Skhul and Qafzeh hominids

History

The remains exhibit a mix of traits found in archaic and anatomically modern humans. They have been tentatively dated at about 80,000-120,000 years old using electron paramagnetic resonance and thermoluminescence dating techniques. The brain case is similar to modern humans, but they possess brow ridges and a projecting facial profile like Neandertals. They were initially regarded as transitional from Neandertals to modern humans, or as hybrids between Neandertals and modern humans. Neandertal remains have been found nearby at Kebara Cave that date to 61,000-48,000 years ago, but it has been hypothesised that the Skhul/Qafzeh hominids had died out by 80,000 years ago because of drying and cooling conditions, favouring a return of a Neandertal population suggesting that the two types of hominids never made contact in the region. A more recent hypothesis is that Skhul/Qafzeh hominids represent the first exodus of modern humans from Africa around 125,000 years ago, probably via the Sinai Peninsula, and that the robust features exhibited by the Skhul/Qafzeh hominids represent archaic sapiens features rather than Neandertal features. The discovery of modern human made tools from about 125,000 years ago at Jebel Faya, United Arab Emirates, in the Arabian Peninsula, may be from an even earlier exit of modern humans from Africa.

Ian Wallace and John Shea have devised a methodology for examining the various Middle paleolithic core assemblages present at the Levant site in order to test whether the different hominid populations had distinct mobility patterns. They use a ratio of "formal" and "expedient" cores within assemblages to demonstrate either early Homo sapiens or Neandertal mobility patterns, and thus categorize site occupations. In 2005, a set of 7 teeth from Tabun Cave in Israel were studied and found to most likely belong to a Neandertal that may have lived around 90,000 years ago, and another Neandertal (C1) from Tabun was estimated to be ~122,000 years old. If the dates are correct for these individuals, then it is possible that Neandertals and early moderns did make contact in the region and it may be possible that the Skhul and Qafzeh hominids are partially of Neandertal descent. Non-African modern humans contain 1-4% Neandertal genetic material, with hybridization possibly having taken place in the Middle East. It has been suggested, however, that the Skhul/Qafzeh hominids represent an extinct lineage. If this is the case, modern humans would have re-exited Africa around 70,000 years ago, crossing the narrow Bab-el-Mandeb strait between Eritrea and the Arabian Peninsula. This is the same route proposed to have been taken by the people who made the modern tools at Jebel Faya.

Skhul

The Skhul remains were discovered between 1929 and 1935 at a cave located in Es Skhul in Mount Carmel. The remains of seven adults and three children were found, some of which (Skhul;1,4, and 5) may have been deliberate burials. Assemblages of perforated Nassarius shells (a marine genus) significantly different from local fauna have also been recovered from the area, suggesting that these people may have collected and employed the shells symbolically as beads, as they are unlikely to have been used as food.

Skhul Layer B has been dated to an average of 81,000-101,000 years ago with the electron spin resonance method, and to an average of 119,000 years ago with the thermoluminescence method.

Skhul 5

Skhul 5 was a burial with the mandible of a wild boar on the chest. The skull displays prominent supraorbital ridges and jutting jaw, but the rounded braincase of modern humans. When found, it was assumed to be an advanced Neanderthal, but is today generally assumed to be a modern human, if a very robust one.

Qafzeh

Qafzeh cave opens onto a wall of Wadi el Hadj in the flank of Mount Precipice. Excavation of the cave by René Neuville began in 1934 and resulted in the discovery of the remains of 5 individuals in the Mousterian levels, which was then called the Levalloiso-Mousterian. (see Levallosian). The lower layers of the cave were later dated to 92,000 years ago, and a series of hearths, several human graves, flint artifacts (side scrapers, disc cores, and points), animal bones (gazelle, horse, fallow deer, wild ox, and rhinoceros), a collection of sea shells, lumps of red ochre, and an incised cortical flake were found.

The marine shells (Glycymeris bivalves) were brought from Mediterranean Sea shore some 35 km away, and were recovered from layers earlier than most of the graves except for one burial. The shells were complete, naturally perforated, and several showed traces of having been strung (perhaps as a necklace), and a few had ochre stains on them. The remains of 15 hominids (8 of them children) were recovered in total from Qafzeh within a Mousterian archaeological context and dated to ca. 95,000 years ago. Remains of Qafzeh; 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15 were burials.

The various layers at Qafzeh were dated to an average of 96,000-115,000 years ago with the electron spin resonance method and 92,000 years ago with the thermoluminescence method.

Qafzeh 6

The most well preserved skull. From the skull and teeth structure, the remains are believed to be of a young male.

Qafzeh 9 and 10

A double grave found in 1969 contained the skeleton of an adult (late adolescent), thought to be a female (Qafzeh 9), and the skeleton of a young child (Qafzeh 10). Qafzeh 9 has a high forehead, lack of occipital bun, a distinct chin, but an orthognathic face.

Qafzeh 11

In 1971, archaeologists discovered the grave of an adolescent, estimated to be around 13 years old, interred in a pit carved into bedrock. The remains were positioned on the back, with legs bent to the side and both hands placed near the neck. Clasped to the chest in the hands were the antlers of a large red deer, suggesting ceremonial or ritualistic aspects of the burial.

Qafzeh 12

A child of about 3 years old who manifests with skeletal abnormalities that indicate hydrocephalus.