Dissertation Grant: Evaluating Levantine Early Upper Paleolithic Prismatic Blade Technology

在Steven L博士的指导下，Kuhn，Mr. Kristopher W.克里将为他的博士论文收集数据。这项研究将定量研究几个不同的早期旧石器时代晚期石器组合与早期Ahmarian石器传统之间的关系。在地中海东部地区的大部分地区都有发现，早期Ahmarian的年龄范围从25- 40，000年前，代表了世界上最早的旧石器时代晚期工业之一，也许是欧亚大陆最早的棱柱形刀片生产的例子。这种特殊的石器生产方法，用于从一块石头上生产许多细长的去除物（刀片），与早期的石器加工技术明显不同，并且与大约30- 40，000年前发生在欧亚大陆的人类行为和人口扩散的大规模变化同时发生。尽管有这种区别，但早期的阿玛里亚传统直到20世纪80年代初才被承认，当时它与另一个旧石器时代晚期的技术传统区分开来。这种分离，集中在高比例的刀片元素，是一个显着的贡献，在表征黎凡特旧石器时代晚期的变化。然而，在过去的二十年里，Ahmarian已经成为许多高度可变的组合的名称，其唯一的共同点是“刀锋”外观。可以理解的是，这样一个分类方案作出了分类使用早期Ahmarian有点麻烦。虽然棱柱形刀片技术定义了早期Ahmarian，但基于与刀片制造相关的定量测量的描述很少。本研究将探讨八个不同的早期阿赫马尔组装叶片生产策略，采用定量措施评估之间的关系。这些组合形成了一个横断面通过西奈半岛中南部，约旦西南部，内盖夫，中部黎巴嫩，土耳其中南部，并代表各种环境和网站设置。此外，三个“外组”组合也将进行审查。这些外组装配包括在试图确定共同的主题，在早期Ahmarian刀片生产策略，通过比较他们与棱柱形刀片制造从东南欧和其他石工具生产技术被认为是相当不同的早期Ahmarian在黎凡特本身。在定量描述与这11个组合相关的叶片生产策略时，一致的比较方法可能有助于区分与当地环境和场地位置相关的区域差异，以及确定早期Ahmarian中的共同主题。只有在更好地界定早期阿赫马尔人的技术变异性之后，才能在旧石器时代晚期的行为和人口变化的更广泛背景下，探索与棱柱形刀片生产在整个欧亚大陆的分散有关的问题。考古学家知道，最早的解剖学现代人首先出现在非洲，随后他们遍布新旧世界。尽管人们可能会认为石器等文化属性也以同样的方式传播，但考古学证据远不清楚。克里的研究将提供相关数据。它还将协助培养一名有前途的青年科学家。

Under the direction of Dr. Steven L. Kuhn, Mr. Kristopher W. Kerry will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. This research will quantitatively examine relationships between several different Early Upper Paleolithic stone-tool assemblages associated with the Early Ahmarian lithic tradition. Found throughout most of the eastern Mediterranean region known as the Levant, the Early Ahmarian ranges in age from 25-40,000 years ago, and represents one of the earliest Upper Paleolithic industries in the world and perhaps the earliest example of prismatic blade production in Eurasia. This specific method of stone-tool production, used to produce numerous elongated removals (blades) from a single piece of stone, differs significantly from earlier stone-working techniques, and is contemporaneous with broad-scale changes in human behavior and population dispersal argued to occur throughout Eurasia circa 30-40,000 years ago. Despite this distinction, the Early Ahmarian tradition was not recognized until the early 1980s, when it was distinguished from another Upper Paleolithic technological tradition. This separation, centering on the high percentage of blade elements, was a significant contribution in characterizing Levantine Upper Paleolithic variability. However, over the past two decades the Ahmarian has become a designation for many, highly variable assemblages whose only common denominator is a "bladey" appearance. Understandably, such a classification scheme has made the taxonomic use of the Early Ahmarian somewhat cumbersome. While prismatic blade technology defines the Early Ahmarian, descriptions based on quantitative measures associated with the manufacture of blades are rare. This research will examine relationships between eight different Early Ahmarian assemblages by evaluating blade production strategies using quantitative measures. These assemblages form a transect through south-central Sinai, southwest Jordan, the Negev, central Lebanon, and south-central Turkey and represent various environmental and site settings. Additionally, three "out-group" assemblages will also be examined. These out-group assemblages are included in attempts to identify common themes in Early Ahmarian blade production strategies by comparing them with prismatic blade manufacture from southeast Europe and other stone-tool production techniques considered quite distinct from the Early Ahmarian within the Levant itself. In quantitatively describing blade production strategies associated with these eleven assemblages a consistent method of comparison may help distinguish regional distinctions associated with local environment and site location, as well as identify common themes within the Early Ahmarian. Only after Early Ahmarian technological variability is better defined can questions relating to the dispersal of prismatic blade production throughout Eurasia within the broader context of behavioral and demographic changes often associated with the Upper Paleolithic period be explored.Archaeologists know that the earliest anatomically modern humans first appeared in Africa and that they subsequently spread throughout both Old and New Worlds. Although one might assume that cultural attributes such as stone tools spread the same way, the archaeological evidence is far from clear. Mr. Kerry's research will provide relevant data. It will also assist in training a promising young scientist.