Qesem Cave Hearth unit
Basic information
Sample name: Qesem Cave Hearth unit
Reference: R. Blasco, J. Rosell, K. T. Smith, L. C. Maul, P. Sanudo, R. Barkai, and A. Gopher. 2016. Tortoises as a dietary supplement: A view from the Middle Pleistocene site of Qesem Cave, Israel. Quaternary Science Reviews 133:165-182 [ER 3888]
Geography
Country: Israel
State: Center District
Coordinate: 32.109962° N, 34.979996° E
Coordinate basis: estimated from map
Time interval: Middle Pleistocene
Max Ma: 0.42
Min Ma: 0.3
Age basis: U/Th
Geography comments: Located on the "moderate western slopes of the Samaria Hills" ~12km east of Tel Aviv
Gopher et al 2010 provide U-Th evidence to establish the range of 0.420-0.300 Ma
Shahack-Gross et al 2014 determine the hearth to be in repeated use from ca. 0.300 Ma
Gopher et al 2010 provide U-Th evidence to establish the range of 0.420-0.300 Ma
Shahack-Gross et al 2014 determine the hearth to be in repeated use from ca. 0.300 Ma
Environment
Lithology: siliciclastic (mixed)
Taphonomic context: bird accumulation,cave,human accumulation
Archaeology: hearths,stone tools
Habitat comments: "The stratigraphic sequence is divided into two parts: the lower sequence (~6 m thick), consisting of sediments with clastic content gravel and clays; and the upper sequence (~4.5 m thick), consisting of cemented sediment with a large ashy component"
"The low breakage and corrosion frequencies on microfaunal bones, as well other taphonomic attributes, led Smith et al. (2013, in press) to suggest that Barn Owls were probably the responsible agents for the eastern accumulation"
Tortoise remains show indications of anthropogenic alterations such as cut marks and preferential breakage to open the shell. As well as this alterations due to heat exposure indicate methods of cooking the tortoises
"The low breakage and corrosion frequencies on microfaunal bones, as well other taphonomic attributes, led Smith et al. (2013, in press) to suggest that Barn Owls were probably the responsible agents for the eastern accumulation"
Tortoise remains show indications of anthropogenic alterations such as cut marks and preferential breakage to open the shell. As well as this alterations due to heat exposure indicate methods of cooking the tortoises
Methods
Life forms: carnivores,rodents,ungulates,birds,turtles
Sampling methods: quarry
Sample size: 2967 specimens
Years: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013
Sampling comments: The hearth unit corresponds to a superimposed central hearth, with specimens coming from the "topmost part of the lower sequence"
This sample comprises 37304 specimens, of which 2995 were identified at the species level (8%)
"Cervidae: 28" was left out
"Species-level identification is currently under review, and for this reason we here refer the elements to Testudo sp."
This sample comprises 37304 specimens, of which 2995 were identified at the species level (8%)
"Cervidae: 28" was left out
"Species-level identification is currently under review, and for this reason we here refer the elements to Testudo sp."
Metadata
Sample number: 4267
Contributor: Jack Nesbitt
Enterer: Jack Nesbitt
Created: 2023-05-16 13:42:13
Modified: 2023-05-16 04:29:42
Abundance distribution
14 species
3 singletons
total count 2967
geometric series index: 19.8
Fisher's α: 1.904
geometric series k: 0.5501
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.3530
Shannon's H: 0.8624
Good's u: 0.9990
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts.
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Register
| Carnivora indet. | 1 | |
| †Stephanorhinus hemitoechus | 12 | |
| Equus ferus | 103 | 422 kg |
| †Equus hydruntinus | 18 | grazer |
| Sus scrofa | 38 | 54 kg herbivore |
| Dama dama | 2370 | 62 kg |
| "Dama cf. mesopotamica" | ||
| Cervus cf. elaphus | 213 | 142 kg browser-grazer |
| †Bos primigenius | 123 | |
| Capra aegagrus | 1 | 22 kg browser-grazer |
| Capreolus capreolus | 25 | 22 kg browser |
| questionably assigned | ||
| Testudo sp. | 57 | |
| Aves indet. | 2 | |
| Columba sp. | 1 | |
| Corvus ruficollis | 3 | |