Investigating changes in lithic raw material use from the Middle Paleolithic to the Upper Paleolithic in Jebel Qalkha, southern Jordan

Abstract

Although the Middle-Upper Paleolithic transition in the Levant is known for changes in multiple aspects of archaeological records such as lithic technology, subsistence practices, and the use of ornaments, little is known about whether any change occurred in lithic raw material use over this period. To examine this underexplored issue, this paper presents an analysis of raw material (chert) variations in four lithic assemblages that represent the Late Middle Paleolithic (LMP), the Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) and the Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) in the Jebel Qalkha area, southern Jordan. To characterize chert variation, we used a novel method for the quantification of surface roughness in addition to more conventional macroscopic attributes, such as color and translucency. To evaluate the validity of the new measurement of surface roughness, we conducted petrographic and geochemical examinations to show their correlations with ratio-scale data (Ra values) of the surface roughness. As a result, we established three major chert types (Types M, FL and FH) based on two macroscopic criteria (texture and translucency) that correlate with microfossil contents and major chemical compositions. The relative frequencies of the three chert types in the four lithic assemblages showed an increase in Type FH in the EUP assemblage. This indicates that a clear change in lithic raw material was observed not at the classical boundary between the MP and UP, but between the IUP and EUP. This result is discussed in relation to the development of bladelet technology in the EUP and its possible relevance to the selection of raw materials.