Multi-scale Acheulean landscape survey in the Arabian Desert

摘要: Abstract The interpretation of Acheulean landscape use through the analysis artefact distributions over a range environmental settings is vital for understanding early hominin behaviour. Such approaches have been successfully applied in areas such as East Africa and South Africa, where long-term sustained archaeological research has led to development robust frameworks within which analyse land-use patterns. Much less known about behaviour Arabian Peninsula, increasingly being recognised an important area studying dispersals adaptations new environments. To address this lacuna, we undertaken first multi-scale systematic survey occupation evidence at Dawadmi, centre Peninsula. Specifically, carried out transect surveys large andesite dyke Saffaqah, on majority 26 sites are associated, well across narrow drainage channels, desert pavements hills located 5 km dyke. Survey transects also crossed neighbouring dykes adjacent units with 25 × 20 km area. Our Saffaqah discovery 14 sites. Initial lithic analyses reveal differences between terms typology, but further work assemblages required determine if these behavioural or product post depositional processes. A broad regional was identify full extent activity around Dawadmi. This 22 There strong correspondence fine-grained dykes, were major raw material sources. No study found away from their units. Based distributions, geographic estimated be 100 × 55 km, making Dawadmi one largest landscapes world.