Tel Te'o: A Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Age Site in the Ḥula Valley 9789654065528, 9654061422, 9654065525

Tel Te'o - A Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Site in the Hula Valley.

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Table of contents :
Cover
Front Matter
Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: The Discovery of the Site, the Environmental Setting,and a review of Regional Research
THE EXCAVATION
Chapter 2: Methods of excavation and Phasing
Chapter 3Stratigraphy and Architecture of Strata XIII–I
MATERIAL CULTURE
Chapter 4: Lithics of Strata XIII–I, the Pre-Pottery Neolithic–Early Bronze Age
Chapter 5: Pottery of Strata X–VlII, the Pottery Neolithic Period
Chapter 6: Pottery of Strata Vll–Vl, the Chalcolithic Period
Chapter 7: Pottery of Strata V–IV, the Early Bronzr Age I
Chapter 8: Pottery of Stratum III, the Early Bronze Age II
Chapter 9: Groundstone Artifacts and Small Finds
ANALYTIC STUDIES
Chapter 10: Environmental Studies
Chapter 11: Pottery Technology
Chapter 12: The Human Remains
Chapter 13: The Mammalian Fauna
CONCLUSION
Chapter 14: Discussion—Tel Te'o in Context
Appendix 1: List of Loci and Walls
REFERENCES
IAA Reports
Recommend Papers

Tel Te'o: A Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Age Site in the Ḥula Valley
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ERRATUM

Please disregard the distortion in the hatching, which indicates red/reddish brown slip in the pottery figures.

IAA Reports, No. 13

Tel Te'0 A Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze Age Site in the Hula Valley Emanuel Eisenberg, Avi Gopher, Raphael Greenberg

With

contributions by

Yuval Goren, Netta Halperin, Gila Kahila Bar­Gal, Liora Kolska Horwitz, Arlene Miller Rosen, Steven A. Rosen, Shelly Sadeh, and Patricia Smith

ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY JERUSALEM 2001

Publicationsof the Israel Antiquities Authority

‫י‬

Cover: Tel Te'o, with the poolof 'En Te'o in the foreground (photo,

Back cover: Pottery Neolithic vessels from Str. IX and X (photo,

T.

E. Eisenberg)

Sagiv and C. Amit)

Editor­in­Chief Ayala Sussmann Series Editor Ann Roshwalb Hurowitz

Typsetting, Layout, Cover Design, and Production: Olga Chertok Graphics: Natalia Zak Printed at Keterpress Enterprises, Jerusalem eISBN 9789654065528 ISBN 965­406­142­2 O ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY 2001 POB 586, Jerusalem 91004

/

Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CHAPTER

THE DISCOVERY OF THE SITE, THE ENVIRONMENTAL

:

1

SETTING, AND A REVIEW OF REGIONAL RESEARCH

Emanuel Eisenberg, Avi Gopher, and Raphael Greenberg

1

THE EXCAVATION CHAPTER

2:

METHODS OF EXCAVATION AND PHASING

Emanuel Eisenberg, Avi Gopher, and Raphael Greenberg

11

CHAPTER

3:

STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE OF STRATA XIII­I

Emanuel Eisenberg, Avi Gopher, and Raphael Greenberg

15

Avi Gopher and Steven A. Rosen

49

Shelley Sadeh and Emanuel Eisenberg

83

MATERIAL CULTURE CHAPTER 4: LITHICS OF STRATA XIII­III, THE PRE­POTTERY

NEOLITHIC­EARLY BRONZE AGE CHAPTER 5: POTTERY OF STRATA X­VIII, THE POTTERY NEOLITHIC PERIOD

CHAPTER 6: POTTERY OF STRATA VII­VI, THE CHALCOLITHIC PERIOD Emanuel Eisenberg

105

Emanuel Eisenberg

117

CHAPTER 7: POTTERY OF STRATA V­IV, THE EARLY BRONZE AGE

I

CHAPTER

8:

POTTERY OF STRATUM III, THE EARLY BRONZE AGE II

Raphael Greenberg

133

CHAPTER

9:

GROUNDSTONE ARTIFACTS AND SMALL FINDS

Avi Gopher and Emanuel Eisenberg

139

ANALYTIC STUDIES CHAPTER

10:

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Arlene Miller Rosen

153

CHAPTER

11

POTTERY TECHNOLOGY

Yuval Goren and Netta Halperin

1

Gila Kahila Bar­Gal and Patricia Smith

163

Liora Kolska Horwitz

171

Emanuel Eisenberg, Avi Gopher,

197

:

CHAPTER 12: THE HUMAN REMAINS CHAPTER

13

: THE MAMMALIAN FAUNA

57

CONCLUSION CHAPTER 14:DISCUSSION­ TEL TE'O IN CONTEXT

and Raphael Greenberg APPENDIX

1:

LIST OF LOCI AND WALLS

REFERENCES

214 220

Acknowledgements The excavations at Tel Te'o were conducted under the auspicesof the former Israel Departmentof Antiquities and Museums (now the Israel Antiquities Authority) and funded by the Public Works Department and the Ministry of Housing. The following persons took part in the excavation and the processing of the finds: Shelley Sadeh, field assistant; Avi Hajian and Michael Feist, surveyors; Elizabeth Belashov and Natalia Zak, redrawing of plans; Fiona Ward, pottery restoration; Nira Kopelioff, drawing of pottery and small finds; Dalia Enoch, flint drawing; Carmen Hersch, plates;

Tsila Sagiv and Clara Amit, studio photography. Field and aerial photograpy were carried out by the excavator. Our thanks to Ann Roshwalb Hurowitz, for weeding out many errors and inconsistencies in what we imagined was a final manuscript (we are, of course, solely responsible for those that remain), and to the

production staff at the Israel Antiquities Authority Publications for their expert work in layout and production.

Chapter

1

The Discovery of the Site, the Environmental Setting, and a review of Regional

Research

EMANUEL EISENBERG, AVI GOPHER, AND RAPHAEL GREENBERG

Tel Te'o is a multi­component pre­ and proto­historic site in the Hula Valley, Israel (map ref. 2035/2820; Fig. 1.1). Its stratigraphic sequence begins with the Pre­ Pottery Neolithic period (PPN, Strata XIII­XI), and continues through the Pottery Neolithic (PN, Strata X­

The extentof the mound, between the point where it rises slightly above the valley floor to where it merges with the hill­slope to the west, was estimated at approximately 3 ha (Figs. 1.4­1 .6). It may, however, be

Early//

VIII) and Chalcolithic periods (Strata VII­VI), Bronze Age I (Strata V­IV) and Early Bronze Age II )Stratum III). Two strataof medieval and late Ottoman times cap the site. Tel Te'o was discovered by Yosef Stepansky, the regional antiquities inspector, in the course of construction work on the Rosh Pinna­Qiryat highway. It seems that the site had already been damaged in the 1930s, when the north­south highway was constructed, but this was not noticed at the When the road was widened and resurfaced in 1985­ 1986, archaeological remains were uncovered, and salvage excavation initiated. The excavations were conducted from March to September 1986 by Emanuel Eisenberg (IAA Permit 1435) on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums (now the Israel Antiquities Authority). They were financed by the Public Works Department and the Ministry of Housing. To enable excavation, a section of the old road was dismantled (Fig. 1.2) and a detour constructed to its west. The area chosen for excavation was in the highest partof the site destined to be covered by the new The initial goal set for the excavation was to confirm the existence of in situ remains, as indicated by the inspector 5s survey (Area A). When it became clear that the site was a multi­layered mound, a second stage was initiated, and the excavation area expanded to a total of 625 sq m. The uppermost levels of the mound were further explored in an area of 240 sq m (Area B) excavated to the eastof the major excavation area (Fig.

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2

E. EISENBERG, A. GOPHER, AND R. GREENBERG

Fig. 1.2. Tel Te 'o: removalofthe roadbedprior to excavation.

Fig. 1.3. Aerial viewof the excavation

areaand road (note scaleand arrow to north(.

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CHAPTER 2: METHODS OF EXCAVATION AND PHASING

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NOTE ON STRATIGRAPHIC PHASING AND PRESENTATION OF FINDS Tel

(South)

6­6

Te'o is characterized, on the one hand, by relatively

clear architectural phases and, on the other, by poor and much­disturbed floors with few cultural remains. As a result, the number of sealed or undisturbed loci identified in the excavation is small. The relation of mateiral culture assemblages to the architectural remains was extrapolated from a number of well­ defined pits and silos; further material assigned to each stratum comes from unsealed fills and earthen floors. In view of these limitations, we have decided to present all the material culture remains typologically,

by principal periods, identifying,

where possible, intrusive or residual artifacts. These are discussed according to their cultural attribution (hence the occasional appearance on one plate of finds from varying stratigraphic origins). In some cases, significant stratified material culture sequences could be identified. They are presented and evaluated in the general discussion (Chapter 14). Plans 2.1­2.7 present an overview of the stratigraphy. All major features and floors are represented in the simplified plan and sections, which thus serve as a key for the detailed discussion that follows. Elevations are in meters above mean sea

level.

Chapter 3

Stratigraphy and Architecture

of Strata xill­l

EMANUEL EISENBERG, AVI GOPHER, AND RAPHAEL GREENBERG

Strata XIII­XI: The Pre­Pottery Neolithic Period

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Locus 757 (Sqs B­C4). This2x3 m sounding (Fig. 3.1) revealed an occupation surface (elev. 77.85) comprisedof packed earth, yellowish in color, in which a large boulder was incorporated. This surface yielded only fragments of organic material and, near the large boulder, a patch of ash some 0.8 m in diameter containing bone fragments­ possibly a hearth. Above the floor, a layerof reddish­brown colluvium contained flints and faunal remains. A small probe beneath the floor, excavated to a depth of 0.4 m, revealed the sediments of an alluvial fan composed of reddish soil and wadi pebbles. It thus seems likely that the Stratum XIII occupation is the earliest at the site.

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Locus 768 (Sqs D6­7). Withina2x3 m area, an 4 occupation surface comprised of beaten earth was /7^K*>s^/ revealed. Associated with this surface were, in its ^ 757 / Y* northern part, a small ash­pit 0.55 m in diameter, and a "^V 77■60 larger pit (L769), possibly a trash pit, cut by W763 of 1 Stratum XII and only partly excavated. These features are assigned to Stratum XIII both on stratigraph1cPlanS.J. PlanofStratum XIII.

grounds and by virtueof the similarityof their finds to L757. The surfaces and pits assigned to Stratum XIII, comprising a total excavated area of only 12 sq m,

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seem to represent unroofed areas. Lithic finds (see Chapter 4) date them to the Pre­Pottery Neolithic period.

E. EISENBERG, A.

16

GOPHER, AND

Fig. 3.1. Viewof section throughStrataXIII­VII. At bottom, bedrock is visible, incorporated in a Stratum XIII lfoor. Looking west.

R.

GREENBERG

^

Stratum XII Stratum XII loci were exposed in two areas above the Stratum XIII deposits (Plan 3.2). Locus 746 (Sqs B­C4). This locus overlay L757. It comprised an occupation surface (elev. 78.39) which yielded fragments of organic remains and faunal material. Associated with this surface were a 3­5 cm layer of packed yellowish marl and a number of cracked burnt stones. These were apparently part of a lined installation used for a fire­related activity.

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Locus 762 contained the only architectural found in Stratum XII: W763 and W764, which form a right­angled southern corner of a room (Fig. 3.2). The walls, 0.5 m wide, are built in two well­laid rows of fieldstones. Two stone courses were preserved, the

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^, rD Fig.3.2. Plaster lfooratthe southwesterncornerojRoom7 62, Stratum XII. Note, at bottom left,a fragment ofa Stratum X1 plasterlfoor (L 73 7). Looking north. 7

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yielded lfint otols, lfint debita§e­ faunal remains' and a bone point.

CHAPTER 3: STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE OF STRATA Xlll­l

In summary, the small­scale exposure of Stratum XII1 1b revealed the corner of a room, most probably part of a rectangular building. This is characteristicof the PPN, with contemporary rectangular structures known from nearby sites such as Beisamoun, and from sites further _ afield such as Munhata, Yiftah'eL Jericho, Beidha,79.51 'Ain Ghazal, and others.

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Stratum XI

Locus 742, disturbed by Stratum X burials (B9, B13, and B14), was preserved only in its southern bounded by Walls 739, 740, and 741; in its northwestern corner, the remains of a lime­plastered floor were revealed curving upwards towards W740 and ending abruptly at the point where it would have abutted the now missing wall, W749. Fragmentary remains of a stone pavement (elev. 79.53) indicate the

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location of the southeastern corner of the room, permitting its dimensions to be reconstructed to very much the same size as Room 734. A human femur (B15) was found beneath the floor (Fig. 3.3). The two rooms may be considered part of a structure comparable to the well­known PPNB corridor houses of Beidha II and 'Ain Ghazal (see discussion below, Chapter 1 4).

1

E. EISENBERG, A. GOPHER, AND R. GREENBERG

18

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origin. Locus 718 may be interpreted as an open area related to Building 734 or to a more southerly,

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Locus 743 represents the southernmost area in which Stratum XI finds were revealed. No surface was encountered here, only a tilted, 0.8 m deep non­ anthropogenic deposit, consisting mainly of gravel, soil, and a few bones and flint artifacts. At its deepest point (elev. 78.44), L743 is one meter lower than the L7 18 floor, and it may be understood as alluvial fill in a

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Fig 3.16.Burial B12,after removalofL692 pavement.

slippedholemouth jar were found in situ. A cylindrical stone­lined pit (L727), 0.4 m deep, was sunk into the centerof the locus (Fig. 3.17). Fragments ofa jar were found in this silo. Locus 719 (Sq D5) lacked architectural features; a floor was tentatively identified at elev. 80.90, where ashes and a hearth were found. Slightly below this level there was an infant burial (B8; 80.62­80.47), placed between two fragments of a red­slipped holemouth jar. Locus 670. The area south of L682, in Sq C5, was disturbed and cut by W600 and two pits (L671 and L530) of Strata VII and VI. No floor was identified; a large stone protruding southwards from W714 may hint at the continuationof building in that direction. Loci 724, 675, 676, and 694. The occupation levels in these four loci, in the southern part of the excavated

area, were some 0.5 m lower than in the northern part. Locus 724 (Sqs D3^) had a compacted light brown clay floor some 8 cm thick (elev. 80.52). The southern part of the floor was absent, apparently eroded prior

to the Stratum VII reoccupation. An empty jar, its neck removed, was interred some 0.2 m below this floor (B10; elev. 80.33­80.21; see Fig. 5.5:2). Its similarity to infant jar­burials of Strata X­VIII suggests that it served the same purpose; the bone of a neonate found in L728, below L724, might have belonged to this jar. A yellowish clay floor in L675, some 6 cm thick, may be the continuationof the floor in L724. Sealed by a wall, W580Of Stratum VI' the lfoor rises towards the westto join the brown earth floor 0fL676, into which a round stone­lined silo (L759), resembling thatof L727, was sunk (Fig. 3.18). An earthen floor in L694, at a similar elevation to the other loci (80.50), was disturbed by a Stratum VII silo. The gravelly deposit above the floors of Loci 675­676 was either of colluvial origin or an intentional fill related to levelling operations preceding construction of Stratum VII. The absence of walls in all four loci of the southern sector indicates that this area served as an open courtyard. The thickness and varying colorsof the clay floors may indicate the need for frequent maintenance in this erosion­prone part of the site. Silo 759 in L676 may hint at the existence of a building in the area, perhaps to the west.

Stratum VIII, the uppermost PN level, shows evidence of prolonged abandonment before the Chalcolithic reoccupation of Stratum VII. This is manifested by the erosive damage sustained by some of the remains. As

CHAPTER

3:

STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE OF STRATA 0111­1

27

Fig. 3. 18. Silo 759 (at right) in L676. The silo is built into Stratum /X deposits seen in center. Looking south.

noted above, this damage was compounded by the disturbances caused by building activities of the Stratum VII inhabitants, who tended to sink their houses into the ground.

eroded remains of earlier occupations were levelled, and gravel fills were laid down to fill in topographical depressions. Possible occupation remains of this preparatory phase may be the two pits (L715 and L671/ 532) sealed by the walls of a Stratum VII structure (Building 618). These pits have been designated as

StrataVII­VI: The Chalcolithic Period

Phase A of Stratum VII (alternately, Phase A may be construed to include Building 582 as well, with only Building 618 and Room 597 added in the second phase). Although the house plans are clear, Stratum VII floors were badly preserved due to the massive intrusion of Late Ottoman (Stratum I) graves (see Plan 3.10, below, and sections in Chapter 2: Plans 2.2­2.7). These posed a major impediment to identifying sealed occupation loci from Stratum VII, and indeed from all subsequent strata. Stratum VI represents a major rebuild of the Stratum VII remains; in some cases entirely replacing earlier structures, in others, reusing earlier walls and adding floors or other minor elements. The following description presents the architectural remains of each stratum, beginning with the main

Strata VII­VI represent two consecutive phases of Chalcolithic settlement at Tel Te'o. The most conspicuous feature of the buildings in these strata is the fact that they were built exclusively of stone. Their stateof preservation is thus much better than thatof the earlier PN strata. This is especially trueof the northern part of the excavated area, where two phases of a complex of three houses sharing a central courtyard were exposed (Figs. 3.19­3.21). Thus, the Chalcolithic remains at Tel Te'o are the first whose finds permit us to address the issues of site planning and spatial organization, and their social implications. The construction of the Stratum VII structures was preceded by considerable preparatory work. The

28

E.

EISENBERG, A. GOPHER, AND

R.

GREENBERG

Fig. 3.19. Aerial viewofStrataVII ­VI. Looking east.

Fig. 3.20. StrataVII­VI: general view. Looking north.

CHAPTER

3:

STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE OF STRATA 0111­1

msism^mmmsm^^m^^mmmn^mz"

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Fig. 3.21. StrataVII­ VI: general view.Looking southeast.

structures and their associated installations, followed by the inner and outer courtyards and the outlying remains.

In this stratum (Plan 3.7), the principal structures were Buildings 582 and 618, flanking a central courtyard, L584, on the north and south. The courtyard, approached from the west through a broad entrance, was bounded on its eastern side by the poorly preserved remainsof Building 678. Scattered remnants of further structures occupied the southern sectorof the excavated area.

Building 582 (Fig. 3.22). This rectangular structure (external dimensions 5.2 x 14.5 m) was completely preserved, save for a few disturbances to the topsof the walls caused by Stratum I burials, and damage to W662 caused by a pit of Stratum V or IV. It is a typical broad­ house, subdivided asymetrically into two rooms (582 and 552). Wall width is not uniform (0.7­0.9 m) and

the corners do not form true right angles. The walls, built on a level bedding with no foundations, were of fitted fieldstones forming two wall faces. Between the rows there was a fill composed of small stones set in a mud­mortar which contained fragments of groundstone implements, animal bones, and flint artifacts. Walls were preserved to a heightof 0.8 m, and stone­fall of a similar depth covered the floors. The entrance to the structure, 0.95 m wide, was located in the middleof the southern wallof the house, W551, its threshold (elev. 81.79) built of carefully fitted slabs. A tall stone step led down to the floor of Room 582 (3.7x9 m; elev. 81.26). The light­brown earthen floor was laid flush with wall bases or slightly lower. Near the northern wall (W567) a paved installation about one meter in diameter was preserved, bordered by two rectangular stones. A cylindrical silo (L653) 0.7 m in diameter and 0.7 m deep, was found near the southwestern corner. A bench, built of large stones, lay between the silo and W601. Nothing was found to indicateif and in what manner Room 582 was roofed.

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