El-Wad Cave (Early Natufian)
Basic information
Sample name: El-Wad Cave (Early Natufian)
Reference: R. Yeshurun, G. Bar-Oz, and M. Weinstein-Evron. 2014. Intensification and sedentism in the terminal Pleistocene Natufian sequence of el-Wad Terrace (Israel). Journal of Human Evolution 70:16-35 [ER 3791]
Geography
Country: Israel
Coordinate: 33° 40' 12" N, 35° 58' 55" E
Latlng basis: based on nearby landmark
Time interval: Late Pleistocene
Section: 3791
Unit number: 1
Unit order: below to above
Max Ma: 0.015
Min Ma: 0.013
Age basis: radiocarbon (calibrated)
Geography comments: coordinate based on Nahal Me'arot Nature Reserve, which includes the cave
there are 13 radiocarbon dates for the lower unit that range from "ca. 15, 000-13, 000 years BP" (calibrated)
the upper unit is undated
there are 13 radiocarbon dates for the lower unit that range from "ca. 15, 000-13, 000 years BP" (calibrated)
the upper unit is undated
Environment
Lithology: not described
Taphonomic context: cave, human accumulation
Archaeology: bone tools, burials, stone tools, other structures
Habitat comments: "Structures, burials and a high density of finds, specifically chipped lithic and groundstone tools, bone tools, bone and shell ornaments, ochre and a rich faunal assemblage were retrieved"
the assemblage accumulated through discarding of bones by humans
there are burials in both the Early and Late Natufian layers, but there are only structures in the Early Natufian
the assemblage accumulated through discarding of bones by humans
there are burials in both the Early and Late Natufian layers, but there are only structures in the Early Natufian
Methods
Life forms: carnivores, ungulates, other small mammals, birds, lizards, snakes, turtles
Sampling methods: quarry
Sample size: 5332 specimens
Net or trap nights: 0
Basal area status: not applicable
Metadata
Sample no: 4121
Contributor no: John Alroy
Enterer: John Alroy
Created: 2023-02-24 17:38:22
Modified: 2023-05-30 05:29:11
Abundance distribution
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts. Values are logged.
Statistics
23 species
2 singletons
total count 5332
geometric series index: 30.0
Fisher's α: 3.085
geometric series k: 0.7017
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.7044
Shannon's H: 1.5425
Good's u: 0.9996
Register
| Gazella gazella (mountain gazelle) | 1068 | 21.0 kg |
| Capreolus capreolus (roe deer) | 2 | |
| Dama dama mesopotamica (European fallow deer) | 24 | |
| "Dama mesopotamica" | ||
| Sus scrofa (pig) | 42 | |
| †Bos primigenius (aurochs) | 5 | |
| Lepus capensis | 231 | |
| Vulpes vulpes (red fox) | 186 | |
| Canis lupus (gray wolf) | 20 | 43.0 kg |
| Martes foina (beech marten) | 19 | 1.3 kg |
| Felis sp. | 25 | |
| Meles meles (European badger) | 11 | 11.0 kg |
| Herpestes ichneumon (Egyptian mongoose) | 2 | 2.9 kg |
| Vormela peregusna (marbled polecat) | 1 | 356.0 g |
| Alectoris chukar | 43 | 541.0 g |
| "Alectoris chuckar" | ||
| Grus grus | 1 | 5.5 kg |
| Ardeidae indet. | 2 | |
| Falconiformes indet. small | 3 | |
| Falconiformes indet. medium | 2 | |
| Falconiformes indet. large | 3 | |
| Strigiformes indet. | 6 | |
| Testudo graeca | 1134 | |
| Ophisaurus apodus | 78 | |
| plus 481 "lizard" | ||
| Serpentes indet. | 2424 | |