The relationship between climate change and perturbations in the archaeological record is a prominent area of research. However, establishing a direct link between the two is challenging, and often suffers from cyclic arguments. Moreover, the different temporal resolutions of geological and archeological records imposes additional difficulties in comparisons. Regardless of these complexities, it is rarely the case that geological records provide direct and highly resolved chronological and environmental constraints on archeological findings.
Recently, a cluster of prehistoric occurrences was discovered near Moshav Idan, in the northern Arava Valley. These occurrences are embedded within the Late Pleistocene Lisan Formation lacustrine sediments. Archaeological excavations conducted at one of these sites (Idan VII) revealed remains of well-preserved hunter-gatherer camps. The archeological findings include (inter alia) an assemblage of flint artifacts, animal remains, and hearths. The age of the site was dated by C14 dating of charcoal from the hearths, as well as U-Th dating of an interfingered tufa layer. Additionally, the elevation of the Lisan Formation sediments containing the archeological artifacts is 188 mbmsl, which together with the published Lisan lake level curve provides constraints on the age of the site.