Fig 1.
a: Map of Ethiopia and neighboring countries, showing the location of Melka Kunture on the shoulder of the Main Ethiopian Rift (modified after USGS National Map Viewer); b: Map of the Melka Kunture area, showing the location of the archaeological sites (vector restitution of the 1:50,000 topographic map by R. Gallotti).
Fig 2.
A: The Melka Kunture Formation along the Garba gully (after 23, revised; dates after 24); B: 1–5: Stratigraphic sections at Garba IV (after 23, revised).
Stratigraphic Unit 1, at the bottom of the sequence, is a layer of greenish silty sands and a typical sediment gravity flow deposit.
Fig 3.
A: Garba IV during 2009 excavation; B: S-N projections of lithic artifacts and faunal remains.
Photos and map by R. Gallotti.
Fig 4.
Horizontal maps of layers E (A) and F (B). Maps by R. Gallotti.
Fig 5.
Size distribution (mm) of the cores, whole flakes and retouched flakes in layers E and F.
Table 1.
Components of the lithic assemblage. OBS: obsidian.
Table 2.
Components of the lithic assemblage. OBS: obsidian.
Table 3.
Dimensions (mm) of cores, whole flakes, undifferentiated retouched flakes, and small pointed tools in layers E and F.
Fig 6.
Photographs of selected obsidian cores from Garba IVE-F.
1, 4: unifacial unidirectional cores; 2, 3: centripetal/tangential cores; 5: multifacial multidirectional core. Photos by R. Gallotti.
Fig 7.
1: multifacial multidirectional irregular core (OBS); 2, 4: multifacial multidirectional cores with major unidirectional flaking surface(s) (2: OBS; 4: ASB); 3: multifacial multidirectional orthogonal core (OBS); 5–9: flakes with multidirectional irregular negative scars on the dorsal face (5: ASB; 6–9: OBS); 10–12: flakes with orthogonal negative scars on the dorsal face (OBS); 13–15: core edge flakes with multidirectional removals (OBS).
2, 3: drawings by M. Pennacchioni. 1, 4–12: technological schemes by R. Gallotti. ASB: aphyric to subaphyric basalt, OBS: obsidian. 2, 3: these drawings have been modified after 34. They have been rearranged and integrated with new ones in this Figure, which is for illustrative purposes only.
Fig 8.
1, 2, 9, 10: unifacial unidirectional cores (1–2: OBS; 9–10: MFL); 3–7: flakes with unidirectional negative scars on the dorsal face (OBS); 8: bifacial partial core (MFL); 11: peripheral unidirectional core (OBS).
Photos and technological schemes by R. Gallotti. MFL: Melka Fault lava, OBS: obsidian.
Fig 9.
1, 2, 6, 7: centripetal/tangential cores; 3–5: flakes with centripetal/tangential negative scars on the dorsal face.
Obsidian. 1, 6, 7: drawings by M. Pennacchioni; 2–5: technological schemes by R. Gallotti. 6, 7: these drawings have been modified after 34. They have been rearranged and integrated with new ones in this Figure, which is for illustrative purposes only.
Fig 10.
Size distribution (mm) of obsidian cores from Garba IVE-F.
Fig 11.
Size distribution (mm) of obsidian whole flakes, small pointed tools, and undifferentiated retouched flakes from Garba IVE-F.
Two size groups are visible in the retouched items. These two-dimensional groups belong to two different tool sets, i.e. the undifferentiated retouched tools and the small pointed tools.
Fig 12.
Minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation values of small pointed tools, whole flakes, and undifferentiated retouched flakes, grouped by length, width and thickness.
Fig 13.
Photographs and drawings of selected pointed obsidian small tools (1–11) and obsidian undifferentiated retouched flakes (12–14) from Garba IVE-F.
1, 11: notch opposite a retouched edge; 2, 3, 6, 9, 10: two or more notches located on two convergent edges; 4: convergent side-scraper; 5: retouched edge opposite a back; 7, 8: notch opposite a back; 12: transversal side-scraper; 13: lateral side-scraper on core edge flake; 14: retouched proximal notch. Drawings by N. Tomei; photos by R. Gallotti.