Early Natufian remains: evidence for physical conflict from Mt. Carmel, Israel.
Prior to the establishment of farming communities direct physical evidence for human conflict was rarely reported from archaeological contexts. Here we present a case of an Early Natufian (14,500-13,000 cal B.P.) projectile, classified as Helwan lunate, embedded inside the seventh or eighth thoracic vertebra sequence of a mature middle age adult male. Due to calcareous concretion four vertebras were still in anatomical connection when uncovered by F. Turville-Petre, during his excavations at Kebara cave (Mt. Carmel) in 1931.
Bocquentin
Fanny
F
UMR 5199--PACEA, Laboratoire d'Anthropologie des Populations du Passé, Université Bordeaux 1, Avenue des Facultés, F-33405 Talence, France. f.bocquentin@anthropologie.u-bordeaux1.fr
Bar-Yosef
Ofer
O
D001106:Archaeology; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005580:Fossils; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000293:injuries; D014754:Violence / Q000266:history; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating