El-Guettar is a southern Tunisian archaeological site containing stratified Middle Palaeolithic assemblages and an unusual pile of limestone spheroids. Near the bottom of a seven-metre deposit sequence, the pile contained a typical Aterian tanged point and, at a slightly higher level, a canted scraper with a tang. The feature has been interpreted either as a possible offering cairn associated with a spring or as accumulated occupation waste.
Continue exploring
The Story
El-Guettar lies in southern Tunisia, where several assemblages of Mousterian aspect are stratified within chott deposits and spring-related sediments. Near the bottom of a sequence covered by seven metres of deposits, archaeologists found a typical Aterian tanged point in the middle of an artificial pile of limestone balls. A second tanged object, identified as a canted scraper, came from a slightly higher level.
The pile measured about 1.30 metres in diameter at its base and about 0.75 metres in height. It contained both artificial and natural spheroids, as well as retouched flint tools, manufacturing waste, and numerous teeth and fragments of bone. Larger stones appeared to ring its base, and the feature rested on a natural step beside the central eye of a spring.
Two interpretations are preserved in the discussion. The finest tools lying on or near the top led to a suggestion that the feature was a cairn of offerings to the spirit of the spring. Another possibility is that it accumulated as occupation waste, either falling into the spring from a nearby living floor or being deliberately piled there to create a standing place for collecting water.
El-Guettar is a southern Tunisian archaeological site containing stratified Middle Palaeolithic assemblages and an unusual pile of limestone spheroids. Near the bottom of a seven-metre deposit sequence, the pile contained a typical Aterian tanged point and, at a slightly higher level, a canted scraper with a tang. The feature has been interpreted either as a possible offering cairn associated with a spring or as accumulated occupation waste.
Continue exploring
The Story
El-Guettar lies in southern Tunisia, where several assemblages of Mousterian aspect are stratified within chott deposits and spring-related sediments. Near the bottom of a sequence covered by seven metres of deposits, archaeologists found a typical Aterian tanged point in the middle of an artificial pile of limestone balls. A second tanged object, identified as a canted scraper, came from a slightly higher level.
The pile measured about 1.30 metres in diameter at its base and about 0.75 metres in height. It contained both artificial and natural spheroids, as well as retouched flint tools, manufacturing waste, and numerous teeth and fragments of bone. Larger stones appeared to ring its base, and the feature rested on a natural step beside the central eye of a spring.
Two interpretations are preserved in the discussion. The finest tools lying on or near the top led to a suggestion that the feature was a cairn of offerings to the spirit of the spring. Another possibility is that it accumulated as occupation waste, either falling into the spring from a nearby living floor or being deliberately piled there to create a standing place for collecting water.
Continue the journey
Other paths related to this story.