SEDIMENTOLOGY OF HOLOCENE SEDIMENTS OF THE
HIDDEN VALLEY, FARAFRA DEPRESSION, AND THEIR
GEOARCHEOLOGICAL IMPLECATIONS
MOHAMED A. HAMDAN
Cairo University, Egypt |
The Hidden Valley of the Farafra Depression contains remnants of
playa sediments associated with Middle and late Neolithic artifacts. The
geoarcheologic work at the El Hidden Valley indicates that a small seasonal shallow lake was existed on the lowest part of the wind-deflated depression. The sequence is subdivided into five lithological units. Unit I represents Early Holocene wet period and dominated by playa silt in the basinal part and alluvial and colluvial sand and gravel at the margin of the basin. Unit II which dated to ca 8000 B.P., is represented by aeolain sand, alluvial and colluvial gravel with few playa silt in the basinal part of the basin. Unit III is dated to 7600 to 6100 B.P. and corresponds to the Mid-Holocene occupation in the Hidden Valley. It is represented by thick playa silt sequence in the basinal part and beach gravel and sand in the marginal part of the basin. Unit IV which is dated to ca 6000 B.P. and represents a short arid episod and consists of aeolian dune sands in both the basinal and marginal parts of the basin. Unit V is dated to ca. 5200 to 4500 B.P. and corresponds with the last occupation phase in the Hidden valley (Late Neolithic). It is represented by a thick playa silt in the basinal part and alluvial and colluvial gravels with very thin plava silt in the marginal part of the basin.
|
|