HK19A and 19B, Har Karkom, Israel, c. 128,000 to 50,000 BP; f) hk19b stone circle site

Mousterian Hutfloor HK 19B in its landscape setting, Har Karkom Expedition, 4 April 1996. Three bushes are growing in the hutfloor and its entry area, which is roughly 3-4 meters in diameter. Next to one of these bushes is a small circle of white limestones, about 70 cm across. In this stone circle I identified at least 10 artifacts, including 7 that I interpret as intentional zoomorphic sculptures, and 3 flakes, one pentangular, one rhomboid, and one flake with retouch.

Tentative interpretation (James Harrod): It is hard to imagine that this not an intentional deposition or cache and that its content does not have ritual intent. Since it contains at least one possible horsehead--a small artistic masterpiece--this provides a thematic match to the horsehead at HK 19A.

Photo © James Harrod. James Harrod site photos taken on Emmanuel Anati Har Karkom Expedition, April 1996.
4/4/1996