NMC102H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Shanidar Cave, Emmer, Southern Levant
31 May 2015
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Document Summary
Regional variation between levant, anatolia, and north and south mesopotamia. People settled in southern mesopotamia after the origins of agriculture. Before, it was not a preferable region for hunter-gatherers. Excavations at this site revealed a number of neanderthal skeletons (about 10) dating from 65,000-35,000 bc. Pollen remains were found, suggesting body was buried with flowers (implied special treatment of the dead) Some skeletons showed evidence of wounds i. e. : blows to the head (this didn"t kill him; remodelling showed) this indicates people taking care of disabled individuals. Late epipalaeolithic (or mesolithic ) period (13000-10200 bc) People began to settle down due to favorable climatic conditions. Domestication of plants = first, followed by domestication of animals. At end of paleolithic, climatic fluctuations brought about cooler, drier weather. Those with good access to water began to care more for larger plants which were easier to harvest. Decline in gathering, but increase in barley, einkorn, lentil, and peas.
