Human hunting adaptations at Wadi Madamagh, Jordan at the peak of the Last Glacial Maximum

Abstract

Wadi Madamagh, situated in the southern Levant, was occupied by humans during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 26,500–19,000 years ago). The climatic and environmental conditions are reflected in the faunal assemblage, which derives from Late Upper Paleolithic and Early Epipaleolithic deposits. Zooarchaeological methods and a human behavioral ecology framework are applied to examine human hunting strategies, site occupation intensity, and population mobility. Taxonomic and skeletal representation reveal that the residents of Wadi Madamagh were efficient hunters who predominantly targeted prime-aged animals, namely wild goat (Capra aegagrus), and transported whole carcasses back to the site. The rarity of small game indicates that human hunters were able to rely nearly exclusively on wild goat populations for meat and did not need to shift down to less cost-effective small game resources. The presence of bezoar goat (Capra aegagrus), waterfowl, and aurochs (Bos primigenius) indicates that during the height of the LGM, the Petra region retained more moisture than today, and wetlands were located close to the site. Compared to contemporaneous sites in the region, the focus on wild goats is unusual but is not unexpected given the rocky, rugged landscape around Wadi Madamagh. In combination with other markers of site occupation intensity, the faunal assemblage suggests that Wadi Madamagh was home to repeated, light occupations over the course of millennia.