Shepherd Neolithic material can be found dispersed over a wide area of the north
Beqaa Valley in low concentrations. M. Billaux and Henri Fleisch suggested that the flints were of a higher quality than the brittle flint in the nearby
conglomerates indicating origin from elsewhere. Three groups of flint could be determined; light brown, red-brown and that varied but was usually grey-chocolate that was distinguished with a radiant "desert shine". Characteristics of the industry include smallness in size, commonly between 2.5 cm and 4 cm and frequently being quite thick, unlike geometric
microliths. The small number of tools within the assemblage is another distinguishable characteristic, including short denticulated or notched blades, end scrapers, transverse
racloirs on thin flakes and borers with strong points. They also display a lack of recognizable
typology although
Levallois technique was occasionally observed to have been used. They also show signs of having been heavily worked with cores being re-used and turned into scrapers. Fleisch suggested the industry was
Epipaleolithic as it is evidently not
Paleolithic,
Mesolithic or even
Pottery Neolithic. He further suggested that the industry could have been used by
nomadic
shepherds. The relationship and dividing line between the related
Heavy Neolithic zone of the south
Beqaa Valley could also not be clearly defined but was suggested to be in the area around
Douris and
Qalaat Tannour. Not enough exploration had been carried out to conclude whether the bands of Neolithic surface sites continues south into the areas around
Zahle and
Rayak. ==Sites==