Baaz Rockshelter Explained

Baaz Rock Shelter
Location:	Anti-Lebanon Mountains
Cultures:	Natufian
Discovered:	1999
Excavations:	1999-2004
Archaeologists:	University of Tübingen

Baaz Rockshelter is a prehistoric archaeological site in Syria. Located in the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains about 50 km northeast of Damascus, the site consists of a small (6 x 10 m) rock shelter favourably situated overlooking the nearby plains and springs.^[1] Excavations have revealed that it was intermittently occupied during the Upper Palaeolithic (34,000 to 32,000 years ago and 23,000 to 21,000 years ago), Late Epipalaeolithic (11,200 to 10,200 years ago), and Pre-Pottery and Pottery Neolithic.^[2]

The site was discovered in 1999 and excavated by a team from the University of Tübingen between 1999 and 2004.

Further reading

• "The 1999 Excavation at Baaz Rockshelter," Tubingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project, Conrad, Kandel, Dyab, 2006
• "The 2000 Excavation at Baaz Rockshelter," Tubingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project, Conrad, Kandel, Dyab, 2006
• "The 2004 Excavation at Baaz Rockshelter," Tubingen-Damascus Excavation and Survey Project, Conrad, Kandel, Dyab, 2006

Notes and References

1. Web site: Baaz Rockshelter. 2020-06-11. Urgeschichte und Naturwissenschaftliche Archäologie. University of Tübingen.
2. Stahlschmidt. M. C.. Miller. C. E.. Kandel. A. W.. Goldberg. P.. Conard. N. J.. 2017-04-01. Site formation processes and Late Natufian domestic spaces at Baaz Rockshelter, Syria: A micromorphological perspective. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. en. 12. 499–514. 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.03.009. 2352-409X.