P200 Introduction to Prehistoric Archaeology
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Site A: Allyaget Cave
When excavated, this cave contained eight different layers. (see sketch of layers) Carbon-14 dates on charcoal from the layers produced the following chronology:
Table A-1 Layer
description
C-14 dates
years bp (before present)
Layer 1 (top) 1 meter layer of disturbed sediments, including artifacts from recent historical periods, with sterile rubble at the base Layer 2 1 meter layer of undisturbed sediments under the rubble, rich in organic remains and stone features 5570 + 100 bp Layer 3 50 cm layer, including charcoal blown into the site from forest fires is common in the sediments of this level 6300 + 100 bp Layer 4 40 cm layer 7100 + 200 bp (from top of this layer)
8000 + 100 bp (from base of layer)
Layer 5 60 cm layer 9,950 + 150 bp (middle of layer) Layer 6 30 cm layer 9,500 + 100 bp (top of layer) Layer 7 50 cm layer 11,000 + 100 bp (top of layer) Layer 8 1.3 meter thick layer, with undifferentiated sandy sediments and low density of artifacts 14,300 + 200 bp (from top of layer)
20,700 + 300 bp (from base of layer)
Table A-2 below shows approximate frequencies of the artifact types found in the different layers. Note how the frequencies change through time.
- type 1 = flaked stone spear point
- type 2 = blades and blade cores
- type 3 = flaked stone microliths
- type 4 = flaked stone arrow points, with stems
- type 5 = flaked stone scrapers (thumbnail-sized)
- type 6 = stone bowls & mortars & pestles
- type 7 = flat milling stones
- type 8 = flaked axe/adzes and polished stone celts
- type 9 = obsidian
- type 10 = bone fishhooks
- type 11 = bone awls
- type 12 = beads made from Mediterranean dentalium & clam shells
- type 13 = beads made with Cowrie shells from Red Seas
- type 14 = limestone figurine
- type 15 = clay figurine
- type 16= pottery
[blank = absent; X=present, but rare; XX=common; XXX=abundant)
Table A-2 Artifact types in each level layer 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
1 X
X
XX
2 X
X
X
X
XXX
X
XXX
3 XX
X
X
X
XX
X
XX
XX
4 XX
X
XX
X
XX
X
XXX
X
X
5 X
X
X
X
XX
X
X
X
X
X
X
XX
6 X
XX
X
XX
X
XXX
X
X
X
XX
X
X
X
7 XX
XXX
XXX
XXX
X
X
XX
XX
X
8 XX
XX
X
X
X
Table A-3 and Table A-4 below show approximate frequencies of the food remains found in the different layers. Note how the frequencies change through time.
Table A-3: Relative frequency of carbonized plant remains in each level Level wild berries
oak acorns
pistachio nuts
wild legumes (peas & lentils)
wild emmer wheat
domestic lentils
domestic peas
domestic wheat
domestic barley
1 2 X
X
XX
XX
3 X
X
XX
XX
4 X
X
X
X
X
XX
X
5 X
X
X
X
X
X
6 X
X
X
X
X
7 XX
XX
X
X
X
8 XX
X
Table A-4: Relative frequency of bones and other animal remains in each level Level land snails
marine shellfish
large fish
small fish
Deer Gazelle
wild cattle
wild goat (ibex)
wild pig
domestic goat
domestic cattle
1 X
X
X
2 X
X
X
X
XXX
X
3 XX
X
X
X
XXX
X
4 X
XX
X
X
X
X
X
XXX
5 X
X
X
X
X
XX
X
X
X
X
6 X
XX
X
XX
XX
XXX
X
X
X
7 XX
XX
X
XX
XXX
X
XX
X
XX
8 XX
X
XXX
XXX
X
XX
The teeth of the deer and goats (wild and domestic) in the samples were studied to determine the age-at-death of the animals (in months), compared between different levels. This type of study can reveal interesting patterns about both seasonality of site occupation, and hunting/herding strategies. These data are shown in Tables A-5 & A-6 below.
Table A-5: Deer age-at-death
0-4 months
5-8 months
9-12 months
13-16 months
mature
old
Level 3-2 8%
16%
0%
11%
50%
(No skulls have antlers)
15%
Level 5-4 10%
15%
0
10%
50%
(No skulls have antlers)
15%
Level 7-6 0
5%
20%
5%
50%
(two thirds of skulls have antlers)
20%
Level 8 8%
8%
8%
8%
49%
19%
Table A-6: Goats (both wild and domestic) Age at death
0-4 months
5-8 months
9-12 months
13-16 months
mature
old
Level 3-2 0
5%
0
25%
10%
60%
Level 5-4 0
10%
0
25%
15%
50%
Level 7-6 5%
5%
20%
5%
50%
15%
Level 8 7%
10%
6%
9%
51%
17%
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Last updated: 10
March, 1999 |
