Figure 1.
Topographic map of the Al-Kharj region in central Saudi Arabia.
Spots are showing archaeological sites discovered during the 2011 survey activities. Map by J. Schiettecatte, CNRS.
Figure 2.
Survey activities undertaken in 2011.
In the proximity of the modern town of Al-Kharj, with the discovered Middle Paleolithic surface scatters, including Al-Kharj 22 site. Map by J. Schiettecatte, CNRS.
Figure 3.
Levallois methods schemata: figuration of product and core shapes for each method.
A: Preferential Levallois flake production with centripetal preparation; B: Preferential Levallois point production with unidirectional convergent preparation; C: Nubian Levallois type 1 with distal divergent preparation; D: Nubian Levallois type 2 with double lateral preparation; E: Nubian Levallois type 1/2 with mixed type 1 and type 2 preparation.
Figure 4.
A: topographic map with isolines, the grey area within the plot indicates the extent of the surface scatter; B: orographic map with slightly exaggerated reliefs; C: panoramic view of the site from the South-West.
Figure 5.
Levallois cores from Al-Kharj 22, non-Nubian.
AK 21–5: non-preferential Levallois core, recurrent centripetal, maybe a prepared Nubian core or an abandoned one (from Al-Kharj 21 site considered as a northern extension of Al-Kharj 22 site); AK 22–26: Preferential Levallois core with unidirectional convergent preparation; AK 22–51: Preferential Levallois core with centripetal preparation; AK 22–61: Recurrent centripetal non-preferential Levallois core. Drawings by G. Devilder, CNRS.
Table 1.
Total artifact counts for the Al-Kharj 22 collection sample.
Figure 6.
Nubian preferential Levallois cores from Al-Kharj 22.
Drawings by G. Devilder, CNRS.
Figure 7.
Nubian preferential Levallois cores from Al-Kharj 22.
Drawings by G. Devilder, CNRS.
Figure 8.
Diacritic schemes showing the directionality of the dorsal and ventral removals on the Nubian core sample from Al-Kharj 22.
Figure 9.
Diacritic schemes showing the directionality of the dorsal and ventral removals on the Nubian core sample from Al-Kharj 22.
Figure 10.
Schematic representation depicting the three main dorsal preparation types, preparation type 1, 2 and 1/2, and the proposed reduction succession discussed in the text.
In order to facilitate comprehension cores, end-products and preparation by-products have been color-coded; blue equals type 1 preparation, green type 2 and yellow type 1/2.
Figure 11.
Distribution of main sites with Nubian cores in Eastern Africa and Arabia.
Illustrated cores do not represent actual size. 1. Al-Kharj 22 (this study); 2. Aybut Al Auwal [12]; 3. Shabwa [30]; 4. Hadramawt [5], [6], [27]; 5. Aduma [112]; 6. Gademotta [113]; 7. Asfet [114]; 8. Nazlet Khater 1 [115]; 9. Abydos [66].