Dissertation Title
Technological and Typological change at the Middle- to Upper Palaeolithic Boundary in Lebanon
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Richter
Advisors: Prof. Dr. Gerd Christian Weniger, Prof. Dr. Thomas Widlok
Abstract
The dissertation is based on the study of lithics in order to explore c
ultural-historic connections across the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic boundary in Lebanon between 50-35,000 years ago on one hand, and between different regions in the Levant on the other. Besides the study of some 10 assemblages from Lebanon, additional data was acquired through published literature.
For the first time, it could be testified that co called transitional industries in Lebanon are not connected to the preceding Middle Palaeolithic, whereas the following Upper Palaeolithic developed out of this industry.
Read more
Previous authors had overlooked differences between assemblages in the Levant that were commonly subsumed under the term ‘transitional industries’. One major outcome of my thesis was that between ca. 47 and 33,000 years ago at least three distinct ‘transitional’ industries were present in the Levant that are clearly distinguished by their technology and tool typology.
In addition, it was established that the Lebanese transitional industry originated from the Central Negev in southern Israel at ca. 47,000 years ago. Later on, this industry migrated to southern Turkey at around 40,00 years ago.
Finally, a re-occurrence of Middle Palaeolithic technology could be detected between 36-33,000 years ago in some regions of the Levant, namely the Mediterranean parts of the Levant and Central Syria.
Making use of manifold characteristics in material culture, a more detailed picture of the cultural history and human migrations during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition could be established for Lebanon and the Levant by this dissertation.
Education
2010–2013: Ph.D. student at Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Cologne, Germany
2008–2009: M.Litt. in Professional Archaeology, University of Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
M.A. thesis: “Activities at Scalloway Broch, Shetland: a finds distribution analyses applying ArcGIS”
2004–2008: Student of Prehistoric Archaeology, Cultural Anthroplogy and Geography at University of Cologne, Germany
2007: Semester abroad in Kamloops, BC, Canada
2002–2004: Student of Archaeology, Geography and Literature at Ruhr-University-Bochum, Germany
Fieldwork
2004–2010: Field work on numerous sites and different periods in Germany and UK
Publications
- Leder, D., Bösken, J. (2018): Late Pleistocene landscapes and human mobility east of the Jordan Rift Valley: Results of geoarchaeological research in Wadi Sabra. EGU General Assembly 2018, 09.-13.04.2018, Vienna, Austria
- Leder, D. (2018): Lithic Variability and Techno-Economy of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic in the Levant. Science Publishing Group – In: International Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 6(1), p: 23-36, DOI: 10.11648/j.ija.20180601.14
- Leder, D. (2016): Core reduction strategies at the Initial Upper Palaeolithic sites Ksar Akil and Abou Halka in Lebanon.. – In: Lithics: the Journal of the Lithic Studies Society, Vol. 37, p: 33–53
- Leder, D. (2015): Michmiche Gouffre: A Meyroubian site in Mount Lebanon. – In: Annales d'histoire et d'archéologie, Vol. 20-21, p: 1-30
- Leder, D. (2014): Technological and Typological Change at the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic Boundary in Lebanon. Verlag Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH, Bonn, University of Cologne, Universitätsforschungen zur Prähistorischen Archäologie
- Leder, D. (2012): Die Fundkonzentration von Rietberg 5. Marie Leidorf Verlag