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ʿAin Mallaha (Arabic: عين ملاحة) or Eynan (Hebrew: עינן) was an Epipalaeolithic settlement belonging to the Natufian culture, occupied circa 14,326–12,180 cal. BP.[1] The settlement is an example of hunter-gatherer sedentism, a crucial step in the transition from foraging to farming.[2]

Key Information

ʿAin Mallaha has one of the earliest known archaeological evidence of dog domestication.[3]

Village

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This site is located in the Hula Valley of northern Israel, 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of the Sea of Galilee, and is in an area surrounded by hills and located by an ancient lake, Lake Huleh. At the time of its Natufian inhabitance, the area was heavily forested in oak, almond, and pistachio trees.[4]

Evidence of settlement at Mallaha or ʿAin Mallaha dates back to the Mesolithic period at circa 10,000 BCE.[5] The first permanent village settlement of pre-agricultural times in Israel, Kathleen Kenyon describes the material remains found there as Natufian.[6][7] The Natufian village was colonized in three phases. The first two phases had massive stone-built structures with smaller ones in the third phase. These phases occurred from 12,000 to 9600 BCE. The dwellings were cut into the earth, had subterranean floors, and walls that were built of dry stone. Wooden posts supported the roofs, which were probably thatches with brushwood or animal hides.[8] Hearths were located within the dwellings. Kenyon describes the Natufian village as consisting of 50 circular, semi-subterranean, one-room huts, paved with flat slabs and surrounded by stone walls up to 1.2 meters (3.9 ft) high.[6] The floors and walls of the homes were decorated in solid white or red, a simple and popular decorative motif in the Near East at the time.[5]

Diet

[edit]
Schematic human figure made of pebbles, from ʿAin Mallaha, Early Natufian, 12000 BC.

The inhabitants of ʿAin Mallaha were sedentary hunter-gatherers; it is likely that they lived in ʿAin Mallaha year round, gathering food from the surrounding wild stands of edible vegetation, and hunting local game. The inhabitants used hand mortars for grinding wild nuts and grain, and stone sickles for cutting plants from wild stands. Many of these sickle stones hold "sickle-gloss," indicating they had been used to cut large numbers of plant stems, most likely wild wheat and barley.[9] The inhabitants are known to have eaten gazelle, fallow deer, wild boar, red and roe deer, hare, tortoise, reptiles, and fish.[10]

The inhabitants appear to have subsisted on fish from nearby Lake Hula, as well as by hunting and gathering; no evidence of animal domestication or cultivation has been found,[6][11] with the conspicuous exception of dogs (see Burial customs).

Burial customs

[edit]

It is likely that entire families were buried in the remains of their own houses, the houses being subsequently abandoned. During excavation, Perrot found one dwelling to contain the graves of 11 men, women, and children, many of them wearing elaborate decorations made from dentalium shells. In another dwelling (131), twelve individuals were found, one buried with her hand resting on the body of a small puppy.[12][page needed] This burial of a human being with a domestic dog represents the earliest known archaeological evidence of dog domestication.[13] One of the female burials has disarranged body parts and gazelle horn-cores placed near the head, David Wengrow has used this as evidence for the deep-history of human-animal hybrid motifs found in ancient beliefs, practices, and folklore.[14]

Excavation

[edit]

ʿAin Mallaha was discovered in 1954 and salvage excavations were carried out under the supervision of Jean Perrot, Monique Lechevalier and François Valla of the CNRS.[15] Since 2022, the site is excavated by Fanny Bocquentin and Lior Weissbrod.[16]

  • Limestone and basalt mortars, ʿAin Mallaha, Early Natufian, circa 12000 BC (Israel Museum, Jerusalem)
    Limestone and basalt mortars, ʿAin Mallaha, Early Natufian, circa 12000 BC (Israel Museum, Jerusalem)
  • Stone Mortars from ʿAin Mallaha, Natufian period, 12500-9500 BC(Israel Museum, Jerusalem)
    Stone Mortars from ʿAin Mallaha, Natufian period, 12500-9500 BC(Israel Museum, Jerusalem)
  • Basalt sharpening stones, ʿAin Mallaha and Nahal Oren, Natufian Culture, 12500-9500 BC (Israel Museum, Jerusalem)
    Basalt sharpening stones, ʿAin Mallaha and Nahal Oren, Natufian Culture, 12500-9500 BC (Israel Museum, Jerusalem)
  • ʿAin Mallaha Epipaleolithic mortar (Israel Museum, Jerusalem)
    ʿAin Mallaha Epipaleolithic mortar (Israel Museum, Jerusalem)

See also

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References

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ʿAin Mallaha

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from Grokipedia
ʿAin Mallaha, also known as Eynan, is an in the Upper of northern , near Lake , occupied during the from approximately 14,300 to 11,900 calibrated years before present (c. 12,350–9,950 BCE). It represents a pivotal settlement in the , exemplifying the transition toward semi-sedentism among hunter-gatherers, with well-preserved evidence of round, semi-subterranean dwellings, diverse subsistence practices, and burials indicative of social complexity. The site's strategic location between the hills of and provided access to abundant resources, including springs, marshes, wild cereals, gazelles, , , birds, and plant foods like almonds and pistachios, supporting a broad-spectrum during a warm, wet Late Glacial Interstadial. This environmental richness facilitated prolonged occupation across Early and Final Natufian phases, with the Early phase dated to around 14,326 ± 266 cal BP and the Final to 12,466 ± 179 to 11,895 ± 141 cal BP. Excavations, initiated by Jean Perrot in 1955–1961 and continued by François Valla and others through 2005, with additional salvage excavations in 2013, uncovered numerous structures, including around 25 major buildings such as circular buildings up to 7 meters in diameter with stone walls, central hearths, postholes for reed superstructures, and some red-painted floors. Artifacts such as mortars, pestles, and microlithic tools highlight intensive processing of wild plants, while faunal assemblages show a shift with more prominent than at other Natufian sites. Burials, often integrated near dwellings, reveal symbolic practices, including grave goods like dentalium shell headdresses, ostrich-egg vessels, and limestone carvings, suggesting emerging social identities, status differentiation, and long-distance exchange networks. These findings underscore ʿAin Mallaha's role in pre-agricultural societies, challenging traditional views on sedentism origins and illustrating cultural continuity into the Pre-Pottery Neolithic.

Location and Environment

Geographical Setting

ʿAin Mallaha, also known as Eynan, is situated at 33°05′13″N 35°34′45″E in the of northern , forming part of the Upper roughly 25 kilometers north of the . The site occupies a low terrace elevated about 70 meters above sea level, positioned near the southern margin of the former Lake Hula and adjacent to a perennial spring that provided a reliable water source. This terrace rises above what was once a marshy plain, offering a strategic vantage in a landscape characterized by fertile lowlands and surrounding basaltic hills. The Hula Basin, where the site lies, is enclosed by the western slopes of the hills to the west and the elevated rift margins to the east, creating a humid, resource-rich corridor within the broader . Approximately 200 meters south of the Eynan spring—the largest in the —the location benefited from proximity to diverse ecological zones, including the basin's wetlands and upland forests. The ʿAin Mallaha reflects the local spring's historical association, while the Eynan emphasizes its role as a vital water point; the site is also linked regionally to other prehistoric locales, such as Nahal further south along the . In the modern era, the surrounding underwent significant transformation with the drainage of Lake Hula in the to enable agricultural expansion, which altered the local hydrology and exposed archaeological layers but posed risks to preservation. Subsequently, partial reflooding in the 1990s established the Hula Nature Reserve nearby, restoring wetland habitats and enhancing environmental protection for sites like ʿAin Mallaha, now managed as a key archaeological heritage area in northern . This conservation effort underscores the site's integration into the valley's contemporary ecological framework while safeguarding its prehistoric context.

Paleoenvironmental Context

During the Late Pleistocene to early Holocene transition, the region surrounding ʿAin Mallaha experienced warmer and wetter climatic conditions between approximately 12,000 and 10,000 BCE, characterized by a Mediterranean climate with increased precipitation supporting the expansion of oak-pistachio woodlands and riparian forests along watercourses. Pollen records from Lake Hula indicate a predominance of arboreal taxa such as Quercus (oak) and Pistacia (pistachio), reflecting moist environments conducive to diverse vegetation, including wild cereals like Hordeum spontaneum and Triticum dicoccoides, as well as fruits and legumes. These conditions fostered marshlands and fertile basins around the paleolake, with stable isotope analyses from ostracod shells (δ¹⁸O values ranging from -6.0 to -3.7‰) confirming relatively mild temperatures and consistent hydrological inputs without extreme aridity during the broader Natufian occupation phase. The local ecology was enriched by perennial water sources from the and nearby springs, which sustained a of habitats ideal for semi-sedentary lifestyles, including wetlands teeming with fish and aquatic resources alongside terrestrial zones supporting herbivores. Faunal assemblages from the site reveal a diverse array of species, including significant numbers of gazelles (Gazella gazella), though less dominant than at many other Natufian sites, supplemented by deer (e.g., Dama mesopotamica, Cervus elaphus), (Sus scrofa), and smaller taxa such as (Testudo graeca) and birds, indicative of a resource-abundant akin to the pre-drainage wetlands. cores from the Hula Basin (spanning 18,000-8,000 BCE) further corroborate this fertility through layers of organic-rich silts reflecting high productivity and minimal disturbance, while evidence points to the exploitation of grassy monocots in open woodlands. Paleoenvironmental reconstructions rely on integrated , , and faunal analyses, which collectively depict the Basin as a refugium of during this period, with arboreal percentages exceeding 50% in pre- samples from cores, signaling a supportive of hunter-gatherer aggregation. The onset of the cooling event (ca. 10,900–9,600 BCE) introduced drier conditions, leading to a decline in arboreal to below 25% and a shift toward , which contracted and altered faunal migration patterns, with increased reliance on resilient like gazelles and small game in response to . Despite these changes, the basin's hydrological stability mitigated severe impacts, maintaining viable resources for late Natufian occupants.

Chronology and Cultural Affiliation

Dating and Stratigraphy

The stratigraphic sequence at ʿAin Mallaha consists of a multi-layered deposit up to approximately 3 meters deep, encompassing primarily Natufian occupations with divisions into Early, Late, and Final phases that reflect successive building and activity episodes. The basal Early Natufian layers (II–IV) form the thickest portion, reaching up to 1.5 meters, overlain by the thinner Late Natufian layer (Ic) at 30–40 cm and Final Natufian layers (Ib1–Ib2) at 30–50 cm, with a modern surface layer (Ia) of 10–50 cm. These strata document intermittent but prolonged settlement, with semi-subterranean structures and pits integrated into the depositional profile, and a possible thin (PPNA) overlay suggested by outlier dates at the top of the sequence. Radiocarbon dating provides the primary chronological framework, with measurements conducted on , , and seeds from hearths, floors, and burials. The site's occupation spans primarily ca. 14,300–11,900 cal (c. 12,350–9,950 BCE), bridging the Epipaleolithic Natufian period and the onset of the Neolithic transition. Key assays include 12,250 ± 60 (ca. 14,800–14,700 cal ) from Early Natufian contexts and 10,540 ± 90 (ca. 12,727–12,426 cal ) from Final Natufian layers, with an outlier of 8,740 ± 40 (ca. 10,126–10,062 cal ) potentially indicating the PPNA overlay. These results align with regional Natufian chronologies from sites like El-Wad Terrace, supporting correlations across the . As one of the longest-occupied Natufian sites in the , ʿAin Mallaha demonstrates continuity over approximately 2,400 years, with the stratigraphic record illustrating gradual from larger Early Natufian structures to smaller Final Natufian ones without major discontinuities. This extended sequence underscores the site's role in understanding and environmental adaptations during a period of climatic fluctuation at the end of the Pleistocene.

Natufian Phases at the Site

ʿAin Mallaha, also known as Eynan, represents a key site for understanding the cultural evolution of the Natufian period in the , with occupations spanning the Early and Late phases that illustrate a progression toward greater . During the Early Natufian (ca. 12,400–10,800 BCE), the site exhibits an initial semi-sedentary lifestyle characterized by intensive foraging of wild resources, including cereals harvested with sickle blades, which suggests early experimentation with resource management akin to proto-agriculture. This phase is marked by a broad-spectrum economy relying on , gathering, and in a relatively lush paleoenvironment with oak-pistacia woodlands, supporting a estimated at 50–100 individuals in a settlement covering about 2,000 square meters. The site's large, semi-subterranean structures and storage facilities underscore this shift from mobile foraging bands to more permanent communities, positioning ʿAin Mallaha as one of the largest and most complex Natufian sites that exemplifies the broader transition to sedentary lifestyles in the region. In the Late Natufian (ca. 10,800–9,700 BCE), including the Final subphase during the climatic cooling (ca. 12,900–11,700 cal BP), sedentism intensified at ʿAin Mallaha amid environmental stresses such as forest thinning and resource scarcity, leading to adaptations in subsistence strategies. Communities continued intensive but showed increased reliance on processing wild plants, evidenced by the proliferation of ground stone tools like mortars and grinding slabs for and preparation. Smaller architectural forms and denser occupations reflect a response to these pressures, with the site maintaining its role as a hub of Natufian variability through repeated building episodes and resource storage innovations. This phase highlights the site's resilience, as inhabitants adapted to cooler, drier conditions without fully abandoning , thereby bridging Epipaleolithic traditions with emerging patterns. Transitional elements at ʿAin Mallaha toward the (PPNA) include hints of early plant cultivation and animal management, observed in the Final Natufian layers through systematic cereal harvesting and joint human-canine interments suggesting the onset of processes around 12,000 years ago (ca. 10,050 BCE). These features, combined with plastered storage pits and geometric structural planning, indicate preparatory steps for that align with broader Levantine developments, though the site was abandoned just before full PPNA occupation. Recent analyses confirm the Final Natufian at ca. 12,680–11,710 cal BP (10,730–9,760 BCE). Overall, ʿAin Mallaha's stratigraphic sequence over nearly 2,400 years provides critical evidence of Natufian cultural dynamism, from proto-sedentary to intensified adaptations that laid foundational influences for societies.

Settlement and Architecture

Village Layout

The settlement at ʿAin Mallaha, also known as Eynan, covered an estimated area of approximately 2,000 square meters, making it one of the largest known Natufian open-air sites. Excavations have uncovered a dense clustering of semi-subterranean circular and semi-circular structures across this extent, indicative of a semi-sedentary population of 50–100 individuals. The spatial arrangement reflects a organized village layout, with structures grouped in clusters that suggest central residential zones interspersed with open areas likely used for communal activities. Peripheral zones around these clusters contained activity areas, including storage pits and processing spaces, while internal divisions within structures separated living floors from work areas such as hearths and zones. This zonal organization highlights an early form of planned settlement to the local environment near the spring and ancient lake. High density is evident from over 25 major buildings and hundreds of associated features within the excavated portions, spanning multiple occupational layers. Indicators of permanence include repeated rebuilding episodes, such as nested and superimposed structures with multiple floors and repairs, pointing to year-round occupation over generations. In comparison to more mobile Natufian camps like Hayonim Cave, ʿAin Mallaha exhibits greater scale and structural complexity, underscoring its role as a proto-village.

Building Structures and Features

The dwellings at ʿAin Mallaha, also known as Eynan, primarily consist of circular or semi-circular semi-subterranean structures, with diameters ranging from 3 to 9 meters, constructed using local foundations often supplemented by occasional elements. These buildings feature walls built from stone, likely plastered with mud, and supported by wooden superstructures indicated by postholes. Internal features commonly include central hearths for heating and cooking, storage pits for , and floors in select cases, particularly associated with pit installations that underwent multiple plastering episodes using alternating layers of lime and mud. Over 25 major structures have been identified across the site's phases, with some evidence suggesting possible enclosures or public buildings among them. Architectural variations reflect changes across Natufian phases, with Early Natufian buildings exhibiting larger, more robust forms featuring massive walls up to 1.10 meters high and multiple successive floors, often with simpler pit features integrated into the design. In contrast, Late Natufian structures are smaller in scale, incorporating more defined storage pits and arrangements that suggest multi-room-like divisions within the semi-subterranean layouts. Final Natufian dwellings shift to lighter, oval or semi-circular shelters with repeated floor layers and built pits, emphasizing portability and repeated occupation while maintaining core elements like hearths and postholes. These evolutions highlight adaptations in construction techniques amid environmental and subsistence shifts, as documented in long-term excavations.

Economy and Subsistence

Dietary Resources

The dietary resources exploited at ʿAin Mallaha reflect a broad-spectrum typical of Natufian subsistence, drawing from diverse ecological niches in the Upper , including lake shores, marshes, and surrounding woodlands. Faunal remains from the site are dominated by (Gazella spp.), comprising a significant portion (around 50-60% in some phases) of the large mammal assemblage in early phases, supplemented by (Dama mesopotamica), (Capreolus capreolus), (Sus scrofa), and occasional (Bos primigenius). These ungulates provided the primary protein sources, with evidence of selective strategies targeting herds in open landscapes. Aquatic exploitation was significant, with thousands of bones, primarily from Lake Hula species such as (Cyprinus carpio), indicating seasonal activities. Birds, small game like hares (Lepus spp.) and foxes ( spp.), as well as (e.g., Theodoxus jordani) and crustaceans (e.g., Potamon spp. crabs), further diversified the animal-based intake, with remains suggesting opportunistic collection from humid habitats. Botanical evidence, derived from phytoliths and grinding stones, points to the gathering of wild cereals including (Hordeum spontaneum) and (Triticum dicoccoides), though these were minor compared to small-seeded grasses; alongside , nuts such as acorns (Quercus spp.) and almonds (Amygdalus spp.), and seasonal fruits. These plant foods were processed, as indicated by grinding tools, but small-seeded grasses and reeds from nearby marshes were more prominent, underscoring targeted collection from environments. Seasonal patterns in resource procurement are evident from dental ageing and microwear analyses of remains, with hunted primarily in spring and summer, and targeted in late autumn to early winter, aligning with migration and breeding cycles. This temporal organization, combined with year-round access to lake and spring resources, minimized dietary risks and supported semi-sedentary occupation. Stable carbon values (δ¹³C averaging -13.29‰) from remains confirm a diet heavily reliant on C₃ and associated herbivores, providing nutritional balance through proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that sustained population aggregation without . Early is implied by the site's location near perennial water sources and the intensive use of local , fostering dietary stability amid environmental variability.

Tools and Technological Adaptations

The lithic assemblage at ʿAin Mallaha is characteristic of Natufian technology, dominated by microliths that constituted approximately 50% of the tool inventory across the site's phases. These included lunates, often produced through techniques such as retouch in the Early Natufian evolving to smaller, abrupt-backed forms in later phases, alongside backed bladelets used primarily as hunting armatures for composite projectiles. Scrapers, particularly end-scrapers on bladelets, and burins on blades or flakes were also prevalent, serving functions in hide processing and . The was predominantly local flint sourced from nearby outcrops in the , with indicating on-site focused on bladelet production. Ground stone tools at the site reflect an intensification of plant-based subsistence, with mortars (ranging 12–60 cm in height), pestles, querns, and grinding slabs increasing in abundance toward the Final Natufian. These implements, primarily made from quarried 2–10 km away in areas like the , show use-wear patterns indicative of processing , cereals, and possibly grinding, suggesting multifunctional roles in food preparation and resource exploitation. This technological emphasis underscores a shift toward more sedentary gathering practices. Bone and shell implements complemented the lithic toolkit, with items such as harpoons, for , and ornaments crafted from bones and marine molluscs like Dentalium shells or phalanges. Bone points, some designed for handheld use and others as projectiles, along with rare bone sickles and curved hooks in the Final Natufian, highlight adaptations for , , and domestic activities in the site's lacustrine environment. A key innovation in the assemblage was the presence of sickle blades exhibiting characteristic silica sheen from harvesting wild cereals and other monocots, marking early steps toward proto-agricultural practices and distinguishing ʿAin Mallaha's economy from purely strategies. These blades, often on short bladelets with bifacial retouch, were integrated into hafted tools for efficient collection.

Burials and Social Organization

Burial Practices

At ʿAin Mallaha, also known as Eynan, Natufian burial practices varied between the Early and Final phases, reflecting evolving ritual traditions integrated into domestic spaces. In the Early Natufian, primary inhumations typically involved individuals placed in flexed positions—either on their side, back, or face—within shallow pits dug beneath the floors of semi-subterranean houses. These burials were often adorned with such as necklaces and bone beads, and stones were sometimes positioned around the body to maintain its posture, suggesting deliberate preparation for interment. The placement under house floors indicates a close spatial integration of the dead with the living, potentially linked to ancestor veneration. During the Final Natufian, burial methods involved deep or shallow pits, some coated with , excavated alongside or linked to buildings. Primary inhumations continued in flexed or hyper-flexed positions, often oriented east-west or south-north, but grave goods like ornaments became rare. Collective burials emerged more prominently, with multiple successive interments in single pits—up to 11 individuals in some cases—indicating group or family rites where bodies were added over time, leading to partial from superposition. Large stones were placed within or over these pits, possibly to mark or seal them, and gazelle horn cores were occasionally associated with skulls. Across both phases, were consistently intramural, concentrated in the northwestern and southeastern sectors of the site and tied to dwelling structures, underscoring the blurred boundaries between habitation and mortuary activities. Some Final Natufian show evidence of post-interment disturbance, such as by later hearths installed in the same areas, implying ongoing use of these spaces. While was present in the site's for grinding, no direct evidence links it to rituals at ʿAin Mallaha. Variability in treatment, including individual vs. collective interments and rare animal inclusions, suggests emerging social identities and possible status differentiation or family-based organization.

Associated Human and Animal Remains

The human skeletal assemblage from ʿAin Mallaha, primarily from the Final Natufian phase, comprises remains of approximately 30 individuals recovered from well-defined sepulchral units. These include a mix of adults predominantly aged 30 years or older and juveniles ranging from perinatal to about 14 years old, with identifiable sexes showing both males and females among the adults. Sexual dimorphism is evident in skeletal metrics, consistent with broader Natufian patterns, though site-specific stature estimates indicate average male heights around 174.5 cm based on measurements. Health indicators reveal dietary and lifestyle stresses, including heavy dental wear attributed to consumption of gritty, abrasive foods such as wild cereals processed with stone tools. In the Final Natufian phase, there is a notable increase in carious lesions compared to earlier phases, suggesting shifts in intake or challenges. Evidence of appears in joint surfaces of older adults, likely linked to repetitive activities in a semi-sedentary , while —indicating episodes of nutritional stress—decreases from Early to Final Natufian, implying improved overall resilience despite localized pathologies. A prominent example of animal-human association is the burial of a puppy interred around 12,000 years ago alongside an elderly woman, positioned with the animal under her hand in a grave near a dwelling. This find, one of the earliest documented cases of such companionship, features a canid with morphological traits intermediate between wolf and domestic dog, pointing to nascent domestication processes. Animal inclusions in human burials are infrequent but include gazelle horn cores possibly attached to two skulls in a Final Natufian context, serving as rare grave goods.

Excavations and Discoveries

Early Excavations

The site of ʿAin Mallaha, situated in the Hula Valley of northern Israel near the former Lake Hula, was first identified as an archaeological site in 1954 during construction works associated with the drainage of the lake. This discovery prompted immediate salvage excavations under the auspices of the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), directed by archaeologist Jean Perrot. Perrot's campaigns spanned multiple seasons from 1955 to 1961, including intensive work in 1955–1957, 1959–1960, and 1961, marking the initial systematic investigation of the Natufian settlement. Perrot's emphasized horizontal exposure of architectural features and occupation surfaces, rather than deep vertical profiling, to capture the spatial layout of the prehistoric village. This approach targeted the Natufian layers, which yielded well-preserved remains of dwellings, hearths, and activity areas, alongside the careful recovery of human burials and associated artifacts. The excavations covered approximately 200–250 square meters, focusing on areas disturbed by modern activities while preserving stratigraphic integrity for later analysis. Among the key early findings were the delineation of Natufian house plans, including semi-circular and apsidal structures built with stone foundations and postholes, which provided the first clear evidence of semi-sedentary architecture in the Epipaleolithic Levant. In 1955, a significant burial was uncovered featuring an elderly woman interred with a puppy under her arm, offering pioneering insights into human-animal relationships and early dog domestication. These discoveries established ʿAin Mallaha as a cornerstone for understanding Natufian lifeways. The early excavations encountered substantial challenges, including constrained funding that limited the scope and duration of fieldwork, as well as logistical difficulties from the site's post-drainage exposure to wind, rain, and , which threatened the organic and structural remains previously buffered by the marshy environment. Despite these obstacles, Perrot's efforts laid the groundwork for subsequent research by documenting the site's cultural sequence and highlighting its importance as a proto-village.

Later Investigations and Key Findings

Following the initial excavations in the mid-20th century, renewed fieldwork at ʿAin Mallaha, also known as Eynan, was led by François Valla of the CNRS in collaboration with Hamoudi Khalaily of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) from the 1970s through the 2000s, with intensive seasons between 1996 and 2005 focusing on the Final Natufian layers and expanding the excavated area by approximately 130 m² in previously untouched sectors. These efforts built on earlier work by targeting unexcavated portions adjacent to prior trenches, revealing deeper stratigraphy and additional architectural features. The project paused after 2005 but resumed in 2022 under the direction of Fanny Bocquentin (CNRS) and Leorey Weissbrod (IAA), incorporating modern geophysical surveys and targeting southern and western sectors to further elucidate occupational sequences. In 2023, excavations uncovered seven perforated bird bone aerophones, providing the first evidence of prehistoric wind instruments in the Levant. Overall, post-1970s investigations have contributed to a cumulative excavated area exceeding 1,000 m² across the site's estimated 2,000 m² extent. Methodological advances in these later campaigns included microwear analysis of lithic tools, which provided insights into subsistence practices such as intensified plant processing and hunting techniques over time, refining understandings of technological adaptations during the Natufian transition. Paleobotanical studies identified key dietary resources like acorns (Quercus) and pistachios (), highlighting seasonal exploitation patterns and early experimentation with wild cereals that informed chronology refinements through associated . Ancient DNA analyses, particularly of house mouse () remains, demonstrated commensal relationships with s around 15,000 years ago, offering genetic evidence for prolonged and its ecological impacts on local . These interdisciplinary approaches also revealed details on , such as dental wear indicating dietary stress during environmental shifts like the . Key discoveries encompassed additional semi-subterranean structures, including the nested sequence of Shelters 131, 51, and 62, which illustrated building reuse and architectural evolution, alongside evidence of (PPNA) layers overlying Natufian deposits that bridged forager and early farming phases. Features suggestive of social complexity, such as clustered hearths and large communal spaces potentially used for feasting or gatherings, were documented in Final Natufian contexts, pointing to organized activities. These findings have been disseminated through over 25 major publications from Valla's campaigns alone, with broader site research exceeding 100 papers and theses, solidifying ʿAin Mallaha as a type-site for investigating Natufian and the onset of village life in the . Ongoing conservation efforts within the Eynan , managed by the IAA, ensure the site's preservation amid modern threats like and development.

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  26. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299847825_A_Final_Natufian_Population_Health_and_Burial_Status_at_Eynan-Mallaha
  27. https://www.academia.edu/43902988/New_Biological_Data_For_The_Natufian_Populations_In_Israel
  28. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371417518_Bone_aerophones_from_Eynan-Mallaha_Israel_indicate_imitation_of_raptor_calls_by_the_last_hunter-gatherers_in_the_Levant
  29. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232793024_Evidence_for_domestication_of_the_dog_12000_years_ago_in_the_Natufian_of_Israel
  30. https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/perrot-jean
  31. https://repository.arizona.edu/bitstream/handle/10150/184110/azu_td_8715711_sip1_w.pdf?sequence=6
  32. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305440304000731
  33. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5402403/
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