Paleolithic caves and hillslope processes in south-western Samaria, Israel: Environmental and archaeological implications

Amos Frumkin, Boaz Langford, Ofer Marder, Micka Ullman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

South-western Samaria is emerging as a major province of Paleolithic cave sites. Most recently discovered caves have been naturally filled with terra-rossa type colluvial deposits when the hillslopes above the caves were stripped from vegetation during late Quaternary times. Site formation processes differ significantly between caves with pit-like openings, such as Qesem, Emanuel, and Rantis caves, vs. those with cliff-side entrances, such as Shukbah, Tinshemet, and Deir Kaddis caves. The former favored accumulation of colluvial debris, while the latter were relatively protected from these deposits. Caves discovered in the 20th century were mainly of the latter, cliff-face type, while in the 21st century new discoveries commonly occur where construction works intersect previously unnoticed filled caves.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)246-258
Number of pages13
JournalQuaternary International
Volume398
DOIs
StatePublished - 4 Apr 2016

Keywords

  • Colluvium
  • Filled cave
  • Mass wasting
  • Middle Paleolithic
  • Soil erosion
  • Terra-rossa

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Earth-Surface Processes

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