Research
Lithic Technology
Wide range of methodological approaches to studying stone tools
Technological and typological analyses
Reduction sequence and chaîne opératoire approaches
Refitting analyses
Experimental replications (Flint knapping)
Some publications: Centi, L., Zaidner, Y., 2021. The Levallois Flaking System in Nesher Ramla Upper Sequence. Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology Centi, L., Zaidner, Y., 2022. Variations in lithic artefact density as a tool for better understanding Middle Palaeolithic human behaviour: the case of Nesher Ramla (Israel). Centi, L., Groman-Yaroslavski, I., Friedman, N., Oron, M., Prévost, M., Zaidner, Y., 2019. The bulb retouchers in the Levant: New insights into Middle Palaeolithic retouching techniques and mobile tool-kit composition. Prévost, M., Zaidner, Y., 2020. New insights into early MIS 5 lithic technological behavior in the Levant: Nesher Ramla, Israel as a case study. Prévost, M., Centi, L., Zaidner, Y., 2022b. The use of the lateral tranchet blow technique at Nesher Ramla (Israel): a new cultural marker in the Levantine Middle Paleolithic? Varoner, O., Marder, O., Orbach, M., Yeshurun, R., Zaidner, Y., 2021. Lithic provisioning strategies at the Middle Paleolithic open-air site of Nesher Ramla, Israel: A case study from the upper sequence. Zaidner, Y., 2013. Adaptive Flexibility of Oldowan Hominins: Secondary Use of Flakes at Bizat Ruhama, Israel. Zaidner, Y., Grosman, L., 2015. Middle Paleolithic sidescrapers were resharped or recycled? A view from Nesher Ramla, Israel. Quaternary International, The Origins of Recycling: A Paleolithic Perspective
Use-wear analyses of various types of materials (lithics, bones, ceramics)
Microtopography of artifact surfaces
Qualitative and quantitative analyses of micro-surfaces
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Some publications: Groman-Yaroslavski, I., Prévost, M., Zaidner, Y., 2022. Tool wielding and activities at the Middle Paleolithic site of Nesher Ramla, Israel: A use-wear analysis of major tool types from unit III. Quaternary International, Technological Organization, Mobility, and Behavior at the Middle Paleolithic Site of Nesher Ramla 624, 67–79. Paixão, E., Pedergnana, A., Marreiros, J., Dubreuil, L., Prévost, M., Zaidner, Y., Carver, G., Gneisinger, W., 2021. Using mechanical experiments to study ground stone tool use: Exploring the formation of percussive and grinding wear traces on limestone tools. Paixão, E., Marreiros, J., Dubreuil, L., Gneisinger, W., Carver, G., Prévost, M., Zaidner, Y., 2022. The Middle Paleolithic ground stones tools of Nesher Ramla unit V (Southern Levant): A multi-scale use-wear approach for assessing the assemblage functional variability. Quaternary International, Technological Organization, Mobility, and Behavior at the Middle Paleolithic Site of Nesher Ramla Prévost, M., Groman-Yaroslavski, I., Crater Gershtein, K.M., Tejero, J.-M., Zaidner, Y., 2022. Early evidence for symbolic behavior in the Levantine Middle Paleolithic: A 120 ka old engraved aurochs bone shaft from the open-air site of Nesher Ramla, Israel.
Geochemistry and physics applied to archaeological materials such as mineral pigments, stones, flint, bones
Provenance, heating and exploitation of archaeological materials
Some publications: Pietraszek, A.V., Zaidner, Y., Shahack-Gross, R., 2022. The distribution and treatment of fire remains across Unit V of the Middle Paleolithic open-air site of Nesher Ramla, Israel. GarcÃa, P., Zaidner, Y., Nicosia, C., Shahack-Gross, R., 2025. Site Formation Processes at Tinshemet Cave, Israel: Micro-Stratigraphy, Fire Use, and Cementation.
Paleoanthropology
Interface between archaeology and bio-anthropology
Thanatology
Funerary and mortuary practices
Some publications: Yossi Zaidner, Marion Prévost, Ruth Shahack-Gross, Lior Weissbrod, Reuven Yeshurun, Naomi Porat, Gilles Guérin, Norbert Mercier, Asmodée Galy, Christophe Pécheyran, Gaëlle Barbotin, Chantal Tribolo, Hélène Valladas, Dustin White, Rhys Timms, Simon Blockley, Amos Frumkin, David Gaitero-Santos, Shimon Ilani, Sapir Ben-Haim, Antonella Perdergnana, Alyssa V. Pietraszek, Pedro GarcÃa, Cristiano Nicosia, Susan Lagle, Oz Varoner, Chen Zeigen, Dafna Langgut, Onn Crouvi, Sarah Borgel, Rachel Sarig, Hila May, Israel Hershkovitz. Evidence from Tinshemet Cave in Israel suggests behavioural uniformity across Homo groups in the Levantine mid-Middle Palaeolithic circa 130,000–80,000 years ago. 2025. Nature Human Behaviour Zaidner, Y., Centi, L., Prévost, M., Mercier, N., Falguères, C., Guérin, G., Valladas, H., Richard, M., Galy, A., Pécheyran, C., Tombret, O., Pons-Branchu, E., Porat, N., Shahack-Gross, R., Friesem, D.E., Yeshurun, R., Turgeman-Yaffe, Z., Frumkin, A., Herzlinger, G., Ekshtain, R., Shemer, M., Varoner, O., Sarig, R., May, H., Hershkovitz, I., 2021. Middle Pleistocene Homo behavior and culture at 140,000 to 120,000 years ago and interactions with Homo sapiens. Science Hershkovitz, I., May, H., Sarig, R., Pokhojaev, A., Grimaud-Hervé, D., Bruner, E., Fornai, C., Quam, R., Arsuaga, J.L., Krenn, V.A., Martinón-Torres, M., Bermúdez de Castro, MartÃn-Francés, L., Slon, V., Albessard-Ball, L., Vialet, A., Schüler, T., Manzi, G., Profico, A., Di Vincenzo, F., Weber, G.W., Zaidner, Y., 2021. A new Middle Pleistocene Homo from Nesher Ramla, Israel. Science.