Recent Survey in the Libyan Sahara: Implications for our understanding of the Palaeolithic

Description

Basell, L.S. and LeQuesne, C.
Abstract: During 2008 – 2009, the authors undertook research in conjunction with the Libyan Department of Antiquities to characterise the archaeology of a large area of the Libyan Sahara. This work was conducted for Shell Petroleum Ltd in their concession areas of the Sirte Basin. For the vast majority of the area, no archaeological survey had ever been conducted. Sites and areas of high archaeological potential were identified through a combination of desk-based research, analysis of remote sensing data, geological and geomorphological analyses. Focussed ground-truthing field survey was then conducted. Thousands of sites were identified of many different periods, including Palaeolithic lithics. The paper describes the desk-based methodology and considers its efficacy in relation to the identification and protection of Palaeolithic sites. The lithic finds are discussed, with particular reference to their implications for our interpretation of hominin dispersals within Africa, and lithic analysis at a more general level.

Period	29 Jan 2010
Event title	Centre for Archaeology of Human Origins Symposium
Event type	Conference
Location	Southampton, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International