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K/AR DATING AS A MEANS OF SOURCING LEVANTINE EPIPALAEOLITHIC BASALT IMPLEMENTS
Author(s) -
WEINSTEINEVRON M.,
LANG B.,
ILANI S.,
STEINITZ G.,
KAUFMAN D.
Publication year - 1995
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/j.1475-4754.1995.tb00725.x
Subject(s) - basalt , geology , prehistory , geochemistry , cretaceous , quaternary , paleontology
Through K/Ar dating of basalt implements from two Mount Carmel late Epipalaeolithic sites and samples of locally occurring basalts, it was possible to demonstrate clearly that the prehistoric inhabitants of these sites did not utilize the locally available Upper Cretaceous (88–77 My) basalts. The dates of the basalt implements are of Tertiary‐Quaternary age (3.7‐<0.250 My) which suggests the exploitation of basalt exposures at least 60 km east of the sites. This is the first direct evidence for long‐distance exchange/trade of an essential raw material in the Levant as early as 13000 BP.