Antelian
Encyclopedia
The Antelian culture is an Upper Paleolithic
phase of the Levant (Syria
, Lebanon
, Palestine
) that evolves from Emirian
. The most important innovation in this period is the incorporation of some typical elements of Aurignacian
, like some types of burin
s and narrow blade points that resemble the European type of Font-Yves.
ic type implies a significant rupture in the cultural continuity of Levantine Upper Paleolithic.
Upper Paleolithic
The Upper Paleolithic is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. Very broadly it dates to between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago, roughly coinciding with the appearance of behavioral modernity and before the advent of...
phase of the Levant (Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
) that evolves from Emirian
Emirian
The Emirian culture represents the transition between the Middle Paleolithic and the Upper Paleolithic in the Levant ....
. The most important innovation in this period is the incorporation of some typical elements of Aurignacian
Aurignacian
The Aurignacian culture is an archaeological culture of the Upper Palaeolithic, located in Europe and southwest Asia. It lasted broadly within the period from ca. 45,000 to 35,000 years ago in terms of conventional radiocarbon dating, or between ca. 47,000 and 41,000 years ago in terms of the most...
, like some types of burin
Burin
Burin from the French burin meaning "cold chisel" has two specialised meanings for types of tools in English, one meaning a steel cutting tool which is the essential tool of engraving, and the other, in archaeology, meaning a special type of lithic flake with a chisel-like edge which was probably...
s and narrow blade points that resemble the European type of Font-Yves.
Phases
- Upper Paleolithic III (lower Antelian).
- Upper Paleolithic IV (upper Antelian): proliferation of burin types and decrease in the number of Font-Yves points. First and almost only use of boneBoneBones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
for tools in the region, very rare in any case. - Upper Paleolithic V (Athlitian): specialization of Antelian with a comeback of the ChatelperronianChâtelperronianChâtelperronian was the earliest industry of the Upper Palaeolithic in central and south western France, extending also into Northern Spain. It derives its name from the site of la Grotte des Fées, in Châtelperron, Allier, France....
knives of Emirian.
End of Antelian/Atlitian
The appearance of the Kebarian culture, of microlithMicrolith
A microlith is a small stone tool usually made of flint or chert and typically a centimetre or so in length and half a centimetre wide. It is produced from either a small blade or a larger blade-like piece of flint by abrupt or truncated retouching, which leaves a very typical piece of waste,...
ic type implies a significant rupture in the cultural continuity of Levantine Upper Paleolithic.