Site Formation Processes at Tinshemet Cave, Israel
Micro‐Stratigraphy, Fire Use, and Cementation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6425620 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Pedro García (0009-0008-7885-3018, Departments of Maritime Civilizations and Archaeological Sciences, School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures University of Haifa Haifa Israel, corresponding author), Yossi Zaidner (0000-0002-4247-4824, The Institute of Archaeology The Hebrew University of Jerusalem Jerusalem Israel), Cristiano Nicosia (0000-0002-4716-8893, Dipartimento di Geoscienze Università degli Studi di Padova Padova Italy), Ruth Shahack-Gro (0000-0001-8085-9381, Departments of Maritime Civilizations and Archaeological Sciences, School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures University of Haifa Haifa Israel) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2024-09-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Geoarchaeology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0883-6353 • E-ISSN: 1520-6548 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1002/gea.22023 |
| OpenAlex | W4402244465 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 40 |
Recent excavations at the Middle Paleolithic site of Tinshemet Cave, Israel, showcase hominin burials and associated material culture that uniquely provide new information on hominin behavior in the south Levant around 120–100 ky ago. This study presents the site's stratigraphy in association with findings from sediment micromorphological analyses, shedding light on natural and anthropogenic site formation processes as well as human activities. Results indicate that two main types of sediment have been deposited—wood ash and reworked Terra Rossa soil—mixed to various degrees across the stratigraphic units. Hominin occupation started shortly after a partial roof collapse, intermittent with carnivore presence (Unit C). Hominin occupation increased and included the use of fire, flint knapping, cooking, and burial (Unit B), and increased even more (Unit A, Layer III) with more burials, intensive use of fire, cooking, knapping, trampling, and dumping. Anthropogenic sediments are largely cemented by secondary calcite that originates from recrystallized ash; however, intact hearths are absent due to syn‐ and postdepositional processes such as extensive bioturbation, cementation of the deposits, and trampling. Other postdepositional processes include fissuring and surface erosion. This study presents the importance of micromorphology to disentangle natural, anthropogenic, depositional, and postdepositional processes to better understand hominin behavior
Archaeology · Cave · Cementation (geology · Geography · Tectonics · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Geology · Paleontology · Stratigraphy
The earliest modern humans outside Africa
Ash and Dung Calcitic Micro-remains
Rethinking the dispersal of Homo sapiens out of Africa
Issues of theory and method in the analysis of Paleolithic mortuary behavior
Preliminary Report on Soundings in Prehistoric Caves in Palestine
Preservation of anthropogenic materials under different geochemical processes
Paleolithic caves and hillslope processes in south-western Samaria, Israel
Guidelines for analysis and description of soil and regolith thin sections
All about wood ash
Ash Bones and Guano
Ashes to ashes, charcoal to dust
The taphonomy and preservation of wood and dung ashes found in archaeological cooking installations
Stability of phytoliths in the archaeological record
Morphological, chemical and physical changes during charcoalification of wood and its relevance to archaeological contexts
Bat guano and preservation of archaeological remains in cave sites
Stable carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of wood ash
Mineral Assemblages in Theopetra, Greece
The Tabun C1 Skeleton
Micromammal taphonomy of el-Wad Terrace, Mount Carmel, Israel
Formation processes and combustion features at the lower layers of the Middle Palaeolithic open-air site of Nesher Ramla, Israel
Early evidence for symbolic behavior in the Levantine Middle Paleolithic
Differential Burning, Recrystallization, and Fragmentation of Archaeological Bone
Microarchaeological Approaches to the Identification and Interpretation of Combustion Features in Prehistoric Archaeological Sites
Electron Spin Resonance Dating and the Evolution of Modern Humans
Hominid Remains from Amud Cave in the Context of the Levantine Middle Paleolithic
Newly recognized Pleistocene human teeth from Tabun Cave, Israel
Evidence for new Neanderthal teeth in Tabun Cave (Israel) by the application of self-organizing maps (SOMs)
Evidence for habitual use of fire at the end of the Lower Paleolithic
Shells and ochre in Middle Paleolithic Qafzeh Cave, Israel
U-series and ESR analyses of bones and teeth relating to the human burials from Skhul
Site formation processes at Pinnacle Point Cave 13B (Mossel Bay, Western Cape Province, South Africa)
An Early Case of Color Symbolism
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |