Archeology in “stone line” sedimentary environments. A methodological approach and results based on the Early and Middle Pleistocene sites at Melka Kunture (Upper Awash, Ethiopia)

Authors

  • Eduardo Méndez-Quintas University of Vigo
  • Rita T. Melis Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, Università di Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Metropolitan, City of Cagliari, Italy
  • Flavio Altamura Italo-Spanish Archaeological Mission at Melka Kunture and Balchit, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
  • Luca Di Bianco Italo-Spanish Archaeological Mission at Melka Kunture and Balchit, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
  • Joaquín Panera Departamento de Prehistoria, Historia Antigua y Arqueología, Facultad de Geografía e Historia. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Prof. Aranguren s/n., 28040, Madrid, Spain
  • Giancarlo Ruta Italo-Spanish Archaeological Mission at Melka Kunture and Balchit, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
  • Andrea Serodio Domínguez Grupo de Estudos de Arqueoloxía, Antigüidade e Territorio (GEAAT), University of Vigo, Facultade de Historia, As Lagoas, s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain
  • Sol Sánchez-Dehesa Galán Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
  • Margherita Mussi Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13133/2280-6148/18153

Abstract

Sites in sedimentary cobble-bed environments, which are quite common in African Pleistocene sites, are routinely reported as extensively affected by sedimentary processes. The Gombore II and Garba I sites (Melka Kunture, Ethiopia), both in a cobble-bed setting, allow a different approach. Using archive data from previous excavations and new field observations, we analyzed size ranges, orientation, sedimentary fabrics, and spatial distribution patterns at both sites as well as in a nearby present-day stream deposit, to make comparisons and assess any similarity in sedimentary setting. The results suggest that Gombore II and Garba I have been subjected to a low degree of sedimentary disturbance, without severe taphonomic effects on the archeological assemblages.

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Published

2023-09-11

How to Cite

Méndez-Quintas, E., Melis, R. T., Altamura, F., Di Bianco, L., Panera, J., Ruta, G., Serodio Domínguez, A., Sánchez-Dehesa Galán, S., & Mussi, M. (2023). Archeology in “stone line” sedimentary environments. A methodological approach and results based on the Early and Middle Pleistocene sites at Melka Kunture (Upper Awash, Ethiopia). Journal of Mediterranean Earth Sciences, 15. https://doi.org/10.13133/2280-6148/18153

Issue

Vol. 15 (2023): Special Issue: "Conference Proceedings - 40 Years of Casal de’ Pazzi in the framework of Pleistocene archeo-paleontological sites (400,000-40,000 BP): current knowledge and new research perspectives"

Section

Articles

License

The submission has not been previously published, nor is it before another journal for consideration (or an explanation has been provided in Comments to the Editor).