The anurans and squamates assemblage from Final Natufian Eynan (Ain Mallaha, Israel) with an emphasis on snake-human interactions

PLoS One. 2021 Feb 25;16(2):e0247283. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247283. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

During the Natufian period, more than 12,000 years ago, Eynan (Ain Mallaha) was an important human settlement in the Hula Valley, Israel. This study concentrates on the anuran and squamate assemblage from the ultimate stage of the Natufian period at the site, the Final Natufian. Over five thousand bones assigned to at least sixteen taxa were studied from a sampled segment of the excavated open-air site. Relative species abundance, spatial distribution, taphonomic observations and ecological considerations all pointed to the conclusion that the inhabitants of Eynan intensively exploited three large "colubrine" snakes species: the Large Whip Snake (Dolichophis jugularis), the Eastern Montpellier Snake (Malpolon insignitus) and an Eastern Four-lined Ratsnake (Elaphe cf. sauromates). These snakes were the most desired and were intensively gathered, while other snakes and lizards could have been opportunistically collected when encountered. We raise questions about whether the large "colubrines" exploitation should be interpreted as additional evidence of increasing diet breadth. We suggest challenging this line of reasoning and offer possible alternative motives.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anura / anatomy & histology*
  • Archaeology / methods
  • Biological Evolution
  • Bone and Bones / anatomy & histology
  • Diet
  • Environment
  • Humans
  • Israel
  • Lizards / anatomy & histology*
  • Snakes / anatomy & histology*

Grants and funding

Excavations and Laboratory work at Eynan/Ain Mallaha were sponsored through the years by the DGCID of the French Ministère des Affaires Étrangères and the IRENE LEVI-SALA CARE Archaeological Foundation. More funding was obtained from THE WENNER-GREN FOUNDATION FOR ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH (grant GR.6340) in 1998, by the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY (grant 6957-01) in 2001 and by the PRC CNRS-MOST 2018-2020 (A. Bridault and R. Rabinovich) “Human Impact on the Northern Jordan Valley (Hula Valley) using archaeological and genetic proxies”