Paleoecology of Equus africanus from the Late Pleistocene site of Jebel Gharbi; SJ-00-56 (Libya): insights from its dietary adaptations

Abstract

African wild ass is rara species in archaeological record of north Africa. Jebel Gharbi is one of the few sites representing this species in the archaeological record. This study used menswear and microwear data to analyse paleo ecology of the site. Mesowear and microwear analyses use data from worn tooth surfaces as proxies for feeding ecology. Both dental mesowear and microwear analysis use data from the “damaged” wear surface of a tooth as a proxy for feeding ecology in extant and extinct vertebrates.