THE GEOARCHAEOLOGY OF ASPS (THE ABYDOS SURVEY FOR PALEOLITHIC SITES)

The eastern edge of the Libyan Plateau near Abydos, Egypt is a geomorphically diverse region, where relatively mature, deeply incised drainage systems, numerous caves and overhangs, gently undulating and stepped topography would have provided a variety of environmental settings for hominid occupation throughout the course of the Quaternary. The Abydos Survey for Paleolithic Sites (ASPS) systematically examined a ~5 sq. km. region of the Plateau for archaeological material; in spite of the project name, all cultural material including historic-age artifacts and structures were recorded. Despite the geomorphic variety in the region, most sites identified came from similar taphonomic settings- from desert pavement in various stages of maturity. Artifacts were rarely found below the pavement surface, which is in accordance with expectations if pavements evolved principally by addition of eolian sediment rather then by deflation. In order to assess taphonomic processes involved in these desert-pavement sites, measurements were taken on the size distribution of desert-pavement clasts and associated artifacts. The measurements indicate fine-fraction winnowing (artifacts and non-anthropogenic clasts) is a common phenomenon in many of the more mature pavement sites. Pavement lithology varies across the study region (ranging from 100% chert to 100% limestone), but does not seem to relate to any of the artifact variables. Though most pavement surfaces seem for the large part to have been stable throughout the recent geologic past, bioturbation (specifically by jackals) may have played an important role in the surface distribution of pavement clasts. Though wadis would probably have represented important water resources during more humid times, little to no archaeological material is found associated with the wadi floors. This most likely reflects in part the flashy discharge regime which has resulted in most wadi deposits being routinely flushed out of the valleys. It is also possible that frequent (impassible) bedrock steps in the longitudinal profiles of the wadis made many of the major wadi systems unfavorable for pedestrian travel during both humid and arid phases. Rather, historic and prehistoric travel routes through the region would most likely have followed drainage divides.