ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the persistence of human occupation at Qesem Cave in the context of cultural and biological transformations that took shape in the Levant some 400ka years ago. Flint procurement and exploitation strategies were oriented to both characterising flint types used and locating their sources in landscape. The ungulate mortality profile is dominated by adult-aged individuals and, in the case of fallow deer, the relative abundance of infants and young individuals suggest seasonal hunting episodes. The production of small sharp items by means of recycling 'old' flint items is a clear component of the Acheulean or Acheulo-Yabrudian facies and should be taken into account as significant element of flint economy and human decision making. The faunal record is extremely rich in all of the assemblages, and is dominated by fallow deer, supplemented by red deer, horse, aurochs, wild pig and wild ass. Small ungulates such as goat and roe deer, and small prey such as birds, are also present.
