Arch. MIDTERM #1 Flashcards
challenges of archaeological preservation (4) (PNGH)
1) processes affect remains
2) needs to be put back together (like a puzzle)
3) Geological and environmental factors
4) human activity
what are examples of geologic and environmental factors and are they intentional or unintentional?
earthquakes, rain, erosion, flooding, dry etc.
unintentioanal
what are some challenges when geologic & environmental factors affect preservation?
1) organic materials can decay
2) artifacts can get washed away
what are some examples of human activity affecting preservation? (PFHL) (4)
unintentional
1) people leave or die
2) farming (plows over archaeological sites)
3) human settlement
4) looting (intentional)
identifying and mapping physical remains of human activity
survey (recovery method)
ways to perform survey (2) (WT)
1) walk around grounds
2) talking to people in the area
what are some challenges of survey (2) (tv)
1) terrain
2) vegitation (covered by dense foliage with insects)
any loci of past human activity
site
culturally or geographically defined cluster of sites
region
survey techniques (2) (GR)
1) GPS
2) Remote Sensings
types of remote sensings (survey technique) (2) (AL)
1) aerial photography (planes)
2) Lidar (light detection and ranging)
types of lidar (2) (A3)
1) aerial laser survey
2) 3D topographical map
Example of lidar
Caracol, Belize (4 days of lidar vs. 25 yrs of foot survey)
what is an advantage of survey?
non-destructive
what can survey reveal? (2) (IS)
1) identify relationships b/t sites and b/t sites and landscape
2) surface artifacts
exposure of remains via controlled digging
excavation
what is the goal of controlled digging?
to reconstruct everything and see how they fit together in space
how are sites created?
through STRATA
layers represent activities and deposit (cultural & natural) from different time periods
STRATA
sequence of STRATA built up in layers
stratigraphy
in an undisturbed stratigraphic sequence each layer (STRATA) is younger than the layer beneath
Law of superposition
are the younger strata on top or bottom?
top
problems with the law of superposition (2) (WM)
1) wall can be built on top of older strata
2) making sense of what you’re digging during excavation is most challenging
types of controlled excavation
1) grids (horizontal)
2) datum points (verticle)
what are the goals of excavation? (3) (IRR)
1) identify STRATA
2) recover remains
3) reconstruct horizontal (same time) and vertical (through time) relationships
what type of time does horizontal and vertical represent?
horrizontal (info from same time) and vertical (through time)
excavation techniques (4) (DBSF)
1) digging (axes, trowels, picks)
2) brushing
3) screening
4) flotation
expose remains from the SAME period
horizontal excavation
expose a sequence from successive time periods
vertical excavation
excavated materials found (3) (AFE)
1) artifacts
2) features
3) ecofacts
what does excavated artifacts tell us?
evidence of human manufacture
non-portable cultural items (building, monuments, burials)
features
remains of biological organisms (human bodies, animals, seeds, wood)
ecofacts
documentation techniques (4) (NPDD)
1) notes and forms
2) photographs
3) drawings & maps
4) digitization
what is the goal of documentation?
reconstruction of remains in Context
the significance of remains interpreted based on where they deposited (provenience) and what they were deposited with (association)
context
a list to draw upon an inventory of types of artifacts found by archaeologists in a particular archaeological context
typology
how do most classifications of articles begin?
by defining major categories of objects
chronology based on stratigraphic sequences (not sure of the actual date) places assemblage in a temporal sequence not directly linked to calendar dates
relative dating
relative frequencies through time
seriation
dating contexts and artifacts in calendar years via scientific tests
absolute chronology
an absolute dating technique. measures how long it has been since something organic died (must have once been alive). measurement of the rate of decay of the radioactive (unstable) carbon isotope C14 from dead plant/animal remains
radiocarbon dating
measures absolute age by counting rings in tree-cross sections. it correlates patterns in a long term sequence (much more accuratae)
dendochronology (tree ring dating)
a type of dating that measures the rate of decay of isotope potassium 40 into argon 40
potassium- argon dating
what is the half-life of potassium-argon dating?
1.25 billion years
what does potassium-argon dating measure?
volcanic rocks, lava and ash
what is potassium-argon dating food for?
fossil contexts
what is the difference between artifacts and features which were both created intentionally by humans?
non-portable (such as hearths or walls)
when is argon dating not usueful?
in areas with limited volcanic activity
analyzing human remains
skeletal analysis
how is age assessed in skeletal analysis?
tooth erruption & bone fusion for individuals under 25
what affects skeletal assesment?
health
what is the best indicator of biological sex during skeletal analysis?
in the pelvis (compromise b/t upright walking and giving birth).
findings during skeletal analysis (5) (cdapd)
1) cause of death
2) disease, malnutrition, injuries
3) activities
4) place of birth (chemical composition of bones)
5) diet (using chemical techniques)
types of artifact analysis findings (3) (spe)
1) stone tools (use wear, source material)
2) potterty (from, techniques, designs, clay source)
3) ecofacts (past environment & diets)
a type of artifact analysis that analyzes microscopic residue from flotation and soil samples
microarchaeology
what radically alters inerpretation during artifact analysis?
microarchaeology
how did the site at Ashkelon, Israel alter the interpretation?
it wasn’t a residence but an animal pen
other examples of microarchaeolgy (where the interpretation is altered)
1) flotation- lint suggests clay cylinders = loom weights
2) soil chemistry: altar wasn’t for burning incense but pouring libations
measures the light (stable) elements of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur in organic samples to determine composition (drinking water) (expensive)
stable isotope analysis
what is stable isotope analysis used for?
human and animal bone, teeth and hair to determine diet and origins
precursors of interpretation
1) age of discovery: 15th and 17th centuries
2) industrial revolution- late 18th and 19th centuries (western world began to change)
intellectual developments that scientists discovered during precursors of intepretations (3) (OOD)
1) order the living world
2) observe change
3) develop theory about cultural and biological evolution
Charles Lyell (intellectual developments) (4) (GFSC)
1797-1875
1) geologist
2) fossils= time markers
3) stone tools and extinct fauna
4) convinced of antiuquity of humans
rooted in technology and focused on artifacts
three age system
Christian Jurgensen Thompsen (three age system)
1816
1) stone age
2) bronze age
3) iron age
what is a concern when professional archeology emerges?
methodology
Sir Flinders Petrie (professional archeology) (2) (SS)
1) stratigraphic excavation
2) seriation (relative dating)
classifies “culture areas” (development over time) (descriptive)
culture history
geographic location with lots of remains
“culture areas”
type of culture history where pots = people
material culture
V. Gordon Childe (culture history) (2) (NU)
1) neolithic revolution
2) urban revolution
settled life and beginnings of agriculture
neolithic revolution
cities and complex government
urban revolution
what was V. Gordon Childe’s contribution to culture history?
focus from material remains to socieities that produced them.
what was processualism also known as?
the new archaeology
who was using processualism?
graduate students (1970) that rejected the descriptive approach of culture historians
what was processualism’s view on culture?
archaeology as a science
what was used during processualism for testing (archaeology as a science) (2) (HS)
1) hypothesis testing
2) scientific method
Lewis Binford (Processualism)
searched for universal laws and processes
what did Lewis Binford find culture to be?
adaption to the environment
what type of approach did Lewis Binford use?
an etic approach
an outsider’s view of culture
etic approach
when did post processualism occur?
1980s- 1990s
backlash against processualism
post processualism
why was post processualism a backlash against processualism?
1) positivism was too objective
2) archaeological excavation is not replicable
what type of view did post processualism have?
archaeology more like history than science (remains in a text)
what type of perspective does post processualism have?
Emic
the insiders view of their own culture
emic approach
what is the archaeological theory today?
anthropologists struggle to find balance between scientific approaches to explain culture and interpretive approaches to understanding its meaning (humanist)
if you need to expose remains of activities from a single period across a broad area at a site which type of excavation would you use?
horizontal
if you need to recover information from multiple strata as well as expose activities areas within in a single strata or time period what type of excavation would you use?
vertical and horizontal
if you need to expose several consecutive time period and strata at a site what type of excavation would you use?
vertical
what is the most important goal of excavation?
to reconstruct horizontal and vertical relationships at sites and recover remains in context
a technique for classifying features of small things found at an archaeological site
flotation
emphasizes the similarities between history and archaeology and suggests archaeologists take an emic approach to understanding culture
post processualism
the first time humans began to domesticate plants and animals and settle into villages
neolithic revolution
complex thought and symbolism
cultural characterics of a human
large brains and bipedialism
physical characteristics of a human
members of human lineage after split with chimpanzee lineage
hominin
evidence of hominin origins (3) (GFT)
1) geologic context (dating)
2) fossil remains
3) tools
larger, rounder brain case
cranial capacity of a hominin
what was the cranial capacity (CC) of the earliest hominins?
350cc
what is the cranial capacity of modern hominins?
1300-1400cc
shrinking jaw characteristics of a hominin (2) (SL)
1) smaller canine & molor size
2) less prognathism (stuck forward)
why do hominins have a shrinking jaw?
because the brains are bigger and allows us to make tools rather than use teeth.
bipedialism (walking upright) characteristics of a hominin (4) (CFAI)
1) curved lumbar
2) foreshadowed pelvis
3) angled femurs/fully extendable limbs
4) inflexible ankles
where is the origin of hominins?
Africa
Sahelanthrapus tchadensis (5) (FEC7M)
1) fossil evidence
2) earliest hominin
3) Chad
4) 7 mya
5) mixed Ape-like human
what ape characteristics did Sahelanthrapus tchadnensis have?
1) Cranium 350cc
2) long arms=aboreal
what human charactertistics did sahelanthrapus tchadensis have?
1) small jaw and canines
2) angled femur= bipedialism
Ardipithicus ramidus (3) (FS4)
1) fossil evidence
2) SITE: Aramis, Ethiopia
3) 4.5 mya
what “human features” did ardipithiicus ramidus have?
1) small molars
2) foramen magnum forward (back of skull)
hominin radiation (2) (4I)
1) 4.5-2 mya
2) increase in hominin species
types of homin species that arose during homin radiation
1) australopithicus
2) kenyanthropus
3) parathropus (bipedialism, small canines and larger crania than apes)
Australopithecus
1) fossil evidence
2) east and south Africa
3) 3.5 mya
4) 6 species
5) 450-475cc
Lucy (5) (EH6F3)
1) Example of Australopithicus
2) Hadar, Ethiopia
3) 60% complete
4) fully bipedial
5) 3.3 feet tall
Laetoli
1) Example of Australopithicus
2) Tanzania
3) 3.8 mya
4) Side-by-side foot prints
earliest genus homo fossil evidence that’s more gracile
homo habalis
when was homo habalis?
2.5-1.6 mya
where was homo habalis?
east and south Africa
what was the brain cc of homo habalis?
500-800cc
first genus homo fossil evidence outside of Africa
homo erectus
where was homo erectus? (3) (AAE)
1) Africa
2) Asia
3) Europe
when was homo erectus?
1.9mya-45,000 ya
what was the brain cc of homo erectus?
750cc-1250cc
when were the lower paleolithic tools from?
2.5mya-200,000 ya
how do tools=culture (3) (ARS)
1) acquisition
2) retention
3) sharing knowledge
how tools are made
flint-knapping
types of flint knapping (2) (CF)
1) core
2) flake
raw material being struck (rock)
core
material struck from core
flake
what is the method used for flint-knapping
“percussion”
what was the earliest tool type and when was it from?
oldowan industry 2.5mya
archeulian industry (2) (BH)
1) bifacial “handaxes”
2) homo erectus
when was the archeulian industry tools from?
1.7mya-200,000 ya
what were the tools used for?
microarhaelology at Koobi Foora
wears pattern and polish and high powerscope
microarchaeology at koobi foora
Results from microarchaeology at kobbi foora (4) (AWCS)
1) Animal butchery
2) woodworking
3) cutting plants
4) smashing bones for marrow
SITE: Swartkrans, Africa (3) (SAP)
not on review sheet or notes
1) site where tools where used
2) Australopithocene skull
3) puncture marks, leopard canine
what does teeth represent in Stable Isotope Analysis? (5) (RTFNP)
1) roots
2) tubers
3) fruits
4) nuts
5) plant stems/grass seeds
key part of hominin life
gathering
when did the upper paleolithic period occur?
40,000-11,000 ya (Ice age)
migration of homo sapiens out of Africa after appearance of H. sapiens approx 200,000 ya
upper paleolithic
3 major time periods during the upper paleolithic period (3) (AGM)
1) Aurignancian
2) Gravettian (Solutrean)
3) Magdalenian
what are the 3 major time periods of the upper paleolithic period based on?
stone tool technologies
when did the Aurignacian time period occur?
40,000-26,000 ya
who was part of the aurignacian period?
neandarthals and homo sapiens co-existed
where did homo sapiens migrate from during the Aurignacian period and who did they encounter?
they migrated from Africa and encoutered Neandarthals
when did Homo Sapiens arrive and during what time period?
36,000 ya during the Aurignancian period
charactertistics of homo sapiens during the aurignancian period (3) (NDS)
1) nomadic; hunter-gatherers
2) diverse tool kit (stone and bone points and bladelets)
3) symbolism and art
what did homo sapiens jewelry consist of during the aurignancian period?
Beads
animal teeth, ivory and shell
when was evidence of toe bones proving homo sapiens wore shoes during the aurignancian period?
30,000 ya
how was it proven that homo sapiens wore shoes during the aurignancian period?
weaker toe bones= supportive footwear
when are neanderthals present since
200,000 ya
characteristics of neanderthals
1) nomadic; big game hunters
2) simple tool kit (mousterian (retouched flakes)
30 limited symbolism & art (burials and imitative jewelry)
when were the first homo sapiens?
36,000 ya
when were the last neanderthals?
30,000 ya
when did the Gravettian period occur?
26,000-23,000 ya
what species was ONLY present during the Gravettian period?
homo sapiens
characteristics of the Gravettian period (4) (TVFN)
1) tools= increased hunting
2) venus figuirines & cave art
3) formal burials
4) nomadic camps
types of tools from the Gravettian period
1) hunting points w/ hafting
2) burins = working hides
3) bow & arrow
4) Atlatl
burials of gravettian period (3) (MGP)
1) multiple individuals
2) grave offering
3) possible status
venus figurines found in Europe/Russian during the gravettian period
mobiliary art
what were venus figurines made of during the gravettian period
stone, bone, ivory and clay
how big were the venus figurines from the gravettian period
small (4-25cm high)
what did the venus figurines symbolize
they symbolized “gender” (idealized, not realistic)
meaning of venus figurines (4) (ESGM)
1) erotica
2) self-portraits
3) great goddess/fertility cult
4) marriage exchange/regional groups
when did the Solutrean period occur?
23,000-20,000 ya
represents regional developments
solutrean period
what type of hunting was done during the solutrean period
small game
when did the Madalenian period occur?
20,000-11,000 ya
last ice age advance and intensification of previous trends
magdalenian period
tools during the magdalenian period?
1) harpoons (fish enter diets)
what did a variety of food mean during the magdalenian period
less chance of starvation
what type of art was found during the Magdalenian period
apogee cave art
SITE: Lascaux, France (Art site during the Magdalenian period) (2) (2N)
1) 2,000 figurines (animal,bone, abtract)
2) natural relief prespective
what color were the cave art site in Lascaux,France during the Magdalenian period
red and black
what technique was used on the cave art site in Lascaux?
painting and engraving
a newly discovered hominin. first fossils of this species ever found. a Mosaic species a lot of elements of other species in one.
homo naledi
what were homo naledi’s teeth similar to?
humans but not all of them
what type of brain did homo naledi have?
a tiny brain but skull shaped like human
what type of feet and hands did homo naledi have?
like humans legs but not the upper leg and hands similar to human but not finger tips
what did homo naledi look most like?
homo erectus rather than austrolopithicus
why weren’t they able to find a date for homo naledi?
because it was found in loose soil
when did homo erectus migrate out of africa?
2-1.5 mya
what did homo erectus introduce?
aucholean tool making
what site was the earliest evidence of homo erectus found and when?
Dmanisi,Georgia -1.7-1.8 mya
findings at Dmanisi,Georgia
1) crania of 3 homo erectus
2) tools and animal bones
Homo erectus site: Atapuerca, Spain
1) cave
2) possible transition to our homo ancestor
3) 30 speciman
when was the site of Atapuerca, Spain from
800,000 ya
what else is the pleistocene era known as?
the ice age
when did Neanderthals occur?
during the Pleistocene (cycles of extreme cold)
where were neanderthals primarily from?
Glacial Europe and some from Middle East
what did neanderthals evolve from?
the initial migration of homo erectus
how old are neanderthals?
200,000-300,000 years old
what was the cranial cc of neanderthals
1200-1700cc
three theories of neanderthal origins (3) (OMH)
1) “0ut of Arfica”
2) multiregionalism
3) hybridization
belief that neanderthals and homo sapiens evolve separatly from homo erectus; neanderthals in Europe and Homo sapiens in Africa. Replacement.
“Out of Africa”
belief that neanderthals and homo sapiens both evolved from 1st migration of homo erectus. gene flow. both contribute to modern genome.
“Multiregionalism”
why is multiregoinalism not accurate?
because homo sapiens evolved in Africa not Europe
same as “out of Africa” but instead of replacement, interbreeding
hybirdization
what is today’s theory on the origin of neanderthals?
hybridization
skull characteristics of a neanderthal (4) (EOSP)
1) elongated rather than rounded
2) occipital bun
3) sloping forehead
4) prognetic nose
body characteristics of a neanderthal (4) (MSBL)
1) muscular
2) shorter
3) bowed legs
4) large rib cage
why were there differences between homo sapiens and neanderthals?
cold weather adaption
how does the physical traits of a neanderthal help in the cold?
1) larger nostrils warm air
2) larger rib cage= easier to breath cold air at higher altitudes
3) robust withstands cold= bowed legs from support
what are the physical attributes of a neanderthals language ability
the hyoid bone
connects the tongue and larynx
hyoid bone
what gives language ability besides the hyoid bone for neanderthals?
hypoglossal canal and nerve (controls movement of tongue) and FoxP2 (sppech articulation gene)
when did interbreeding of neanderthals and homo sapiens occur?
85,000-37,000 ya
what DNA was found for neanderthals? (4) (SHDL)
1) skin
2) hair
3) disease resistance
4) lower fertility
what site represented the earliest arrival of neanderthals and when?
Ehringsdorg, Germany, 200,000-250,000 ya
what site represented the latest and final replacement of neanderthals and when?
Mezmaiskaya Cave, Russia, 30,000 ya
tools used by neanderthals of retouched flakes
Mousterian tradition
SITE: Schonigen, Germany (evidence of organized hunting) (2) (WS)
1) wooden spear
2) simple but specialized
what type of studies was used to find evidence of organized hunting?
skeletal studies
what was found in skeletal studies?
high % of healed trauma (broken bones)
what type of social organization was there in the occupation of Europe?
home base sites in caves
what was found in home base sites in caves in Europe? (4) (SSHB)
1) sheltered
2) successive occupations
3) hearths/fires
4) burials (first to intentionally bury the dead) (seemed that the homo sapiens learned from them
what did the burials tell people about the occupation of Europe?
possible compassion and concept of after life
characteristics of burials in Europe (3) (CPS)
1) child and adult
2) pits, cave ledges/niches
3) sometimes with grave goods
site with evidence of burial. adult cave burial in pit. flower pollen. (no flowers nearby therefore it is intentional) (excavated in the 1970s)
SITE: Shanidar Cave, Iraq
site with evidence of burial. child in cave niche. Red deer maxilla (buried with child)
SITE: Amud Cave, Israel
cut marks on neanderthal (defleshing) and percussion marks (marrow extraction)
cannibalism
which species of hominin was the first to bury their dead?
neanderthals
what were time periods of the upper paleolithic (Aurignancian, Gravettian, etc.) first defined by archaeologists based on?
technological development, especially those relating to tools
what new tools were developed during the Gravettian period in europe?
the bow and arrow and atlatl which reflect an increased emphasis on hunting
4 theories of peopling of the New World (4)
1) Clovis First (oldest)
2) Pre-clovis
3) Solutrean Hypothesis
4) New Arrival (newest)
when did the Clovis First theory occur?
during the Pleistocene (aka ice age) 12,000 years ago (close to the end of the ice age)
what route did the clovis first theory take?
From Asia across Beringia through an ice free corridor (by walking because water wasn’t there)
who was part of the clovis first theory
1) Big game hunters
2) fluted clovis points
3) ice-age mega fauna
when did extinction take place during the clovis first theory?
13,000-11,000 ya
what most likely caused the extinction during the clovis first?
changing climate
clovis first site displaying clovis culture. showed red ochre for possible decoration. not a typical site
Polwars II, Wyoming
what problems were there with the clovis first theory?
should find fluted points in Alaska earlier but don’t
clovis first site displaying problems. showed triangular points. flute points much later than at Southern clovis sites.
SITE: Broken Mammoth, Alaska
when was the SITE: Broken Mammoth, Alaska from?
clovis first (14,000 ya)
what was wrong with timing of the clovis first theory?
the timing of the ice-free corridor b/t glacial sheets and the dates were recalibrated (10,500 ya- too late)
when did the pre-clovis theory occur?
arrival: 13,500 ya+
what route was taken during the pre-clovis?
from Asia via coastal migration
when was the pre-clovis site Meadowcroft, PA from?
c14 dated to 23,000-15,000 ya (was contested)
what did the timing tell us about the pre-clovis theory?
that people were far south by 13,000 ya +
what type of hunters were there during the pre-clovis theory?
not big game hunters (no clovis points) (foraging small game, marine sources)
what were some possibilities during the pre-clovis thoery?
that there were multiple cultural groups and different routes used
what were some problems during the pre-clovis theory
1) Meadowcroft- contaminated dates
2) coastal migration route: no coastal sites- underwater?
when did the Solutrean hypothesis theory occur?
15,000-13,000 ya
what route was taken according to the solutrean hypothesis thoery?
1) European origins
2) Atlantic “ice edge” route (by boat)
who was part of the solutrean hypothesis?
big-game (clovis) hunters
what evidence was found for the Solutrean hypothesis? (2) (FM)
1) fluted points similar to the European Solutrean
2) Meadowcroft Rockshelters (the “miller Point”)
problems found with the Solutrean hypothesis
1) clovis 5,000 years later than Solutrean
2) Dangerous passage requiring maritime skill
3) differences in technology (no channel)
when did the Early arrival theory take place?
30,000 ya +
what route was taken according to the Early Arrival theory?
From Asia via Coastal route
what is the main difference between the Clovis first and solutrean model?
the route of migration
Genetic data of new world peoples (3) (5MG)
1) 5 “clades” for native new world peoples
2) MtDNA (maternal DNA from mom to child)
3) genetic similarities b/t dispesed peoples
what is an example of genetic similarity b/t dispersed peoples?
Eskimo and yanomamo
when did the dispersal of eskimo and yanomamo occur?
16,000 ya
3 main groups of linguistic data
1) Eskimo-Aleut (Alaska)
2) Na-Dene (Norther N. America)
3) Amerind (Central and south America)
two hypothesis of linguistic data
1) three migrations
2) one migration
three migration hypothesis
1) first Amerind speakers
2) second Na Dene
3) third Eskimo-Aleut
original proto-paleoindain language regionalized into groups.
one migration hypothesis
when is the one migration hypothesis from and what does it suggest?
pre-20,000 ya and that it would support the Early Arrival period.
what theory has the most supported evidence?
pre-clovis
what origin did combined archaeological genetic and linguistic data show?
siberian and Asian
what type of migration showed in the combined archaeological genetic and linguistic data
single migration with groups branching
when and what route did the combined archaeological, genetic and linguistic data show of the peopling of americas?
pre-clovis- 13,500 ya or earlier with a coastal route
what type of culture was showing about the peopling of the americas from combined archaeological, genetic and linguistic data?
mixed hunters and foragers. regional adaptions (clovis)
is archaeological evidence or linguistic and genetic evidence data older?
linguistic and genetic
what did the neolithic revolution bring? (2) (CB)
1) control nature
2) “becoming cultural”
what did the neolithic revolution bring rise to? (3) (VRC)
1) village life
2) religion
3) complexity etc. ?
what were the false preception of hunting/gathering and agriculture
1) hunting and gathering is “precarious”(difficult)
2) agriculture is beneficial/positive
what was the reality of h/g and agriculture?
1) h/g is healthier with more leisure time
2) farming= more disease, malnutrition
transition to farming impacts
1) diet- food groups
2) health/disease
3) physical activity
(starvation less likely for h/g)
how did the rise of agriculture come about?
it arose independently in different regions
what did domestication mean for the rise agriculture?
changes in technology and lifestyle
what the rise of agriculture intentional?
no initially intentional
what was the rise of agriculture irreversable?
food surplus= population increase= dependence on agriculture
what does a dramatic change require and what’s an example?
a trigger. Climate change
tiggers for dramatic changes (2) (CP)
1) climate change
2) population growth- feedback loop
what caused climate change?
1) the end of the Pleistocene (10,000 ya)
2) new flora and fauna
The Middle East (2) (FL)
1) “Fertile Crescent”
2) long transitional process (25,000-7,000 ya)
when did the Kebaran period occur?
25,000-15,000 ya
what type of people were part of the Kebaran period?
hunter-gatherers (short occupation camps)
was there domestication during the Kebaran period?
no
when did the natufian occur?
15,000-12,000 ya
what type of people were part of the natufian period?
hunter/gatherers
characteristics about the natufian period (5) (1TPNP)
1) 1st architecture
2) technological innovation
3) possible organized relgion
4) no domestication
5) people settle and form groups BEFORE inventing agriculture
hunting during the natufian period (GW)
1) gazelle = 80% of wild Fauna
2) also wild goat, sheep, cattle
natufian site with permanent archectecture. round stone houses
SITE: Abu Hureyra, Syria
flotation found at Abu Hureyra site (3) (WWA)
1) wild grasses (cereal)
2) wild plum
3) almond
flotation found at the Ohalo, Israel site (5) (WBLGF)
1) wild wheat
2) barley
3) legumes
4) gazelle
5) fish
dog domestication (2) (bs)
1) buried with humans
2) shorter snout than wild
new types of tools (technological innovation) during the natufian period (2) (LG)
1) lunates (composite tools) (sickles)
2) grinding stones (reliance on wild grains)
natufian site showing traces of religion with no habitation. limestone pillar rings (rebuilt 20 times). each 16 tons. Carved with gazelles, scorpians, boars, foxes (totem spirits?)
SITE: Gobleki Tepe, Turkey
when did the early neolithic period occur?
12,000-8,500 ya
what did the early neolithic consist of?
younger dryas (“little ice age”)
characteristics of the early neolithic period
1) Rapid onset (single human generation)
2) habitable area reduced
3) impacts cultural development
two period of the early neolithic period
1) Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA)
2) Pre-pottery Neotlithic B (PPNB)
when did the PPNA occur?
12,000-11,000 ya during the younger dryas (cold)
when did the PPNB occur?
11,000-8500 ya. after younger drya
PPNA characteristics (4) (ILCY)
1) increasingly complex tools
2) larger villages (more organized)
3) communal buildings (group labor, group benefit)
4) Y.D. sparks cooperation and need for protection
what type of complex tools were introduced during the PPNA
1) Blades (“sickle polish”- harvesting wild plants)
2) arrowheads (hunting)
was there domestication yet during the PPNA?
no
what showed evidence of domestication during the PPNB? (5) (CPLCD)
1) cereals (wheat & barley)
2) pulses (peas and lentils)
3) legumes (chickpeas)
4) changes from wild forms (bigger and more seeds and tough rachis)
5) domestication of animals (fall off of wild Gazelle) (goats, sheep, cattle)(slaughtered young males, outside natural range)
what did crowded, organized settlement demonstrate during the PPNB?
1) rectangular buildings
2) planning
3) handling conflict (rules)
site during the PPNB where the population grew to 5,000.
Abu Hureyra
when did the late neolithic period occur?
8,500-7,000 ya
what happened during the late neotlithic period?
villages collapse
what happened in response to villages collapsing during the late neolithic period?
1) decline in # and size of sites
2) shift to nomadic pastoralism (herder)
3) temporary- village rebound & grow
