Developing a Tool for using Dental Cementum to explore Seasonality of the Early-Middle Epipalaeolithic Azraq Basin, Jordan (Jennifer Jones)

Developing a Tool for using Dental Cementum to explore Seasonality of the Early-Middle Epipalaeolithic Azraq Basin, Jordan (Jennifer Jones)

There is a lot of interest in Early-Middle Epipalaeolithic mobility patterns in the Near East to try and understand the build up towards permanent settlement in the Natufian. Current theories relating to the Early-Middle Epipalaeolithic ‘mega sites’ of Kharaneh IV and Wadi Jilat 6 suggest that these sites may have been occupied for prolonged periods of time. Seasonality can be used to understand more about mobility patterns and territoriality at these sites. A sample of gazelle teeth from Kharaneh IV and Wadi Jilat 6 were studied using cementum analysis to determine the season of death of the animals providing an insight into when these sites were occupied. The results demonstrated that both of the sites were occupied in the spring/summer and autumn/winter seasons, suggesting multiple seasons of occupations at the sites. This provides evidence for prolonged periods of occupation during this period. Some of the limitations of the technique, and improvements arising from this pilot study have been addressed in addition to considering other ways of accessing seasonality information in the region. Alternative lines of evidence to further knowledge of the relationship between the Azraq Basin sites are identified such as looking at site function, material culture and contextual information. Cementum analysis can be successful in the region, but there is a need for more holistic studies in the future.

Jennifer Jones, Cardiff University

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