The Levantine Early Middle Palaeolithic in retrospect – Reassessing the contribution of Abou-Sif to the understanding of Palaeolithic record

The Early Middle Palaeolithic (EMP) in the Levant presents a unique phenomenon, diverse forms of blade production dominate the technological organization. Contrary to the discontinuous presence of blade production across Eurasia, both before and after the EMP, blades and their by-products were, between 250 and 160,000 years ago, the main "behavioral package" in the Levant region.