A Nubian complex site from central Arabia: implications for Levallois taxonomy and human dispersals during the upper Pleistocene

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 24;8(7):e69221. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069221. Print 2013.

Abstract

Archaeological survey undertaken in central Saudi Arabia has revealed 29 surface sites attributed to the Arabian Middle Paleolithic based on the presence of Levallois blank production methods. Technological analyses on cores retrieved from Al-Kharj 22 have revealed specific reduction modalities used to produce flakes with predetermined shapes. The identified modalities, which are anchored within the greater Levallois concept of core convexity preparation and exploitation, correspond with those utilized during the Middle Stone Age Nubian Complex of northeast Africa and southern Arabia. The discovery of Nubian technology at the Al-Kharj 22 site represents the first appearance of this blank production method in central Arabia. Here we demonstrate how a rigorous use of technological and taxonomic analysis may enable intra-regional comparisons across the Arabian Peninsula. The discovery of Al-Kharj 22 increases the complexity of the Arabian Middle Paleolithic archaeological record and suggests new dynamics of population movements between the southern and central regions of the Peninsula. This study also addresses the dichotomy within Nubian core typology (Types 1 and 2), which was originally defined for African assemblages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Archaeology / methods*
  • Fossils*
  • Saudi Arabia

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (Riyadh), the King Saud University (Riyadh), French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the French Embassy in Riyadh, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 8167 ‘Orient & Méditerranée’ and UMR 5133 ‘Archéorient’. The authors acknowledge the Fondation Fyssen for financial support with the ‘Subvention de Recherche 2013’ grant (to RC) and the ‘Postdoctoral Grant 2013’ (to YHH). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.