TY - JOUR
T1 - Early human collective practices and symbolism in the Early Upper Paleolithic of Southwest Asia
AU - Barzilai, Omry
AU - Marder, Ofer
AU - Tejero, José Miguel
AU - Ayalon, Avner
AU - Bar-Matthews, Miryam
AU - Abulafia, Talia
AU - Lavi, Ron
AU - Goder-Goldberger, Mae
AU - Shemer, Maayan
AU - Edeltin, Lotan
AU - Wiegmann, Alexander
AU - Frumkin, Amos
AU - Karasik, Avshalom
AU - Yasur, Gal
AU - Yeshurun, Reuven
AU - Zohar, Irit
AU - Berna, Francesco
AU - Hans, Mark
AU - Goldberg, Jerold S.
AU - McDermott, Yvonne
AU - Spurlock, Linda
AU - Pokhojaev, Ariel
AU - Habashi, Waseem
AU - May, Hila
AU - Sarig, Rachel
AU - Hershkovitz, Israel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by PNAS. This open access article is distributed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License 4.0 (CC BY-NC-ND).
PY - 2024/12/17
Y1 - 2024/12/17
N2 - Identifying communal rituals in the Paleolithic is of scientific importance, as it reflects the expression of collective identity and the maintenance of group cohesion. This study provides evidence indicating the practice of deep cave collective rituals in the Levant during the Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) period. It is demonstrated that these gatherings occurred within a distinct ritual compound and were centered around an engraved object in the deepest part of Manot Cave, a pivotal EUP site in southwest Asia. The ritual compound, segregated from the living areas, encompasses a large gallery partitioned by a cluster of remarkable speleothems. Within this gallery, an engraved boulder stands out, displaying geometric signs suggesting a unique representation of a tortoise. Isotopic analysis of calcite crusts on the boulder’s grooves revealed alignment with values found in speleothems from the cave dated to ~37 to 35 ka BP. Additionally, meticulous shape analysis of the grooves’ cross-section and the discernible presence of microlinear scratches on the grooves’ walls confirmed their anthropogenic origin. Examination of stalagmite laminae (36 ka BP) near the engraved boulder revealed a significant presence of wood ash particles within. This finding provides evidence for using fire to illuminate the dark, deep part of the cave during rituals. Acoustic tests conducted in various cave areas indicate that the ritual compound was well suited for communal gatherings, facilitating conversations, speeches, and hearing. Our results underscore the critical role of collective practices centered around a symbolic object in fostering a functional social network within the regional EUP communities.
AB - Identifying communal rituals in the Paleolithic is of scientific importance, as it reflects the expression of collective identity and the maintenance of group cohesion. This study provides evidence indicating the practice of deep cave collective rituals in the Levant during the Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) period. It is demonstrated that these gatherings occurred within a distinct ritual compound and were centered around an engraved object in the deepest part of Manot Cave, a pivotal EUP site in southwest Asia. The ritual compound, segregated from the living areas, encompasses a large gallery partitioned by a cluster of remarkable speleothems. Within this gallery, an engraved boulder stands out, displaying geometric signs suggesting a unique representation of a tortoise. Isotopic analysis of calcite crusts on the boulder’s grooves revealed alignment with values found in speleothems from the cave dated to ~37 to 35 ka BP. Additionally, meticulous shape analysis of the grooves’ cross-section and the discernible presence of microlinear scratches on the grooves’ walls confirmed their anthropogenic origin. Examination of stalagmite laminae (36 ka BP) near the engraved boulder revealed a significant presence of wood ash particles within. This finding provides evidence for using fire to illuminate the dark, deep part of the cave during rituals. Acoustic tests conducted in various cave areas indicate that the ritual compound was well suited for communal gatherings, facilitating conversations, speeches, and hearing. Our results underscore the critical role of collective practices centered around a symbolic object in fostering a functional social network within the regional EUP communities.
KW - collective practices
KW - ritual compound
KW - rock engraving
KW - symbolic behavior
KW - Upper Paleolithic Levant
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85212245039&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.2404632121
DO - 10.1073/pnas.2404632121
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C2 - 39652761
AN - SCOPUS:85212245039
SN - 0027-8424
VL - 121
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
IS - 51
M1 - e2404632121
ER -