The institute of Archaeology
Subject: Archaeozoological Study of Amphibians and Reptiles from Pleistocene and Holocene Archaeological Sites in the Hula Valley, Israel
Supervisor: Dr. Rivka Rabinovich
Abstract: My Ph.D. dissertation focus on sites in a restricted geographical area, the HulaValley, in north Israel. The HulaValley encompasses a complex of distinct water bodies, including the LakeHula and its swamps, numerous springs and streams which has yielded important archaeological records of human occupation dating from one million years ago. That research will concentrate on three excavated, well-dated sites: Gesher Benot Ya'aqov (GBY) – a Lower Paleolithic site (Early-Middle Pleistocene, ca. 780,000 B.P.),Nahal Mahanayeem Outlet (NMO) – A Mousterian site (Late Pleistocene, ca. 70,000 B.P.), Ain Mallaha/Eynan – A Natufian site (Late Pleistocene, ca. 12,000 B.P.) excavated by Prof. F. Valla
The study has two main objectives
Taxonomic identification of amphibian and reptile species present in the Hula Valley from the Lower Paleolithic to the Natufian period
To shed light on the nature of the human- amphibian and reptile relationships throughout the different periods and cultures within those chronological contexts. Were amphibian and reptile species collected and utilized by hominins and, if so, how may they have been utilized
Snakes, tortoises, pond turtles, lizards and amphibians are present at all sites, and their taxonomic identification will make a major contribution towards the understanding of paleonvironment and paleoclimate of the Hula Valley during the Pleistocene and Early Holocene
It is already obvious that the species distribution and the number of bones retrieved varies significantly from site to site, indicating a unique story for each, a story that will hopefully shed light on the as yet unknown relationship between humans and herpetofauna during the prehistoric periods in Israel
Presidential Stipend 2012/13