Recent Work on the Middle Paleolithic of the Eastern Sahara

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Periodical article

Title:	Recent Work on the Middle Paleolithic of the Eastern Sahara
Authors:	Wendorf, Fred Close, Angela E. Schild, Romuald
Year:	1987
Periodical:	African Archaeological Review
Volume:	5
Pages:	49-63
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Egypt
Subjects:	climate archaeology Anthropology and Archaeology
External link:	https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01117082
Abstract:	Recent, research at the remote depression of Bir Tarfawi, in the hyperarid Eastern Sahara (Egypt), has revealed a sequence of four, or possibly five, Pleistocene lake-episodes. The first lake was probably associated with a Late Acheulian and the remaining four with a Middle Palaeolithic, specifically with a Denticulate Aterian, industry. Lithostratigraphic, macrofaunal and microfaunal analyses have permitted a quite detailed reconstruction of the local environment during the periods of the last two lakes; during the period of the fourth lake, local rainfall may have been c. 600 mm per annum but was rather less during the time of the fifth lake. Investigation of some of the many associated archaeological sites is revealing a complex pattern of specialized site-types, including living-sites. Specific types of sites are closely related to the local landscape. Preliminary analyses from several experimental methods of chronometric dating suggest that almost all of the sequence falls within the Middle Pleistocene. Bibliogr., sum. also in French.