Geographical overlap...
Many Neanderthals sites are in close geographical proximity to AMH sites. These sites are particularly interesting, because they suggest that Neanderthals and AMH had similar ecological niches. Here, I want to look at two of these sites in more detail.
In class, we learned that the middle Paleolithic of the Levant shows a complex record of population turnover along with changing climatic conditions. Evidence for both Neanderthal and AMH populations can be found in several areas, like in Europe and the Levant (Maher Lecture 2012).
| Amud Cave in Israel |
A series of excavations in Amud cave has yielded multiple Neanderthal remains. Between 1961 and 1964, archeologists found a young male Neanderthal skeleton, fragments of another adult jaw and skull, and remains of two Neanderthal infants dating to 50, 000-70, 000 years ago. In 1991, another expedition found another Neanderthal baby buried with the maxilla of a red deer. They also found tools and animal remains.
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| Neanderthal skull found at Amud Cave |
Not too far off, archeologists discovered evidence for AMH presence. A 1971 expedition found human remains at Qafzeh cave. One of the skeletons was an adolescent aged about 13 years labeled Qafzeh 11. This particular individual was "lying on his back, with the legs bent to the side, and both hands place on either side of the neck, and in his hands were the antlers of a large deer".
...But no temporal overlap?
According to Maher, "the Middle Paleolithic of the Levant shows a complex record of population turnover with changing climate". Population turnovers correspond to abrupt shifts in global climate (as deduced from sediment and ice cores) (Maher 2012).
From 120 to 75 kya, AMH dominated the Levant during a warm and arid climatic phase. Then, around 75 kya, a volcanic eruption triggered a global cold and dry phase. AMH disappeared from the archeological record, only to be replaced by Neanderthals from 75 to 50 kya. After 45 kya, the climate warmed considerably: Neanderthals went extinct in the Levant, while AMH reappeared in the archeological record.
In this area at least, it seems that Neanderthals and AMH overlapped geographically, but did not overlap temporally.
In later posts, we'll see that some archeologists suggest that Neanderthals and AMH overlapped both geographically AND temporally. What kinds of interactions might they have had?
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| Qafzeh and Amud, in close proximity |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047248411002016
...But no temporal overlap?
According to Maher, "the Middle Paleolithic of the Levant shows a complex record of population turnover with changing climate". Population turnovers correspond to abrupt shifts in global climate (as deduced from sediment and ice cores) (Maher 2012).
From 120 to 75 kya, AMH dominated the Levant during a warm and arid climatic phase. Then, around 75 kya, a volcanic eruption triggered a global cold and dry phase. AMH disappeared from the archeological record, only to be replaced by Neanderthals from 75 to 50 kya. After 45 kya, the climate warmed considerably: Neanderthals went extinct in the Levant, while AMH reappeared in the archeological record.
In this area at least, it seems that Neanderthals and AMH overlapped geographically, but did not overlap temporally.
In later posts, we'll see that some archeologists suggest that Neanderthals and AMH overlapped both geographically AND temporally. What kinds of interactions might they have had?
Bibliography
- "Amud (anthropological and archaeological site, Israel) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Britannica Online Encyclopedia. N.p., 7 Nov. 2012. Web. 9 Nov. 2012. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/21947/Amud>.
- Maher, Lisa. “The Late Pleistocene of Southwest Asia I: The Middle Paleolithic”. Anthropology 128, UC Berkeley, 105 Stanley, 9/19/2012.
- "Skhul and Qafzeh hominids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 7 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skhul_and_Qafzeh_hominids#Qafzeh_11>.
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