Dating and redating Capsian skeletons 3A-4 and 3A-7, Aïn Berriche (Algeria)

Aïn Berriche (also called Site 12) is a Capsian site, but Skeleton 3A-7 had been dated to thousands of years after the assumed end of the Capsian period. Questions about the date focussed on two features: 1. The skeleton appeared to have characteristics of the mortuary practices associated with the Algerian Capsian tradition; and 2. The skeleton was preserved with shellac after excavation, a possible source of contamination. Analyses were therefore undertaken to determine the extent to which the shellac penetrated the bone and to establish whether ultrafiltration of the collagen would help eliminate contaminants. In addition to re-dating 3A-7, we dated Skeleton 3A-4 which had a different mortuary treatment and was stratigraphically higher. Results are presented within the context of previous work on the Capsian.