Sample name: Shishan Marsh 1 (Level 7b)

Reference: J. T. Pokines, A. M. Lister, C. J. H. Ames, A. Nowell, and C. E. Cordova. 2019. Faunal remains from recent excavations at Shishan Marsh 1 (SM1), a Late Lower Paleolithic open-air site in the Azraq Basin, Jordan. Quaternary Research 91(2):768-791 [ER 3738]

Lithology: siltstone

Taphonomic context: aeolian deposit,human accumulation

Archaeology: stone tools

Habitat comments: "Level 7b was formed through alluvial deposition, sheet erosion, and aeolian silt accretion, likely corresponding to marshes or pools receiving low-energy alluvial influx".
"Approximately 10,000 lithic artifacts have been excavated. The lithic assemblage is characterized by small to moderately sized ovate and discoid bifaces and a predominance of small flake tools".
"Fluvial transport was likely not a significant site formation process; the artifacts and faunal remains are in their primary contexts". "The stone tools provide direct evidence of butchery and exploitation" of the faunal remains by hominins, with "the animals likely having been killed and processed in this location". "While the accumulation of some of the fauna may also have been because of mortality from other sources, the artefactual evidence clearly demonstrates that carcass processing occurred in this area".

Life forms: ungulates

Sampling methods: quarry,screenwash

Sample size: 48 specimens

Years: 2013 - 2015

Sampling comments: "Test excavations of SM1 began in 2013, with subsequent excavation in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. More than 20 m2 of deposits have been excavated".
"Levels 7a–c were excavated in 1 m units divided into quadrants and following natural stratigraphic levels. For thicker levels, quadrants were divided into vertical spits of 5 cm within the natural levels, meaning the maximum excavated context volume is a 50 × 50 cm area with a depth of 5 cm. All individual sediment lots were dry-screened through a 2 mm mesh".

Sample number: 3971

Contributor: Benjamin Carter

Enterer: Benjamin Carter

Created: 2022-08-16 11:09:19

Modified: 2022-08-16 01:23:28