The Natufian culture is dated between about 10000 and 8000 BCE at the very end of the Pleistocene Period. It marks the transition period from that of the hunting/gathering way of life to a more agricultural one. Settlement pattern changed at that time, as well, from a concentration on the coastal plain of ancient Palestine to the higher areas where there was a greater rainfall and more favorable climate.
The main area of Natufian occupation was bordered by the Mediterranean coast to the west, and by the arid zones to the east, in which a number of Natufian seasonal camps were situated. Archeologists have found that these areas are marked by the absence of permanent structures, by implements for the preparation for plant food, and art objects. Their equipment is that of hunters and gatherers. Agricultural tools such as querns, mortars, pestles and sickle blades also have been found. The existence of these tools indicates a new approach in the gathering and use of wild plant foods, including wheat and barley, acorns, fruit, berries and nuts.
Last updated: June 16, 2004.
