Hummalian industry (El-Kowm, Central Syria): core-like reductions for small-sized debitage case in Levantine Middle Palaeolithic

This paper presents the Hummalian industry uncovered during the 2001-2005 and 2009 excavations at Hummal (El Kowm), Syria from the stratified layers, mainly layer 6c-2. Blade industries were located in the stratigraphy between the Yabrudian and Levallois-Mousterian occupations and their complete sequence is dated to circa 200 ky. The main Hummalian core reduction strategy aimed to produce elongated and large-sized blanks of different morphology. Nonetheless the significance of on-site manufacturing of small implements from burin-cores and truncated-faceted pieces is also a remarkable feature. These end products, namely bladelets and small-sized flakes, also represent anticipated components complementary to the repertoire of various lithic specimens recovered from Hummalian layers and could suggest hand held cutting tools. The presence of three variable reduction strategies showing a great variety of core reduction methods seems to be related to the
Hummal site function and its Early Middle Palaeolithic human occupation.