Undated
High plains of western Algeria
The Keremian is a poorly known Epi-Palaeolithic assemblage from the high plains of western Algeria, identified mainly at surface or unstratified midden sites near Kef el-Kerem. Its defining feature is the abundance of end-scrapers made on thick blades and heavy flakes, accompanied by backed blades, bladelets, small triangles, and lunates. The industry may belong to the Holocene and perhaps overlap with the Capsian, but its chronology and subsistence economy remain uncertain.
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The Story
The Keremian represents one of the poorly documented Epi-Palaeolithic variants of the Maghrib. It is associated with the site of Kef el-Kerem and with a small number of surface or unstratified midden sites on the high plains of western Algeria. Because the archaeological contexts are limited, the industry’s chronological position remains uncertain.
Its most striking characteristic is the concentration of end-scrapers, which make up about half of the tool-kit. These were produced on thick blades and heavy flakes, alongside backed blades and bladelets, very small triangles, and lunates. The microburin technique is present, but the tools are generally described as simply or crudely made.
The Keremian probably belongs to the Holocene and may have been contemporary with the Capsian. Comparisons have been drawn with the Arkinian industry of Nubia, which perhaps began about 7500 BC, and with the Libyco-Capsian of Cyrenaica. The excerpt cautions that such parallels may reflect convergent responses to common functional needs rather than historical relationships. Little is known about Keremian subsistence, although grinding stones occur.
Undated
High plains of western Algeria
The Keremian is a poorly known Epi-Palaeolithic assemblage from the high plains of western Algeria, identified mainly at surface or unstratified midden sites near Kef el-Kerem. Its defining feature is the abundance of end-scrapers made on thick blades and heavy flakes, accompanied by backed blades, bladelets, small triangles, and lunates. The industry may belong to the Holocene and perhaps overlap with the Capsian, but its chronology and subsistence economy remain uncertain.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Keremian represents one of the poorly documented Epi-Palaeolithic variants of the Maghrib. It is associated with the site of Kef el-Kerem and with a small number of surface or unstratified midden sites on the high plains of western Algeria. Because the archaeological contexts are limited, the industry’s chronological position remains uncertain.
Its most striking characteristic is the concentration of end-scrapers, which make up about half of the tool-kit. These were produced on thick blades and heavy flakes, alongside backed blades and bladelets, very small triangles, and lunates. The microburin technique is present, but the tools are generally described as simply or crudely made.
The Keremian probably belongs to the Holocene and may have been contemporary with the Capsian. Comparisons have been drawn with the Arkinian industry of Nubia, which perhaps began about 7500 BC, and with the Libyco-Capsian of Cyrenaica. The excerpt cautions that such parallels may reflect convergent responses to common functional needs rather than historical relationships. Little is known about Keremian subsistence, although grinding stones occur.