New insights from the renewed analysis of the 100 layers sequence of tabun cave, Israel

After almost 100 years of Paleolithic research in the Levant, Tabun Cave still constitutes a focal point for understanding the dynamics of changes throughout the last half million years in the Near East. This is due to its unique 25- meters long sequence, which ranges from the Lower Paleolithic to the Middle Paleolithic periods. The cave was excavated by three different expeditions: D.A.E. Garrod (1929-1935), A.J. Jelinek (1967-1971) and A. Ronen (1975-2003). Our current project combines results from the two latter excavations at the cave which sampled different parts of the sequence, together forming a series of 99 superimposed layers that range from bedrock to the Middle Paleolithic (until Tabun C phase). In this presentation we highlight the range of innovations retrieved from the new analysis and the potential of working on the 16 meters of layers encompassing the combined sequence. Among our recent contributions are the reconstruction of the transition from the Acheulean to the Acheulo-Yabrudian, the intensified exploitation of predetermined technologies and the emergence of habitual fire. While our current endeavor is on researching various phenomena throughout the sequence in a relatively independent manner - brick by brick, our prime goal is to reconstruct how the various aspects crystallized into a comprehensive depiction of human evolution in the Near East.