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The Geochemistry of Basalt Handaxes from the Lower Palaeolithic Site of M a‛ayan B aruch, I srael—A Perspective on Raw Material Selection
Author(s) -
Rosenberg D.,
Shimelmitz R.,
Gluhak T. M.,
Assaf A.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1111/arcm.12096
Subject(s) - basalt , assemblage (archaeology) , geology , geochemistry , selection (genetic algorithm) , provenance , archaeology , paleontology , geography , artificial intelligence , computer science
The Upper Acheulian site of M a‛ayan B aruch, northern I srael, is primarily known for its exceptionally large assemblage of thousands of flint handaxes. Within this assemblage, a minute collection of basalt handaxes was retrieved as well, representing particular technological choice within the Upper Acheulian. Using geochemistry, we were able to determine that these basalt handaxes were not made from local basalt, but from different sources. Thus, the use of basalt at the site does not represent an ad hoc choice of using local raw material but, rather, a more complex technological choice pertaining to variability in raw material selection in the Lower Palaeolithic Levant.