Early and Middle Holocene Human Occupation of the Egyptian Eastern Desert: Sodmein Cave

• DOI: 10.1007/s10437-015-9195-6
• Publication Date: 2015-09-10T14:51:08Z
• Authors: Pierre M. Vermeersch; Veerle Linseele; Elena Marinova; Wim Van Neer; Jan Moeyersons; Janet Rethemeyer
• Keywords: Holocene climatic optimum; Last Glacial Maximum

In this paper, we discuss human occupation during the Early and Middle Holocene in Eastern Desert of Egypt, based mainly on data provided by excavated deposits from Sodmein Cave, which produced an important stratigraphic sequence. This sequence is dated a large number conventional AMS 14C dates. It appears that area was empty Late Glacial Maximum (LGM) earliest Holocene. With improved climatic conditions, humans arrived area, as hunter-gatherers using no ceramics, around 7.1 to 6.4 Ka cal BC. Humans were absent cave 8.2 event (ca. 6.3 BC). From 6.2 5.0 BC, herders visited site regular basis importing caprines. The bone evidence for domesticated small stock very limited at but nevertheless extremely important, it contains oldest known specimens Africa date. After almost entirely deserted.