[en] After the African origin of Homo sapiens, multiple dispersals radiated into Asia, yet the Saharo-Arabian archaeological record remains sparse. In this study, we report on 'Uruq Aljelibah, a Middle Paleolithic site dated to ~125,000 years ago (marine isotope stage 5e) and located on the shore of Mundafan paleolake, Saudi Arabia. Levallois assemblages, refits, and megafaunal associations indicate in situ tool production and carcass processing. Stone tool residues, use-wear, and biomarkers reveal animal and plant processing, including palms, tubers, trees, and shrubs. Several points exhibit impact damage and poison residues (from Acokanthera schimperi), indicating use as hafted weapon tips within composite hunting systems. Megafaunal remains include hippopotamus, buffalo, gazelle, ostrich, and camel, illuminating hominin use of freshwater and grassland ecosystems.
Disciplines :
Archaeology
Author, co-author :
Clarkson, Chris ; Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia ; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia ; Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
Price, Gilbert J ; School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Kalifi, Amir ; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Losi, Giacomo ; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Matheson, Carney ; Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia ; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia
Al-Jibreen, Faisal; Heritage Commission, Saudi Ministry of Culture, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Alsharekh, Abdullah M; Department of Archaeology, College of Tourism & Archaeology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Armitage, Simon J ; Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK ; SFF Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour (SapienCE), University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Blilou, Ikram ; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Boivin, Nicole ; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia ; Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany ; School of Social Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
Breeze, Paul S ; Department of Geography, King's College London, London, UK
Drake, Nick ; Department of Geography, King's College London, London, UK
Duval, Mathieu ; Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia ; Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Burgos, Spain ; Palaeoscience Labs, Department of Archaeology and History, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia ; Cluster of Excellence 3101 Human Origins, University of Tübingen, Germany
Gradwell, Sophia; School of Social Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
Groucutt, Huw S ; Department of Classics and Archaeology, University of Malta, Msida, Malta ; Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
Guagnin, Maria ; Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany ; School of Humanities, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Guzmán, Juliana ; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Hapiot, Laurence; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Martínez-Pillado, Virginia ; Centro Mixto UCM-ISCIII de Evolución y Comportamiento Humanos, Madrid, Spain
Messaoud, Jihede Haj ; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
Norman, Kasih ; Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia ; Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany ; School of Social Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
Rots, Veerle ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Unités de recherche interfacultaires > Art, Archéologie et Patrimoine (AAP) ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences historiques > TraceoLab ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences historiques > Tracéologie et technologies préhistoriques
Sobbe, Ian H; School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Stewart, Mathew ; Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia ; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia
Petraglia, Michael D ; Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia ; School of Social Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia ; Human Origins Program, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
van Buchem, Frans ; King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
