THE PALEOGEOGRAPHY OF GAZELLA GAZELLA AND GAZELLA DORCAS DURING THE HOLOCENE OF THE SOUTHERN LEVANT

Abstract

ABSTRACT An excavation of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) site from southern Sinai revealed a rich faunal assemblage containing, amongst other species, gazelle remains which were identified, by comparison with recent material, as Gazella gazella. It is suggested that Gazella gazella was the only species of gazelle existing in Israel until after the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period. In the last glacial period the Gazella gazella range expanded southwards and reached southern Sinai Gazella dorcas is a relatively new post-Glacial invasion from North-East Africa into the arid zone of the Levant whence it replaced Gazella gazella by way of exclusion. The desert subspecies of G. gazella in the southern 'Arava Valley can be considered as a glacial isolate within the new domain of Gazella dorcas.