The Iberomaurusian is a backed bladeletlithic industry found near the coasts of Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. It is also known from a single major site in Libya, the Haua Fteah, where the industry is locally known as the Eastern Oranian.[note 1] The Iberomaurusian seems to have appeared around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), somewhere between c. 25,000 and 23,000 cal BP. It would have lasted until the early Holocene c. 11,000 cal BP.[1]
Iberomaurusian
Geographical range
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya (not shown on map).
The name of the Iberomaurusian means "of Iberia and Mauretania", the latter being a Latin name for Northwest Africa. Pallary (1909) coined this term[2] to describe assemblages from the site of La Mouillah in the belief that the industry extended over the strait of Gibraltar into the Iberian peninsula. This theory is now generally discounted (Garrod 1938),[3] but the name has stuck.
In Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, but not in Morocco, the industry is succeeded by the Capsian industry, whose origins are unclear. The Capsian is believed either to have spread into North Africa from the Near East,[4] or to have evolved from the Iberomaurusian.[5][6] In Morocco and Western Algeria, the Iberomaurusian is succeeded by the Cardial culture after a long hiatus.[7]
Mr. Luis Siret had already noticed in Southeastern Spain a Palaeolithic industry that included a microlithic toolkit: small and narrow instruments, variously retouched and with these, colouring substances, grinding tools, and hammerstones. However, this very industry, we have noticed it in the La Mouillah shelters, close to Marnia [western Algeria]: it includes hammerstones, cores, simple and backed [à bord retaillés] blades, notched blades, an excessive profusion of very small blades with retouch on their backs and very sharp points [très petites lames à dos retouché et à pointe trèsaigüe [sic]], circular endscrapers, disks, alterative flake pebbles, and a whole set of tools for grinding colours: pebbles in greenish rock, sandstone wheels, pebbles with median depressions, still impregnated with red colour, and as colouring substances, hematites, ocre, oligist iron. Finally, some boring tools in polished bone and objects of adornment: ellongated pebbles and shells pierced for suspension. But nothing in the way of polished stone or pottery.
[...]
What clearly distinguishes this industry is the smallness of the toolkit, especially the crescent-shaped backed blades of which one finds thousands of examples. True geometric pieces (in the shape of trapeziums) are excessively rare, barely three parts per thousand, whereas in the ancient Neolithic with pottery and polished stone, small pieces of flint with geometric shapes are very common.
I named Ibero-Maurusian the period that characterises this industry.
— Paul Pallary, Instructions pour les recherches préhistoriques dans le nord-ouest de l'Afrique (1909, pp. 45-46, translation)
Alternative names
Because the name of the Iberomaurusian implies Afro-European cultural contact now generally discounted,[3] researchers have proposed other names:
Mouillian or Mouillan, based on the site of La Mouillah (Goetz 1945-6).
The Oranian, based on the Algerian region of Oran (Breuil 1930, Gobert et al. 1932, McBurney 1967, Barker et al. 2012).
The Late Upper Palaeolithic (of Northwest African facies, Barton et al. 2005).
Timeline of sites
What follows is a timeline of all published radiocarbon dates from reliably Iberomaurusian contexts, excluding a number of dates produced in the 1960s and 1970s considered "highly doubtful" (Barton et al. 2013). All dates, calibrated and Before Present, are according to Hogue and Barton (2016). The Tamar Hat date beyond 25,000 cal BP is tentative.
Genetics
In 2013, Iberomaurusian skeletons from the prehistoric sites of Taforalt and Afalou were analyzed for ancient DNA. All of the specimens belonged to maternal clades associated with either North Africa or the northern and southern Mediterranean littoral, indicating gene flow between these areas since the Epipaleolithic.[8] The ancient Taforalt individuals carried the mtDNA Haplogroup N subclades like U6 and M which points to population continuity in the region dating from the Iberomaurusian period.[9][10]
Loosdrecht et al. (2018) analysed genome-wide data from seven ancient individuals from the Iberomaurusian Grotte des Pigeons site near Taforalt in north-eastern Morocco. The fossils were directly dated to between 15,100 and 13,900 calibrated years before present. The scientists found that all males belonged to haplogroup E1b1b, common among Afroasiatic males. The male specimens with sufficient nuclear DNA preservation belonged to the paternal haplogroup E1b1b1a1 (M78), with one skeleton bearing the E1b1b1a1b1 parent lineage to E-V13, one male specimen belonged to E1b1b (M215*). These Y-DNA clades 24,000[11] years BP had a common ancestor with the Berbers and the E1b1b1b (M123) subhaplogroup that has been observed in skeletal remains belonging to the Epipaleolithic Natufian and Pre-Pottery Neolithic cultures of the Levant. Maternally, the Taforalt remains bore the U6a and M1b mtDNA haplogroups, which are common among modern Afroasiatic-speaking populations in Africa. A two-way admixture scenario using Natufian and modern sub-Saharan samples (including West Africans and the Tanzanian Hadza) as reference populations inferred that the seven Taforalt individuals are best modeled genetically as of 63.5% Natufian-related and 36.5% sub-Saharan ancestry (with the latter having both West African-like and Hadza-like affinities), with no apparent gene flow from the Epigravettian culture of Paleolithic southern Europe. The scientists indicated that further ancient DNA testing at other Iberomaurusian archaeological sites would be necessary to determine whether the Taforalt samples were representative of the broader Iberomaurusian gene pool.[12]
Martiniano et al. (2022) later reassigned all the Taforalt samples to haplogroup E-M78 and none to E-L618, the predecessor to EV13.[13]
^The "Western Oranian" would refer to the Iberomaurusian in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, but this expression is seldom used.
References
^Hogue, J.T.; Barton, R.N.E. (2016-08-22). "New radiocarbon dates for the earliest Later Stone Age microlithic technology in Northwest Africa". Quaternary International. 413: 62–75. Bibcode:2016QuInt.413...62H. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.11.144. ISSN 1040-6182.
^Pallary, P., 1909. Instructions pour la recherche préhistorique dans le Nord-Ouest de l'Afrique, Algiers.
^ abD.A.E Garrod (1938). "The Upper Palaeolithic in the light of recent discovery". Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. 4 (1): 1–26. doi:10.1017/S0079497X00021113.
^Camps, G., 1974. Les Civilisations Préhistoriques de l'Afrique du Nord et du Sahara, Paris: Doin
^Lubell, D., Sheppard, P. & Jackes, M., 1984. Continuity in the Epipalaeolithic of North Africa with Emphasis on the Maghreb. Advances in World Archaeology, 3, pp.143–191
^Irish, J.D., 2000. The Iberomaurusian enigma: North African progenitor or dead end? Journal of Human Evolution, 39(4), pp.393–410
^mankind, International Commission for a History of the Scientific and Cultural Development of Mankind History of; Mankind, International Commission for the New Edition of the History of the Scientific and Cultural Development of (1994). History of Humanity: Prehistory and the beginnings of civilization. Taylor & Francis. p. 514. ISBN9789231028106.
^Kefi R, Bouzaid E, Stevanovitch A, Beraud-Colomb E. (PDF). ISABS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
^Bernard Secher; Rosa Fregel; José M Larruga; Vicente M Cabrera; Phillip Endicott; José J Pestano & Ana M González (2014). "The history of the North African mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U6 gene flow into the African, Eurasian and American continents". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 14: 109. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-14-109. PMC4062890. PMID 24885141.
^Kefi, Rym; Hechmi, Meriem; Naouali, Chokri; Jmel, Haifa; Hsouna, Sana; Bouzaid, Eric; Abdelhak, Sonia; Beraud-Colomb, Eliane; Stevanovitch, Alain (2 January 2018). "On the origin of Iberomaurusians: new data based on ancient mitochondrial DNA and phylogenetic analysis of Afalou and Taforalt populations". Mitochondrial DNA Part A. 29 (1): 147–157. doi:10.1080/24701394.2016.1258406. PMID 28034339. S2CID 4490910.
^van de Loosdrecht; et al. (2018-03-15). "Pleistocene North African genomes link Near Eastern and sub-Saharan African human populations". Science. 360 (6388): 548–552. Bibcode:2018Sci...360..548V. doi:10.1126/science.aar8380. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 29545507.
^Martiniano, Rui; De Sanctis, Bianca; Hallast, Pille; Durbin, Richard (February 2022). "Placing Ancient DNA Sequences into Reference Phylogenies". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 39 (2).
January 15, 2023
iberomaurusian, backed, bladelet, lithic, industry, found, near, coasts, morocco, algeria, tunisia, also, known, from, single, major, site, libya, haua, fteah, where, industry, locally, known, eastern, oranian, note, seems, have, appeared, around, time, last, . The Iberomaurusian is a backed bladelet lithic industry found near the coasts of Morocco Algeria and Tunisia It is also known from a single major site in Libya the Haua Fteah where the industry is locally known as the Eastern Oranian note 1 The Iberomaurusian seems to have appeared around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum LGM somewhere between c 25 000 and 23 000 cal BP It would have lasted until the early Holocene c 11 000 cal BP 1 IberomaurusianGeographical rangeMorocco Algeria Tunisia and Libya not shown on map PeriodLater Stone Age Epipalaeolithic or Upper PaleolithicDatesc 25 23 000 c 11 000 cal BPType siteLa MouillahMajor sitesTaforalt Ifri N Ammar Afalou Tamar Hat Taza Haua FteahPreceded byAterianFollowed byMushabian Cardium pottery CapsianThe name of the Iberomaurusian means of Iberia and Mauretania the latter being a Latin name for Northwest Africa Pallary 1909 coined this term 2 to describe assemblages from the site of La Mouillah in the belief that the industry extended over the strait of Gibraltar into the Iberian peninsula This theory is now generally discounted Garrod 1938 3 but the name has stuck In Algeria Tunisia and Libya but not in Morocco the industry is succeeded by the Capsian industry whose origins are unclear The Capsian is believed either to have spread into North Africa from the Near East 4 or to have evolved from the Iberomaurusian 5 6 In Morocco and Western Algeria the Iberomaurusian is succeeded by the Cardial culture after a long hiatus 7 Contents 1 Definition 2 Alternative names 3 Timeline of sites 4 Genetics 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesDefinition EditMr Luis Siret had already noticed in Southeastern Spain a Palaeolithic industry that included a microlithic toolkit small and narrow instruments variously retouched and with these colouring substances grinding tools and hammerstones However this very industry we have noticed it in the La Mouillah shelters close to Marnia western Algeria it includes hammerstones cores simple and backed a bord retailles blades notched blades an excessive profusion of very small blades with retouch on their backs and very sharp points tres petites lames a dos retouche et a pointe tres aigue sic circular endscrapers disks alterative flake pebbles and a whole set of tools for grinding colours pebbles in greenish rock sandstone wheels pebbles with median depressions still impregnated with red colour and as colouring substances hematites ocre oligist iron Finally some boring tools in polished bone and objects of adornment ellongated pebbles and shells pierced for suspension But nothing in the way of polished stone or pottery What clearly distinguishes this industry is the smallness of the toolkit especially the crescent shaped backed blades of which one finds thousands of examples True geometric pieces in the shape of trapeziums are excessively rare barely three parts per thousand whereas in the ancient Neolithic with pottery and polished stone small pieces of flint with geometric shapes are very common I named Ibero Maurusian the period that characterises this industry Paul Pallary Instructions pour les recherches prehistoriques dans le nord ouest de l Afrique 1909 pp 45 46 translation Alternative names EditBecause the name of the Iberomaurusian implies Afro European cultural contact now generally discounted 3 researchers have proposed other names Mouillian or Mouillan based on the site of La Mouillah Goetz 1945 6 The Oranian based on the Algerian region of Oran Breuil 1930 Gobert et al 1932 McBurney 1967 Barker et al 2012 The Late Upper Palaeolithic of Northwest African facies Barton et al 2005 Timeline of sites EditWhat follows is a timeline of all published radiocarbon dates from reliably Iberomaurusian contexts excluding a number of dates produced in the 1960s and 1970s considered highly doubtful Barton et al 2013 All dates calibrated and Before Present are according to Hogue and Barton 2016 The Tamar Hat date beyond 25 000 cal BP is tentative Genetics EditIn 2013 Iberomaurusian skeletons from the prehistoric sites of Taforalt and Afalou were analyzed for ancient DNA All of the specimens belonged to maternal clades associated with either North Africa or the northern and southern Mediterranean littoral indicating gene flow between these areas since the Epipaleolithic 8 The ancient Taforalt individuals carried the mtDNA Haplogroup N subclades like U6 and M which points to population continuity in the region dating from the Iberomaurusian period 9 10 Loosdrecht et al 2018 analysed genome wide data from seven ancient individuals from the Iberomaurusian Grotte des Pigeons site near Taforalt in north eastern Morocco The fossils were directly dated to between 15 100 and 13 900 calibrated years before present The scientists found that all males belonged to haplogroup E1b1b common among Afroasiatic males The male specimens with sufficient nuclear DNA preservation belonged to the paternal haplogroup E1b1b1a1 M78 with one skeleton bearing the E1b1b1a1b1 parent lineage to E V13 one male specimen belonged to E1b1b M215 These Y DNA clades 24 000 11 years BP had a common ancestor with the Berbers and the E1b1b1b M123 subhaplogroup that has been observed in skeletal remains belonging to the Epipaleolithic Natufian and Pre Pottery Neolithic cultures of the Levant Maternally the Taforalt remains bore the U6a and M1b mtDNA haplogroups which are common among modern Afroasiatic speaking populations in Africa A two way admixture scenario using Natufian and modern sub Saharan samples including West Africans and the Tanzanian Hadza as reference populations inferred that the seven Taforalt individuals are best modeled genetically as of 63 5 Natufian related and 36 5 sub Saharan ancestry with the latter having both West African like and Hadza like affinities with no apparent gene flow from the Epigravettian culture of Paleolithic southern Europe The scientists indicated that further ancient DNA testing at other Iberomaurusian archaeological sites would be necessary to determine whether the Taforalt samples were representative of the broader Iberomaurusian gene pool 12 Martiniano et al 2022 later reassigned all the Taforalt samples to haplogroup E M78 and none to E L618 the predecessor to EV13 13 See also EditAfroasiatic Urheimat Aterian Mushabian Taforalt Ifri N Ammar Mechta Afalou Haua FteahNotes Edit The Western Oranian would refer to the Iberomaurusian in Morocco Algeria and Tunisia but this expression is seldom used References Edit Hogue J T Barton R N E 2016 08 22 New radiocarbon dates for the earliest Later Stone Age microlithic technology in Northwest Africa Quaternary International 413 62 75 Bibcode 2016QuInt 413 62H doi 10 1016 j quaint 2015 11 144 ISSN 1040 6182 Pallary P 1909 Instructions pour la recherche prehistorique dans le Nord Ouest de l Afrique Algiers a b D A E Garrod 1938 The Upper Palaeolithic in the light of recent discovery Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 4 1 1 26 doi 10 1017 S0079497X00021113 Camps G 1974 Les Civilisations Prehistoriques de l Afrique du Nord et du Sahara Paris Doin Lubell D Sheppard P amp Jackes M 1984 Continuity in the Epipalaeolithic of North Africa with Emphasis on the Maghreb Advances in World Archaeology 3 pp 143 191 Irish J D 2000 The Iberomaurusian enigma North African progenitor or dead end Journal of Human Evolution 39 4 pp 393 410 mankind International Commission for a History of the Scientific and Cultural Development of Mankind History of Mankind International Commission for the New Edition of the History of the Scientific and Cultural Development of 1994 History of Humanity Prehistory and the beginnings of civilization Taylor amp Francis p 514 ISBN 9789231028106 Kefi R Bouzaid E Stevanovitch A Beraud Colomb E MITOCHONDRIAL DNA AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF PREHISTORIC NORTH AFRICAN POPULATIONS PDF ISABS Archived from the original PDF on 11 March 2016 Retrieved 17 January 2016 Bernard Secher Rosa Fregel Jose M Larruga Vicente M Cabrera Phillip Endicott Jose J Pestano amp Ana M Gonzalez 2014 The history of the North African mitochondrial DNA haplogroup U6 gene flow into the African Eurasian and American continents BMC Evolutionary Biology 14 109 doi 10 1186 1471 2148 14 109 PMC 4062890 PMID 24885141 Kefi Rym Hechmi Meriem Naouali Chokri Jmel Haifa Hsouna Sana Bouzaid Eric Abdelhak Sonia Beraud Colomb Eliane Stevanovitch Alain 2 January 2018 On the origin of Iberomaurusians new data based on ancient mitochondrial DNA and phylogenetic analysis of Afalou and Taforalt populations Mitochondrial DNA Part A 29 1 147 157 doi 10 1080 24701394 2016 1258406 PMID 28034339 S2CID 4490910 E M35 YTree yfull com Retrieved 2021 05 03 van de Loosdrecht et al 2018 03 15 Pleistocene North African genomes link Near Eastern and sub Saharan African human populations Science 360 6388 548 552 Bibcode 2018Sci 360 548V doi 10 1126 science aar8380 ISSN 0036 8075 PMID 29545507 Martiniano Rui De Sanctis Bianca Hallast Pille Durbin Richard February 2022 Placing Ancient DNA Sequences into Reference Phylogenies Molecular Biology and Evolution 39 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Iberomaurusian amp oldid 1128294528, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
