Aterian lithic technology and settlement system in the Jebel Gharbi, North-Western Libya

Abstract

The Aterian represents one of the multiple facets of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and has become increasingly important in the context of understanding modern human origins. In this paper, we present the results of our study on the Aterian in the Jebel Gharbi, North-Western Libya, from a regional point perspective. A total of 1567 lithic objects were analysed for this work from twelve different Aterian assemblages. The results of this analysis show a wide range of economic behaviour, possibly suggesting different site functions, within the three main areas (Ain Zargha, Jefara and Wadi Ghan). It is unlikely that any of these assemblages represents a residential site. Instead, we argue that the assemblages in the study are more likely to be the result of a logistic land use. Technologically, they exhibit all the distinctive features of the Aterian technocomplexes: coexistence between Levallois and blade technology, presence of tanged pieces and bifacial foliates, as well as of “Upper Palaeolithic” tools, together with a majority of sidescrapers and endscrapers. Only a combination of these features, and certainly not one of them alone, can characterize an assemblage as “Aterian”.