Preliminary chronology of the Middle Stone Age at Jorf el Hamam rockshelther (Essaouira, Morocco): contribution of the combined U-series with ESR dating on tooth enamel

Abstract

The archaeological record of North Africa, such as the MSA sites located in the Atlantic region, has played a major role in our understanding of the emergence of our species, Homo sapiens, as well as in the diffusion of key cultural innovations. However, there is still a need for multiproxy data to better understand the processes that led to the cultural and biological evolution of MSA human groups, as well as the biogeographical role of the Sahara in such cultural changes. For these reasons, since 2019, new excavations at the Jorf el Hamam rockshelter, under the co-direction of Dr. Amy Clark and Dr. Abdeljalil Bouzouggar, aim to collect new data to provide a detailed study of the MSA cultural pattern at regional scale. Of the five layers identified, layers 5 to 3 yielded artifacts attributed to the MSA. Layer 3 yielded two herbivore teeth that were considered good candidates for U-series combined with ESR dating. Evaluation of the ESR dose on enamel powder (0-200μm) was carried out at CENIEH (Burgos, Spain) using the MAAD (Multiple aliquot additive dose) method. U-series analyses of enamel powder, dentin and cement solutions were carried out at the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences (Australia). We present here the preliminary chronology of the MSA at the Jorf el Hamam rock shelter, placing the final MSA from the MIS 4 to MIS 3. The implications of the results on a wider regional scale will be presented.