Levalloiso-Mousterian

A term used for the Mousterian cultures found at Mount Carmel, Jebel Qafzeh, Shanidar Cave, and other east Mediterranean sites. It was once thought that Levallois flakes signified a Levalloisian culture, while side scrapers indicated a Mousterian culture, and when the two were found together the phenomenon was called Levalloiso-Mousterian. The idea of such a hybrid culture is now generally rejected.

This name has been used for the Mousterian cultures found at Mount Carmel and other east Mediterranean sites. It was once thought that Levallois flakes signified a Levalloisian culture, while side scrapers indicated a Mousterian culture, and when the two were found together it was tempting to call the combination Levalloiso-Mousterian. However the idea of a hybrid culture is now rejected and the term should be used with careful qualification, if at all.