Acta Zoologica Cracoviensia, 45(special issue) 2002

Issue:

VOL 45(special issue) 2002

Keywords:

Southern Levant, birds, Neolithic, human behaviour

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Birds and humans in the Holocene: the case of Qumran Cave 24 (Dead Sea, Israel)

• Alexandra RECCHI
• Avi GOPHER

Abstract:

Qumran Cave 24 is situated in the Jordan Rift Valley. Its prehistoric stratigraphy spans from the late Natufian to the Chalcolitic period and these deposits yielded a large quantity of archaeological materials particularly from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic levels. The preservation of organic material was in general very good, due to the dry conditions of the area, and this fact allowed the collection of rich botanical and faunal samples. The study of the bird assemblage, composed of over one thousand specimens, was very interesting for the wide range of species identified, for the frequency of some of them (e.g., the Rock Dove, Columba livia) and for the number and kind of human modifications detected on the bones. The results of the analysis shed some light on the modality and changes in relationship between birds and ancient populations (not considered simply as human exploitation of birds) in the southern Levant, particularly at the beginning of agriculture.