The Aterian from the Jebel Gharbi (Libya): New Technological Perspectives from North Africa

The purpose of this work is to examine the Aterian complex in the context of modern human origins through the analysis of the lithic industries from a geographically strategic area, the Jebel Gharbi (Libya). From a chronological point of view, the Aterian fits the time period of the Out of Africa 2...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The African archaeological review 2013-06, Vol.30 (2), p.169-194
Main Authors: Spinapolice, Enza E., Garcea, Elena A. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Africa
African culture
Anthropology
Anvils
Archaeological sites
Archaeology
Hominids
Humans
Lithic
Lithic industry
Methodology and general studies
Modernity
North Africa
Original Article
Palaeolithic and epipalaeolithic
Pebbles
Prehistory and protohistory
Production engineering
Quartzite
Raw materials
Regional and Cultural Studies
Scars
Social Sciences
Typology, technology and attribute analysis
Wadis
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Summary:The purpose of this work is to examine the Aterian complex in the context of modern human origins through the analysis of the lithic industries from a geographically strategic area, the Jebel Gharbi (Libya). From a chronological point of view, the Aterian fits the time period of the Out of Africa 2 dispersal. During geoarchaeological surveys of the Jebel Gharbi carried out by the Italian-Libyan Archaeological Mission, 25 Aterian sites were found. The technology of the Aterian lithic industries from the Jebel Gharbi shows affinities both with the Aterian industries from Morocco and coeval industries from Egypt such as Taramsa. The affinities between contemporary Libyan Aterian industries, Egyptian industries, and some series from the Levant open new perspectives on the possible models of contact and displacement of human groups in a key period for the history of humankind. L'objectif de ce travail est d'examiner l'Atérien dans le contexte des origines de l'homme moderne à travers l'analyse des industries lithiques du Jebel Gharbi (Libye). D'un point de vue chronologique, l'Atérien est contemporaine aux migrations hors d'Afrique. Vingt-cinq sites atériens ont été répertoriés durant les prospections geoarchéologiques du Jebel Gharbi par la Mission Archéologique Italo-Libyenne. L'analyse technologique de ces industries montre des affinités avec les sites atériens du Maroc, mais aussi avec les sites contemporaines d'Egypte, tel que Taramsa. Ces points en commun qui lies des sites libyens, avec les autres sites d'Afrique du Nord, ouvrent des nouvelles perspectives sur les déplacements et les contacts entre les groupes humaines d'une période clé pour l'histoire de l'humanité.
ISSN:0263-0338
1572-9842
DOI:10.1007/s10437-013-9135-2