New Epipalaeolithic Sites Found in the Last 20 Years of the Manasseh Hill Country Survey in Eastern Samaria and the Lower-Middle Jordan Valley

Abstract

The Epipalaeolithic period of the southern Levant is well documented and has been studied for over 90 years. The period encompasses three major cultural complexes, namely the Early Epipalaeolithic Kebaran, the Middle Epipalaeolithic Geometric Kebaran, and the Late Epipalaeolithic Natufian. While the presence and characteristics of the Epipalaeolithic period have been widely discussed, some geographic regions have not yet received a comprehensive overview, and thus are frequently left outside the archaeological discourse. The current article surveys the available information regarding the Epipalaeolithic period in the Eastern Samaria Mountains and the Lower- Middle Jordan Valley, integrating old and new data into the discussion.