Maribel Montes-Perez

Intro in to Archaeology
April 13, 2016
Final Research Project

The Wadi Kubbaniya excavation and the one done at Salt Lake Community
College had some major differences. Starting with what they were both trying to
accomplish. At Salt Lake Community College they were proposed with the question
involving human caused fossil fuel pollution in Salt Lakes soil (Griffiths, page 1). In
the Wadi Kubbaniya site they were studying the peoples lives of the Late Paleolithic
eras. Not only are these two sites looking for different things but their locations and time
period affect research very much.
Wadi Kubbaniya is located north of the Aswan. It is one of three major wadis that
reach the Nile from the southwestern desert, draining most of the area between the river
and the Eocene scarp on the west. On each side of the wadi are steep sandstone
scarps, 30-40m above the wadi floor. Near the mouth of Wadi Kubbaniya is one of the
densest and most extensively studied groups of Late Paleolithic sites in Egypt(whatwhen-how.com). Investigation at Wadi Kubbaniya started in 1980 and had a total of four
field seasons that ended in 1983 (Banks & Snortland). Evidence from the field studies
showed people resided there between 20,000 BP and 12,000 BP (Banks & Snortland).

Salt Lake Community College site is located in the heart of Salt Lake City, Utah.
It is a city located between tow mountain ranges and just east of the Great Salt Lake.
This city was founded by a group of Mormon pioneers in July 1847 (utah.com). It
expanded since then due to people moving out west for things such as the California
Gold Rush (utah.com) . All these new people planted, grew and harvested many crops
to survive in this region. They also built homes, buildings, roads making an
establishment lasting to present day. Research in question is about the era post World
War II (September 1939 - September 1945) until 1963 when a high school was built on
the land (Griffiths).
Research for both sites included graphing, photos, maps, strata, and soil
samples. Although at Salt Lake Community College when it came to soil samples the
researchers did a technique called coring. Coring is done with a coring device
consisting of a soil sampling tube or auger attached to extension rods, footjack, and
handle...the coring device and ascertain depth into ground by measuring from ground
surface to handle before and after a core of earth is taken...After a core is taken, it is
removed from the ground, and while the soil is still in the sampling tube or auger, its
color and texture/contextual attributes are ascertained by comparison with Munsell color
chips (each associated with a color code) and texture charts. A sample of each SU is
put into a bag with a clean plastic spoon(Griffiths, page 2-3).

After collecting soil samples researchers then take them to the laboratory. There
they sift through sample breaking it down into five categories based on the size of each.
Once separated they put small portions onto slides and look at each under the
microscope. They look specifically for opaque black particles. These black particles are
measured and happen to fit the shape, color and size of black carbon, which
constitutes a portion of the pollution caused by mans industrial system (Griffiths, page
6). Their results were correct with their theory that humans caused pollution in the soil.
At Wadi Kubbaniya researchers found organic remains of plants such as purple
nut-grass, camomile, dom palm fruits and other vegetables (what-when-how.com). They
also found hundreds of bones from catfish, tilapia, and eel along with various large
mammal bones, particularly wild cattle, hartebeest and gazelle (what-when-how.com).
In addition to finding all those things they also found hearths and ash lenses, numerous
grinding implements, partially backed bladelets, blades, flakes, and more (Banks &
Snortland).
The discovery of the plants and animals showed that the groups of people during
the Late Paleolithic lived there seasonally( Banks & Snortland). At Kubbaniya, key
areas were probably reused to exploit a variety of seasonal resources, but there was no
semi-permanent or permanent occupation(what-when-how.com). Evidence shows
people there during two times of the year, beginning in the summer when catfish spawn

season starts (what-when-how.com). This season begins during the onset of the flood
(early July) and ends just before the water recedes (early September). The quantities of
fish taken were so large (over 100,000 fish bones in one site) that some of them may
have been dried or smoked for later consumption (what-when-how.com).
The other part of the year evidence shows us is in the autumn, winter and spring
when wetland tubers were gathered(what-when-how.com). Dom palm fruits are
available in February and March and camomile in October (what-when-how.com).
Grinding stones are evidence that plant resources were an integral aspect of
subsistence (Banks & Snortland). Together, fish and plants could have provided the
basis of a balanced diet: catfish are rich in protein and fat, and wetland tubers contribute
carbohydrates and dietary fiber (what-when-how.com).
Bibliograpgy
Kimball M. Banks & J. Signe Snortland At the core of it: a Late Palaeolithic workshop,
Wadi Kubbaniya, Upper Egypt. Antiquity. Wed, Feb 12, 2016. http://
antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/banks335/
Wadi Kubbaniya To Wadi Maghara (Archaeology of Ancient Egypt) What-when-How.
Web, Feb 12, 2016. http://what-when-how.com/archaeology-of-ancientegypt/
wadi-kubbaniya-to-wadi-maghara-archaeology-of-ancient-egypt/
An Ongoing Archaeological Research Project on the History of Fossil Fuel
Pollution in the Salt Lake Valley Griffiths, Alan. Fall 2011

http://utah.com/saltlakecity/history

source:Griffiths

Sorce:Griffiths

Source:Griffiths

Source:Banks&Snortland

Source:Banks&Snortland