Gueldaman caves

The Gueldaman Caves are a prehistoric site in Algeria, consisting of at least three natural caves (GLD 1, GLD 2, and GLD 3), located in the village of Bouhitem, Bouhamza municipality, 75 km southwest of the city of Béjaïa. The site is located in the Adrar Gueldaman, a notable relief dominating the Soummam Valley.

The name Gueldaman is divided into two parts, (a)gellid and aman, where “aman” means “lord of the water” and may refer to a water deity or spirit.

The Gueldaman Caves are located on the right bank of the Soummam Valley, west of the town of Akbou. They are situated in the massif of the same name, Adrar Gueldaman (898 m). This massif forms the western end of the Tellian chain of the Babors. Stretching 7 km, it features serrated ridges rising to 556 m in the West and 898 m in the East.

The Gueldaman Caves are located on the southwest flank of Adrar Gueldaman and are part of a partially explored karstic network carved into Jurassic limestone formations belonging to the so-called “Bou Hamza” unit. The NW and SE slopes of Adrar Gueldaman are located respectively in the territories of the municipalities of Amalou and Bouhamza (formerly known as Ighil Aberkane). The NE flank consists of less favorable dolomitic limestones for karstic cavity formation. On this flank, iron ore veins were exploited. Limonite is abundant and associated with very high-quality ochres with beautiful shades. This ore is found during excavations in the Gueldaman Caves in the form of pieces of bright red or yellowish ochre.

For a summary of the historical research, see notably the works of Kherbouche Farid, former director of the National Center for Prehistoric, Anthropological, and Historical Research (CNRPAH).

Cave GLD1, located on the SE slope of Adrar Gueldaman, at an altitude of 507 m, above the hamlet of Tasfart, was discovered in ? by A. de Beaumais, former General Administrator of the city of Akbou. In 1926, A. de Beaumais and P. Royer conducted excavations in one of them (GLD 1), uncovering an abundant bone industry, pottery fragments, animal bones, and some human remains.

Cave GLD 1 is the only one to have yielded archaeological documentation at the beginning of the 20th century and during recent prehistoric research undertaken since 2010 by CNRPAH. In July 2010, two other prehistoric caves (GLD2 and GLD3) were discovered by CNRPAH researchers. Evidence of human occupation was collected in each of them.

The majority of new discoveries concern Cave GLD1. The reconstruction of the chronostratigraphic, climatic, economic, and cultural framework of the occupations has allowed for the identification of 4 archaeological units, chronologically calibrated by 28 radiocarbon dates (cal AP): UA1 [7200-6500], UA2 [6500-5300], UA3 [5000-4600], UA4 [4500-4200]. A paleoclimatic reconstruction is proposed through isotopic analyses performed on two stalagmites, whose growth (U/Th dates) covers the last three archaeological units. A correlation between climate changes and site occupations is highlighted. The abandonment of the cave coincides with the aridity crisis of 4200 BP, recorded around the Mediterranean.

Domestic fauna includes goats, sheep (UA1), and cattle (UA2). The systems of goat and sheep husbandry correspond to the management models of ovicaprine herds from Neolithic Mediterranean sites in southern France, Italy, and the Near East. Preliminary palynological results (study on 10% of the corpus) indicate the presence of wheat and barley in UA4.

Ceramics with conical bases are decorated by incision (UA1) and impression without using cardium. Identified organic residues include fatty animal and dairy substances, as well as beeswax (honey). The lithic assemblage consists of common Mesolithic tools and new additions (arrowheads, scrapers, and saws). The bone industry is exceptionally rich, diverse, and well-preserved. Symbolic artifacts are made of elephant ivory, ossified turtle dermis, ostrich egg shells, marine shells, and ochre.

The Gueldaman Caves are a prehistoric site in Algeria, consisting of at least three natural caves (GLD 1, GLD 2, and GLD 3), located in the village of Bouhitem, Bouhamza municipality, 75 km southwest of the city of Béjaïa. The site is located in the Adrar Gueldaman, a notable relief dominating the Soummam Valley.

The name Gueldaman is divided into two parts, (a)gellid and aman, where “aman” means “lord of the water” and may refer to a water deity or spirit.

The Gueldaman Caves are located on the right bank of the Soummam Valley, west of the town of Akbou. They are situated in the massif of the same name, Adrar Gueldaman (898 m). This massif forms the western end of the Tellian chain of the Babors. Stretching 7 km, it features serrated ridges rising to 556 m in the West and 898 m in the East.

The Gueldaman Caves are located on the southwest flank of Adrar Gueldaman and are part of a partially explored karstic network carved into Jurassic limestone formations belonging to the so-called “Bou Hamza” unit. The NW and SE slopes of Adrar Gueldaman are located respectively in the territories of the municipalities of Amalou and Bouhamza (formerly known as Ighil Aberkane). The NE flank consists of less favorable dolomitic limestones for karstic cavity formation. On this flank, iron ore veins were exploited. Limonite is abundant and associated with very high-quality ochres with beautiful shades. This ore is found during excavations in the Gueldaman Caves in the form of pieces of bright red or yellowish ochre.

For a summary of the historical research, see notably the works of Kherbouche Farid, former director of the National Center for Prehistoric, Anthropological, and Historical Research (CNRPAH).

Cave GLD1, located on the SE slope of Adrar Gueldaman, at an altitude of 507 m, above the hamlet of Tasfart, was discovered in ? by A. de Beaumais, former General Administrator of the city of Akbou. In 1926, A. de Beaumais and P. Royer conducted excavations in one of them (GLD 1), uncovering an abundant bone industry, pottery fragments, animal bones, and some human remains.

Cave GLD 1 is the only one to have yielded archaeological documentation at the beginning of the 20th century and during recent prehistoric research undertaken since 2010 by CNRPAH. In July 2010, two other prehistoric caves (GLD2 and GLD3) were discovered by CNRPAH researchers. Evidence of human occupation was collected in each of them.

The majority of new discoveries concern Cave GLD1. The reconstruction of the chronostratigraphic, climatic, economic, and cultural framework of the occupations has allowed for the identification of 4 archaeological units, chronologically calibrated by 28 radiocarbon dates (cal AP): UA1 [7200-6500], UA2 [6500-5300], UA3 [5000-4600], UA4 [4500-4200]. A paleoclimatic reconstruction is proposed through isotopic analyses performed on two stalagmites, whose growth (U/Th dates) covers the last three archaeological units. A correlation between climate changes and site occupations is highlighted. The abandonment of the cave coincides with the aridity crisis of 4200 BP, recorded around the Mediterranean.

Domestic fauna includes goats, sheep (UA1), and cattle (UA2). The systems of goat and sheep husbandry correspond to the management models of ovicaprine herds from Neolithic Mediterranean sites in southern France, Italy, and the Near East. Preliminary palynological results (study on 10% of the corpus) indicate the presence of wheat and barley in UA4.

Ceramics with conical bases are decorated by incision (UA1) and impression without using cardium. Identified organic residues include fatty animal and dairy substances, as well as beeswax (honey). The lithic assemblage consists of common Mesolithic tools and new additions (arrowheads, scrapers, and saws). The bone industry is exceptionally rich, diverse, and well-preserved. Symbolic artifacts are made of elephant ivory, ossified turtle dermis, ostrich egg shells, marine shells, and ochre.