Site E-91-1: An Al Jerar Phase Locality at Nabta Playa

Abstract

Site E-91-1 is a large (300 × 75 m), partially destroyed settlement with numerous houses, bell-shaped storage pits, and hearths. A dense mantle of fire-cracked rocks, lithic artifacts, pottery sherds, and occasional faunal remains cover the surface of the site. Occupation occurred here at the very end of the Early Neolithic and represents a new entity which we have named Al Jerar. Radiocarbon age measurements suggest that this phase lasted for around 500 years, between 7800 and 7300 years ago. Present evidence indicates significant cultural continuity with the preceding El Nabta phase. Since the most recent dates for the El Nabta phase are at around 7900 bp (Site E-75-6, Królik and Schild, Chapter 7, this volume), only 100 years separates these two entities. Two recently obtained dates on charcoal from pits in different parts of Site E-91-1, both around 8000 bp, suggest that there may also have been a small El Nabta occupation at Site E-91-1. If so, however, the artifacts associated with the El Nabta presence cannot be distinguished from those from the much larger and richer Al Jerar settlement.