/library/oar/handle/123456789/8106 2025-11-10T09:28:39Z 2025-11-10T09:28:39Z Markowska, Monika Vonhof, Hubert B. Groucutt, Huw S. Breeze, Paul S. Drake, Nick Stewart, Mathew Albert, Richard Andrieux, Eric Blinkhorn, James Boivin, Nicole Budsky, Alexander Clark-Wilson, Richard Fleitmann, Dominik Gerdes, Axel Martin, Ashley N. Martínez-García, Alfredo Nicholson, Samuel L. Price, Gilbert J. Scerri, Eleanor M. L. Scholz, Denis Vanwezer, Nils Weber, Michael Alsharekh, Abdullah M. Al Omari, Abdul Aziz Al-Mufarreh, Yahya S. A. Al-Jibreen, Faisal Alqahtani, Mesfer Al-Shanti, Mahmoud Zalmout, Iyad Petraglia, Michael D. Haug, Gerald H. /library/oar/handle/123456789/139756 2025-10-07T12:51:18Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Recurrent humid phases in Arabia over the past 8 million years Authors: Markowska, Monika; Vonhof, Hubert B.; Groucutt, Huw S.; Breeze, Paul S.; Drake, Nick; Stewart, Mathew; Albert, Richard; Andrieux, Eric; Blinkhorn, James; Boivin, Nicole; Budsky, Alexander; Clark-Wilson, Richard; Fleitmann, Dominik; Gerdes, Axel; Martin, Ashley N.; Martínez-García, Alfredo; Nicholson, Samuel L.; Price, Gilbert J.; Scerri, Eleanor M. L.; Scholz, Denis; Vanwezer, Nils; Weber, Michael; Alsharekh, Abdullah M.; Al Omari, Abdul Aziz; Al-Mufarreh, Yahya S. A.; Al-Jibreen, Faisal; Alqahtani, Mesfer; Al-Shanti, Mahmoud; Zalmout, Iyad; Petraglia, Michael D.; Haug, Gerald H. Abstract: The Saharo-Arabian Desert is one of the largest biogeographical barriers on Earth, impeding dispersals between Africa and Eurasia, including movements of past hominins. Recent research suggests that this barrier has been in place since at least 11 million years ago. In contrast, fossil evidence from the late Miocene epoch and the Pleistocene epoch suggests the episodic presence within the Saharo-Arabian Desert interior of water-dependent fauna (for example, crocodiles, equids, hippopotamids and proboscideans), sustained by rivers and lakes, that are largely absent from today’s arid landscape. Although numerous humid phases occurred in southern Arabia during the past 1.1 million years, little is known about Arabia’s palaeoclimate before this time. Here, based on a climatic record from desert speleothems, we show recurrent humid intervals in the central Arabian interior over the past 8 million years. Precipitation during humid intervals decreased and became more variable over time, as the monsoon’s influence weakened, coinciding with enhanced Northern Hemisphere polar ice cover during the Pleistocene. Wetter conditions likely facilitated mammalian dispersals between Africa and Eurasia, with Arabia acting as a key crossroads for continental-scale biogeographic exchanges.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Hatton, Amy Breeze, Paul S. Guagnin, Maria al-Jibrin, Faisal Alsharekh, Abdullah M. Petraglia, Michael Groucutt, Huw S. /library/oar/handle/123456789/139754 2025-10-07T12:45:33Z 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Landscape positioning of Neolithic mustatil stone structures along the margins of the Nefud Desert, Saudi Arabia Authors: Hatton, Amy; Breeze, Paul S.; Guagnin, Maria; al-Jibrin, Faisal; Alsharekh, Abdullah M.; Petraglia, Michael; Groucutt, Huw S. Abstract: Monumental rectangular stone structures called mustatils are an important emerging feature of the Holocene archaeological record of northwestern Arabia. To date, few have been excavated, with available radiocarbon dates suggesting an age range of ca. 5400–4200 BC. Here we present a rigorous spatial analysis to identify the patterning and landscape context of 169 mustatils in the southern and western margins of the Nefud Desert. This included: (1) a systematic survey of satellite imagery to identify mustatils; (2) viewshed analysis to examine location and landscape visibility; (3) a point process model to understand how diverse environmental and landscape variables affect mustatil locations; (4) mark correlation function to assess spatial patterning of mustatils based on their size. Results indicate that mustatil locations are determined most by proximity to water (likely locations of enhanced surface water occurrence under the enhanced humidity of the Mid-Holocene), on east facing slopes, close to rocky areas, at elevations between 880 and 950 masl, and on or near topographic ridges (positive topographic position index). Viewshed analysis showed that mustatils are preferentially located in areas that have good views, but not the best that are available, indicating complex landscape positioning that balances a range of topographic and behavioural factors. Using a rank permutation method with size (length) of mustatils as a proxy for labour mobilization we show that mustatils within clusters are not arranged hierarchically based on size, and were likely built by non-stratified groups of people. Our analyses show that people were choosing multiple factors when deciding where to build mustatils, and that the distribution of mustatils may relate to different groups of people resulting in the construction of complex ritual landscapes. As one of the earliest examples of large-scale monumental stone structure construction in global prehistory, understanding mustatils can enlighten us on human-environment interaction during the Neolithic.

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z Al Kassem, Amal Groucutt, Huw S. Richter, Jürgen Brenet, Michel /library/oar/handle/123456789/139695 2025-10-07T05:45:59Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The impacts of lateral obliqueness and edge angle on Levallois point morphology Authors: Al Kassem, Amal; Groucutt, Huw S.; Richter, Jürgen; Brenet, Michel Abstract: The study of Levallois points is important as it combines themes relating to Levallois technology in general (such as cognitive evolution, standardisation, and cultural transmission) with discussions on the specific function of stone tools (for example, the notion of points as spear tips). Many Levantine Middle Palaeolithic assemblages feature a strong focus on Levallois point production. Traditionally, this phenomenon has been studied from a typological perspective, while more recent technological approaches have added layers of understanding, such as the recognition of the frequently recurrent Levallois character of point production in the area. Likewise, use-wear and residue analyses have led to changing perceptions of the function of Levallois points. Here we explore how two quantifiable aspects of Levallois points - cross-section angles and lateral angles - relate to the morphology of Levallois points. By combining experimental knapping with an analysis of Levallois points from Yabroud I, Syria, we show that the obliqueness of lateral preparatory removals has a significant impact on the morphology of Levallois points, particularly in terms of the feature of a Concorde-shaped profile. Likewise, we show that the lateral edge angle influences the length of the points produced. Not only does this study improve of our understanding of Levallois points, but it highlights the importance of angles in studying lithic technology. We emphasize that this study aims to investigate the impact of oblique preparatory removals on the morphology of Levallois points generally, through an initial case study of one assemblage, allowing future multivariate analysis of multiple assemblages to test our hypotheses.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Veth, Peter Matisoo-Smith, Lisa Brumm, Adam Groucutt, Huw S. Scerri, Eleanor M. L. /library/oar/handle/123456789/139642 2025-10-06T10:23:01Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Do recent DNA studies refute a 65 kya arrival of humans in Sahul? Authors: Veth, Peter; Matisoo-Smith, Lisa; Brumm, Adam; Groucutt, Huw S.; Scerri, Eleanor M. L. Abstract: Sahul offers a key reference point for elucidating the global spread of our species and the development of complex behaviour, including intentional long-distance sea crossings. Debate continues on when Homo sapiens first arrived in Sahul, as demonstrated by the current paper. Among the very limited excavations of appropriately aged deposits yielding scattered indications of early (i.e., pre 50 thousand years ago [ka]) Homo sapiens in Sahul and island southeast Asia (e.g., Gaffney et al. 2024; Oktaviana et al. 2024), is the key site of Madjedbebe in northern Australia. Clarkson et al. 2017) suggest that Madjedbebe shows H. sapiens were in Australia by ca. 65 ka. [excerpt]

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