title: Early Upper Paleolithic chronology in the Levant: new ABOx-SC accelerator mass spectrometry results from the Mughr el-Hamamah Site, Jordan.
abstract: Methodological developments and new paleoanthropological data remain jointly central to clarifying the timing and systemic interrelationships between the Middle-Upper Paleolithic (MP-UP) archaeological transition and the broadly contemporaneous anatomically modern human-archaic biological turnover. In the recently discovered cave site of Mughr el-Hamamah, Jordan, in situ flint artifacts comprise a diagnostic early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) assemblage. Unusually well-preserved charcoal from hearths and other anthropogenic features associated with the lithic material were subjected to acid-base-wet oxidation-stepped combustion (ABOx-SC) pretreatment. This article presents the ABOx-SC accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates on nine charcoal specimens from a single palimpsest occupation layer. Date calibration was carried out using the INTCAL13 radiocarbon calibration dataset. With the bulk of the material dating to 45-39 ka cal BP (thousands of years calibrated before present), the Mughr el-Hamamah lithic artifacts reveal important differences from penecontemporaneous sites in the region, documenting greater technological variability than previously known for this time frame in the Levant. The radiocarbon data from this EUP archaeological context highlight remaining challenges for increasing chronological precision in documenting the MP-UP transition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Oxford College of Emory University, 810 Whatcoat St., Oxford, GA, 30054, USA; Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA. Electronic address: astutz@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Aaron Jonas
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stutz
authors.affiliation: Anthropology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-4364, USA.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shea
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA.
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rech
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Box 25046, MS-980, Denver, CO, 80225, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pigati
authors.affiliation: Aeon Laboratories, LLC, 5835 N Genematas Dr, Tucson, AZ, 85704-5919, USA.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Harwell Hall, Room 105, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, 74104, USA.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belmaker
authors.affiliation: ICREA, c/ Montalegre, 6-8, 08001, Barcelona, Spain; ERAAUB/Department of Prehistory, Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Barcelona, c/ Montalegre, 6-8, 08001, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa Maria
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.affiliation: Independent Researcher, PO Box 15587, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Trina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arpin
authors.affiliation: ERAAUB/Department of Prehistory, Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Barcelona, c/ Montalegre, 6-8, 08001, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cabanes
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 303 Tanana Loop, Bunnell Building Room 405A, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7720, USA.
authors.forename: Jamie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Unit 2176, 354 Mansfield Road, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Archaeology and Tourism, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
authors.forename: Fuad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hourani
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Notre Dame, Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556-5611, USA.
authors.forename: Chantel E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Dr., Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Liv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nilsson Stutz
mesh_terms: D002606:Charcoal / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D005580:Fossils; D006801:Humans; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000032:analysis; D007597:Jordan; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010163:Paleontology; D055110:Radiometric Dating / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D006812:Humic Substances; D002606:Charcoal
keywords: ABOx-SC pretreatment; AMS; Biocultural evolution; Middle-Upper Paleolithic transition; Radiocarbon dating