The Lithic Technologies of Upper Palaeolithic and Epipaleolithic Hunter-Gatherers in the Negev, Israel: Implications from Refitting Studies

Ofer Marder¹ and A. Nigel Goring-Morris²

¹ Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

² The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

In the course of intensive systematic surveys and excavations in the western Negev Desert, Israel, dozens of Upper Palaeolithic (ca. 40-23 ka BP) and, especially, Epipalaeolithic (23-10 ka BP) sites were investigated. Traditional lithic techno-typological studies enabled assignment of the assemblages to a series of distinct socio-cultural entities that are well defined temporally and spatially.  The ephemeral nature of many occupations and field observations during the Survey indicated the potential for systematic refitting of the lithic assemblages. An extensive refitting program was conducted eventually incorporating 30 assemblages relating to all identified entities, during which more than 10,000 conjoins were accomplished.

The major contributions of this refitting project have been: 1) the reconstruction of temporal developments in flint production processes; 2) characterizing technological traditions, and 3) delineating the technological organization of hunter-gatherer groups from a restricted geographical area. Additionally, the study has enabled the investigation of changing mobility patterns and subsistence strategies in the Negev Desert and adjacent areas, i.e. Northern Sinai.  This research has provided further evidence to support the validity of traditional lithic approaches for identifying different cultural entities. Finally, the connections or disconnections/possible interactions between these local (?) Negev entities and contemporaneous Nile Valley groups will be discussed.