New insights into the late Middle Stone Age occupation of Oued el Akarit, southern Tunisia

Abstract This article reports on a new project to investigate the activities of early Homo sapiens in area Chotts ‘megalake’ southern Tunisia. Excavations 2015 and 2019 at Oued el Akarit revealed one number Middle Stone Age (MSA) horizons near top long sequence Upper Pleistocene deposits. The site identified as ( Sondage 8 ) consists lithic artefacts, bone fragments large ungulates pieces ostrich eggshell. Many objects are burnt. Excavation about nine square metres that these were associated with lightly trampled combusted occupation surface. Amongst artefacts Levallois flakes some which could be refitted, thereby indicating generally undisturbed nature occupation. finds also included side scrapers other tools diagnostic MSA but significantly no bifacial or tanged tools. OSL (Optically Stimulated Luminescence) dating sediments AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) radiocarbon eggshell have produced uncalibrated age determinations range 37,000–40,000 years ago, youngest ages for sites region. is first example securely dated later riparian environment south-eastern