The environmental setting of Epipalaeolithic aggregation site Kharaneh IV

Jones, M. D., Maher, L. A., Macdonald, D. A., Ryan, C., Rambeau, C., Black, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1396-4821 and Richter, T. (2016) The environmental setting of Epipalaeolithic aggregation site Kharaneh IV. Quaternary International, 396. pp. 95-104. ISSN 1040-6182 doi: 10.1016/j.quaint.2015.08.092

Abstract/Summary

The archaeological site of Kharaneh IV in Jordan's Azraq Basin, and its relatively near neighbour Jilat 6 show evidence of sustained occupation of substantial size through the Early to Middle Epipalaeolithic (c. 24,000 - 15,000 cal BP). Here we review the geomorphological evidence for the environmental setting in which Kharaneh IV was established. The on-site stratigraphy is clearly differentiated from surrounding sediments, marked visually as well as by higher magnetic susceptibility values. Dating and analysis of off-site sediments show that a significant wetland existed at the site prior to and during early site occupation (~ 23,000 - 19,000 BP). This may explain why such a substantial site existed at this location. This wetland dating to the Last Glacial Maximum also provides important information on the palaeoenvironments and potential palaeoclimatic scenarios for today's eastern Jordanian desert, from where such evidence is scarce.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/44811
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.quaint.2015.08.092
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF) Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Scientific Archaeology Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Centre for Past Climate Change Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF) > Mass Spectrometry (CAF)
Publisher	Elsevier
Download/View statistics	View download statistics for this item