Dining Out in the Desert: Results From Protein Residue Analysis at the Azraq Oasis, Jordan

Summary

Excavations at Shishan Marsh 1 (SM-1) have provided evidence of a unique ecosystem, along with faunal remains and over 10,000 artifacts made from local flint dating to approximately 250,000 years ago. Forty-six of these artifacts were selected for residue analysis from stratified, in-situ deposits. Extractions from these lithic tools were tested for possible protein residues using the technique of cross-over immunoelectrophoresis (CIEP). The SM-1 artifact extractions were run against eight antisera, informed by the diversity of faunal remains at the site: rhinoceros, camel, deer, duck, horse, goat, bovine, and cat. In total, 17 positive results were obtained: rhinoceros (3), duck (3), horse (5), camel (3), and bovine (3). An overview of the findings, methods, implications, and the demonstrated potential for CIEP to reveal family-specific results of protein residue from deep time will be presented.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Middle Pleistocene Subsistence in the Azraq Oasis, Jordan: Protein Residue and Other Proxies

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15519