BACKGROUND

The best-studied Early Epipalaeolithic site to-date is the campsite of Ohalo II, located on the southern shore of the Sea of Galilee in Israel. Excavated in the mid-1990s, Ohalo II's excellently preserved deposits contain evidence for several hut structures with internal activity areas for flint knapping and plant processing, use of a wide variety of wild plant and animal resources, elaborate construction and cordage technologies, and a human burial. The huts at Ohalo II were re-occupied several times, with evidence for maintenance of floors and organic super-structures, and may have been occupied for several seasons of the year (Nadel and Werker 1999; Nadel (ed.) 2002; Nadel 2003; Nadel et al. 2004). Significantly, this site contains some of the best and earliest evidence for year round and multi-year occupation of one locale. In addition to Ohalo II, hut structures and human burials are known from a few other Early Epipalaeolithic sites, including Ein Gev I (Arensburg and Bar-Yosef 1973; Martin et Bar-Yosef 1979), Haon II (Bar-Yosef 1975), and Kharaneh IV (Maher et al. 2012a and b). Other regional research projects have included smaller-scale work at Early Epipalaeolithic sites, such as in the Coastal Plain of Israel (Bar-Yosef 1970), Negev and Sinai (Goring-Morris 1987), the Northern Jordan Valley (Edwards et al. 1996; Goring-Morris 1980; Hovers et al. 1988), Central Jordan (Coinman 1998; Coinman etal. 1989; Olszewski 2000; 2003 and 2011), Southern Jordan (Henry 1995) and Eastern Jordan (Garrard and Byrd 1992; Garrard et al. 1994a and b; Rollefson et al. 1997). Most of these sites represent the remains of ephemeral/temporary campsites occupied for only short periods of time, but are important for our knowledge of the variability and range of Early Epipalaeolithic settlement practices and mobility (see also Goring-Morris et al. 2009). Current research projects focussing on the Early Epi palaeolithic are rare. In Jordan, there are only two ongo ing research projects, the Epipalaeolithic Foragers in Azraq Project (EFAP) in Eastern Jordan and the Western Highlands of Jordan Project in West-Central Jordan. Although with a regional focus, EFAP has conducted extensive excavations at two Early Epipalaeolithic sites, Ayn Qasiyya and Kharaneh IV, and work at the latter remains ongoing. These sites have con tributed greatly to our understanding of the nature of hunter gatherer behaviours in this area, particularly with regard to settlement duration and intensity at aggregation sites, social and economic interaction networks, and burial practices. The site of'Ayn Qasiyya has yielded extensive lithic and faunal assemblages and a single in situ human burial (Richter 2011; Richter et al. 2010). The Kharaneh IV excavations have uncov ered hut features in addition to a plethora of lithic and faunal remains (Maher et al. 2011b; 2012a and b and in press; Richter et al. 2011). In addition to EFAP, the Western Highlands of Jordan Project has conducted extensive survey of the Kerak Plateau for Early Epipalaeolithic sites and is currently excavat ing the Early Epipalaeolithic site Wadi Madamagh in Southern Jordan (al-Nahar et al. 2009). This site's deposits are dense in lithics and animal remains and exhibit a well-preserved, high resolution stratigraphie record with multiple hearths and mid den deposits.

Early Epipalaeolithic sites are generally small in size, rang ing from 15 to 400 m2, with low artifact densities and diversity, and are presumed to represent small, seasonal camps. Traces of structures or other site features are rare. Ohalo II, for exam ple, has at least three well-preserved brush huts with indoor and outdoor activity areas, hearths, and midden …