Kaus Kozah Cave
General information
The site Kaus Kozah was discovered during a survey in 2000. The cave is located at the backside of a oligocene cliff near Ma'aloula. Numerous surface finds in the area of the cave entrance as well as the slope indicated a very extensive site. The excavations took place in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Due to the local conditions, researchers primarily focused on the east entrance.
Stratigraphy
Based on observations of the excavated area and the profiles, four geological units could be defined. All units contained archaeological finds, so the archaeological horizons (AH) correlate with the geological horizons (GH). The horizons were consecutively numbered, starting with the upper, younger layers and counting up to the older layers.
GH 1 is made up of loose, rough lime gravel with little sediment. At the base of the horizon, the number of lime gravel pieces is fewer, and the amount of loose, silty sediment higher. This composition was named GH 2. While GH 1 and GH 2 are both grey and brown in color, GH 3 is characterised by a clearly brown sediment, which is also relatively loose and silty. GH 4 can be distinguished from the others due to not carrying organics in its sediments. This layer is red-brownsh and contains, aside from lime gravel, higher cly contents. Based on the different concentrations of lime gravel and different colorations, GH 4 was further divided into three sub-units. However, the differences within GH 4 ar quite subtle, which is why no new horizons were defined. The biggest difference in the composition of GH 4 and the youngest GH 1 is the compactness of the sediment. Diggin through GH 4 was only possible by using pickaxes.
Archaeology
The archaeological horizons I and II mostly carry epipalaeolithic finds. Like in Baaz, numerous retouched artifacts were recovered. Aside from end scrapers and lateral retouched blades, lunates and bladelets were found in large quantities. The recovered cores display a typically Upper Palaeolithic technique. They exhibit one, two or more striking platforms, considerable reductions and are very irregular in shape. The chronological dating of the artifacts into the Late Epipalaeolithic is strengthened by the presence of Khiam points, as well as the mortars recovered from the west entrance of Kaus Kozah.
The dating of AH III was not as clear, as Epipalaeolithic and Middle Palaeolithic artifacts were found. But since AH III could not be documented in all areas of the excavations, turbations and disturbances may be to blame. Current examinations seek to clarify this matter by reassemby and micromorphological analyses.
AH IV is not only different in its sediment, but also the find composition. In the upper areas of this horizons, bones and teeth of an approx. 3-4 year old human could be recovered. A preliminary analysis of the almost complete set of teeth by Shara Bailey, New York University, concluded that they belonged to an anatomically modern human. Identifying the hominid species became of interest due to the Middle Palaeolithic artifacts of AH IV. The majority of the artifacts from AH IV were identified as Levallois blanks. Further laminar blanks in Upper Palaeolithic fashion were found.
Current examinations and analyses also deal with AH IV.
Additionally to stone artifacts and animal bones, ornamental molluscs were found in I and II.
Literature
Conard, N.J., K. Bretzke, K.F. Hillgruber, A.W. Kandel, M. Masri 2006. The 2006 Excavation at Kaus Kozah Cave, Damascus Province, Syria. Report to the Syrian Department of Antiquities and Museums.
Conard, N. J., K. Bretzke, K. F. Hillgruber and M. Masri. 2006. The 2005 excavation at Kaus Kozah Cave. In Tübingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project 1999 – 2005. Edited by N. J. Conard. Kerns Verlag: Tübingen. pp. 195-205. [pdf]
Conard, N. J. and M. Masri. 2006. The 2004 excavation at Kaus Kozah Cave. In Tübingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project 1999 – 2005. Edited by N. J. Conard. Kerns Verlag: Tübingen. pp. 189-194. [pdf]