부산대학교 도서관

The Arabian Peninsula is a key locality for evaluating Middle-Late Pleistocene hominin dispersals, particularly of Homo sapiens. Recent genetic, archaeological, palaeontological and palaeoenvironmental studies have all highlighted that episodic humid periods during the Middle to Late Pleistocene (MIS 7-5) may have provided significant opportunities for dispersals into the Arabian desert. In the deserts of Arabia, human occupation would have been controlled by the presence of surface freshwater, in the form of documented lakes, rivers and wetlands produced by these climatic fluctuations. However, our understanding of the distribution of such resources in Arabia and their changing availability during the Mid-late Pleistocene has remained limited. Therefore, to investigate the potential pattern of hominin dispersals in Arabia, this thesis reconstructs palaeohydrological networks using GIS, remotely sensed data and palaeoenvironmental proxies, using a novel method to map the location of former lakes and wetlands in concert with methods for mapping palaeodrainage. In this manner a spatially consistent and high resolution map of the palaeohydrology of the Arabian Peninsula has been produced. Regional palaeogeographical information revealed by this mapping is discussed, and data is integrated with the regional palaeoenvironmental record to determine when this hydrology was active. Examination of the spatio-temporal distribution of this hydrology indicates the formation during MIS 5 (~130-70ka) of several discrete 'corridors' of catchments with active hydrology. The distribution of this hydrology provides routes which facilitate access to and dispersal across, Arabia, via both northern and southern routes out of Africa, in proximity to water sources. These corridors are congruent with the contemporary archaeological record, and strengthen suggestions that contemporary populations in Arabia could have been Homo sapiens associated with early (pre- 70ka) dispersals into south-west Asia. These results refine spatio-temporally our understanding of opportunities for dispersal through the Arabian Desert during MIS 7-5.