Acheulean at Nag Ahmed el Khalifa

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The survey of the lower desert in Middle Egypt in 1976 led to the discovery of an Acheulean site (Ver-meersch HW� DO� 1977, 1980b) near the village of Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa, several kilometres south of Abydos, on the west bank of the river Nile. From the dump of a local gravel quarry, a number of fresh han-daxes were collected, suggesting that the mined depos-its were rich in handaxes.

��*HRPRUSKRORJ\�RI�WKH�VLWH�In this area the floodplain is separated by low cliffs,

5-10 m high, from a rather continuous plain, gently sloping towards the western valley border (El Ghinei-mya plain). This plain, composed of different fan ac-cumulations originating from the western mountains, is in later periods dissected by wadis.

At Nag’ Ahmed el Khalifa, in the south flank of one

of the wadis dissecting the El Ghineimya plain, local people opened a small quarry from which the Acheulean artefacts were first recovered. They occur in a rubified gravel deposit (7.5 YR 6/6-5 YR 5/8) mainly composed of rounded flint cobbles (mean diameter: 10 cm), reworked from a higher terrace about 80 m above the floodplain. The deposits represent a weathered wadi fan composed of gravels and cobbles, a few me-ters above the wadi bed and very close to, but 11 m above the Nile floodplain (Vermeersch HW� DO� l977, 1979, 1980b). This site is covered by a red palaeosol previously noted in the upper portion of the Late Acheulean levels by Said (1981, 1993) and classified by Butzer (1980) as a Haplargid. The gravel deposit is tentatively correlated with the Abassiya II gravels, overlaying the Qena sands and silts of the Dandara Formation (Said 1975, 1993). The whole sequence is covered by a thin gravel layer, in which are Levallois artefacts.

��1$*�$+0('�(/�.+$/,)$��$1�$&+(8/($1�6,7(��

Pierre M. Vermeersch, Etienne Paulissen, Marcel Otte & Gilbert Gijselings=

Figure 2.1 - Wadi deposits in the Abydos area, as exemplified in Wadi Himeil. l: important wadi stages ordered from younger to older; 2: heavily weathered Nile silts occurring locally up to +23 m, attributed to the Dandara Formation; 3: Nile silts interfingering with a Middle Palaeolithic wadi fan deposit; 4: very coarse wadi deposits with red soil on top, containing the Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa Acheulean site; 5: wadi deposits, very gravely in a sandy matrix; 6: sandy wadi deposits; 7: derived Middle Palaeolithic artefacts; 8: Middle Palaeolithic site of El Ghineimiya; 9: Levallois point; 10: Acheulean site of Nag Ahmed Khalifa; 11: derived flakes in wadi deposits underlying Dandara silts.

Vermeersch P.M. & E. Paulissen, M. Otte & G. Gijselings, 2000. Nag Ahmed el Khalifa, An Acheulean Site, in Pierre M. Vermeersch (Ed.), Palaeolithic Living Sites in Upper and Middle Egypt. Leuven, Leuven University Press: 57-74.

P. M. Vermeersch, E. Paulissen, M. Otte & G.Gijselings= _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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According to Hassan (1976) the Dandara Formation is the oldest known Nile deposit of Ethiopian origin. It belongs to the alpha-Neonile defined by Said (1993: 45-47). In the type-area the Dandara clays can be seen 25 m above the modern floodplain. In the type area we have levelled the position of the Dandara clays in rela-tion to the floodplain. The highest situated LQ�VLWX Dan-dara clays have been observed at 25 m above the mod-ern floodplain, so that the top has been estimated at

+27 m. In the type-area their base is at +12 to +14 m and the clays overlay a unit of Nile cobble deposits with a thickness of at least 9 m (Paulissen & Ver-meersch 1987). At Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa the top of the Dandara clays is below 25 m, while their base could not be observed.

The stratigraphical position of the artefact bearing deposits can be read in fig. 2.1. At Nag Ahmed el Khalifa, the gravel fan, with a red palaeosol containing the artefacts, is deposited in a wadi mouth eroded in the Dandara Formation. From this we conclude that the Nag'Ahmed el Khalifa Acheulean site post-dates the Dandara silts.

��([FDYDWLRQV�A rough topographical plan of the terrace edge has

been drawn (fig. 2.3). Elevation is referred to as height above the nearby cultivated land. A NE-SW oriented baseline was laid in the wadi, parallel to the terrace edge.

Our workmen performed the excavations (fig. 2.2). Staff members searched the gravels for prehistoric arte-facts by using a 2 cm screen. It is evident that this ex-cavation method did not allow us to locate exactly all recovered artefacts. Thankfully, the workmen were soon able to recognise the presence of large artefacts while excavating. The position of the LQ�VLWX recovered artefacts (fig. 2.4) was measured. There is no doubt, however, that small artefacts escaped our attention.

Figure 2.2 - Working in the excavation pits

Figure 2.3 - Plan of the excavation pits. Contour lines refer to the floodplain surface

2 - NAG AHMED EL KHALIFA, AN ACHEULEAN SITE _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Within the gravels, the artefacts have a significant

vertical scatter, suggesting that they are not in primary position (fig. 2.5). They have been displaced by the erosional activity of the wadi which has aggraded the gravels. Below 10.75 m artefacts are rarely found.

Table 2.1 - Horizontal artefact distribution

Trench Artefacts per m² I 1.4

II 12.0 III 12.4 IV 11.5 V 12.0

Horizontal artefact scatter is rather homogeneous,

except for trench I, where the artefact concentration is low. Taking into account the low artefact density and

its vertical and horizontal scatter, there is likely no use in looking for any structure in the horizontal artefact scatter. Nevertheless, it is clear that the artefacts were not transported over long distances, as most of them are in a fresh to very fresh preservation state.

��$UFKDHRORJLFDO�PDWHULDOV�Artefacts collected from within the rubified gravels

are considered to form a more or less homogeneous assemblage, even though the patina and state of preser-vation is not entirely homogeneous. Because their stratigraphical position points to a redeposition of all artefacts, such a diversified preservation is normal. Even though we can certainly not prove that all arte-facts are related to a single occupation, we are confi-dent that they are, at worst, derived from a few distinct assemblages, which, in the latter case, are probably not too far away from each other, chronologically. Some artefacts (19 handaxes and 18 flakes) which were col-lected from the dump of the recent gravel exploitation have been included in this study because we presume that they originate from the gravel deposit. Other sur-face materials, including several handaxes, especially

Figure 2.4 - Gravel deposit with a handaxe at the tip of the scale rod

Figure 2.5 - Vertical artefact scatter in two di-rections


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those from the top deposits, have been excluded as they probably belong to younger gravel deposits. Table 2.2 - Artefact inventory N % Tested nodules 38 4.80 Choppers 6 0.76 Chopping tools 12 1.52 Subdiscoidal cores 2 0.25 Discoidal cores 10 1.26 Cortical flakes 182 22.98 Elongated flakes 27 3.41 Flakes 411 51.89 Handaxe preforms 46 5.81 Cordiform handaxes 7 0.88 Amygdaloid handaxes 17 2.15 Lanceolate handaxes 1 0.13 Discoidal handaxes 6 0.76 Ovaloid handaxes 14 1.77 Cleavers 5 0.63 Handaxe fragments 2 0.25 Retouched flakes 6 0.76 Total 792 100.00

��5DZ�PDWHULDO�The raw material consists of chert nodules which

were collected in local wadi deposits, similar to those in which the artefacts were deposited. All nodules have been rolled to some degree. The chert is not of excel-lent quality, often banded and displaying a variety of different colours and textural characteristics. The pat-ina is most often reddish.

��)ODNLQJ�SURFHGXUH�Flaking does not suggest a specific method but

seems to be rather random, whereby, the last scar on a core often served as a platform for the production of the next flake (alternating flaking). The scars are large and deep, suggesting a hard hammer flaking technique. Secondary retouch is rare. Often, oblong nodules have been selected for flaking because they allowed the quick creation of choppers and chopping tools. Han-daxe preforms and chopping tools converge in their formation. Some initial discoidal cores are present (fig. 2.6: 2).

The attribute system and categorisation of flakes have been organised according to Isaac (1977: 155 ff).

Table 2.3 - Cortical surface on flakes Cortical surface N % > 2/3 113 51 1/4 - 2/3 69 31 < 1/4 38 17 Total 220 100

Most flakes are cortical flakes, resulting from a

rough decortication of chert nodules (tab. 2.2 & 3). Table 2.4 - Flake attributes for excavated flakes (L = maxi-mum length; B = containing rectangle breath; TM = thick-ness at the mid point) Attribute N Low-

est value

Highest value

Aver-age

σ

L in mm 181 23.0 141.0 71.0 24.87 B/L 161 0.33 0.97 0.68 0.15 TM in mm 219 1.00 42.00 11.71 7.10 TM/B 194 0.03 0.65 0.24 0.10

The flakes are rather large and thick. The butt is

thick, plain and often cortical but seldom dihedral or faceted (fig. 2.6: 6; 2.12: 2). The number of dorsal scars (tab. 2.5) is generally low, suggesting restricted flaking activity.

Table 2.5 - Counts of dorsal scars on flakes > 5 cm Dorsal scar count N % 0 40 23.3 1 45 26.2 2 39 22.7 3 30 17.4 4 8 4.6 5 6 3.5 6 4 2.3 Total 172 100.0

Only two flakes can be considered as biface trim-ming flakes. A lack of such flakes is an indication that the handaxes were not made at the place from which they eroded. Finished handaxes seem to have been brought to the site.


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Figure 2.6 - Artefacts from Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa


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63



64



65



66



67



68



69



70



71



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Table 2.6 - Flake type N % Convergent triangular flakes 29 19 Convergent flakes 12 8 Medially expanded flakes 70 46 Divergent flakes 41 27 Total 152 100

Most flakes are medially expanded (fig. 2.6: 4-5).

There is no trace of a Levallois technology at all.

��5HWRXFKHG�SLHFHV�In literature, extensive discussions exist regarding

the question of differentiating cores from choppers, chopping tools and handaxe rough outs. It is not our purpose here to take a position in this discussion. Our approach is mainly morphological. Clear cut categories do not exist.

Choppers and chopping tools (fig. 2.6: 1, 3; 2.7: 1, 3) can often be regarded as tested pebbles, from which one or two flakes were detached. The most simple “choppers” have been considered as such. Cores (fig. 2.6: 2) consist for the most part of flint pebbles from which more flakes were obtained. They are often dis-coidal.

Some retouched or denticulated flakes are present in the assemblage (fig. 2.11: 4-5), but, due to their ta-phonomic history, it remains difficult to ascertain the human origin of the retouch.

Tools are best represented by handaxes. Some han-daxes are characterised by their low number of flaking scars, resulting in sinuous handaxe-edges, but others display a more refined shape. Very rough handaxes with thick bases as well as preforms occur together with more refined handaxes with cutting bases.

Rough handaxes, which we interpret as preforms, are very well represented (fig. 2.7:2; 2.8: 1-2; 2.9: 1-2; 2.10: 1). This is somewhat in contradiction to the ab-sence of handaxe thinning flakes. The preforms are always characterised by the reduced number of pre-paratory removals. Among handaxes, amygdaloids (fig. 2.8: 3; 2.11: 1; 2.13: 2, 3; 2.15: 3, 5-6; 2.16: 1-2, 4) form the largest group. Most amygdaloids display a thick butt, but occasionally have a thinned butt. Much less represented is the group of cordiforms (fig. 2.10: 2; 2.11: 2; 2.12: 3; 2.16: 5) and ovaloids (fig. 2.10: 3; 2.13: 1; 2.16: 3, 6). Cleavers (fig. 2.14: 1-2; 2.15: 1-2;

2.16: 7) are present, but some of them may be re-worked handaxes, created when the handaxe point broke off. The group of cleavers can not be considered as a characteristic group as is often the case in African assemblages. Thick elongates are poorly represented, generally only by a single lanceolate (fig. 2.12: 1) and sub-triangular bifaces, backed bifaces and double-backed bifaces are absent.

An attribute analysis of handaxes, according to the methods of Isaac (1977: 121), was performed. Results are found in table 2.7. Table 2.7 - Attribute analysis of the handaxes Attribute N Average σ L in mm 41 119.73 24.83 B in mm 42 81.24 12.69 T in mm 42 36.36 10.37 PMB1 42 39.92 13.86 PMB2 42 45.07 15.90 BA 40 69.43 14.33 BB 40 49.58 10.88 TA 40 33.68 10.10 TB 40 20.93 6.75 h 42 23.82 7.50 d 42 17.01 5.73 B/L 41 0.69 0.09 T/B 42 0.45 0.12 PMB/L 42 42.49 12.91 BA/BB 40 1.46 0.42 TA/TB 40 1.77 0.97

��&RQFOXVLRQV�In the present state of research, where only very few

sites in North-eastern Africa have been excavated and published, we can only give general ideas concerning the correlation of this assemblage with that of other sites.

An important observation is the absence of the Le-vallois method in the assemblage of Nag Ahmed el Khalifa. The entire debitage technique at the site is rough and there are no indications of the utilisation of more sophisticated debitage methods.

When compared to the Acheulean assemblage at Mound-spring KO10, Kharga (Caton-Thomson 1952), the handaxe typology is completely different. At Kharga, lanceolate and pear-shape handaxes are pre-dominant, whereas, at Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa cordi-form and rough or preform handaxes are the best repre-sented types. Moreover, handaxes at Kharga are some-


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what longer and thinner than those from Nag’ Ahmed el Khalifa. Fine secondary retouching of the handaxe edges is more frequent at Kharga. At Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa there is no Levallois, whereas at Kharga, there are unmistakable Levallois elements. Such characteris-tics could suggest an older age for the Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa assemblage.

The differences between the Acheulean (E-72-1) of the Dakhla Oasis (Schild & Wendorf 1975, Wendorf & Schild 1980) and that from the Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa assemblage are obvious. At Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa the backed handaxe group and the Levallois technology, both of which are clearly present at E-72-1, are absent, suggesting a more recent position for E-72-1.

Recent research at Kharga and Dakhla suggests that the Acheulean is older than 400 ka. This age is based on uranium-series determinations of “Tuf a1” which is overlying gravels that include the Acheulean VHQVX�VWULFWR (Locus V) (Kleindienst H�D. 1996).

The Late and Final Acheulean of Bir Tarfawi and Bir Sahara (Schild & Wendorf 1975, Wendorf & Schild 1980, Wendorf, Schild & Close 1993) with their pronounced emphasis on small, triangular and cordi-form handaxes as well as the presence of Levallois technology are also clearly of a more evolved type than that of the assemblage of Nag'Ahmed el Khalifa.

The Acheulean of the Wadi Halfa and Arkin re-gions in Sudan is also rather different. It is character-ised by either a high proportion of ovals, choppers and chopping tools (Chmielewski 1968) or by a large num-ber of primitive forms, which, even in the Middle Acheulean, account for 30% of all handaxes (Guichard & Guichard 1968). Still, most of the Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa handaxes fall within the handaxe spectrum of the Middle Acheulean of Guichard & Guichard, even though the typical Nubian handaxes are lacking.

The Acheulean site E6101, near Dandara (Wendorf & Schild 1976: 95-96), has not yet been published. The stratigraphic position seems similar to that of Nag'Ah-

med el Khalifa. Indeed, near Dandara the industry is also included in rubified gravels which rest unconform-ably on silts of the Dandara Formation.

The Nag'Ahmed el Khalifa Acheulean site post-dates, on stratigraphical grounds, the Dandara silts. Said (1993, fig. 1.2) suggests an age of about 350-300 ka BP for the Abassia II gravels. Although the argu-ments for dating are poor, such a date seems accept-able.

When compared to the Olorgesailie Middle Pleisto-cene material (Isaac 1977: 141), some ratios (L; T/B; L - B/L) of the Nag'Ahmed el Khalifa handaxes (tab. 1.7) do suggest a certain similarity. According to Isaac (1977: 144) such assemblages can be attributed to the Upper Acheulean, which is to be distinguished from an African Lower Acheulean and a Post Acheulean.

Few other conclusions can be drawn from the site data at this time. They clearly refer to a Middle Pleisto-cene Upper Acheulean, in the sense of Isaac (1977) or Middle Acheulean following Guichard & Guichard (1968). The site attests the nearby presence of an occu-pation of which the type remains unknown. Apparently, the Acheulean humans took advantage of the local wadi gravels in order to produce an assemblage character-ised by its numerous handaxes. They were selective in choosing their raw material, testing a cobble before proceeding to the handaxe shaping. They were not spe-cifically interested in other formal tool types.

During the time of the deposition of the artefacts, even the small wadis draining the plateau area of the Western border of the Nile were more competent than today, suggesting in stead of the actual hyperarid cli-mate, an arid or even semi-arid environment. As sev-eral of the Nag’Ahmed el Khalifa artefacts are quite fresh and as there is no indication for an important time lapse between the occupation of the site and the erosion of the site, we suggest a similar environment for the time period of its occupation.

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Acheulean at Nag Ahmed el Khalifa

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