Late Quaternary human settlement patterning in the Jebel Gharbi

Area of Science:

• Geoarchaeology
• Quaternary Geology
• North African Prehistory

Background:

• The Jebel Gharbi region in northwestern Libya features a significant Upper Pleistocene geological sequence.
• Tectonic activity, specifically earthquakes during the Upper Pleistocene, created numerous springs in the area.
• These springs provided a consistent water source in an otherwise arid environment.

Observation:

• Archaeological sites are predominantly located near these tectonically-formed springs.
• The earliest evidence of human presence comprises Aterian lithic techno-complexes, dated between 80,000 and 40,000 BP.
• Springs are found throughout the Jebel Gharbi massif and at its foothills, with some remaining active.

Findings:

• The springs acted as crucial resource points, attracting populations from arid regions of North Africa and the Sahara.
• The research documents a long-term pattern of human settlement around these springs, spanning various cultural periods.
• Settlement evidence includes the Aterian, Later Stone Age (Upper Palaeolithic), Iberomaurusian, Neolithic, Roman, and modern periods.

Implications:

• The study highlights the critical role of hydrogeological features in shaping human migration and settlement patterns in prehistoric North Africa.
• It underscores the long-term habitability and resource availability provided by these springs.
• This research contributes to understanding the resilience and adaptability of ancient human populations in response to environmental conditions.