The Aurignacian at Hayonim Cave - article ; n°2 ; vol.7, pg 19-42

A. Belfer-Cohen, O. Bar-Yosef

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Paléorient - Année 1981 - Volume 7 - Numéro 2 - Pages 19-42
Stratum D at Hayonim Cave represents temporary Upper Palaeolithic occupations in three successive sub-layers. Although the occupation area was quite small (15 m2), two of the sub-layers contained hearths (D 3 and D 4). Sub-layers D 1-2 and D 4 also had some architectural remains. The lithic assemblage of Stratum D is related to other middle Upper Palaeolithic assemblages in northern Levant with a high Aurignacian index. Yet it displays a number of specific traits such as the near absence of El-Wad points and the high percentage of microliths. The bone tool assemblage from Stratum D is unique among other known Upper Palaeolithic assemblages in its number of tools and their variety. These bone tools differ from the Natufian ones found in Stratum B. Among the stone tools and modified stones, art objects were found, a rare phenomenon in the Levantine Upper Palaeolithic, as well as ochre-stained artifacts, ochre lumps and adornments of bone and teeth. It seems that the Aurignacian occupation in Hayonim Cave though small in size, represents a variety of activities, which are evidenced through the different flint, bone and stone tool assemblages, and special activities areas such as the kitchen midden in D 3 and the large hearths in D 4.
La couche D de la grotte d'Hayonim représente plusieurs occupations temporaires du Paléolithique supérieur, en trois sous-niveaux successifs. Bien que la surface occupée soit relativement petite (15 m2), deux des sous-niveaux (D 3 et D 4) contenaient des foyers. Les sous-niveaux D 1 -2 et D 4 ont livré quelques vestiges de constructions. L 'industrie de silex de la couche D est apparentée à d'autres industries du paléolithique supérieur moyen dans le Levant septentrional, avec un indice aurignacien élevé. Elle comporte cependant plusieurs traits spécifiques comme la quasi absence de pointes d'El Ouad et le pourcentage élevé de microlithes. L 'industrie osseuse de la couche D est unique dans le Paléolithique supérieur du Proche-Orient par le nombre et la variété des outils. Ces objets ne sont pas identiques à ceux associés au Natoufien de la couche B. Parmi les outils de pierre et les pierres travaillées, on rencontre des objets d'art, fait rare dans le Paléolithique supérieur du Levant, des objets teintés d'ocre, des fragments d'ocre et des objets de parure (os et dents). Il semble que l'occupation aurignacienne d'Hayonim, bien que limitée dans l'espace, représente des activités variées, mises en évidence par les différents outillages de silex, d'os et de pierre non siliceuse et par des zones spécialisées telles que la concentration de déchets de cuisine trouvée en D 3 et les grands foyers de D4.
24 pages
Source : Persée ; Ministère de la jeunesse, de l’éducation nationale et de la recherche, Direction de l’enseignement supérieur, Sous-direction des bibliothèques et de la documentation.

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• Publié par: PALEORIENT
• Publié le: 01 janvier 1981
• Nombre de lectures: 31
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

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O. Bar-Yosef
Anna Belfer-Cohen
The Aurignacian at Hayonim Cave
In: Paléorient. 1981, Vol. 7 N°2. pp. 19-42.
Citer ce document / Cite this document :
Bar-Yosef O., Belfer-Cohen Anna. The Aurignacian at Hayonim Cave. In: Paléorient. 1981, Vol. 7 N°2. pp. 19-42.
doi : 10.3406/paleo.1981.4296
http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/paleo_0153-9345_1981_num_7_2_4296Abstract
Stratum D at Hayonim Cave represents temporary Upper Palaeolithic occupations in three successive
sub-layers. Although the occupation area was quite small (15 m2), two of the sub-layers contained
hearths (D 3 and D 4). Sub-layers D 1-2 and D 4 also had some architectural remains. The lithic
assemblage of Stratum D is related to other middle Upper Palaeolithic assemblages in northern Levant
with a high Aurignacian index. Yet it displays a number of specific traits such as the near absence of El-
Wad points and the high percentage of microliths. The bone tool assemblage from Stratum D is unique
among other known Upper Palaeolithic assemblages in its number of tools and their variety. These
bone tools differ from the Natufian ones found in Stratum B. Among the stone tools and modified stones,
art objects were found, a rare phenomenon in the Levantine Upper Palaeolithic, as well as ochre-
stained artifacts, ochre lumps and adornments of bone and teeth. It seems that the Aurignacian
occupation in Hayonim Cave though small in size, represents a variety of activities, which are evidenced
through the different flint, bone and stone tool assemblages, and special activities areas such as the
"kitchen midden" in D 3 and the large hearths in D 4.
Résumé
La couche D de la grotte d'Hayonim représente plusieurs occupations temporaires du Paléolithique
supérieur, en trois sous-niveaux successifs. Bien que la surface occupée soit relativement petite (15
m2), deux des (D 3 et D 4) contenaient des foyers. Les sous-niveaux D 1 -2 et D 4 ont
livré quelques vestiges de constructions. L 'industrie de silex de la couche D est apparentée à d'autres
industries du paléolithique supérieur moyen dans le Levant septentrional, avec un indice aurignacien
élevé. Elle comporte cependant plusieurs traits spécifiques comme la quasi absence de pointes d'El
Ouad et le pourcentage élevé de microlithes. L 'industrie osseuse de la couche D est unique dans le
Paléolithique supérieur du Proche-Orient par le nombre et la variété des outils. Ces objets ne sont pas
identiques à ceux associés au Natoufien de la couche B. Parmi les outils de pierre et les pierres
travaillées, on rencontre des objets d'art, fait rare dans le Paléolithique supérieur du Levant, des objets
teintés d'ocre, des fragments d'ocre et des objets de parure (os et dents). Il semble que l'occupation
aurignacienne d'Hayonim, bien que limitée dans l'espace, représente des activités variées, mises en
évidence par les différents outillages de silex, d'os et de pierre non siliceuse et par des zones
spécialisées telles que la concentration de déchets de cuisine trouvée en D 3 et les grands foyers de
D4.:
PALÉORIENT Vol. 7/2 1981
THE AURIGNACIAN AT HAYONIM CAVE
A. BELFER-COHEN and O. BAR-YOSEF
ABSTRACT. - Stratum D at Hayonim Cave represents temporary Upper Palaeolithic occupations in three successive sub-layers. Although
the occupation area was quite small (15 m2), two of the sub-layers contained hearths (D 3 and D 4). Sub-layers D 1-2 and D 4 also had some
architectural remains. The lithic assemblage of Stratum D is related to other middle Upper Palaeolithic assemblages in northern Levant with a
high Aurignacian index. Yet it displays a number of specific traits such as the near absence of El-Wad points and the high percentage of
microliths. The bone tool assemblage from Stratum D is unique among other known Upper in its number of tools and
their variety. These bone tools differ from the Natufian ones found in Stratum B. Among the stone tools and modified stones, art objects were
found, a rare phenomenon in the Levantine Upper Palaeolithic, as well as ochre-stained artifacts, ochre lumps and adornments of bone and
teeth. It seems that the Aurignacian occupation in Hayonim Cave though small in size, represents a variety of activities, which are evidenced
through the different flint, bone and stone tool assemblages, and special activities areas such as the "kitchen midden" in D 3 and the large
hearths in D 4.
RESUME. - La couche D de la grotte d'Hayonim représente plusieurs occupations temporaires du Paléolithique supérieur, en trois sous-
niveaux successifs. Bien que la surface occupée soit relativement petite (15 m2), deux des sous-niveaux (D 3 et D 4) contenaient des foyers. Les
sous-niveaux D 1 -2 et D 4 ont livré quelques vestiges de constructions. L 'industrie de silex de la couche D est apparentée à d'autres industries
du paléolithique supérieur moyen dans le Levant septentrional, avec un indice aurignacien élevé. Elle comporte cependant plusieurs traits
spécifiques comme la quasi absence de pointes d'El Ouad et le pourcentage élevé de microlithes. L 'industrie osseuse de la couche D est unique
dans le Paléolithique supérieur du Proche-Orient par le nombre et la variété des outils. Ces objets ne sont pas identiques à ceux associés au
N atou fien de la couche B. Parmi les outils de pierre et les pierres travaillées, on rencontre des objets d'art, fait rare dans le Paléolithique
supérieur du Levant, des objets teintés d'ocre, des fragments d'ocre et des objets de parure (os et dents). Il semble que l'occupation
aurignacienne d'Hayonim, bien que limitée dans l'espace, représente des activités variées, mises en évidence par les différents outillages de silex,
d'os et de pierre non siliceuse et par des zones spécialisées telles que la concentration de déchets de cuisine trouvée en D 3 et les grands /overs de
D4.
1. INTRODUCTION Hayonim Cave consisted in the past of five large
chambers, three of which collapsed in post-Mousterian
The aim of this report is to expose for the first time times and were partially or completely eroded. On the
the archaeological remains uncovered during the exca moderate southern slope in front of the cave, agricultur
vations of the Aurignacian layers at Hayonim Cave (1). al terraces were constructed in historical times (Byzant
This cave, situated in the Western Galilee had been the ine period ?), making use of some natural outcroping
subject for an uncontinuous series of systematic excavat limestone boulders.
ions (1965-71, 1975, 1977-79) but the reports published Limited excavations on Hayonim Terrace were to date mainly described and analyzed the finds from conducted by D.Henry (1974-1975) and by F. Valla the Natufian and Kebaran deposits (2). (1980-81), uncovering the relicts of Natufian and Geo
metric Kebaran occupations (3). Unfortunately, no depos
its stretching from the cave into the terrace were (1) This paper is partially based on an M.A. thesis written by A. found, possibly due to the severe erosion that occurred BELFER-COHEN, the Institute of Archaeology, Hebrew University.
from the drip-line downward. The excavations at Hayonim Cave were conducted under the auspices
of the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University. Funding was The excavations inside the major frontal chamber of made available by the Israel Exploration Society, the Institute of Ar Hayonim Cave were already described in previous rechaeology of the Hebrew University, the Foundation for Basic Re
ports. However, in order to attain a better understansearch of the Israel Academy, the Department of Anatomy and An
thropology, Sackler Medical School, Tel-Aviv University and Eart- ding of the stratigraphie difficulties concerning the Auri
watch (Massachussets, U.S.A.). We are indebted to all these institutions gnacian layers, a summary of the whole stratified swhich supported the long-term project of excavations at Hayonim equence exposed to-date is given here including additioCave. nal comments (4) We would like to thank our colleagues E. TCHERNOV,
S DAVIS, N. GOREN, N.A. GORRING-MORRIS, A. BARUCH for
numerous discussions and advices, D. ENOCH for the ink drawings Stratum A and M. HODGE for editing the manuscript. Z. RADOVAN took the
photographs of the objects. It is 0.05-2.5 m thick, interbedded layers of white, gray and brown-
Detailed geographical description of the location of the site is given black ashes, including some limestone fragments. A glace furnace (built in a few of the publications mentioned in note 2. into the Natufian deposits), with numerous sherds indicate an epheme- (2) BAR-YOSEF and TCHERNOV 1967; BAR-YOSEF and GO
REN 1973; BAR-YOSEF et al. 1971-1972; DAVIS 1974, 1978;
(3) HENRY and LEROI-GOURHAN 1976; HENRY et al. 1981. SMITH 1973; ARENSBURG et al. 1975; ARENSBURG and NA
(4) GOLDBERG 1979. THAN 1980; GOLDBERG 1979; SILLEN 1981.
19 .
AURIGNACIAN AT HAYONIM CAVE THE
Stratum В
Stratified complex of several Natufian occupations including 16
graves and six structures. The total thickness varies from 0.05 m /Hayonim through 1.10 m. The mat