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Dr. Ariel Malinsky-Buller

Bio

Dr. Ariel Malinsky-Buller received his BA (2004), MA (2009), and PhD (2015) from the Hebrew University. He was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Connecticut (2015-16) and a senior researcher at the MONREPOS Archaeological Research Centre and Museum for Human Behavioural Evolution (2016-2021) before happily returning to the Institute of Archeology at the Hebrew University in 2021.

Dr. Buller is a Palaeolithic archaeologist and over the past 15 years He hase been conducting multidisciplinary research encompassing a wide range of topics: material culture studies, mainly lithic technology; geology; geomorphology and paleoclimate. He has been conducting excavations and surveys at Paleolithic sites, directing and coordinating research efforts as well as analyzing lithic assemblages dating from the Lower Paleolithic to Neolithic periods in Israel, France, Georgia and Armenia. Since 2016, he has been leading interdisciplinary and international research projects in Armenia.

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Research Interests

Palaeoanthropology, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Lithic Analysis, Landscape Archaeology, Settlement Systems, Site Formation Processes, Geomorphology, Human Evolution, Zooarchaeology, Chronometric Dating, Palaeoclimate, Archaeological Method & Theory.

 

Publications

Jennifer E Sherriff, Petrosyan, Artur , Rogall, Dominik , Nora, David , Frahm, Ellery , Lauer, Tobias , Karambaglidis, Theodoros , Knul, Monika V, Vettese, Delphine , Arakelyan, Dmitri , Gur-Arieh, Shira , Vidal-Matutano, Paloma , Morales, Jacob , Fewlass, Helen , Blockley, Simon PE, Timms, Rhys , Adigyozalyan, Ani , Haydosyan, Hayk , Glauberman, Phil , Gasparyan, Boris , and Malinsky-Buller, Ariel . 2024. “Palaeoenvironmental And Chronological Context Of Hominin Occupations Of The Armenian Highlands During Mis 3: Evidence From Ararat-1 Cave”. Quaternary Science Advances, 13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qsa.2023.100122. Publisher's Version Abstract
Archaeological and palaeoenvironmental evidence from the Armenian Highlands and wider southern Caucasus region emphasises the significance of Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 3 (c. 57–29 ka) as a crucial period for understanding hominin behaviours amidst environmental fluctuations. Ararat-1 cave, situated in the Ararat Depression, Republic of Armenia, presents potential for resolving emerging key debates regarding hominin land use adaptations during this interval, due to its well-preserved lithic artefacts and faunal assemblages. We present the first results of combined sedimentological, geochronological (luminescence and radiocarbon), archaeological and palaeoecological (macrofauna, microfauna and microcharcoal) study of the Ararat-1 sequence. We demonstrate sediment accumulation occurred between 52 and 35 ka and was caused by a combination of aeolian activity, cave rockfall and water action. Whilst the upper strata of the Ararat-1 sequence experienced post-depositional disturbance due to faunal and anthropogenic processes, the lower strata remain relatively undisturbed. We suggest that during a stable period within MIS 3, Ararat-1 was inhabited by Middle Palaeolithic hominins amidst a mosaic of semi-arid shrub, grassland, and temperate woodland ecosystems. These hominins utilised local and distant toolstone raw materials, indicating their ability to adapt to diverse ecological and elevation gradients. Through comparison of Ararat-1 with other sequences in the region, we highlight the spatial variability of MIS 3 environments and its on hominin land use adaptations. This demonstrates the importance of the Armenian Highlands for understanding regional MP settlement dynamics during a critical period of hominin dispersals and evolution.

The Early Middle Palaeolithic (EMP) in the Levant presents a unique phenomenon, diverse forms of blade production dominate the technological organization. Contrary to the discontinuous presence of blade production across Eurasia, both before and after the EMP, blades and their by-products were, between 250 and 160,000 years ago, the main "behavioral package" in the Levant region.

The EMP lithic assemblages comprised of several techno-typological traits, the use of Levallois, Laminar, and cores on flakes reduction strategies. Furthermore, it seems that within each single reduction sequence there is versatility, changes which occur between technological concepts allows prolongation of the core’s utility and enhanced control of blank production.

Here, we reassess the assemblages of Abou-Sif, excavated between 1928-1934, and among the first EMP sites excavated and analysed in the region. These lithic assemblages, despite biased collection methods, will contribute to the understanding of the EMP technological organization. These results not only highlight the techno-typological diversity in the mode of production but also reflect the narrow variation that is shared among all known EMP sites. The possible social and demographic implications of this low-diversity within a cohesive geographical and chronological framework will be discussed with regards to the previous Late Lower and later Middle Paleolithic records in the Levant.

S Joannin, Capit, A, Ollivier, V, Bellier, O, Brossier, B, Mourier, B, Tozalakian, P, Colombié, C, Yevadian, M, Karakhanyan, A, Gasparyan, B, Malinsky-Buller, A, Chataigner, C, and Perello, B. 2022. “First Pollen Record From The Late Holocene Forest Environment In The Lesser Caucasus.”. Review Of Palaeobotany And Palynology , 304. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.revpalbo.2022.104713. Publisher's Version Abstract

Pollen-based vegetation change has been inferred from sediments in Kalavan Red Lake. This small lake is placed in the beech-oak-hornbeam forest, about three kilometres away from the village of Kalavan (Gegharkunik Province of the Republic of Armenia) which is rich with archaeological sites spread in the Barepat River valley spanning from the Palaeolithic period onwards. It has the potential to document the Holocene forest history and climate and human impacts on the Lesser Caucasus. However, this lake happens to be formed by a large landslide.

Pollen and XRF analysis are provided over the last 3800 years. The basal age of the Kalavan sediment approximates the landslide age. This created a not vegetated slope including the lake catchment. Erosion and sedimentation processes brought coarse and heavy minerogenic elements, declining with the catchment revegetation by tall-grassland. This shift in the sedimentation continues, suggesting less erosion in the catchment when an admixture of Quercus and grasslands settled. Starting from 2000 cal. BP, arboreal pollen increases successively thanks to the step afforestation of Quercus, Carpinus orientalis and Fagus.

The comparison with available pollen reconstruction illustrates the uniqueness of the vegetation dynamic recorded at Kalavan. However, the duration of this succession is also questionable. An intermediate hypothesis is proposed: the Kalavan's dynamic is first initiated by the landslide with the tall-grass development, then paced by the regional vegetation dynamic.

Linking vegetation history and erosion with regional climate and archaeological data helps to evidence short-term climate change and human impact. Antique arid phase (2000–1600 cal. BP), the Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age affect the vegetation, while demography variations during the Medieval period and Modern Age are shown by habitation and pastoral activity.

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