Quantitative phytolith study of hearths from the Natufian and middle palaeolithic levels of Hayonim Cave (Galilee, Israel)

A study of the mineralogy and phytolith assemblages of hearths and their associated sediments in Hayonim Cave, Israel, shows that wood ash is a major component of the sediments of both the Natufian (approximately 12,000 Bp) and the Mousterian deposits (approximately 100 to 250,000 BP). Interestingly, phytolith analyses show that in the Natufian deposits grasses are the second most abundant form of vegetation preserved, whereas in the Mousterian deposits leaves of dicotyledonous plants are the second most abundant form of vegetation preserved. Significant differences were repeatedly observed in phytolith assemblages from closely associated but different stratigraphic layers, showing that vertical mixing of intact sediments is not intensive, and that there was a diverse input of vegetation over relatively short time periods. No consistent differences were observed in the mineralogy and the phytolith assemblages between hearths and their associated sediments. Both contain abundant ash components. This study demonstrates that quantitative analyses of phytoliths together with mineralogical analyses, can provide much information on the use of plants for fuel and other purposes by the cave occupants. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.