Wadi Fazael. This

55


combination of factors, at an elevation of about -80m, clearly provided an

attractive environment for prehistoric site locations, as evidenced by the

profusion of sites discovered in the vicinity of the two wadis (Fig. 3).

Closer inspection of the section revealed two distinct archaeological horizons;

an upper horizon in a colluvial deposit containing the Geometric Kebaran A

assemblage of Fazael VIII; and the lower, eroding from a localized clay pocket

intercalated between thin alluvial gravel lenses, contained the Kebaran

assemblage of Fazael VII (Fig. 5). A detailed description of this sequence has

already been provided above in the section describing the stratigraphy of Wadi

Fazael.

Fazael VII has been extensively eroded; to the south it was truncated prior to

the Natufian by the sediments of Unit 4 (Fig. 5); and presently the site

undergoing active erosion from the west by Wadi Habala. However, the nature

of the archaeological layer is indicative of a spatially limited occupation that

probably never exceeded 50m², although there is evidence for repeated visits

to the site.

The accumulation of overburden precluded extensive testing of the site.

Rather, in the course of repeated visits, the section was straightened, as

erosion by winter floods cut back into the section. In this manner

approximately 2-3m² have been excavated along the front of 3m exposed by

the section. Although at least three occupation horizons could be discerned by

field observations with a total depth of ca. 40cm, no differences were apparent

between the lithic samples recovered. Accordingly, for the purposes of sample

size, all were grouped together in the following description, which also

includes eroded material collected from the foot of the section on each visit.

The matrix containing the assemblage consisted of a fine-grained red clay with

small, rounded and sub-rounded gravel inclusions. Charcoal flecks were

56


present, dispersed throughout much of the excavated area, but the quantity

recovered to date is insufficient for radiocarbon dating.

Pollen samples yielded a plentiful spectrum of 194 grains dominated by 39%

Graminae and 32% arboreal pollen. Among the latter Quercus and Pinus

halepensis were the principal types (Allon, 1976; and Table 2).

Fauna: Bone preservation was good and included numerous charred and

burnt pieces. The sample of 12 identifiable bones included Gazella gazella,

Dama mesopotamica, Capra and Bos (Table 3). The abundance of Dama and

Capra is noteworthy, although the nature of the sample precludes further

speculation. Other faunal elements comprised Testudo osteodermo.

Marine molluscs included two examples of Columbella rustica and single

specimens of Glycimeris sp. and Mitrella gerdillei pediculus, all

Mediterranean species. The Glycimeris was pierced and polished at the base.

A single Melanopsis was the only freshwater mollusc present.

Stone Tools: Two ground stone tools were recovered. One is a broken ovaloid

muller made of soft grainy beach stone (Fig. 31:1); the raw material is probably

present in very localized deposits within the Wadi Fazael basin (P. Goldberg,

pers. comm.). The other piece is a limestone slab, measuring 24 x 20 x 7cm

found lying flat within the excavation; the upper surface is slightly concave

and smoothed, clearly the result of grinding. The margins of the ground

surface are heavily stained with red ochre, indicating its primary function at

least (Fig. 31:2). It should be noted that ochre was present in some quantity

throughout the excavated area.

These two pieces join the growing collection of pre-Natufian stone tools; other

Epipalaeolithic sites with such elements include Ein Gev I and III, Umm

Khalid, Caesarea-south, Hefziba, Nahal Hadera V, Ha’on III, Lagama North

57


VIII, Mushabi XIV/1, and Mushabi V. In some instances these are clearly

58


associated with ochre, while in others the processing of vegetal foods appears

to be indicated.

The Lithic Assemblage: The raw material used for the assemblage consists for

the most part of cherty wadi pebbles. However, some is a grey/tan flint that is

more lustrous than that encountered in most of the other Epipalaeolithic sites

in Wadi Fazael, with the exclusion of the Natufian sites. The material is very

fresh.

Debitage: The wadi pebbles used appear to have been quite small and flat The

basic lithic technology of the assemblage was clearly orientated to the

production of blades/bladelets, as shown by the preponderance of single

platform bladelet types amongst the 37 cores recovered (Figs. 32-33). Since

elongated narrow bladelets were the apparent aim, many of these display signs

of intensive lateral preparation by the removal of flakes to create an elongated

narrow striking platform for the production of bladelets. This technique is

akin to that previously described at Ein Gev I-II by Bar-Yosef (1970). The

resulting core frequently displays a carinated striking platform reminiscent of

carinated scrapers and nucleiform burins. However, there appears to be little

doubt that these pieces are primarily cores.

The debitage is dominated by blades/bladelets, although flakes are relatively

frequent, probably the result of lateral preparation of the cores (Table 10).

Amongst the core trimming elements core tablets are conspicuously rare; the

majority is lames à crête and ridge blades.

Tools: A total of 339 tools have been recovered from the site (Figs 32-34). The

detailed tool counts and frequencies are shown in Table 11 and the Appendix.

Scrapers (13): Nine are on flakes; most are simple, though a single transverse

example is noteworthy (Fig. 34:22), as is a rounded scraper on an

59


ochre-stained limestone flake (Fig. 32:4). Transverse scrapers are a feature of

60


61


the Kfar Vitkin assemblage (Bar-Yosef 1970). The four scrapers on blades

include one simple minute piece, two with lateral notches and a single double

endscraper. Two burin/scrapers are also present.

Burins (21): This category is almost twice as frequent as the scraper class.

Dihedral burins, those on a natural pan and those on truncations are all

equally common. Four of the six burins on truncations have the truncation

oblique (Fig. 33:1). There are also two multiple mixed burins and a single

example of a burin plan.

Retouched and Backed Blades (10): Amongst this class five backed pieces are

notable. Four of these pieces are curved backed knives (Fig. 34:19, 20), while

the last is straight backed. These recall pieces reported from Sefunim B

(Stekelis 1961).

Microliths (250): These constitute 73% of the entire assemblage. 95 (38%) are

unidentifiable broken fragments (Fig. 33:1-18). Amongst the remainder, it is

clear from Table 14 that the category is dominated by two principal forms.

Obliquely truncated bladelets account for 61% of the microliths, with

retouched and obliquely truncated pieces (52%) outnumbering the unbacked

pieces (10%). The latter appear to represent unfinished pieces, whether of this

type or the type to be described below. The obliquely truncated and backed

bladelets were the subject of further analysis (Table 14). It was found that 94%

of the pieces displayed proximal truncations, and that most pieces (87%) were

retouched along the right edge of the bladelet, with the retouch being

predominantly abrupt (60%) or semi-abrupt (35%). The backed edge tended

to be straight (65%) or convex (27%). Thirteen of the 72 pieces analysed also

demonstrated partial retouch along the other lateral edge. Most of the pieces

fell within the 5-6mm width category and the thickness mostly ranges between

1.5-3.0mm. The 11 complete specimens were mostly 25-40 mm long.

62


63


The other principal microlith form constitutes 28% of the general class, and

was included amongst the microgravette category. This particular variant is

quite distinctive and in principle could be described as a micro-falita point. It

is basically an obliquely truncated backed bladelet, but differs from the classic

version in that the backed edge is the longer of the lateral edges, producing an

acute rather than an obtuse angle at the intersection between the back and the

truncation (Fig. 34:1-5). The angle of truncation ranges from extremely acute

to almost straight. On the complete examples the other tip commonly displays

restricted retouch near the base of the otherwise unretouched lateral edge that

closely resembles a further truncation.

Twenty-nine of the 37 pieces on which attributes could be observed fall in the

6-8mm width range, and 16 of the 20 complete examples are 20-30mm long

(Table 14). They are thus wider and shorter than the obliquely truncated

backed bladelets. This lends weight to the intuitive suspicion that different

blanks were selected for the two types. However, all but one of the 37

microgravettes have the principal truncation at the proximal tip, and 35 have

the backing on the right lateral edge, a situation closely paralleling that for the

obliquely truncated backed bladelets. Twenty-eight are straight backed, six

concave and three convex. The backing is produced by either abrupt (21),

semi-abrupt (13) or fine (3) retouch. Retouch frequently grades from one type

into the next. The lack of the bipolar technique precludes their sensu stricto

definition as microgravettes; but in the absence of this particular tool form in

any type list, it was considered more appropriate to expand the definition of

the microgravette rather than “lose” this form amongst the category of

"bladelets-varia" (Type 67).

It should be noted that similar forms have been from other Kebaran sites,

especially in the north, e.g. Gev I (Bar-Yosef 1970; Fig. 95:18, 23), Hayonim

Cc-b (Bar-Yosef 1970; Fig. 21:24-25; Fig. 23:18, 20, 35-36), and Ksar Akil

(Bar-Yosef 1970: Fig. 26:20-21; Tixier 1970: Fig. 12.2). Rare examples have

64


Table 14: Microgravette Variant Attributes from Fazael VII.

N % A) Lengths 10-15 mm - - 15-25 1 5 20-25 5 25 25-30 11 5.5 30-35 3 15 Total: 20 100.0 B) Widths 3.0-4.0 mm - - 4.0-5.0 1 2.7 5.0-6.0 5 13.5 6.0-7.0 15 40.5 7.0-8.0 14 37.8 8.0-9.0 2 5.4 Total: 37 99.9 C) Type of Truncation Proximal 36 97.3 Distal 1 2.7 Indeterminate - - Total: 37 100.0 D) Shape of Backed Edge Left 2 5.4 Right 35 94.6 Indeterminate - - Total: 37 100.0 E) Type of Retouch Bipolar - - Abrupt 22 59.5 Semi-abrupt 12 32.4 Fine 3 8.1 Total: 37 100.0 F) Shape of Back Straight 28 75.7 Convex 3 8.1 Concave 6 16.2 Irregular - - Total: 37 100.0

65


also been reported from the Coastal Plain, as at Poleg 18 and Kfar Vitkin III

(Bar-Yosef 1970: Fig. 45:12).

The other microlith types occur in very low frequencies and include two

retouched bladelets, two pointed bladelets retouched on both edges, and two

inversely retouched bladelets. There are only three curved pointed bladelets

and seven microliths included within the varia category. The 94 broken

backed bladelets include 45 medial, 10 proximal and 32 distal fragments.

Geometrics (8): These include a triangle, most probably a microgravette

variant, a proto-rectangle, three broken rectangles, two proto-trapezes and a

single trapeze, the latter probably intrusive, on the basis of its patination and

rolled state.

Notches and Denticulates (11): Most occur as small single notches on blades.

Others (16): This category includes a single piece esquillée, seven retouched

flakes, one sidescraper, and the rest are varia. One of the retouched flakes is

on limestone.

Discussion:

The assemblage of Fazael VII technologically represents an industry where

blank production was aimed at blades/bladelets. The tools are dominated by

microliths, especially the obliquely truncated bladelet and a hitherto

undocumented microgravette variant, with burins outnumbering scrapers, but

these latter two classes and indeed the others all occur in low frequencies. In

the light of these the assemblage can be assigned within the broad parameters

he Kebaran complex. The site itself appears to represent a small-scale

ephemeral campsite that was re-occupied on at least two subsequent

occasions, apparently by the same group, on the basis of the identical tool

repertoires. The presence of grinding stones is, however, unique amongst the

Kebaran sites reported from Wadi Fazael, and in particular, contrasts with the

more intensively occupied site of Fazael IIIA (though ground stone tools have

66


been recovered from the surface of the untested probable Kebaran site of

Fazael XII).

DISCUSSION:

The past decade has witnessed a remarkable, increase in our knowledge and

understanding of the Epipalaeolithic in the Levant. Indeed, until then its

earlier manifestations were viewed as falling within the parameters of the

Upper Palaeolithic. However, the research of Bar-Yosef (1970, 1975) has

provided a sound framework for the classification of the Epipalaeolithic in

Israel, while Hours (1976) has been concerned with the Lebanese sequence.

The evidence accrued to date clearly indicates that the earliest Levantine

Epipalaeolithic manifestation, the Kebaran, can be defined within the broad

parameters of a technocomplex.

While the chronological framework remains tenuous in absence of secure

radiocarbon dates, stratigraphic evidence is indicative of stylistic and

technological variability through time. In addition, in some instances local

regional stylistic trends can be discerned. Thus, development within the

Kebaran may be viewed as dendritic rather than unilinear. The origins of the

Kebaran currently remain obscure, although an autochthonic development

appears certain, particularly in view of the recent documentation of micro-

lithic Upper Palaeolithic assemblages in Israel (e.g., Fazael X).

Thus, although the Kebaran is presently understood in broad outline, more

detailed information is required from systematically collected or excavated

sites, particularly within the framework of regional studies. In this manner

local developments can be documented, which can then be correlated and

compared.

67


The survey of the Wadi Fazael area has resulted in the discovery of seven

assemblages that can be assigned to the Kebaran. Three of these remain

untested at the time of writing. The others have been reported above. The

significance of these assemblages lies principally in the fact that three occur in

stratigraphic contexts. It should be noted that deep Kebaran sequences are the

exception, largely the result of a notable propensity for open-air occupations.

The Fazael III site complex has yielded two larger Kebaran assemblages

stratigraphically related, together with a smaller lateral occurrence. All three

are overlain by a Geometric Kebaran A assemblage.

The earliest of the Kebaran assemblages presented here is that of Fazael IIIB.

As noted by Bar-Yosef et al. (1974), the predominance of micropoints and

their variants in this assemblage accords with the evidence from Yabrud III,

Hayonim Cave and Nahal Hadera V (Saxon et al. 1978), that these microliths

are common in the earlier Kebaran. On typological grounds the Fazael IIIB

assemblage is presently most amenable to comparisons with that from Poleg

18MII, particularly on the basis of the metric and morphological attributes of

the micropoints. However, it should noted that the three untested Kebaran

assemblages from the Wadi Fazael area appear to be similarly dominated by

micropoints; Urkan el-Rubb II and Fazael XII are both characterized by

relatively micropoints, while Tala’at Zarah I also has micropoints.

The small sample from Fazael IIID can perhaps be equated with Fazael IIIB.

The predominance of micropoints among the microlithic element perhaps

reinforces this interpretation, although the general appearance of the

assemblage accords more closely with that from Fazael IIIA.

Fazael IIIA is the largest of the tested Kebaran assemblages, although the

untested site of Fazael XII may be comparable in terms of extent and density.

The obliquely truncated bladelet is the dominant microlithic element at Fazael

IIIA. As noted above, this development is in accordance with the results

68


obtained from stratigraphic contexts elsewhere in Israel (Hayonim Cave,

Nahal Hadera V), Syria (Yabrud III) and Lebanon (Jiita), where the obliquely,

truncated bladelet occurs more frequently in later Kebaran layers. At Fazael

IIIA the micropoint is also well-represented and, indeed, the two forms tend

to grade into one another. This may perhaps be indicative of a date in the

earlier part of the Later Kebaran. On typological grounds, particularly on the

basis of the microliths, but also on the basis of the long, narrow bladelet

appearance of the industry, the assemblage from Fazael IIIA can be compared

with that from Ein Gev I (Bar-Yosef 1970), with a C14 date of 13,700±415 B.C.

The assemblage of Fazael VII cannot be correlated stratigraphically with those

from Fazael III, although it is also overlain by a Geometric Kebaran A

assemblage. However, there are typological and stylistic indications to suggest

that it may postdate all of the Fazael IIIA assemblages. The absence of

micropoints is particularly noteworthy, as is the absence of fine retouch for the

microliths, and argues against an early date in the Kebaran. However, the

predominance of proximal truncations for the obliquely truncated bladelets

and the lack of a trend towards Geometrics appears to preclude a very late

date within the Kebaran.

The presence of the microgravette variant at Fazael VII is of particular

interest, since it undoubtedly demonstrates typological affinities with other

Kebaran assemblages containing the Falita point and the microgravette. These

sites are distributed in an arc from southern Transjordan (Wadi Madamagh,

Wadi Dhobai, Ein Gev I-IV), through Galilee (Hayonim C) and Lebanon (Ksar

Akil). However, until now this tradition has not previously been documented

west of the River Jordan, whether in Judea, Samaria or the Coastal Plain.

While the individual Kebaran sites reported above are presently most

amenable to comparison with analogous assemblages outside the area

surveyed, attention should be briefly turned to the problem of a local Kebaran

lithic tradition. With a single exception, all of the Kebaran sites in Wadi

69


Fazael, including those that remain to be tested, display a preference for

micropoints and their variants. This remains true even for the later

assemblage of Fazael IIIA, where the micropoint is the second most frequent

type of microlith. Two explanations appear possible; either that the area was

more intensely occupied during the earlier Kebaran than in the later Kebaran;

or that a local stylistic tradition was present during the Kebaran, parallel to

the situation that pertained in the southern Coastal Plain. In the absence of

radiocarbon dates and mtore detailed investigation, the problem remains to

be resolved satisfactorily.

The lone exception is the assemblage from Fazael VII, which appears to

display affinities more commonly associated with the Transjordanian province

of the Kebaran. In the light of recent research, indicating that Lake Lisan

continued to exist, even though reduced in area by one third, throughout the

Kebaran (Neev and Hall 1977) communication across the Jordan Valley would

have been hampered. Explanation of the Fazael VII assemblage must thus

remain in abeyance.

70


GEOMETRIC KEBARAN A OCCURRENCES:

During the course of the survey in the Fazael-Salibiya area five sites could be

assigned to the Geometric Kebaran A. To date, only two of these occurrences

have been tested, and then in but a cursory fashion. Both tested sites are

located in Wadi Fazael, and both appear to be small ephemeral sites. Of the

other occurrences, Ta’alat Zarah II also seems to be limited in extent, while

el-Rubb IV, located in the embayment of the Jordan Valley, about 2km north

of the mouth of Wadi Fazael, appears to be larger and to have been more

intensively occupied than the others.

Both of the Wadi Fazael Geometric Kebaran A assemblages overlie Kebaran

occupations, confirming the relationship between the two complexes as

previously documented at Yabrud and Abri Bergy. Although both of the

assemblages described below are somewhat problematic, they nevertheless

provide valuable information, both typlogical and in terms of settlement

patterns within the general region.

Fazael IIIC:

The site of Fazael IIIC was discovered during the initial reconnaissance survey

and has previously been briefly describe in the preliminary report by Bar-

Yosef, Goldberg and Leveson (1974), where it was called Fazael III3. The

occurrence was found eroding from a thin gravel horizon 5-7cm thick (Layer

3) in the section of the alluvial fan, as described above in the section on

stratigraphy. Material was also noted eroding from the contact between the

gravels and the overlying brown clays of Layer 2. The occupation overlies the

Kebaran assemblages of Fazael IIIA (=Layer 4) and Fazael IIIB (=Layer 5 - see

above). As noted previously, though the site is geologically in situ the artefacts

have been washed from their original position, presumably somewhat to the

west. This is confirmed by the slightly rolled state of the artefacts. Accordingly

estimation of the original site size is problematic, although the available

evidence is perhaps indicative of an occupation extending over less than

71


100m². The advantages of the specific site location have been enumerated

above, in discussing the Kebaran assemblages of Fazael IIIB and A.

Regular excavation with a grid proved impractical, so instead the face of the

gully section (Fig. 22) was cleaned in 5cm spits, the matrix being dry and

wet-screened. No faunal or other organic remains were recovered. Pollen

analysis of matrix produced a total sample of 160 grains, dominated by 34%

arboreal pollen, 26% Graminae and 24% Compositae. The arboreal pollen

includes Quercus, Pinus halepensis and Olea europea. Although the rewashed

nature of the sediment raises questions as to the reliability of the sample, the

results accord well with evidence from other Geometric Kebaran A

assemblages in Israel, namely, that conditions were somewhat wetter during

this period. This is in contrast to the conclusions reached by D. Henry (1977,

1979) at Hayonim Terrace.

The Lithic Assemblages The lithic sample recovered from Fazael IIIC

undoubtedly includes intrusive elements, mostly from the adjacent Kebaran

assemblages of Fazael IIIB and, especially, Fazael IIIA. While it was possible

to isolate certain of these intrusive types, particularly amongst the microliths,

other tool classes were more problematic since the raw material used in all

three assemblages was similar. Further, all of the artefacts were slightly rolled.

Accordingly, only those spits where the admixture appeared to be less

pronounced are included in the counts and descriptions below. However,

some of the frequencies presented here should therefore be treated with

caution.

Debitage: The raw material used is similar to that used by the other

Epipalaeolithic industries in the vicinity and is probably from readily available

wadi pebbles. Blank production was evidently aimed at the production of

blades/bladelets (Table 15). Debitage frequencies are similar to that for all of

the Epipalaeolithic assemblages in the area. However, the relative rarity of

72


Table 15: Debitage frequencies in Geometric Kebaran A Sites.

SITE FAZAEL IIIC FAZAEL VIII N 1,806 165 Primary Elements 11.3 13.9 Flakes 32.3 29.7 Blade/lets 45.8 44.2 Core Trimming Elements 9.6 10.3 Burin Spalls 0.9 1.8 TOTAL: 99.9 99.9 Cores nd 12 Tool:Core Ratio nd 6.1 N nd 250 Cores 4.8 Debitage 66.0 Tools 29.2 TOTAL: 100.0

burin spalls is noteworthy. Amongst the debris, chips were less common than

in other assemblages, a further indication of the washed nature of the site.

Tools (Fig. 36): A total of 496 tools are included in the sample presented here

(Appendix A and Table 16).

Scrapers (40): These occur on flakes and blades in equal proportions. Among

those on flakes, two thumbnail scrapers should be noted. Five of those on

blades have a notch on the lateral edge, and two are ogival (Fig. 36:21-22).

Burins (18): Dihedral burins (5) are less frequent than those on truncations

(7), and two are on a natural pan (Fig. 36:23).

Retouched Blades (25): Most of these pieces are broken (15). However, there

are two curved backed blades.

73


Table 16: Tool Frequencies in Geometric Kebaran A Sites.

SITE FAZAEL IIIC FAZAEL VIII N 496 73 Scrapers 8.1 34.2 Carinated 2.2 - Burin/Scrapers 0.6 - Burins 3.6 12.3 Retouched Blades 5.0 5.5 Truncations 2.4 1.4 Microliths 38.7 5.5 Geometrics 20.4 9.6 Microburins 2.6 4.1 Notches 7.5 12.3 Others 8.9 15.1 TOTAL: 100.0 100.0

Microliths (192): This category is the most profuse, accounting for 39% of the

assemblage. However, as noted above, many of these pieces are undoubtedly

intrusive, especially from Fazael IIIA. Included are 21 obliquely truncated

pieces and 28 curved backed and pointed bladelets. There are also 116 broken

fragments.

Geometrics (101): The Geometric class constitutes 20% of the assemblage,

inclusive of intrusive elements, sufficient, according to Bar-Yosef's (1970)

criteria for defining the Geometric Kebaran A. Ninety-two of the pieces are

defined amongst the trapeze-rectangle categories, the majority being assigned

to the former type. There are also six triangles and three proto-lunates (Fig.

36:1-20).

The trapeze-rectangles were the subject of more detailed analysis. The 12

complete pieces were mostly 10-20mm long, i.e., quite short. Widths tended to

range between 4.0-6.0mm. The backed lateral edge was most frequently

accomplished by abrupt (53%) or semi-abrupt (23%) retouch. However, 20%

had bipolar backing. The form of the backed edge was generally straight

74


Table 17: Geometric Microlith Attributes (Trapezes and

Rectangles).

Fazael IIIC* Fazael

VIII Fazael

IX Fazael VI

N % N N N A) Length 5.0-9.9 mm 1 8.3 - - - 10.0-14.9 4 33.3 - 4 1 15.0-19. 9 6 50.0 - 4 2 20.0-24.9 1 8.3 4 - - 25.0-29.9 - - - - - 30.0-34.9 - - - - - Total: 12 99.9 4 8 3 B) Width 3.0-3.9 2 2.1 - 3 1 4.0-4.9 28 29.8 - 8 4 5.0-5.9 41 43.6 - 4 12 6.0-6.9 13 13.8 3 1 2 7.0-7.9 6 6.4 2 - 1 8.0-8.9 4 4.3 3 - - 9.0-9.9 - - - - - Total: 94 100.0 8 16 20 C) Type of Retouch Bipolar 19 20.2 - 1 2 Abrupt 50 53.2 6 9 17 Semi-abrupt 22 23.4 2 6 1 Fine 2 2.1 - - - None 1 1.1 - - - Total: 94 100.0 8 16 20 D) Form of Backed Edge

Concave 25 26.6 nd 2 5 Straight 54 57.4 9 10 Convex 15 16.0 5 5 Total: 94 100.0 16 20 * The sample was enlarged by the inclusion of geometrics collected from the foot of the section.

(57%), although concave (27%) and convex (16%) edges also occurred (Table

17).

Microburin Technique (13): These pieces include one Krukowski microburin.

Since this class accounts for less than 10% of the assemblage, the occurrence

of the technique appears to be fortuitous, as is to be expected with an

assemblage of this nature.

75


Notches and Denticulates (37): These mostly comprise small single or double

notches.

Others (44): Included are two pièces esquillées, 19 retouched flakes, one awl,

and 22 pieces classified as varia.

Discussion

76


In spite of the problematic nature of this assemblage, Fazael IIIC can

undoubtedly be assigned to the Geometric Kebaran A as noted by Bar-Yosef et

al. (1974). The diagnostic element of the assemblage is the Geometric class,

and it is on the basis of this alone that comparisons with other Geometric

Kebaran A assemblages should be made, i.e., any attempt to define this as a

"transitional" is fallacious and should be rejected out of hand.

Fazael VIII: In the course of examining the 4m high section at Fazael VII (Fig.

5), a further occupation was discerned eroding from the top of the exposure,

10 m upstream (i.e., north) of Fazael VII. The general setting for Fazael VIII is

identical to that described above for Fazael VII.

The Fazael VIII occupation is located within a yellowish-red deposit (Unit 3 of

Fig. 5), overlying a minor channeling phase. This colluvium, up to 1½ m.

thick, overlies the Kebaran assemblage of Fazael VII that was associated with

alluvial sediments. The Fazael VIII occurrence was located in the lower part of

the colluvial deposit and was exposed along a 4-5m front. Although no

excavation has been carried out to date, a limited lithic sample was collected

in the course of straightening for stratigraphic reasons, and eroded material

from the base of the section. An ashy area was noted in the section, probably

representing a hearth. The occupation horizon seems to be up to 50cm thick,

though excavation is required for confirmation. The evidence indicates a

limited occupation, probably not exceeding 50m².

The small, but well-preserved bone sample includes fallow deer, gazelle and

hare. Several of the bones are charred. No marine or freshwater molluscs were

found. Samples for pollen analysis proved to be sterile (Baruch, pers. comm.).

The Lithic Assemblage: The small sample described below is derived from

uncontrolled collection without sieving. Notwithstanding the inevitable bias in

the proportional representation of certain tool classes, particularly favouring

the larger tools, the sample is valuable in terms of the types that are present.

77


The raw material used is a milky-white or yellowish, rather cherty flint. The

material is uniformly fresh.

Debitage: The 12 cores include three single platform, two opposed platform,

three 90º, two discoidal and two amorphous types. This wide range of

variability contrasts markedly with the preference for single platform cores in

the Kebaran assemblages described above. Another contrast that may be

noted is the lack of carinated edges to the striking platforms in the Fazael VIII

sample.

The debitage frequencies are not dissimilar to those for the other

Epipalaeolithic assemblages described, which is interesting considering the

retrieval technique. Blades clearly outnumber flakes and the proportion of

primary elements and core trimming elements indicate that core reduction

probably took place on-site. Among the core trimming elements, the absence

of core tablets is notable: lames à crête and ridge blades are the preferred

means of core rejuvenation. The blades tend to be longer and wider than those

for the Kebaran assemblages, although this remains to be more rigourously

tested.

Tools (Fig. 37): A total of 73 tools have been recovered from the site, the

counts and frequencies of which are presented in Table 16. The biased nature

of the sample is immediately apparent, for example, in the restricted

frequencies of the microliths. However, the proportional frequencies between

the larger tool categories may be representative of the assemblage as a whole.

Scrapers (25): This is the dominant element of the sample. However, the fact

that scrapers are almost three times as common as burins may be significant.

The scrapers are well-made, with 21 on blades. Of these, 13 are simple

endscrapers, one is on a retouched blade, two have a notch on a lateral edge,

and five are double. It should be noted that there are other sites in which

78


scrapers, particularly on blades, form an important element, such as Point 104

(Ronen et al. 1967), although the lack of sieving undoubtedly accounts for the

low frequency of microliths. This apparent preference for scrapers on blades

in the Geometric Kebaran A, as opposed to those on flakes in the Kebaran, has

been noted elsewhere by Hours (1976) and Bar-Yosef (in press).

Burins (9): Five of the burins are on a natural pan, two are dihedral, one on

lateral retouch and another is a burin plan.

Microliths (4): These include a single completely retouched bladelet and three

fragments. Three of these have bipolar backing.

Geometrics (7): This group, though extremely limited, is the distinctive

element in the assemblage. It includes four tangles, two of which are broken,

and three trapezes. The widths range between 6.6-8.4mm. This is wider than

elsewhere in central and northern Israel, where the closest analogy is with the

Coastal Plain site of Kfar Vitkin III (Bar-Yosef 1976), where they range

between 5-8cm. Further south, however, in the Negev and Sinai, comparable

width ranges are well-documented (Bar-Yosef and Goring-Morris 1977;

Goring-Morris 1977). Five of the seven geometrics are abruptly backed, while

the other two have semi-abrupt retouch. Although bipolar retouch is absent

amongst the geometrics, it is used for backing the other microliths.

Microburin Technique (3): This includes a piquant trièdre and two classic

microburins. However, on the basis of thoroughly documented Geometric

Kebaran A assemblages, the presence of the technique at Fazael VIII is almost

certainly fortuitous.

Others (11): This category includes two pièces esquillées, three retouched

flakes, one sidescraper and five pieces classified as varia.

79


Discussion

80


Although the sample from Fazael VIII is derived from collection, it is

nevertheless of value until such a time as the can be more thoroughly

investigated. The assemblage is clearly characterized by blade/bladelet

production. Among the tools, geometrics and scrapers are the most distinctive

elements. On this basis, there can be no doubt that the site should be assigned

to the Geometric Kebaran A. Indications are that the occupation represents a

limited ephemeral camp site, though the apparent depth of the archaeological

layer may perhaps be indicative of repeated occupations of the same location.

DISCUSSION:

A total of five Geometric Kebaran A sites have been discovered during the

survey of the Fazael-Salibiya area, of which two have been partially

investigated. Both are in Wadi Fazael and both were found overlying Kebaran

assemblages. In spite of the problematic nature of these assemblages, they

nevertheless provide a profitable basis for discussion of the Geometric

Kebaran A in the region.

The assemblage from Fazael IIIC was found in a thin gravel horizon overlying

the Kebaran occupations of Fazael IIIA. B and D. The nature of the horizon,

together with the state of the artefacts, clearly indicate that the assemblage has

been washed. Thus, although the assemblage is geologically in situ, it occurs

archaeologically in a secondary context. This accounts for the intrusive

elements present. There can be no doubt that this is not a "transitional"

Kebaran/Geometric Kebaran A assemblage. The only possibly "transitional"

assemblage documented to date is that of Ein Gev III (Martin 1978, and pers.

comm.).

The trapeze-rectangles from Fazael IIIC are relatively narrow, a trait that

appears to have both temporal and spatial significance (Bar-Yosef and

Goring-Morris 1977), with wider geometrics becoming more common through

time and from north to south. The 4-6mm width range at Fazael IIIC is most

closely paralleled by the assemblages of Ha’on III (Bar-Yosef. 1976) and Ein

81


Gev III (Martin, pers. comm.) in the north of Israel, and Mushabi XVII and IC

in northern Sinai. The untested assemblage of Urkan el-Rubb VI, adjacent to

Wadi Fazael, is also characterized by narrow trapeze-rectangles.

The assemblage from Fazael VIII was found in situ in a colluvial deposit

overlying the Kebaran assemblage of Fazael VII. However, the uncontrolled

nature of the present collection and the small size of the sample preclude

exhaustive discussion. Nevertheless, it is clear that scrapers on blades

constitute a characteristic element, a feature of the Geometric Kebaran A

well-documented at other sites (Bar-Yosef 1976). The few geometrics are

wider than those from Fazael IIIC and may indicate that Fazael VIII is later.

82


83


LATE QUATERNARY OCCUPATIONS IN THE LOWER JORDAN

VALLEY:

This chapter is intended as an interim attempt to synthesize and discuss the

results of the Wadi Fazael research project on the basis of the site reports. For

it is only when the sites are viewed in their regional context that the changing

patterns of man/land relationships can be viewed through time. The lithic

assemblages provide the framework for the entire study: it is primarily on the

basis of techno/typological criteria that the assemblages can be assigned to

cultural complexes and, in the absence of C14 dates, that the sediments

containing the archaeological remains cart be dated. The lithic assemblages

thus provide the chronological framework for the entire sequence.

Although the sites reported in this work are all located in Wadi Fazael and

only include the Upper Palaeolithic, Kebaran and Geometric Kebaran A

assemblages, use will be made of the results of the survey of the entire

Fazael-Salibiya area and of the later Natufian and Neolithic assemblages in

order to provide a better perspective of developments in the region.

Site Locations:

Although caves are present in Wadi Fazael, particularly in the area of the

confluence of Wadis Habala and Fazael (Fig. 3), no evidence has been found

that they were occupied in prehistoric times. This is in spite of the fact that

these caves are presently occupied during the winter months by Bedouin

shepherds and their families. Similarly, shallow caves immediately to the

north of Wadi Fazael, at the interface between the Jordan Valley and the hills,

furnish no evidence for occupation prior to the Chalcolithic.

All but one of the sites in Wadi Fazael are located on the left, northern bank of

the wadi. The same situation occurs elsewhere in the survey area, at least

where the wadis are confined on either side by hills. At least two factors can

probably be used help explain this time transgressive preference. The

84


northern banks of wadis are generally warmer, being more exposed to direct

sunlight. As a result, vegetation tends to be less dense than on shaded

southern banks of wadis, thus providing a 'relatively unimpeded view of the

surrounding area. The only exception to this picture is the probable Neolithic

site of Fazael II. This is of interest since all of the other Neolithic occurrences

discovered in the survey are all located n the Jordan Valley, for the most part

on alluvial fans (Gilgal, Salibiya IX, Netiv Hagdud, and ?Fazael IIIE).

A tendency for site locations to decrease in altitude from the Upper

Palaeolithic onwards can be discerned throughout the survey area:

Table 18

Period # Sites Max. Elevation Min. Elevation

Upper Palaeolithic 3 - 80m. -170m.

Kebaran 8 - 70m. -185m.

Geometric Kebaran A 5 - 70m. -185m.

Early Natufian 2 - 70m. -218m.

Late Natufian 13 - 120m. -230m.

PP Neolithic A 3 -193m. - 230m.

This decrease is accompanied by a movement away from wadi locations the

hills to alluvial fan locations in the Jordan Valley. A distinct change in

orientation can be perceived at the end of the Geometric Kebaran A. This is

undoubtedly connected with the terminal phases of Lake Lisan, and accords

well with the results recently reported by Neev and Hall (1977). Indeed, at the

time of occupation the sites of Fazael X-XI, IIIA, B, C and D were probably

quite close to the shores of the Lake. As the lake subsequently retreated, the

alluvial wadi fans perhaps provided more attractive locations for occupation,

particularly since settlements tend to increase in size through time. Upper

Palaeolithic sites are only documented in Wadi Fazael. The evidence clearly

indicates open-air Upper Palaeolithic occupations in addition to previously

known cave locations.

85


Site Densities and Size:

Site sizes and densities vary considerably: the two late Upper Palaeolithic sites

are quite extensive open-air occupations, probably extending over at least

100m². The depth of the sediments and density of artefacts are indicative of

intensive occupation of the same specific localities. There are some

intimations that the sediments represent repeated occupations rather than a

single extended occupation. Naturally, further excavation is required to

furnish information as to internal site patterning, if any.

Table 19: Tool Densities for sites in the Lower Jordan Valley.

SITE TOOLS EXCAVATED VOLUME (m³)

TOOLS/m³

Fazael IX 684 0.9 750 Fazael X 1,822 2.1 850 Fazael XI 62 0.05 1,250 Fazael IIIA 3,108 2.7 1,150 Fazael IIIB 171 0.4 450 Fazael VII 156 0.4 450 Fazael IV 1,441 0.575 2,500 * to nearest 50.

During the Kebaran two principal types of occupation may be discerned. The

most common is the small, limited occupation, probably not exceeding 75m².

Tool densities also tend to be lower. Included amongst these are Fazael IIIB,

Fazael IIID, Fazael VII, Tala’at Zarah I and el-Rubb II. In some instances, as

at Fazael VII, repeated occupations are nevertheless indicated. The presence

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of grinding stones, at least one of which is quite heavy, is also perhaps

suggestive of a more permanent base. The other type of site is larger,

extending over 75m², and more intensive with greater artefact and faunal

densities, somewhat resembling the Upper Palaeolithic sites. Included is the

assemblage from Fazael IIIA and, probably, the site of Fazael XII. In the latter

grinding stones were found on the surface. These larger sites are both located

close to the wadi mouth, Fazael IIIA being immediately outside to the east,

while Fazael XII is located some 600m upstream from the mouth.

The Geometric Kebaran A assemblages are mostly small limited occupations

of less than 75m² with low artefact densities. Included in this category are the

sites of Fazael IIIC, Fazael VIII and Tala’at Zarah II. The only larger site is that

of the untested el-Rubb IV, located on the alluvial sediments of the

embayment the north of Fazael.

The two Natufian sites in Wadi Fazael are both extensive. The early Natufian

site of Fazael VI extends over at least 300m² with high artefact densities and

abundant ground stone tools as well as probable bedrock mortars.

Architecture has not been documented to date, but further testing is required

to provide a definitive answer. Although certain elements are presently

lacking, the site is certainly suggestive of a base camp. Another early Natufian

occurrence is found some 7km to the south at Salibiya XII. Although bedrock

mortars are present, the site is limited in size to less than 100m² and appears

to represent an ephemeral camp.

The late Natufian site of Fazael IV appears to extend over an area of about

150m² and ground stone tools are rare. Artefact densities are high, so that the

site falls in an intermediate between a base camp and an ephemeral camp. In

the Salibiya area nine late Natufian occurrences have been documented to

date. These are mostly associated with swampy sediments in a localized

shallow basin. Architectural features are absent and ground stone tools are

rare. Although artefact densities are high in some instances, the occupations

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rarely exceed 100m², leaving the impression of successive ephemeral

campsites in the same general vicinity.

PPNA occupations are found only in the south of the survey area in the vicinity

of Salibiya. Sites include the 15 dunam tell of Netiv Hagdud, the extensive

occupation of Gilgal (with structures) and the nearby smaller ephemeral site

of Salibiya IX.

Site Functions:

All of the Upper Palaeolithic, Kebaran and Kebaran A sites indicate that the

sites were general purpose camps, whether ephemeral or more intensively

occupied. Hunting was clearly the primary economic occupation, on the basis

of the assemblages. In the absence of microwear studies, other activities

cannot be documented. However, it should be noted that Fazael IX is unique

amongst the studied sites in that burins rather than microliths are the

dominant tool category. Whether or not this reflects some specialized task

performed at Fazael IX is a moot point; however, the abundant faunal sample

recovered presents a wider range of megafauna than that at Fazael X, though

it is almost identical in range and frequencies to the Kebaran assemblage of

Fazael IIIA. The faunal spectrum at the similar burin-rich site of Nahal Ein

Gev I is also wide ranging, Further, there is no evidence for other specialized

tasks at Fazael IX; e.g., bone tools occur with about the frequency as at Fazael

X, while marine molluscs are much rarer than at Fazael X.

Generalized hunting of megafauna appears to have been the principal

economic activity at all of the Upper Palaeolithic, Kebaran and Geometric

Kebaran A sites. Gazelle (72-89%) is the dominant element in all of the

assemblages with significant faunal samples (the very limited sample from

Fazael VIII is the only exception), followed by Persian fallow deer (11-19%)

and goat (0-5%). To what extent reflects the proportions of such species in the

area at the time of occupation, or whether this reflects a cultural filter, is open

to debate. The limited range of types in the largest sample of all, at Fazael X, is

88


interesting, with a heavy incidence of gazelle, some Dama and a single

example of wild boar. This may represent preference, though it may also

possibly be explained by variability in view of the limited nature of the

sondage.

It is only during the Natufian and PPNA that a wider range of economic

activities can be documented from the lithic assemblages, where, in addition

to hunting, as indicated by the microliths and arrowheads, the processing of

vegetable foods is present; sickleblades occur with some frequency, as do axes

from the PPNA, and groundstone tools in the form of mortars, pestles, querns

and mullers are frequently present in abundance. The grinding stones at

Fazael VII may also be connected with the processing of vegetable foods,

although the use of ochre is all that can be documented certainty. In addition,

exotic materials, other than seashells and basalt, are also found in the

Natufian and Neolithic sites.

Fauna:

The faunal samples furnished by several of the tested in the Fazael-Salibiya

area provide opportunities for changes through time in a restricted

geographical region. Davis (in prep.) has demonstrated that the observed

decrease in the frequency of Dama between the Upper/Epipalaeolithic and

faunal assemblages is paralleled in the Ein Gev and Mount Carmel areas.

Davis rejects the possibility that a change in hunting strategy is responsible,

thus creating a "cultural filter," but rather favours a climatic interpretation

with a trend to aridity during the Natufian.

The marine molluscan assemblages indicate that several traditions are present

(Table 4). This holds both for quantities present at each site, but also in terms

of the favoured species. Thus, there is a contrast between the abundance of

marine molluscs at Fazael X-XI, dominated by Dentalium and Mitrella,

compared with their virtual absence at Fazael IX. At Lagama X Dentalium is

also common. During the Kebaran marine molluscs are either

89


absent or rare, with the assemblage at Fazael IIIA being dominated by

Mitrella. Molluscs remain to be recovered from the Geometric Kebaran A

sites, though this may be the result of excavation methods and preservation.

During the Natufian Dentalium and Nassa are the most common species and,

in general, molluscs become abundant again. The presence of an Indo-pacific

species at Fazael IV is noteworthy.

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CONCLUSIONS:

A series of Upper Palaeolithic and Epipalaeolithic occurrences from Wadi

Fazael in the Lower Jordan Valley has been described and an attempt has

been made to view the evidence from a regional perspective in order to

document the changing patterns in which man related to his environment

during the Late Pleistocene through to the Early Holocene. In addition to the

sites reported at length here, use has also been made of results obtained from

the survey of the Fazael-Salibiya area. The principal conclusions may be

summarized as follows:

The Middle Palaeolithic in the Lower Jordan Valley is represented by massive

gravel and travertine deposits in the wadis and alluvial fans, indicative of wet

conditions and a substantially different regime from that pertaining today.

The Jordan Valley itself was filled by Lake Lisan. Middle Palaeolithic

occupation of the area was apparently only sporadic.

A period of extensive erosion followed, which probably corresponds to at least

part of the Upper Palaeolithic. Later, seemingly towards the end of the Upper

Palaeolithic, very localized colluvial deposits formed in the wadis at the base of

the hillsides in which the wadis are deeply incised. The nature of the

sediments is perhaps indicative of a colder, drier phase. Lake Lisan, however,

appears to have continued to exist, although this may represent the period

when the Lisan began to retreat. Two or three occupations were discovered.

These sites indicate prolonged and intensive occupation, in which gazelle were

the animals most frequently represented. Two different lithic traditions are

represented, both of which are apparently of terminal Upper Palaeolithic date.

One, Fazael IX, is characterized by a flake-oriented industry in which the

principal tool type is the burin on a concave truncation; the other, Fazael

X-XI, represents an essentially microlithic industry in which finely retouched

microliths predominate. Although both industries have analogues elsewhere

in the Levant and although the presence of different contemporary lithic

industries during the Upper Palaeolithic is currently gaining acceptance, the

91


basic discrepancy between the industries remains to be explained in functional

or other terms.

The deposits containing the Kebaran assemblages are alluvial in nature, with

alternating clays and fine-grained gravel horizons suggesting a change in the

environmental regime. The sedimentation, combined with the pollen results,

indicate wetter conditions, though not comparable with those pertaining

during the Middle Palaeolithic. It has been suggested that Lake Lisan shrank

about this time, perhaps the results of tectonics. Kebaran occupations are

relatively numerous, most of which are small ephemeral hunting camps,

although one or two larger (ca. 100m²) and denser occurrences were found.

Almost all of the sites are located close to the interface between the Jordan

Valley and the wadis draining the Samarian Hills, with a preference for

alluvial fan locations as well as wadi terraces. The significance of the

stratigraphic relationship between the assemblages in the Fazael III area

should be stressed in view of the lack of radiometric dates for the Kebaran,

and again confirms the development from micropoints to obliquely truncated

backed bladelets amongst the microliths. The presence of grinding stones at

Fazael VII supports the hypothesis of the pre-adaptation of ground stone tools

prior to their later use for vegetal processing and this site joins the rapidly

accumulating list of pre-Natufian sites to possess this feature. Hunting

appears to have been a principal economic activity during the Kebaran and,

where preserved, gazelle formed the major quarry.

The Geometric Kebaran A occurrences are found in both colluvial and alluvial

contexts. Together with the pollen results available, it would seem that

conditions were wetter than during the Kebaran. This is independently

confirmed both by the recently posited rise in the level of Lake Lisan to its

maximum level at about this time, and also on the basis of the distribution of

Geometric Kebaran A occurrences in the arid regions of the southern Levant.

The very limited faunal sample from one of the sites indicated that Persian

fallow deer outnumber gazelle remains. The Geometric Kebaran A occupations

92


93

in the Fazael-Salibiya area are less numerous than those of the Kebaran and,

with one exception, are very limited in extent. Interestingly, all of the sites

occur immediately adjacent to or overlie Kebaran assemblages.

The Natufian assemblages in Wadi Fazael occur in colluvial deposits, while

those in the Salibiya region occur in an alluvial context. The pollen results

indicate increasing aridity during the period and the Lisan appears to have

virtually dried out. The megafaunal remains are almost exclusively

represented by gazelle. The occupations are extensive and intensive, with

frequently rich and ground stone assemblages. The lithic assemblages are

marked by the appearance of sickleblades, indicating probable economic

reliance on vegetal sources of nutrition in addition to game.

Site locations in the Fazael area occur on terraces at the confluence of wadis.

However, there is also a shift in emphasis during this period, with the

occupation of the Salibiya Basin.

The PPNA marks the culmination of the development from small, mobile

hunting and gathering bands to large-scale sedentary groups. Attention had by

then shifted from the Wadi Fazael area to the Salibiya Depression area in the

Jordan Valley, where the site of Gilgal and the tell of Netiv Hagdud are located

on the alluvial fan. These sites contain architecture and were contemporaries

of the massive site of Jericho, some 15km to the south.

From the above summary, it is obvious that continued research in the Wadi

Fazael-Salibiya region is imperative in order to more fully document and

explain the important developments that occurred in the Lower Jordan Valley

at the end of the Pleistocene and the beginning of the Holocene.

APPENDIX: Debitage Frequencies SITE Fz IX Fz X Fz XI Fz IIIB Fz IIID Fz IIIA Fz VII Fz IIIC Fz VIII Fz IIIE N 5,242 29,475 576 1,498 356 12,281 1,428 1,806 165 187 Primary 5.8 7.2 9.4 15.2 18.3 9.1 10.3 11.3 13.9 12.2 Flakes 46.2 28.5 36.5 30.8 16.9 26.3 29.9 32.3 29.7 20.3 Blade/lets 4.5 58.1 47.6 43.8 49.2 52.4 42.9 45.8 44.2 52.4 CTE 0.8 3.6 4.5 9.0 14.9 9.0 11.1 9.6 10.3 10.7 Burin Spalls 42.7 2.6 2.1 1.2 1.7 3.2 5.9 0.9 1.8 4.3 TOTAL 100.0 100.00 100.1 100.0 99.9 99.9 100.1 99.9 99.9 99.9 Cores 25 183 12 58 5 158 37 nd 12 Tools/Core 27.4 10.0 5.2 6.1 8.6 19.4 9.2 6.1 N 5,951 31,480 650 1,909 404 15,551 1,804 250 Cores 0.4 0.6 1.8 3.0 1.2 1.0 2.1 4.8 Debitage 88.1 93.6 88.6 78.5 88.1 79.0 79.2 66.0 Tools 11.5 5.8 9.5 18.5 10.6 18.8 18.8 29.2 TOTAL 100.0 100.0 99.9 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.1 100.0

Carinated 0.4 8.7 1.6 1.7 - 0.4 2.2 1 -

Geometrics 2.2 1.0 4.8 0.8 - 1.3 2.4 20.1 9.6 26.2

Truncations 3.1 1.3 - 5.1 2.3 0.5 2.1 2.4 1.4 4.2

Microburins - - - 1.1 - 0.3 0.3 2.6 4.1 20.7

Burin/Scrapers 0.6 0.8 1.6 0.3 - 0.3 0.6 0.6 - - Burins 67.4 9.5 6.5 5.4 4.7 5.3 6.2 3.6 12.3 0.1 Retouched Blades 2.9 1.5 3.2 9.6 4.7 2.8 2.9 5.0 5.5 16.3

Points - - - 0.3 - - - - - -

Others 10.4 8.6 4.8 6.8 2.3 3.1 4.7 8.9 15.1 16.7 Notches 6.7 6.3 3.2 2.8 7.0 3.6 3.2 7.5 12.3 14.3

Scrapers 1.6 5.4 17.7 5.6 4.7 2.0 3 8 8.1 34.2 1 .0

N 684 1,822 62 353 43 3,108 339 496 73 1,143

SITE Fz IX Fz X Fz XI Fz IIIB Fz IIID Fz IIIA Fz VII Fz IIIC Fz VIII Fz I V

TOTAL: 99.9 100.1 99.9 99.8 100.1 100.1 99.9 100.0 100.0

Microliths 4.7 57.0 56.5 60.3 74.4 80.5 73.7 38.7 5.5 21.3

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APPENDIX: Tool Frequencies

APPENDIX A: Detailed Tool Counts

TERMINAL UPPER PALAEOLITHIC & EARLY EPIPALAEOLITHIC ASSEMBLAGES

Fz IX Fz X Fz XI Tool Type: N % N % N %

1 Endscraper on flake 6 0.88 38 2.09 4 6.45 2 Endscraper on retouched flake 2 0.29 4 0.22 2 3.23 3 Thumbnail Scraper - 2 0.11 - 4 Transversal endscraper - 2 0.11 - 5 Rounded scraper on flake - 1 0.05 - 6 Circular or oval scraper - 1 0.05 -

7 Endscraper on blade or bladelet 1 0.15 23 1.26 2 3.23 8 Endscraper on retouched blade 1 0.15 6 0.33 - 9 Endscraper with a notch - 12 0.66 1 1.61 10 Ogival Scraper 1 0.15 5 0.27 - 11 Double endscraper - 4 0.22 2 3.23 12 Thin nosed scraper 2 0.29 - 0.16 - 13 Thick nosed scraper 1 0.15 3 1 1.61 14 Broad carinated scraper on a thick flake - 10 0.55 - 15 Narrow carinated scraper on a thick flake - 62 3.4 - 16 Carinated narrow scraper - 84 4.61 - 20 Burin-scraper 4 0.58 14 0.77 1 1.61 21 Burin, dihedral straight 1 0.15 10 0.55 - 22 Burin, dihedral dejete 3 0.44 22 1.21 - 23 Burin, dihedral angled 4 0.58 6 0.33 - 24 Burin on natural pan 28 4.09 22 1.21 4 6.45 25 Burin, double dihedral 6 0.88 10 0.55 - 26 Beaked burin 1 0.15 3 0.16 - 27 Burin on straight truncation 15 2.19 2 0.11 - 28 Burin on oblique truncation 35 5.12 11 0.6 - 29 Burin on concave truncation 207 30.26 27 1.48 - 30 Burin on convex truncation 19 2.78 5 0.27 - 31 Transverse burin on lateral retouch 11 1.61 2 0.11 - 32 Transverse burin on retouched notch 61 .8.92 11 0.6 - 33 Multiple burin on truncations 48 7.02 12 0.66 - 34 Multiple, mixed burin 22 3,22 7 0.38 - 35 Nucleiform burin - 15 0.82 - 36 Burin, plan 1 0.15 8 0.44 - 37 Blade, partly retouched on one edge 1 0.15 10 0.55 1 1.61 38 Blade, completely retouched on one edge - 2 0.11 -

39 Blade, retouched on both edges 5 0.73 1 0.05 - 40 Blade, inversely or alternately retouched 3 0.44 6 0.33 - 41 Backed blade - 1 0.05 - 42 Curved backed blade 5 0.73 - - 44 Retouched blade, varia 5 0.73 7 0.38 1 1.61 45 Broken retouched or backed blade 1 0.15 - - 46 Truncated backed piece 4 0.58 3 0.16 - 47 Truncated piece 17 2.49 21 1,15 - 50 Partially retouched bladelet 4 0.58 260 14.27 10 16.13 51 Completely retouched bladelet 1 0,15 188 10.32 9 14.52


97

52 Pointed retouched bladelet - 1 0.05 - 53 Bladelet retouched on both edges 2 0.29 11 0.6 - 54 Pointed bladelet retouched on both edges 3 0.44 3 0.16 - 55 Alternately retouched bladelet 1 0.15 18 0.99 - 56 Inversely retouched bladelet 1 0.15 16 0,68 1 1.61 57 Partially or completely backed bladelet 5 0.73 149 8.18 3 4.84 58 Obliquely truncated bladelet 1 0.15 5 0.27 3 4.84 59 Obliquely truncated backed bladelet 1 0.15 12 0.66 - 60 Microgravette point - 1 0.05 - 61 Narrow curved pointed backed bladelet - 16 0.88 - 63 Narrow micropoint 2 0.29 3 0.16 - 64 Narrow micropoint, basal truncation - 4 0.22 - 67 Backed bladelet, varia 3 0.44 7 0.38 - 68 Broken backed bladelet 8 1.17 344 18.88 9 14.52 69 Proto-triangle - 1 0.05 - 72 Proto-rectangle 2 0.29 1 0.05 - 73 Rectangle 4 0.58 2 0.11 - 74 Broken rectangle - 7 0.38 1 1.61 75 Proto-trapeze - 1 0.05 - 76 Trapeze 8 1.17 6 0.33 2 3.23 77 Asymmetric Trapeze A 1 0.15 - - 84 Piece with small notch 7 1.02 21 1.15 - 85 Piece with large notch 22 3.22 45 2.47 1 1.61 86 Piece with notches 11 1.61 34 1.87 - 87 Denticulated piece 6 0.88 14 0.77 1 1.61 88 Piece esquillee - 2 0.11 - 89 Retouched flake 25 3.65 37 2.03 - 91 Racloir 1 0.15 5 0.27 - 92 Perforator 1 0.15 1 0.05 - 94 Lame a machure - 7 0.38 - 95 Pick or chopping tool - 1 0.05 - 96 Varia 44 6.43 104 5.71 3 4.84 TOTAL: 684 1822 62

KEBARAN ASSEMBLAGES Tool Types: Fz IIIB Fz IIID Fz IIIA Fz VII N % N % N % N % 1 Endscraper on flake 9 2.55 - 18 0.58 4 1.18 2 Endscraper on retouched flake 1 0.28 - 5 0.16 2 0.59 3 Thumbnail scraper - - 12 0.39 - 4 Transversal endscraper - - 3 0.1 1 0.29 5 Rounded scraper on flake 1 0.28 - 2 0.06 2 0.59 6 Circular or oval scraper - - 1 0.03 - 7 Endscraper on blade or bladelet 4 1.13 2 4.65 11 0.35 1 0.29 8 Endscraper on retouched blade 1 0.28 - 1 0.03 - 9 Endscraper with a notch - - 5 0.16 2 0.59 10 Ogival scraper 2 0.57 - 3 0.1 - 11 Double endscraper 2 0.57 - - 1 0.29 13 Thick nosed scraper 1 0.28 - 5 0.16 - 14 Broad carinated scraper on thick flake 2 0.57 - 1 0.03 - 15 Narrow carinated scraper on thick flake 3 0,85 - 5 0.16 - 20 Burin scraper 1 0.28 - 9 0.29 2 0.59 21 Burin, dihedral straight 2 0.57 1 2.33 8 0.26 3 0.88 22 Burin, dihedral dejete 2 0.57 - 14 0.45 2 0.59 23 Burin, dihedral angled - - 5 0.16 - 24 Burin on natural pan 6 1.7 1 2.33 14 0.45 6 1.77 25 Burin, double dihedral 1 0.28 - 4 0.13 1 0.29 26 Beaked burin - - 1 0.03 - 17 Burin on straight truncation 1 0.28 - 7 0.23 - 28 Burin on oblique truncation 1 0.28 - 17 0.55 4 1.18 29 Burin on concave truncation 1 0.28 43 1.38 - 30 Burin on convex truncation - - 4 0.13 - 31 Transverse burin on lateral retouch 2 0.57 - 3 0.1 2 0.59 32 Transverse burin on retouched notch 1 0.28 - 3 0.1 - 33 Multiple burin on truncations 1 0.28 - 15 0.48 - 34 Multiple, mixed burin 1 0.28 - 9 0.29 2 0.59


99

35 Nucleiform burin - - 12 0.39 - 36 Burin, plan - - 5 0.16 1 0.29 37 Blade, partly retouched on one edge 12 3.4 1 2.33 39 1.25 2 0.59 38 Blade, completely retouched on one edge 3 0.85 - 10 0.32 0.29 39 Blade, retouched on both edges 1 0,28 - 10 0.32 - 40 Blade, inversely or alternately retouched 2 0.57 - 11 0.35 1 0.29 41 Backed blade 4 1.2.3 - 4 0.13 1 0.29 42 Curved backed blade 4 1,13 - 4 0.13 4 1.18 44 Retouched blade, varia 8 2.27 1 2.33 10 0.32 1 0.29 46 Truncated backed piece 3 0.85 - 8 0.26 1 0.29 47 Truncated piece 15 4.25 1 2.35 9 0.29 6 1.77 49 Falita point 1 0.28 - - - 50 Partially retouched bladelet 6 1.7 1 2.33 128 4.12 1 0.29 51 Completely retouched bladelet 1 0.28 - 45 1.45 1 0.29 52 Pointed retouched bladelet 1 0.28 15 0.48 - 53 Bladelet retouched on both edges - - 13 0.42 - 54 Pointed bladelet retouched on both edges 1 0.28 2 4.65 12 0.39 2 0 .59

55 Alternately retouched bladelet - - 9 0.29 - 56 Inversely retouched bladelet - - 12 0.39 2 0.59 57 Partially or completely backed bladelet 10 2.83 2 4.65 134 4.31 - 58 Obliquely truncated bladelet 10 2.83 4 9.3 204 6.56 15 4.42 59 Obliquely truncated backed bladelet 6 1.7 2 4.65 428 13.77 80 23.6 60 Microgravette point 1 0.28 - 3 0.1 44 12.98 61 Narrow curved pointed backed bladelet 6 1.7 16 37.21 555 17.86 2 0.59 62 Broad curved pointed backed bladelet 7 1.98 - 3 0.1 1 0.59 63 Narrow micropoint 57 16.15 - 34 1.09 - 64 Narrow micropoint, basal truncation 39 11.05 - 4 0.13 - 65 Broad micropoint - - - - 67 Backed bladelet, varia 8 2.27 - 63 2.03 7 2.06 68 Broken backed bladelet - 5 11.63 836 26.9 95 28.02 69 Proto-triangle - - 4 0.13 - 70 Scalene triangle - - 2 0.06 -


100

71 Isoceles triangle 1 0.28 - - - 1 0.29 72 Proto-rectangle - - 1 0.03 1 0.29 73 Rectangle - - 2 0.06 - 74 Broken rectangle - - 15 0.48 3 0.88 75 Proto-trapeze 1 0.23 - 13 0.42 2 0.59 76 Trapeze 1 0.28 - 2 0.06 1 0 29 77 Asymmetric Trapeze A - - 1 0,03 - 80 Proto-lunate - - 1 0.03 - 83 Microburin technique 4 1.13 - 10 0.32 1 0.29 84 Piece with small notch 4 1.13 1 2.33 19 0.61 5 1.47 65 Piece with large notch 3 0.85 1 2.33 54 1.74 3 0.88 86 Piece with notches 3 0.85 1 2.33 34 1.09 2 0. 59 87 Denticulated piece - - 4 0.13 1 0.29 88 Piece esquillee - - - 1 0.29 89 Retouched flake 16 4.53 - 39 1.25 7 2.06 90 Raclette - - 5 0.16 - 91 Racloir 2 0.56 - 3 0.03 1 0. 29 92 Perforator - - 4 0.13 - 94 Lame a machure - - 1 0.03 - 96 Varia 6 1.7 1 2.33 45 1.45 7 2.06 TOTAL: 353 43 3,108 339

GEOMETRIC KEBARAN ASSEMBLAGES

Tool Types: Fz IIIC Fz VIII N N 1 End Scraper on flake 15 2 2 End Scraper on retouched flake 2 1 3 Thumbnail scraper 2 - 5 Rounded scraper on flake - 1 7 End Scraper on blade or bladelet 8 13 8 End Scraper on retouched blade 5 1 9 End Scraper with a notch 5 2 10 Ogival scraper 2 - 11 Double endscraper 1 5 13 Thick nosed scraper 3 - 15 Narrow carinated scraper on a thick flake 8 - 20 Burin scraper 3 - 21 Burin, dihedral straight 3 -

Burin, dihedral dejete 22 2 1 23 Burin, dihedral angled - 1 24 Burin on natural pan 3 5 27 Burin on straight truncation 1 - 28 Burin on oblique truncation 3 - 29 Burin on concave truncation 1 - 31 Transverse burin on lateral retouch 2 1 34 Multiple, mixed burin 1 - 35 Nucleiform burin 2 -

Burin, plan 36 - 1 37 Blade, partly retouched on one edge 4 2 39 Blade, retouched on both edges - 1 40 Blade, inversely or alternately retouched 2 - 42 Curved backed blade 2 - 44 Retouched blade, varia 15 1 45 Broken retouched or backed blade - - 46 Truncated backed piece 3 - 47 Truncated piece 9 1 50 Partially retouched bladelet 1 7 51 Completely retouched bladelet 1 3 52 Pointed retouched bladelet - 1 53 Bladelet retouched on both edges - 1 54 Pointed bladelet retouched on both edges 2 1 56 Inversely retouched bladelet 2 - 57 Partially or completely backed bladelet 3 1 58 Obliquely truncated bladelet 8 - 59 Obliquely truncated backed bladelet 13 - 61 Narrow curved pointed backed bladelet 22 - 62 Broad curved pointed backed bladelet 2 - 63 Narrow micropoint 3 - 65 Broad micropoint 1 - 67 Backed bladelet, varia 9 - 68 Broken backed bladelet 116 3


69 Proto-triangle 5 - 71 Isoceles triangle 1 - 72 Proto-rectangle 1 - 73 Rectangle 5 2 74 Broken rectangle 31 2 76 Trapeze 53 3 77 Asymmetric Trapeze A 2 - 80 Proto-lunate 3 - 83 Microburin technique 13 3 84 Piece with small notch 4 2 85 Piece with large notch 17 5 86 Piece with notches 13 1 87 Denticulated piece 3 1

Piece esquillee 88 2 - 89 Retouched flake 19 -

Racloir 91 - - 92 Perforator 1 - 96 Varia 22 5

TOTAL: 496 73

102


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