Paleoenvironment and stratigraphy of the quaternary formations located in oued boussemane site, ain zerga locality, tebessa, ne algeria: sedimentological and geochemical analysis.

The present work carried out at the Oued Boussemane, Ain Zerga locality, is the first of its kind in terms of paleoenvironmental reconstitution aimed at highlighting the prehistoric man's way of life in this region. In this perspective, we proceeded with the digging works which allowed us to release a 180 cm thick section, in which we uncovered 8 different sedimentological levels. More than 500 archaeological objects have been discovered (flint tools, bone, ceramic pieces), as well as 27 samples have been collected and intended for several types of analysis (sedimentological, magnetic, geochemical, micromorphological, faunistic...). Sedimentological and geochemical analyses, as well as in situ observations, reveal the presence of two distinct strato-sedimentological units: - The first being located in the upper part of the section, rich in pottery and lithic industry, is attributed to the Holocene and the upper Pleistocene. It is relatively rich in organic matter and shiny blunted quartz grains, reflecting a period of humid weather. - The second is characterized by the presence of limestone crusts and shiny blunted quartz grains; it is older (dating from Pleistocene). This unit is set up under a hydrodynamic regime during a wet period as well. According to the data, the lithic industry can be attributed culturally, to the middle Paleolithic (Atéro-Mousterian), corresponding in North Africa at the interval 140000 - 20000 years BP.