The Late Lower Paleolithic Site of Evron Zinat: Uncommon Raw Material Sources and Procurement Strategies

Although identified almost a century ago, the late Lower Paleolithic (LP) open-air site of Evron Zinat remains poorly understood. We argue that the site’s huge surface collection comprising some 40,000 flint implements, including ca. 1,300 handaxes and numerous scrapers, has unfulfilled potential. Geochemical analysis of 12 handaxes and a range of primary flint exposures in the western Galilee demonstrates that raw materials for tool production were selected from at least two sources of distinct geological ages, Eocene and Cenomanian. This sets Evron Zinat apart from all other Upper Galilee and Hula Valley LP sites, the flint handaxes of which were shaped solely on Eocene flint. Another contribution is the identification of a previously unknown Paleolithic flint extraction and reduction site West of Julis, located 10 km south of Evron Zinat. We end our exposition with a discussion of Evron Zinat’s potential as a key late LP site based on a significant Acheulo-Yabrudian component of its asseblage.