Epipaleolithic Foragers in Azraq (EFAP) •Cambridge University Project •http://kharaneh.blogspot.com for illustrated annual reports on Kharaneh excavations •Focus on human interactions with changing environments – niche adaptations •Sees long trajectory of changes that culminated in the Late Epipaleolithic Natufian Kharaneh IV •First excavated 1981 and 1985 by Mujahed Muhesisen who recorded four Phases A-D, Early and Middle Epipaleolithic •Covers 21,000 m2, one of the largest Epipaleolithic sites known •Current excavations led by Lisa Maher •Site has hut structures, worked bone, burials, lithic workshops, and cooking events •Area A is Middle Epipaleolithic (Geometric Kebaran) (16.5-14.5 KA cal BP) •Area B is Early Epipaleolithic (Kebaran) (23-16.5 ka cal BP) map-geom Keb Kharaneh IV Kebaran sites Kharaneh Lisa Maher KHIV site view Lisa Maher Kharaneh IV, a low mound on the steppe Kharaneh excav plan Middle Epi Early Epi KHIV site view Kharaneh IV Kharaneh lithic-bone on surface Kharaneh surface Lithics on surface of Kharaneh IV KHIV section B KHIV section pix West section Kharaneh Area B (Early Epipaleolithic) KHIV section copy KHIV S Section South section of Middle Epipaleolithic deposit In Area A, Kharaneh IV Kharaneh A mid-Epi lithics Kharaneh A mid-Epi lithics-2 Middle Epipaleolithic Geometric Kebaran lithics from Kharaneh IV Kharaneh A incised bone Kharaneh A incised bone 2 Kharaneh A shells Kharaneh incised-Phase D Kharaneh B-canid feet Kharaneh burial Burials in Middle Epipaleolithic Kharaneh IV Kharaneh incised-Phase D Incised human bones Kharaneh Phase A Kharaneh Phase B Lithics, Phases A and B Kharaneh Phases B-C Kharaneh phase D Lithics, Phases B-C Lithics, Phase D Questions Raised •Why was the site used for so long? •Why did people choose this location? •What was the local environment – water source, vegetation, fauna? •How did the environment change? •What kinds of occupations and activities were carried out at the site? •Where were the resources consumed at the site? • Qasr Kharaneh inside Qasr Kharaneh IV 1 km from Karaneh Tepe TELawrence's fort Azraq Fort where T E Lawrence stayed Azraq Oasis •Azraq – the only permanent, natural wetland in the Jordanian Desert •A low-lying basin fed by 10 seasonal wadis •Playa lake, marsh and artesian springs •Large modern population, irrigation agriculture, livestock, salt industry, etc •Due to over exploitation, little remains of the natural oasis • Azraq sign If you were walking here ten years ago you would have been up to your neck In water. Pumping has made the water level drop 12 meters. Azraq is essentially a dead oasis, sustained only by pumping water in 283px-Azraq_view How the Azraq marsh once looked Azraq reeds Azraq Oasis game tunnel through the reeds Azraq Archaeology •Andrew Garrard (UC London) is PI •>100 prehistoric sites in and around Azraq •Wadi Jilat one focus – it is a transition between desert and steppe, 55 km SW of Azraq •Wadi is winter “oasis” and holds water into summer •Jilat 6 is Kebaran; Azraq 18 is Natufian Azraq-Jilat map Wadi Jilat and Azraq Oasis in Eastern Jordan Azraq Epi site Epi-Paleolithic site deposit embedded in the marsh sediments Wadi Jilat site map Sites along the Wadi Jilat Jilat 6 •18,000 m2 of flint artifacts on surface •Seasonal aggregation center or base camp •Hunting and gathering site •Traces of ochre-pigmented floors – a possible structure Nadaouiyeh 2 Nadaouiyeh lithics Nadouiyeh 2 in the El Kowm Oasis