Differential bone preservation and human foraging at the Early Epipaleolithic site of Tor at-Tareeq (WHS1065) in the western highlands of Jordan

Abstract

Three decades of archaeological investigation in the upper and lower horizons of the Early Epipaleolithic occupation at the site of Tor at-Tareeq (WHS1065) in the western highlands of Jordan have suggested that occupation intensity co-varied with climatic shifts at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. The faunal record is a sensitive indicator of site occupation intensity, and allows us to further investigate diachronic change in human settlement at the site. Overall, preservation is of special concern, as it appears to have differentially impacted the faunal assemblages and may have influenced behavioral interpretations. Therefore, we apply a taphonomic analysis to the faunal assemblage from the 2012 excavation to investigate the nature and causes of the destruction of bones in each horizon. Our approach reveals differential destruction of the two faunal assemblages, although these did not impact the broad behavioral signatures from each horizon. Finally, we apply the prey choice model of behavioral ecology to test hypotheses for changing occupation intensity throughout the Early Epipaleolithic occupation. The study reveals an efficient subsistence strategy targeting higher-ranked adult ungulates and slow-moving tortoises, and attests to a stable low-intensity occupation across the two horizons.