Tag Archives: Aterian

Bechar / Algeria: Aterian Artifacts and their functional meaning

Posted on 01/22/2012 by Katzman

These are some “Aterian” artifacts from the Algerian Sahara showing the variability of a random sample. The morphological continuum of Aterian tools ranges from pointed and elongated triangular forms to rounded and squat blunt forms, as demonstrated in this post. … Continue reading →

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Murzuq

Posted on 08/19/2011 by Katzman

A small handaxe from the Desert near Murzuq. Murzuq is an oasis in South-Western Libya on the northern edge of the Murzuq Sand Sea (Idhan Murzuq). Murzuq was once an important assembly place for caravans to Lake Niger and Lake … Continue reading →

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To Be or not to Be Aterian

Posted on 03/23/2011 by Katzman

Middle Paleolithic (Middle Stone Age) Ensembles of Northern Africa have been found over a vast area, reaching from the Mediterranean to the Southern Margins of the Sahara, and from the Maghreb to the Nile Valley. Nowadays there is a broad … Continue reading →

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The Aterian: a Technocomplex created by H. Sapiens

Posted on 12/23/2010 by Katzman

Once thought to be an equivalent of the European Upper Paleolithic, the Aterian of the Maghreb, Libya and Egypt is now securely dated to OIS 5, 4 and 3 with the latest dates between 40 k.a. BP by TL, C-14,and ESR. The … Continue reading →

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Aterian point from Bechar/Algeria

Posted on 07/24/2010 by Katzman

This is a fine Aterian point from Bechar, an non-dated Algerian open air site. Aterian points are a local variant of MSA-points in Africa that may associated with some of the earliest evidence for projectile technology for hunting. It is … Continue reading →

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