Lithic Technology and Chronology of Initial Upper Paleolithic Assemblages at Tor Fawaz, Southern Jordan

Seiji Kadowaki,Eiki Suga,Marta Portillo,Sate Massadeh,Risako Kida,Masato Hirose,Donald O Henry,Takayuki Omori,Toru Tamura,Lisa A Maher

doi:10.1007/s41982-021-00107-3

Abstract

The Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) is a key chrono-cultural concept in our understanding of the cultural and population dynamics at the transition from the Middle Paleolithic to Upper Paleolithic period. This paper presents technological and chronological analyses of lithic assemblages from a rockshelter site at Tor Fawaz in the Jebel Qalkha area, southern Jordan, to provide accurate dating and detailed recognition of the IUP variability in the Levant. We present integrated micromorphological, phytolith, and dung spherulite analyses to evaluate formation and postdepositional processes of archaeological remains through high-resolution micro-contextual studies. As a result, the Tor Fawaz assemblages show general similarity to those of Boker Tachtit Level 4, Tor Sadaf A–B, and Wadi Aghar C–D1 that represent the late phase of the IUP in the southern Levant. Based on the detailed recognition of site-formation processes, we suggest ca. 45–36 ka as the age of IUP occupations at Tor Fawaz. More specifically, the IUP occupations at Tor Fawaz and Wadi Aghar, a nearby IUP site in the same area, may represent slightly different phases that show a lithic technological trend paralleling the IUP sequence at Tor Sadaf in southern Jordan, and possibly post-date Boker Tachtit Level 4. We also discuss the issue of partial chronological overlap between the late IUP and the Ahmarian and also argue for the geographically different trends in cultural changes from the late IUP to the Ahmarian.

Highlights

Initial Upper Paleolithic in the LevantThe Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) was originally defined by Marks and Ferring (1988) to represent the latest phase of the Levantine Middle-Upper Paleolithic transition that they proposed on the basis of the cultural stratigraphic sequence at Boker Tachtit in the Negev (Fig. 1)
Based on the above discussion of depositional processes, we suggest that the OSL dates of Layer C2 as reliable chronological estimates for the IUP occupations at Tor Fawaz
This paper presented lithic technological and chronological analyses of the Tor Fawaz assemblages along with micromorphology, phytolith and dung spherulite examinations to evaluate the formation and postdepositional processes of archaeological remains

Summary

Introduction

The Initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) was originally defined by Marks and Ferring (1988) to represent the latest phase of the Levantine Middle-Upper Paleolithic transition (the earliest phase of the UP) that they proposed on the basis of the cultural stratigraphic sequence at Boker Tachtit in the Negev (Fig. 1). The Levantine IUP lithics are broadly characterized by technomorphological elements of both the MP and the UP. They are characterized by UP tool types, such as end scrapers and burins, and unique types, such as Emireh points and chamfered pieces. Blank forms are dominated by robust elongated pieces, i.e., blades and points that have broad, often faceted, striking platforms indicating hardhammer percussion (e.g., Kadowaki et al, 2019b; Kuhn et al, 2009; Marks & Kaufman, 1983; Meignen, 2012; Ohnuma, 1988; Volkman, 1983)

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Discussion

Conclusion