Le site acheuléen de Kef Sefiane

Abstract

North-eastern Algeria is known to have delivered important traces of Early and Lower Palaeolithic frequentation. The sites of In-Hanech, near the city of Sétif (Arambourg 1949; Sahnouni 1985), and those of the Mansourah plateau at Constantine (Camps 1974) are indeed many proofs of this human occupation. The N’gaous region, near Batna, has offered another settlement opportunity for prehistoric groups, as evidenced by the presence of several sites, in particular from the Lower Palaeolithic, sealed in deposits of sources. The sedimentary context and spatial organization of the archaeological site of Kef Sefiane, whose lithic industries are without any peculiar characteristics, yet induce new perspectives on palaeo-environmental issues, and especially on the relationship of man to his environment. Thus, the excavations on this Acheulean site have allowed the finding of a pebble structure, the morphology and layout specificities of which allow to guess a human origin.

Keywords

• Acheulean
• pavement
• travertine
• Palaeolithic
• Pleistocene