Using gazelle dental cementum studies to explore seasonality and mobility patterns of the Early-Middle Epipalaeolithic Azraq Basin, Jordan

Determining the origins of sedentism is integral in understanding the origins of complex societies. There is great interest in Early-Middle Epipalaeolithic mobility patterns in the Near East to understand why permanent settlement occurred in the Natufian. Current theories relating to the Early-Middle Epipalaeolithic ‘Mega Sites’ of Kharaneh IV and Wadi Jilat 6 suggest that these sites may have been occupied for prolonged periods of time. A sample of gazelle teeth from Kharaneh IV and Wadi Jilat 6 were studied using cementum analysis to determine the season of death of the animals providing an insight into when these sites were occupied. Cementum analysis could be successfully applied in the region, and initial results demonstrated that gazelle were culled in two different seasons. Future work sampling mandibles from discrete temporal deposits and increasing the sample size, supplemented by using additional seasonality indicators would be beneficial in exploring further seasonality and mobility in the Azraq Basin.