The Chalcolithic Culture of the Golan 9789654065450, 9654060329, 9654065452

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IAA Reports, No. 4

The Chalcolithic Culture of the Golan CLAIRE EPSTEIN

With a contribution by

Tamar Noy

ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY JERUSALEM 1998

‫ו‬

Israel Antiquities Authority Publications

Series Editor: Ayala Sussmann

Copyeditor: Inna Pommerantz Production Editor: Raphael Greenberg

Typesetting and Layout: Ghislaine Lewertowsky Cover Design: Edna Banet, Opus­Studio Plates: Tafsar Ltd., Jerusalem Printed at Ahva Press eISBN 9789654065450

ISBN 965­406­032­9 © ISRAEL ANTIQUITIES AUTHORITY 1 998 POB 586,Jerusalem 91004

Contents

PART 1: INTRODUCTION Preface Environmental Setting Site Location and Dispersal Types of Settlement The House Plan

1 / I

1

2 5 6 8

The Roof

I

13

Household Amenities Population Estimates

16

■

'

18

PART 2: DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF EXCAVATED SITES Site 12:RasmHarbush Site 20: 'Ein el­Hariir Site 22: Rasm el­Kabash Sites 16,21: Near the Daliyyot Waterfall Site 18: 'Silo Site' Near 'Ein el­Faras Site 14: North­West of Qaliq Site 6: el­Majami' Site 8: Near the Ja ' adan Stream Site 19: el­Arba'in PART 3: SURVEYED SITES Introduction Ed­Dura (Site 1) South­Eastof Fakhura (Site 2) Tell Fanus (Site 3) Near the Upper Zavitan Waterfall (Site 4) Siyar el­Kherfan (Site 5) Tell Sluqiyye (Site 7)

­

11)

58

75 91

'

107 118

124

.

131 136

145

.

145

146 146 147 147 148

Musha'an(Site9) South of the lower Nukheile Waterfall (Site 10) Shabbe(Site

21

148 1

.

49

149

El­ Havi (Yonathan) (Site 13)

150

Dab 'es (Dvash) Reservoir (Site 15)

151

Stone­Heap No. 4 (Site 17) Water­Tower Site (Site 23) Near the Bazelet Waterfall (Site 24) Khirbet el­Hutiyye (Site 25) Afterword

152 152 1

54

155 157

PART 4: POTTERY ARTIFACTS Techniques of Pottery­Making Decorative Elements Pithoi Spouted Kraters and Spouts Bowls Small Kraters Hole­mouth Jars Jugs and Juglets Spindle Whorls Fenestrated Footed Bowls Horn Handles and Applied Horned Head Handles 'Eye and Nose' Handles Small Handles Miscellaneous Pottery Objects

159 160 162 164 164 165 166

1

PLATES

1

168 169

'

170 170 171

I­XXIX

PART 5: BASALT ARTIFACTS Working Basalt . Pillar Figures Flower­pot Shaped Bowls Rounded Bowls Squarish Bowls Footed Bowls Solid (unfinished) Bowls Unworked Stones with Bowl­like Cavity Above Fenestrated Footed Bowls Querns Grinding Stones and Pestles Hoes and Agricultural Tools Grooved Hammers Dibble Stick Weights Stones Hollowed Out on Both Upper and Lower Surfaces Miscellaneous Artifacts Trough­like Basins PLATES XXX­XLIV PART 6: FLINT ARTIFACTS Tamar Noy Introduction Raw Materials Debitage Debris Scrapers Fan Scrapers

66

166 167

I

,

172­228

229 230 234 234 234 234 234 235 235 235 236 236 236 236 236 237 237 238­267

269 270 271

273 273 275

'

Perforated Tools^/.■­i/;^ Bifacial Tools Sickle Blades and Knives Awls and Borers Retouched Blades, Bladelets and Flakes Notches, Denticulates, Truncations and Miscellaneous Retouched Small Tools Hammerstones Choppers Summary PLATES XLV­LXXIV

trustv­^

l­A

'*

277 283 287 290 292 293 295 296 297

300­332

IN CONCLUSION

333

APPENDIX 1: Analysis of Charred Wood Samples and Seeds Nili Liphschitz, Yoav Waisel and Maria Hopf

339

APPENDIX 2: Faunal Remains Simon M. Davis and Caroline Grigson

341

APPENDIX3:MC Dates Israel Carmi and Dror Segal

343

APPENDIX 4: Pottery Analyses from Site 12 Naomi Porat

344

REFERENCES

347

LIST OF SITE PLANS (in rear pocket) Site Plan la. Site 12, Rasm Harbush Site Plan lb. Site 12, Rasm Harbush (west) Site Plan 2. Site 20, 'Ein el­Hariri Site Plan 3. Site 22, Rasm el­Kabash Site Plan 4. Site 16and 21, near the Daliyyot Waterfall Site Plan 5. Site 18, 'Silo Site', near 'Ein el­Faras Site Plan 6. Site 14, north­west of Qaliq Site Plan 7. Site 6, el­Majami'

Site Plan 8. Site 8, near the Ja'adan stream Site Plan 9a. Site 19, el­'Arba'in Site Plan 9b. Site 19, el­'Arba'in (east)

1. Aerial view of Rasm Harbush (Site 12), from north.

2. Infra-red aerial photo of 'Ein el Hariri (Site 20), at end of first season, showing modern field fences and stone-heaps overlying unexcavated Chalcolithic house walls, and large tumulus partly covering House 27.

3. Rasm Harbush (Site 12); House-chain 2. Houses 13 (for^round) and 12 (distant figure). with party-wall between.

4. Reconstructed Chalcolithic house with artifacts from various sites, Golan Archaeological Museum, Qazrin.

5. Pithos from Rasm Harbush (= PI. 111:2).

6. Juglet from Rasm Harbush (= PI. XXI:6).

7. Basalt bowls from Rasm el-Kabash and Site 21, near Daliyyot Waterfall (=Pls. X X X V I : 1, 8, 12; XXXVII:21).

Part

1

Introduction

PREFACE

recently that the Golan has been considered as a candidate for inclusion in archaeological overviews of the Chalcolithic period in Palestine (Perrot 1968; Ussishkin 1970). It was not until the thirties that the period itself came to be recognized as a significant phase of cultural development. This followed on the excavations at Teleilat Ghassul (Mallon, Koeppel and Neuville 1934; Koeppel et al. 1940) which revealed ar­ chitectural remains and an associated assemblage reflecting an agropastoral community whose cultic be­ liefs were given expression in a series of wall­paintings, not yet fully understood. Then, in the fifties, knowledge of contemporary culture was considerably widened with the discovery of the sites clustering round Beersheba, distinctive on account of their subterranean dwellings, a related but diversified assemblage and, above all, an unparallelled expertise in ivory­working (Perrot 1955, 1957; Dothan 1959). These two regions came to be re­ garded as representative of the period as a whole (Perrot 1968:416; de Vaux 1970: 526­530). Meanwhile, following on Sukenik's work at Hadera (Sukenik 1937), ossuary burials were discovered and excavated in caves at a number of sites concentrated in the Coastal Plain, which highlighted contemporary bur­ ial practices (Ory 1946; Kaplan 1963; Sussman and Ben­Arieh 1966; Perrot and Ladiray 1980 ­ to name but a few). Subsequently, in the early sixties, came the discoveries from the Dead Sea region, notably at the 'En Gedi sanctuary (Ussishkin 1980) and the amazing hoard of cult objects, mostly of copper, from the Cave of the Treasure (Bar­Adon 1980). All the above made it abun­ dantly clear that for all its pre­urban character and the continued use of flint tools, the Chalcolithic period was one of considerable achievement and economic develop­ ment. As excavation progressed and Chalcolithic strata It is only comparatively

were revealed at an increasing number of sites up and down the country, the picture that emerged was one of shared traditions and points of contact between the vari­ ous localities. At the same time, each region was seen to be characterized by specific features and it was evident that the culture of the central region was not, in fact, identical with that of the Negev. Excavations during the past twenty­five years or so have emphasized further the regional character of Chal­ colithic settlement wherever it has come to light, including in the north. In this respect the Golan is no exception, exhibiting, as it does, clear­cut and often unique aspects not previously encountered. In this volume an attempt has been made to collate and

interpret the material that has accumulated over the years since 1973, when the first conclusive evidence of Chal­ colithic settlement in the Golan was recognized in the course of probes made along the line of a then projected new highway (No. 808). While at the time the far­reach­ ing implications of the discovery were not fully appreciated, already during the first season of excavation at Site 12 manyof the outstanding characteristic features were revealed, recurring later at site after site. These include a wide range of typical vessel forms, a variety of basalt and flint artifacts, pillar figures and broadhouse architecture, noteworthy on account of the practice of chain­building. It was only with the extension of the scopeof the excavations and soundings made at a grow­ ing number of sites, combined with ever­widening surface surveys (Epstein, Notes and News, IEJ 23^­0, 1973­1990), that the results could be placed in their true perspective. The work in the field was carried out without the usual facilities of a large expedition, often without adequate transport. For season after season the actual digging was done by a team of Druze workers from North Golan,

2

PART

1:

INTRODUCTION

whose keen interest made them invaluable assistants and contributed not a little towards the understanding of the villages of thousands of years ago. Despite the time interval, the excavated houses presented features with which the older men were familiar from the lifestyle of their youth, prior to the advent of modern influences and the impact of progressive innovations, including mecha­ nized techniques in agriculture. They proved to be true partners in a project whose purpose was to record informa­ tion relating to every possible aspect of the Chalcolithic period in the Golan. During many seasons of excavation I was assisted in the field by a succession of volunteers, among whom I would make special mention of the following: Melvin Farris (1975, 1976, 1977), Jeremy Schonfield (1977), Nava Streusand (1980), Elaine Nissen and Mikael Enge­ bretson (1982, 1983), all with previous archaeological experience. Special mention must be made of Dudi Ben­ Ami, then of the Golan Field School, who in the course of surveys over the length and breadth of the Golan, was often the first to recognize and report the existence of possible Chalcolithic remains (especially Sites 2, 18 and 21). The excavations were carried out on behalf of the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums(ID AM), now the Israel Antiquities Authority. The project was supported by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Hu­ manities, Basic Research Foundation (1978­79, 1979­80), the National Council for Research and Devel­ opment (1983­84, 1984­85, 1986­87), the National Geographic Society, Washington (1985), the Israel Mu­ seum Percia Schimmel Award (1985) and the Dorot Foundation (1987); from 1984 it was included in the projects promoted by the Golan Research Institute, which has given invaluable assistance. The restoration of pottery and other artifacts was car­ ried out at the ID AM by the late Moshe Hoffman, Michal Ben­Gal, Miriam Shma'in, Tamar Bar­Noy and Fiona Ward. The scale drawings were made by the fol­ lowing IDAM draughtswomen: Michal Ben­Gal, Zivit Nisselevitch, Tedy Mazzola, and Nira Kopeloff; the flints were drawn by Daniel Ziper, Ophra Lazar, Dalia Enoch­Shiloh and Julia Moskovitch. The plans were pre­ pared by the IDAM­IAA surveyors, headed by Michael Feist, Israel Vatkin and Pavel Gertopsky in the field and Scott Colmes and Irina Berin in the drawing office; the reconstructed houses at Site 12 were drawn by Razvan Nicolesco. Photographs in the field were taken by Am­ non Assaf, Zvi Ma'oz, Melvin Farris, Bruce Commandeur, Robi Castro and extensively by the

author. Artifacts were photographed at the IAA by Tsila Sagiv and Clara Amit. I would also express my thanks to Shlomit Nemlich, Curator of the Golan Archaeological Museum, for hav­ ing fashioned a' Chalcolithic' pot from clay obtained from the Tannuriyye stream and for the constant support given by the museum and its staff. During the years spent covering little­known areas of Central Golan in the hope of finding further evidence of Chalcolithic settlement, I was encouraged and often ac­ companied by a succession of Golan Archaeological Officers, among whom I would make special mention of Sammy Bar­Lev in the earliest days and Zvi Ma'oz who, despite his interest in much later periods, joined me in many of my searches, both ina jeep and on foot. To them all I would express my warmest appreciation for their patience and cooperation: without them this book could not have been written.

ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

Twenty­five Chalcolithic sites are shown on the distribu­ tion map (Fig. 1) and, with the exception of Site 25 in the Samakh valley in South Golan (where sedimentary rocks predominate), all are located in Central Golan on Dalwe Basalt (Mor 1986:63­65). The sites spread in an arc extending from the Jordan river in the west to the upper reaches of the el­ 'Al stream (Kabash) in the east. Most of the sites are situated on median slopes at an elevation of 455­555 m above sea level; two are situated at a higher altitude (Sites 8 and 9) and four below 455 m (Sites 1,2,5 and 6). In this part of the Golan the mean annual precipitation is 500­600 mm (Shahar et al. 1995: Map 28:i), with mean temperatures varying between 12O­14O in winter and 24O­28O in sum­ mer (Shahar et al. 1995: Map 27:ix, xi). The region is subject to a strong east wind (sharqia) whose velocity decreases with its progress westwards. While the nature of the terrain makes palynological tests impractical, the pollen record from adjacent areas, notably the Hula Ba­ sin (van Zeist and Bottema 1982: Fig. 14.6 ­ after Tsukada) and Lake Kinneret (Baruch 1986:45, Fig. 4; 1990: Fig. 2) indicates that in the Atlantic period the climate was generally similar to that of today, though possibly somewhat moister (Bintliff 1982:506; Goldberg and Rosen 1987:29, Fig. 2:1). The same conclusion was reached as the result of a study of weathering patterns on stones which showed that since Chalcolithic times the climate of Israel has not changed substantially (Danin

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ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

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The relative scarcity of silos in the Golan espe­ cially as compared to the large numbers of store jars is undoubtedly due to the nature of the local terrain, since it is by no means easy to dig down into the hard basalt, as was discovered by the occupants of House 10, Site 18, who had, perforce, to place the silo on the floor . 1r. /T^. .' ‫י‬ , itself (Fig. 164 below). While all possible combinations of the above architec­ tural features occur, the provision of a small storage area 1.1 m8.

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sector of a peirpheral house, while a third silo was simi­ larly located, possibly in an outer courtyard, although its relation to the nearby structure is far from clear. lire­

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Fig. 15. Type 5: tongueof wall, House 15, Site 12. From south­east.

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(Types 1 and 2) at one end of the house (usually in the west), is by far the most common feature. In many of these small rooms there were remains of storage vessels, often placed against the walls for support. It should, however, be stressed that their suggested interpretation as store­rooms is based on their relatively small size, The best preserved silo was found in House 2, Site 18: this narrows towards the top, the upper stones of the inner wall leaning inwards, thereby creating a relatively small aperture which could easily have been covered by a flat stone or skin to ensure that the contents re­ mained dry. 8

THE HOUSE PLAN

especially when further divided (Type 2a). Moreover, the arrangement of a medium­sized room (Type 3), as found in more than twenty houses, can be regarded as an accepted method of partitioning the inner spatial area. As for the use of an axial long wall in order to create a long narrow room, usually on the north (Type 4), this form of internal partitioning was found in seventeen of the excavated houses and can be regarded as an alterna­ tive means of providing support for the roof frame (below). A short tongue of wall jutting out from a cross­ wall (Type 5), was not widely used and was found in only seven of the houses examined.

Comparisons with other Chalcolithic Sites Turning now to the incidence of similar forms of parti­ tioning in Chalcolithic houses at sites outside the Golan, it has been well demonstrated that a small end­room was a common feature, occurring in one form or another at a number of sites (Porath 1985: Fig. 7; Wright 1985:30). Subsequent excavations have provided further confirma­ tion and it is likely that comparable architectural features will come to light as more and more contemporary sites are uncovered; a reappraisal ofa number of earlier excava­ tions reveals a similar picture. In Stratum VI at Tel Te'o, in the Hula Valley, three rectangular houses were found, almost identical in size and plan to those of the Golan, here aligned around a common courtyard (Eisenberg 1987; 1989: Figs. 2A, 3). Two structures on the north and east were of the same size: the first had a small room built across the west end (inner width: 2.5 m), corresponding to Type 3, while the second had two adjacent rooms (inner width: 1 .5 m) built across one end, as in Type 1 (see House 27, Site 20). The south house, which was larger, also had a Type 3 room at one end, while the remaining space was further parti­ tioned by a transverse wall close to the entrance (see House 9, Site 19). In all three structures there was a stone­lined silo associated with the small end­rooms, in a position recalling that of silos in the Golan. In trial excavations at Tell Turmus, in the north of the Hula Valley (Dayan 1969: Fig. 2), remainsof walls were found which can also be interpreted as part of a typical rectangular building. On the strength of the architectural elements revealed, it is suggested that the paved area beyond Wall 1 was part of a Type 1 room (inner width: c. 1 m) and that Walls 2 and 4 continued northwards to form corners with a probable cross­wall on the north. The position of a silo close to the south face of Wall 1 supports the reconstruction suggested above, recalling the siting of silos in the Golan and Tel Te'o structures; a

11

second silo sited outside the house, beyond Wall 2, was a feature which also occurred at Tel Te'o (Eisenberg 1987:174). At Teleilat Ghassul, a small room ­ similar to those commonly found in the Golan ­ was also a feature of rectangular houses in Stratum IV (Mallon, Koeppel and Neuville 1934: Fig. 12). In Houses 2, 26 and 29, each of which faced on to an outer courtyard (in contrast to most Golan houses), there was a narrow room at one end. In Houses 2 and 26, this resembled Type 3 (inner width: 2.0 and 2.3 m respectively), while in House 29 it was similar to Type 1 (inner width: 1 .5 m). At the north end of House 15­16, there was a similar narrow room, while adjoining it was a second room, resembling Type 3. At the south end of House 48 there were three small store­rooms, one next to the other, as in Type 2b. This structure shared a party­wall with House 49­50, with a non­aligned corner between the two on the east, such as frequently occurs between chain­built houses in the Golan. In House 49­ 50 a short tongue of wall was built out from the south cross­wall (length: 1.8 m), recalling Type 5. During subsequent excavations at the site, rectangular buildings came to light in all phases, but without internal partitioning of any kind (Hennessy 1969: Fig. 4; 1982: Fig. 1). In Sanctuary A, dated to an early Chalcolithic phase, the plan generally resembled that of the houses, but, in addition, there was a small room running across the entire width of the south end (Hennessy 1969:56; Ottoson 1980: Fig. 3:F), possibly a store­room for ritual vessels used in the practice of the cult. Other parallels from contemporary sites are for the most part with a Type 3 medium­sized room. At Meser (Dothan 1993), there was a room in a Stra­ tunr III house built across one end (width: 2.3 m). In Stratum II at Shiqmim, two household complexes can be compared to the Golan structures. Each consisted of a smaller room, oriented respectively north and south of a large adjoining 'courtyard' which together formed a complete house unit: Room 6 in Area D (Levy and Alon 1987a: Fig. 6.8; Levy and Holl 1987:387­388) and Room 5 in Area C (Levy and Alon 1988; Levy 1992:349, Fig. 3). Room 6 plus the 'courtyard', with a doorway between, was similar both in size and plan to a standard­ sized Golan house (overall measurements: 15.5 x 6.0 m): the inner width of Room 6 (3.5 m) was equivalent to that of the largest Type 3 rooms and it was also located at the end of the building. Another element recalling a feature of the Golan houses is the shelf (bench) which ran at the base of the north cross­wall, here made of mud­brick rather than of stone. Similarly, Room 5 and the slightly

12

PART

1:

INTRODUCTION

trapezoidal 'courtyard' adjoining it, can be regarded as a single unit, the overall dimensions (18.3 x 4.5­6.5 m) approximating to those of the larger Golan houses (see below House 14, Site 22, with almost identical measure­ ments). Here, however, the internal partitioning differed from that exemplified by Types 1­5, since both Room 5 itself and the 'courtyard' were larger, the latter with two small squarish rooms at opposite ends. Despite a differ­ ent arrangement of the internal space, the overall plan resembled that of the Golan structures. Yet another Stra­ tunr II house was excavated in a subsequent season (Levy et al. 1991:403, Fig. 8), which, though smaller, recalled structures in the Golan, including the short shelf (bench) at the base of the long wall, oppposite the entrance. Further north, at Byblos, the Neolithique recent level was characterized by rectangular architecture (Dunand 1973:127­128, Fig. 77). Although the buildings were incomplete and several wall fragments were uncertain, two rectangular complexes are worthy of note: Rooms 12+13 and Rooms 21+25, each of which, it is suggested, represented a dwelling whose plan resembled the more or less contemporary houses of the Golan. In the first complex, which approximates in size to a standard Go­ Ian house (14.85 x 5.8 m), an inner transverse wall created a Type 3 room at the west end and the structure may have been built in chain formation with Room 15 (only partially excavated), with which it shared a party­ wall. On the opposite side of the courtyard lay a smaller and unusually narrow structure (13.5 x 4 m), also with internal partitioning, which created a somewhat larger Type 3 room, at the opposite, east end. Despite the distance between Byblos and the Golan, the tradition of house­building in the two regions is seen to reflect a similar type of architecture. From the above it emerges that although structures vary in size, at most Chalcolithic sites the broadhouse plan was adhered to. Many were of much smaller dimen­ sions than is the rule in the Golan and were frequently associated with an open outer courtyard in which a vari­ ety of household activities were carried out. This applies to the latest buiding phase at the Beersheba sites, as exemplified by Building 409 at Bir es­Safadi (outer

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.,

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(Govrin 1988­89:173). Likewise, in the upper levels of Abu Hamid, House 192 was revealed as a building of similar size, with the entrance in one of the long walls and evidence of house­ hold activities carried out in the area adjoining it (Dollfus et al. 1988a: Figs. 18, 20). Similar houses, in­ eluding some of slightly larger size, were excavated in later seasons; in several, small rooms were added (corre­ sponding to Types 1­3) and manyof the daily household activites were carried out in unroofed areas adjoining the walls (Dollfus and Kafafi 1990:6; 1991:2; 1993:245). Even further away than Byblos, in the Chalcolithic stratum at Tiilintepe in Anatolia, where the lifestyle of the inhabitants had much in common with that of the peopleof the Golan (Arseblik 1983), the average house was rectangular, but considerably smaller, opening on to an adjoining courtyard or outer open space. The dwell­ ings consisted of one or two larger rooms and a small store­room (or workshop). Here, however, while some houses clustered together forming small units, there was no indication of conformity to specific types of internal parti­ tioning, although some structures recall Type 1. Reviewing the above, it is apparent that variations of the accepted types of partitioning of the Golan Chal­ colithic house as outlined here, were in common use and are likely to be revealed at a growing number of sites throughout the region. Nor is this surprising: for the basic plan of a rectangular house whose inner spatial area is divided into two adjoining sectors, one small, the other larger, is known from widely dispersed sites throughout the Ancient Near East already in the Neolithic period (Aurenche 1981: Period 5a, 196­197).9

­

Although not an exemplar of the above basic plan, it is worth recalling a remarkable foundation deposit from a late Neolithic con­ text in Thessaly (dated early fourth millennium BCE). This is a clay 9

measurements: 9.0 x 4­3 mX wlth the entrance unusu­ ally ­ in one of the short walls and a Stone shelf (bench) at the base of the long north wall (PeiTOt 1984:87, pig

rt

At another Negev site, Tel Shoqet, a small rectangular structure (9.0 x 4.5 m) came to light, of almost similar size as Building 409 above: the entrance was in one of the long walls and the floor c. 0.50 m below the surface; the south part of the house was partitioned into two adjoining small rooms, recalling Types 1 and 3 in the Golan, although, here, they were differently orientated

.

.

J1/ P1­ IV:2>. Other Slmllar buildings were aSS0C1ated with an 'annex', probably to be interpreted as an Outer courtyard, although its position was not constant, some­ times adjoining the long wall and sometimes the short wall of the house.

model of an unroofed house of rectangular Plan' with the doorway almost in the middle of one of the long walls; opposite the entrance, it is divided into two sectors, with a raised platform on the left, while a large oven is shown at arid right. Between the two is an elongated object with upturned ends, of uncertain identity. In addition to the |>ousehold equipment­ the model shows the dght occupants of the house, representing two ­ possibly three ­ generations of a nuclear family (Gallis 1985: PL XV).

THE ROOF

13

The Roof

CjHE^ ^™S^t^^E

The problem of whether or not these large structures were roofed has, from the outset, proved difficult to ]tSi^^S^efi^^^^^^BlB^S resolve. On the one hand, there was a lack 0I eas1v^^^K&XS \ ^₪₪₪₪₪/₪₪^ available timber suitable for use as central longitudinal ^^^B^L3M^5^S^a|^^l^^^^^^^^H^^^■ beams and on the other, there were no indications inside ^^^|^^^^H|^^H^^|H|||^^^|^^^^^^^|H the buildings of bases for uprights wooden or other­ wise which would have been necessary in order to support a series of short axial roof beams. A contributory ^^H^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H^^^HH|^^^^H factor making it difficult to determine whether the over­ HHHHHHHHHi^HHH^HHHHHHHH all space was entirely or only partially covered, is the Fig. 18. A modern thatched roof with substructure of branches frequent arrangement at one end of the buildings of a nailed together, Shabbe (Golan Archaeological Survey 1967­ small room, or rooms (Types 1­3) giving on to a larger '' adjoining area which could well have served in lieu of a courtyard. The lack of any recognizable enclosed space doubt that the olive tree was cultivated. Since both the outside the great majority of the houses led to their olive tree and the Tabor oak are characterized by rela­ designation as 'courtyard houses' (Epstein 1978a:32). tively short and twisting branches, it would have been Bearing in mind the conditions prevailing in the Golan in necessary to use a series of beams, rather than a single winter and the resultant heavy east­to­west runoff over central beam, in order to span a standard­sized building the basalt slopes, dwellings in which only a small area lengthwise. Simple techniques could have been used in was roofed over would not have provided adequate shel­ the construction of the roof frame, many of which, with ter. The above considerations gave rise to the slight variations, continue in use in modern times (Fig. oirginally­held hypothesis of a regular seasonal transhu­ 1 8): tying short beams together to the required length; mance cycle (Epstein 1977:58, 62; 1981:79) ­ a placing a number of short beams so that their overlap­ lifestyle widely attested among pastoral communities. ping ends are securely wedged against one another Further, the postulation of the existence of permanent (Kramer 1982:93, Fig. 4.5); slotting a series of beams into the natural cleft at the top of wooden uprights winter villages situated beyond the confines of the Go­ Ian, offered a possible solution to the problem of the (Daker 1984:56, Fig. 4). All the above would have ne­ location of contemporary cemeteries. For despite the cessitated the setting up of a series of posts (length: c. identification of over a score of Chalcolithic sites in the 2.0­2.5 m) at intervals along the axis of the house to Golan, no associated burials of any kind have so far support the roof­frame as at Teleilat Ghassul (Hennessy come to light. 1969:4­5). Since most of the Golan houses were paved, The fact that the above assumption was not readily suitableflat­ surfaced stones would have served admira­ accepted by most archaeologists, led to a reassessment bly as 'bases', with smaller stones to underpin the posts of the evidence; and I would place on record my appre­ where necessary. In the course of time, the wooden ciation of the lively discussions on this subject which posts and joists would have perished and the 'bases' took place at the excavated sites with visiting confreres, would have become indistinguishable from the remain­ both from Israel and abroad. Today, I concur with the ing floor stones. In the event of superimposed piled­up general consensus that the houses were roofed over, boulders having been used as piers, these would have while admitting the possibility that some structures (es­ merged with the heavy stone debris found in all the pecially Type 4) may not have been entirely covered. structures, with no indication of their original functon. Any one of the above methods could have been used in Types of Rooifng order to construct a timber framework to support either a As has already been remarked, the local tree cover in flat or gabled roof made, no doubt, of thatch, reeds, Central Golan in Chalcolithic times consisted predomi­ branches, brush­wood, skins and mud ­ as from time nantly of Tabor oaks and associates. Moreover, from the high percentage of charred remains found in the houses 10 in some basalt­built houses in East Turkey today, the roof­frame is

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of olive wood and olive pits (Liphschltz, Walsel and Hopf, Appendix 1 , Tables 1, 2 below), there can be little

supported by stout 4­5 m wooden posts set directly on a rough earth lfoor, often with only a small stone wedge at the base to balance them (personal observation, 1987).

14

PART

1:

INTRODUCTION

immemoiral down to the present day.11 In the climatic conditions prevailing in the Golan, organic materials of this kind would have perished and left no trace. Before examining the evidence from the houses them­ selves, it will be useful to review the Type 4 method of partitioning the overall spatial area. Here the internal long wall took the place of and obviated the need for axial pillars. Indeed, the Type 4 house may well have evolved as the result of the need to adapt the architecture to the limitations imposed by the length of the local timber. By erecting an inner longitudinal wall, the 5­6 m wide structure was effectively divided into two parts of unequal size, over each of which a series of short trans­ verse beams could be placed to support the roof. Nor should the possibility be ruled out that in some houses the south sector was only partially roofed over, thereby providing an alternative to an outer courtyard. While the artifactual evidence is inconclusive in this respect, it is likely that the narrow covered area on the north (c. 15 x 1.5 m) would have sufficed as sleeping accommodation for the household. That the narrow north sector was roofed is endorsed by the finding of pillar figures in this part of the house (as in Houses A and R, Site 12 and Houses 3 and 22, Site 20), since it is unlikely that re­ vered cultic objects of this kind would have been placed in an unroofed part of the house. It can be further de­ duced that in House R, the whole of the inner space was roofed, since in addition to the two pillar figures in the narrow north sector, three more were found lying in a row in the south sector at the base of the inner long wall (Fig. 67, below). It has already been remarked that the internal parti­ tioning of the houses took into account the average 12

length 0f the timber suitable f0r USe aS beamS­ This is self­evident in the smaller rooms (Types 1­2), while a close examination of the plans shows that the size of Type 3 rooms (avg. inner width: 2.5 m; maximum: 3.5 m) was similarly governed by the length of easily obtainable timber. From the recurrence 0f these meaS­ urements it can be inferred that room widths were determined by the length of the available wood suitable " .­tto , for use as beams ­ probably 3­4 m. ^ J With this as a yardstick, it will be useful to examine the unpartitioned space in different types of structures (excluding Type 4). To this end, seven completely exca­ vated houses at different sites have been taken as representative and an estimate made of the number of upright wooden posts required in each in order to sup­

1­1

r00f beamS (Table l and F1S­ 19i '''''':::^^Si₪₪₪^₪K^^^^^m^^^^MB^ House El with which it shared a cross­wall, was built on ^^^^^^Mj^m^^^KK^^^^^BSKK^U bedrock. It can, however, be assumed that it extended ■^y^SHH^^H^^^^^^^^^^^^^SHtfH considerably further west than is apparent today, reach­ M/₪KB^^^^^^^^^^^/^^^K^^^^^^^M ing well beyond the indications of a possible transverse ^^^^3B^^^^^^^H^B^K^^^Bl|^BIBj wall, of which there were traces in an area where tne M/^^Bt^^^^E^n^^^^^^KK^^^^^^^^M terrain was disturbed when the road was constructed. In ifliP^­ j^BHHfl|1P addition to the limited area examined adjacent to the east cross­wall (Fig. 31), a small section was als0 dearedFig.31 HouseF:probedareaneareastcross­wall;beyond,Houses

L

along the inner face of the north wall which, although m

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El and E2. From west. Note broken trough­like basalt basin (right foreground)

27

SITE 12: RASM HARBUSH

Finds. ­ Within the confines of the area examined a small but characteristic assemblage came to light, al­ though the sherds were insufficient for the restoration of any one vessel. Among them were sherds of rope­deco­ rated pithoi ­ including the rim and shoulder of a vessel with hoirzontal auxiliary handle (PL 11:6) and a shoulder fragment of another with double horizontal handles (PI. XXV: 10); rim sherds of a medium­sized decorated bowl and a smaller plain bowl. A number of basalt vessels were also found: a complete flower­pot shaped bowl (PL XXXIV:4), a rim fragment of another and a small poun­ der/grinder. Lying close to the east cross­wall was a fragment of a shallow, trough­like basalt basin with up­ turned sides probably used in oil production (Epstein 1993), of a type found in many houses. An unworked stone with a smoothed bowl­like cavity above ­ origi­ nally set in the floor ­ also came to light (PL XXXVIII:7). A selection of typical sherds retireved from the cutting east of the road, including a spout with a handle below (PLXIV: 16), adds to the likelihood that oirgnally House F reached considerably further west than is evident today.

House 15 Exc. 1977, 1980, 1981. L 15 m;W6 m. Thisstandard­ size structure was the easternmost house in the chain (Fig. 32). At the west end was a Type 1 room (inner width: 1 m) without an entrance, bounded on the east by a one­stone wide wall of large stones. A Type 5 tongue of wall (length: 1.7 m) jutted out from the centre of the east face of the inner transverse wall into the main house area (Fig. 15 above), thereby creating two small rooms which opened directly into it and possibly used for specific household activities. The entrance to the house was in the south wall, marked on the east by a large boulder, while on the west was a second large wall stone, not flush with the entrance (Fig. 33). The floor of the house was at a lower level, probably with steps leading down (as in House 13). Opposite the entrance and also immediately to its west, there was a low shelf (bench) at the foot of the north and south walls (Fig. 34). Much of the floor was paved, especially in the centre and south­west, as was also the narrow western room; but no paving was found in the north­west or east. Finds. ­

Numerous sherds were found scattered throughout the house, especially in the centre; but only HOUSE­ CHAIN 2 relatively few vessels could be restored. There were, in addition, many basalt artifacts (including several querns) There were six ­ possibly seven ­ houses in this and a variety of flint tools. house­chain, oriented generally from east to west. The In the narrow west room, the few finds comprised a axis of each structure, however, was aligned in accord­ ledge handle (PLXXVII: 11), an oval basalt quern (PL ance with the contours of the terrain, the long wallsXL: 5) and a fragment of another. In the two small rooms continuing in an unbroken progression, but with changes opening into the main house area, the finds were more of direction. By and large, House­chain 2 ran parallel to abundant and included, in the north­west, irm sherds of House­chain 1 and was closer to it in the west than in the three rope­decorated pithoi and three decorated bowls; a east, where the two were as much as 30 m apart. Thus, large flattish unworked basalt stone which may have between Houses A­B and 14­15 there was sufficient been used as a quern, two pounder/grinders (PLXLI: 15); intervening space to allow for the erection of a single a flint scraper (PL XLV:7), a retouched flake (PL detached structure (House 1 9). LXIII: 11) and a sickle blade. A fragment of an olive pit was In 1977, it was here that the system of building in also recovered here (Liphschitz, Waisel and Hopf, Ap­ chain formation was first noted on the surface. Sub­ pendix 1, Table 2:20963 below). In the adjoining sequently, three complete buildings were excavated (Houses 12, 13 and 15), the outer walls of a fourth were ^_^^^^_^^^_^ ,

surface­cleaned (House 14) and a small probe was made in a fifth (House G), while the possible beginning of what may be the long wall of a sixth structure to its west was distinguished on the surface (House W). Snould there have been an additional structure still futrher west' it would have been completely obliterated by the road. ^‫י‬1 1 . ^ . ­1 1 ‫­וו‬ The above succession of cham­built dwellings repre­ sents a typical house­chain and it is this which is today open to the public. 1

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XLIIL27), wider at one extremity than the other, both of

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well as unusual artifacts. What is known of the house plan combined characteristic architectural features with a less frequently encountered arrangement in the west of

Jj^^^^^^^^^^B^E^^MIIi^^tf j|||j^^

14 Although this is the only example found to date, it exemplifies a circular basalt cult stand, thereby invalidating the suggestion that the pillar figures were thus used, as might be inferred from some forms of nomenclature used to describe them.

^^*^^ ~~*' Fig. 121. House 7: negative of decorated pithos sheras on earth layeron floor. From north. ~*

88

PART

2:

THE EXCAVATED SITES

have been identified a little north of the springs (neither probed nor shown on the plan). In two instances the walls investigated constituted part of structures erected in close proximity to one another, though not built in chain formation (Houses and 19, Houses 16 and 17). Elsewhere cross­walls were cleared where only intermittent sections of contiguous long walls were found (Houses 20 and 21). 1

House

1

Summarily probed 1978.L 17 m; W6m. This, the first structure at the site to be investigated, was situated c. 45 m west of the stream in an area covered by a network of modern field fences. Oriented generally east to west, the outlines of the walls, built of large stones, were visible on the surface. Since only the lowest courses were extant, no indication of an expected en­ trance in the south wall was found. At the west end there was a Type 3 room (inner width: 2.2 m), built as an adjunct after the completion of the original structure (Fig. 122). This is evident from the marked difference in the alignment of its walls which were oriented obliquely to the long walls of the house. The indications are that it was added at a later stage to the outer face of the original west cross­wall; and there are signs of a possible open­ ing between them. Constructed of large stone blocks, the wall separating the main house area from the west room is far too solidly built to have served as an inner trans­ verse wall; it is, however, typical of outer walls both in this and other houses. This is one of the few instances when it is possible to distinguish structural changes or additions in a building made during the period of its use (see House 12, Site 19 below).

Disregarding the addition of the Type 3 room, it is seen that House 1 was originally of standard size (15 x6 m) and surface indications suggest that the inner space was not partitioned. This may have been the reason for adding the small room in the west rather than ­ as is more usual ­ by partitioning off a suitable area within the structure itself. In the centre of the main house area a test probe was made across the width of the building extendingc.4 m towards the east. In the west the Type 3 room was cleared, revealing vestiges of a paved floor. Built out from the south­west corner is a haphazard semi­circle of large stones which is not integral to the building; it can almost certainly be interpreted as the remains of a very much later animal pen (see the large circular enclosure near Houses 2­4). Finds. ­ Little material came to light either in the west room or in the course of the trial probe made in the main house area. In addition to typical rope­decorated and plain body sherds and flint debitage, rim sherds of two larger vessels were recorded from the west room and a bowl rim and a flint sickle blade from the main house area. The meagre finds also indicate that little remains of the building other than the lowest wall courses and that the level examined was to a large extent below the floor. The outlines of the walls of House 1 are today clearly distinguishable on the surface; but it should not be for­ gotten that over the centuries they were equally visible ­ if not more so ­ and their stones were no doubt extensively used, including for the construction of the later animal pen and the many field fences erected nearby. v­

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House 19

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Summarily probed 1983. ExtantL 13.5 m;W4.5 m. The structure layc.8 m north/north­east of House 1, aligned more or less parallel and partly adjacent to it. Situated close to the west bank of the stream, in the east it extended as far as the edge of the riparian tracts which

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are today covered with a thick growth of hydrophytes (Fig. 123). For this reason the outlines of the eastern room (especially in the south­east) were less distinct.

Adjoining it to the west was the main house area (inner measurements: 8x3 m): here, the inner face of the north wall was built of medium­sized stones in contrast to the larger boulders used in the outer face, while the trans­ verse wall was far too insubstantial to have served as an external house wall. It is thus possible that originally r o J there was a Type 1 room in the west, of whose walls

89

SITE 22: RASM EL­KABASH

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(lmscale),east cross­wall closetostream bedwiththickhydrophyte growth. From west..

there is but scant indication on the surface. Should this be so, the length of the building would have approxi­ mated to that of a standard­sized house. No opening was found in the inner transverse wall which (built with a non­aligned corner on the north), separated the main house area from the almost­square room (3.8 x 3.5 m) in the east. As in most other structures at the site, only the lowest wall courses were extant and nothing remained of the floor.

Finds. ­ Only a small assemblage was retrieved, mostly from the east endof the main house area. This comprised rim sherds of a rope­decorated pithos and two plain bowls, a broken horn handle (PI.XXIV: 2) and a flint sickle blade. There were also sherds of crumbly yellow ware (Porat, Appendix 4 below) which, although tending to disintegrate, are characterized by features common to vessels made of the ubiquitous reddish­brown ware: a rim sherd of a rope­decorated pithos, a fragmentary handle

preserved. The western end of the building has been obliterated by a modern dirt track which cuts across it

from north to south, while several stones of the east cross­wall were no longer in position. Probes were made at the east end where there was a Type 1 room (inner width: 1.4­2 m) separated from the rest of the house by a one­stone wide wall in which there was probably a doorway leading into the main house area (Fig. 124).

While such rooms are more usually located at the west end, this is by no means invariably so (see House 2, Site 20 above and Houses A and B, Site 6, the latter with a small room at both ends, below). In the main house area the inner face of the north wall could be distinguished on the surface forc.9 m between the inner transverse wall and the track (width: 8­8.5 m). The length of the build­ ing as uncovered is 12.4 m and it is presumed to have extended westwards for another 4 m, though all possible wall remains in the vicinity of the track have been de­ t

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stroyed; neither was there any indication or additional partitioning in the main house area. Assuming that the plan of House 16 resembled that of several other struc­ tures at the site, it may well be that the main house area was not further divided.

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Finds. Few artifacts were recovered in the small area examined, where the floor level was not preserved. The material consisted of characteristic sherds and basalt pieces, including rim sherdsof rope­decorated pithoi and a bowl decorated with incised herring­bone pattern, a broken horn handle (PI. XXIV:3), a flower­pot shaped basalt bowl (PL XXXIV:5) and a fragmentary handle of a heavy basalt vessel (shape unknown). Notwithstanding the limited assemblage, House 16 can be regarded as a typical structure whose occupants, although not linked in a close clan relationship with those of House 17 nearby, were perhaps tenuously con­ nected with them.

Fig. 124. House 16: unexcavated main house areaand south wall (right); beyond, Type 1 room at east end. From south­west.

90

PART 2: THE EXCAVATED SITES

House 17 Summarilyprobed 1982, 1983.L 16­17m(?);W5.5 m. Situated c. 65 m east of the stream and c. 10 m south­ westof House 16, House 17 was similarly oriented. It lay in an area which today is criss­crossed by numerous modern field fences and the structure itself is partly encircled by a later enclosure wall, a segment of which overlies its east end. Probes made in the west of the house uncovered a room (inner width: 4.50 m) in which the south wall, identified on the surface, was cleared along the inner face (Fig. 125); the west cross­wall proved to be less well preserved, while the lower course of the north wall, built of large boulders, lay partly covered by piles of stones from later building activities; in the east a transverse wall, with a non­aligned corner on the south, separated the west room from a second (inner width: 3 m), bounded on the east by a one­stone wide transverse wall. East of the smaller room, a further 3 mof the south wall were cleaned, thus confirming that the house continued eastwards beyond the superimposed later walls, probably extending to within a short distance of the present track. As in most houses at the site, only the lower courses of the walls were found and it is likely that their stones were reused both in the later enclosure wall and in the modern field fence. Despite the denuded state in which it was found, the dimensions of House 17 can be assumed to have been similar to those of other structures at the site; the unusual feature is the non­aligned south­east corner of the west room (see the non­aligned corner between the two sectors of House 19), making the build­ ing narrower at one end.

Finds. ­ A small quantity of sherds and flints, as well as a single basalt piece were found, mostly in the eastern­ j_Mmmm

Fig. 125.House 17 overview: west room(1mscale) bounded by Well­buil,southWall; beyond, probedeast sector.From south­west. Note modenr fieldfenceandtrack beyond,

most of the two adjacent rooms; this included small rim sherds of plain and rope­decorated pithoi, bowl rim sherds and a fragment of a perforated flint tool. The only item recorded from the west room was a flower­pot shaped basalt bowl (PLXXXIV: 8), found close to the south wall. Although the outlines of the walls are to some extent conjectural, a plausible reconstruction can be suggested for House 17, which was originally prob­ ably a little more than standard size and partitioned in the west into two adjacent rooms.

House 20 Summarilyprobed 1983.L 15­16m(?);W5 m. Only a very small sectionof the structure was examined, sufficient to enable it to be identified as a typical broad­ house. The inner face of the east cross­wall was cleared across the whole of its width, as were also c. 6 and 5 m respectively of the inner face of the adjoining north and south walls. Finds.­ Since very little other than the lowest wall courses proved to be extant and only patches of the floor remained, few sherds were found, all of them charac­ teristic. These included rim sherds of two medium­sized vessels (one rope­decorated, the other plain), an 'eye and nose' handle (PLXXVI: 6), a fragmentary base and a body sherd of a rope­decorated pithos.

House 21 Summarilyprobed 1983.L 17 m; W6m. The structure liesc.5 m south of House 20, its south­ west corner being in line with the north­east corner of House 2, c. 160 m further south. Although only small sections of the walls were cleaned, it is possible to sug­ gest a plausible reconstruction of the overall plan. Here, a small area adjacent to the inner face of the west cross­

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fr0m the Sma11 collection recovered here: a rim sherd of a narrow­ 1S

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1

SITES 16, 21: NEAR THE DALIYYOT WATERFALL

necked pithos decorated with a bandof rope ornament at the juncture of neck and shoulder. . The importance of the above peripheral houses lies inof their dispersal over a wide area in the vicinity of the more concentrated groups of structures sited near the springs; and it should be stressed yet again that surface indications point to the likelihood of the existence of

many as yet unidentified additional peripheral structures on the outskirts of the site.

SITES 16, 21: NEAR THE DALIYYOT WATERFALL Site Plan 4 Map ref. Site 16: 2221/2561 ­ 2224/2561 Site 21: 2223/2559 ­ 2235/2560

Both sites are situated on the scarp above the stream, Site 16 to the north­west and Site 21 to the south of the waterfall. In the course of time, the downward­flowing water has carved a deep bed for the perennial stream. On either side, the precipitous brushwood­covered slopes not infrequently disintegrate and crumble, caus­ ing large rocks to loosen and fall. For a short distance at the head of the waterfall (Fig. 126), the wadi bed lies close to the surface and here the basalt descends in a stepped formation, giving easy access to the stream, whereas further down, the sheer banks on either side make this hazardous. While it is not possible to recreate a precise topog­ raphical picture of the area as it was at the time of Chalcolithic settlement, there are good grounds for as­ suming that, while the wadi gorge was probably not as deep as it is today, by and large, similar conditions prevailed in the immediate vicinity. This would explain

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Fig. 126. Rocks and pool above Daliyyot waterfall. From north­ west 7

91

the locations chosen for the two neighbouring settle­ ments: Site 21, which is concentrated mainly on the south bank of the stream, with an additional single row houses bordering the north bank, all with a good water supply close at hand; and Site 16 which, at a distance of c. 150 m north of the stream, is spread out over an elongated spur of higher ground on the broad stretch of upland which extends eastwards from the confluence of the Dab'es (Bazelet) and the Daliyyot streams, also within easy reach of potable water. However, owing to the craggy, precipitous nature of the banks on both sides of the stream, they would have been unsuitable for agri­

culture and it can be assumed that both fields and pastures were located on gentler slopes nearby. The distinction between the two sites was made not only on accountof the distance between them, but also in view of the contrasting settlement grouping of each. Thus at Site 21, situated for the most part on the south bank, the layout is essentially one of rows of houses (some chain­built); while the structures so far identified as forming part of Site 16, situated north of the stream, are characterized by a loosely strung­out dispersal pat­ tern. The difficulty lay in assigning the single line of structures built on the verge of the north bank of the stream; and it was only after prolonged deliberation that the above allocation was made. Today a much­frequented path of the Society for the Protectionof Nature traverses Site21. On the south bank it skirts the east cross­wall of House 15 and cuts across the east end of House 16, while on the north bank it runs adjacent and close to Houses 7­12, subsequently cross­ ing the presumed area of House 10. The suggestion that the wall remains sited close to the north bank might be Chalcolithic was made by D. Ben­Ami (then of the Go­ Ian Field School), who noted them while leading groups along the path. Following on information regarding the location of possible Chalcolithic houses near the Daliyyot Water­ fall, the surrounding area was extensively surveyed from early 1980 onwards, when additional structures associ­ ated with diagnostic surface material were identified also on the south bank (Site 21); several more were revealed in the course of subsequent surveys which cov­ ered an ever­widening expanse of terrain, including on the upper ridge which runs parallel with the north bank of the stream (Site 16). The indications are that there are additional buildings at both sites, since a wide surface scatter of Chalcolithic sherds and flint material is to be found in areas where wall sections have also been noted, pointing to the position of typical structures.

92

PART

2:

THE EXCAVATED SITES

In view of the proximity of the two sites, it will suffice to give a single description of their situation, while the details of each settlement and its layout are presented

elongated), and by 0ne­St0ne wide walls of large boul­ ders which run between them (see Site 20 above). /n addition, the terrain is criss­crossed by a network of modern field fences running in all directions. All the above are later than the Chalcolithic buildings and tend to obscure their outlines, while further disturbance has been caused in recent years by irrigation projects, tree­ planting, the making of a cattle track and a constant stream of hikers along the path of the Society for the Protection of Nature. Notwithstanding the above and the resultant uncer­ tainty of many pointsof detail, on the basisof the layout of the buildings excavated and probed on this side of the stream, there are good grounds for interpreting them as those of parallel rows of broadhouse structures, aligned in accordance with the configuration of the terrain, in a generally east to west direction. Thus House 14, which shared a cross­wall with non­aligned corners with House 6, lay c. 16 m west of House 16 and was similarly oriented, all three structures forming part of the same group; while the possibility of an intermediate building sited between Houses 14 and 16 should not be ruled out. At some distance to the east of House 16 lay Houses 2 and 5 (twin chain­built structures with a non­aligned corner), the intervening terrain being characterized by stone­heaps which greatly complicate the task of identi­ fying the remains of possible house walls (Fig. 127). Bearing in mind the generally similar alignment of the above two house­clusters, it may well be that in the area between them there were additional standard­sized houses, including chain­built structures with non­ aligned corners. Although no evidence has so far come to light to this effect, it is nevertheless suggested that the above succession of houses constituted a single group, typi­ cal of the overall layout pattern; while any possible breaks between neighbouirng houses would ­ as elsewhere ­ signify the dwellings of non­clan­related families. A u.ur . >r\ a­ Altogether fourteen structures (including o v o one or two isolated buildings) were identified on both banks of the >

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stream and there are, without doubt, many more awaiting discovery.15 The suggestion that there were additional rows of houses aligned generally parallel with the above group, is borne out by House 4 which, at a distance of c. 11m to the south, was oriented similarly to House 14; and by House 15 which, at a distance of c. 11 m to the north, was aligned similarly and adjacent to House 16, the east cross­walls of the two structures being in line. Despite the fact that only restricted sections of Houses 4 and 15 have been probed and nothing has so far come to light indicating possible adjoining houses either to east or west, it is clear from the limited area examined that both were rectangular in plan and contained diagnostic artifacts, including a large decorated pithos and a pillar figure. Turning now to the north bank of the stream: on its extreme edge Houses 7­12 were oriented in a manner recalling that of the group on the opposite bank, namely, a succession of broadhouse structures, aligned in accord­ ance with the configuration of the terrain, two of them (Houses 9 and 10) being chain­built. Here, too, despite the lack of supporting surface indications, there may have been additional houses both to the east and to the west of House 7. Be this as it may, the alignment of the five houses identified and the relationship of one to the other resemble that of the group on the opposite side of the stream. Reviewing the above, it is seen that the overall settle­ ment pattern of Site 21 consists, as elsewhere, of a nucleus of parallel groups of houses, in which some of the structures are chain­built. To date, these compirse

This is borne out by the surface find of a pillar figure (Epstein moo ". ,~_ . u. , s■,u r ,. 1988: Fig. 6:37) within the general confinesof the site. It was discov­ ered in the late 1970s by a farmer chasing a runaway cow. 15

1

■

SITES 16, 21: NEAR THE DALIYYOT WATERFALL

three rows on the south bank of the stream and one on the north bank (see Site 14 below, where the order is reversed). In order to emphasize the end to end alignment of the houses (not all in chain formation), the group on the south bank is described first, from west to east.

House 6 Exc. 1982, 1983. L 14­15.4 m;W6 m. Situated c. 40 m from the south bank of the stream, the structure was oriented north­east to south­west. When first identified, a modern field fence ran over the north

wall, as also over an elongated stone­heap built over the north wall of the neighbouring House 14 (Fig. 128). Excavated in its entirety, the south wall and much of the corresponding north wall were cleared along both the outer and inner face, but only the lowest courses proved to be extant and this applies equally to the west cross­ wall. In the east, the cross­wall served as a party­wall with non­aligned corners for House 14 (Fig. 129) and

93

was better preserved, possibly owing to the superim­ posed stone­heap. The absence of all but the lowest courses of the south wall explains the lack of any indica­ tion of the expected entrance, which is usually higher than the floor within. At the west end of the building there was a Type 3 room (inner width: 3.2 m), separated from the main house area by a one­stone wide wall, with a doorway on the north (Fig. 130). The west room was cleared to the level of the floor, in which rough stone paving was combined with bedrock, but few artifacts came to light. This is in marked contrast to the adjacent main house area which, paved throughout, contained a large assemblage.

Finds (Fig. 131). ­ Much of the variegated assemblage was concentrated in the central part of the main house area, where storage jars may perhaps have been placed against the south wall, rather than in the west room (see House 12, Site 12 and House 7, Site 22 above). There was, however, evidence of widespread artifactual dispersal,

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Fig. 128. Planof Houses 6 and 14.

Fig. 129. House 6 overview: cross­wall shared with neighbouring House 14 and non­aligned corner in south. From south­west.

Fig. 130. House 6: main house area with artifacts{including pillar ifgures) onpavedfloor; beyond, Type 3 room in west. From east.

94

PART 2: THE EXCAVATED SITES

sherds from the same vessel having been found scattered of the basalt bowls closer to the north long wall (PI. throughout the house, including in the west room.XXXIII: 13); while the third (PLXXXII: 4), which is Here, as already noted, little material was recovered: considerably larger and lacks mostof one side (including rim sherds of amedium­ sized jar with deeply impressed the nose), was found in a fragmented state close to the rope ornament and a hole­mouth jar (PI. XX:9), as well north wall, having possibly been broken and reused as a as a flint chopper. mortar, since there is a carefully­made deep hollow in In the main house area were the following: two rope­ the base. decorated pithoi with a contrasting shoulder panel, one The east end of the house, up to the cross­wall, yielded filled with a series of oblique bands (PL 111:2), the other fewer artifacts: rim sherds of twomedium­ sized rope­ with a curving zigzag band (PL IV:3); a pithos decorated decorated jars; a broken spout with handle below (PL with two bands of rope pattern below the rim and twoXIV: 11); the upper part of a fenestrated footed bowl above the base (PL VII:6); rim sherdsof two other rope­ decorated with a plastically­rendered nose placed be­ decorated pithoi and of similar smaller­sized jars; bowl tween a pairof horns (PLXXII: 6); two spindle whorls ­ rim sherds; a spindle whorl and half of a second; a ledge one with incomplete perforation (PL XXL30); a ledge handle and the base of a small bowl or cup. Several handle; a rounded basalt bowl (PLXXXVII: 4), rim frag­ basalt pieces were also found: a flower­pot shaped bowl ments of others and a quern. (PLXXXIV: 6) and another equipped with a small han­ The above is a characteristic assemblage, resembling die above the base (PLXXXV: 13), a quern fragment, an those found in houses both at this and neighbouring oval pounder/grinder and a broken agricultural tool with contemporary sites. From the range of artifacts it can be haft hole (PL XLIL16); a flint hammerstone (PL LXVI:5). deduced that, as elsewhere, the occupants were engaged Three pillar figures came to light in this part of the in agriculture and stock raising. Both from the point of house: one was found lying on its side towards the centre view of plan and household equipment, House 6 is seen (PL XXXIII: 11); a second small statue was found in one to be a typical structure.

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95

SITES 16, 21: NEAR THE DALIYYOT WATERFALL

House 14 Exc. 1983. L 14­15 m;W 5.5 m.well­ Built in chain formation with House 6 in the west, House 14 was oriented along a similar axis, the shared cross­ wall having non­aligned corners, that on the north being the more marked (Fig. 128). At some time in the past, an elongated stone­heap was piled up on the remains of the north wall, at the same time covering much of the west cross­wall, both of which were hidden beneath it (Fig. 132). It was thus necessary to remove considerable quantities of stones in order to expose the inner face of the walls. Once it had been ascertained that there was indeed a house adjoining House 6 on the east, all efforts were directed towards clarifying the detailsof the overall plan and no attempt was made to reach floor level. This accounts for the small number of artifacts recovered. As in the case of House 6, only the lower wall courses were extant. Here, however, the entrance in the south wall was preserved, slightly east of centre. In the east, the cross­wall, partly screened by the stone­heap and its detritus, was distinct on the south, thereby making it possible to plot the outline planof the structure. Nothing, however, is known of possible internal walls and it may well be that the inner space was not partitioned.

Finds. ­ In view of the restricted nature of the probe, only a small assemblage came to light, among which few artifacts could be attributed to specific partsof the house. Among the usual scatter of sherds, the following may be noted: rim sherds of rope­decorated store jars, the upper rim of one decorated with close rows of incised dots; fragments of three spouts (PL XIIL8) and part of a possi­ ble mould(?), made of thick coarse ware and carefully­ smoothed within (PLXXIX: 9). Most of the finds were of basalt, including small fragments of three

Fig. 1 32. House 14 overview to cross­wall shared with neighbouring House 6; right, remainsof elongated stone­heap overlying north wall. From east.

bowls and the rim and upper wall of a rounded bowl, smoothed internally; half an oval quern and a frag­ ment of another; half a circular stone with centre hollow above and below (PL XLIIL19); and a fragment of the base of a fenestrated footed bowl (PL XXXVIII: 14) a vessel rare in the Golan where the ceramic variety is ubiquitous; a flint awl was found near the south long wall. While the above artifacts throw little light on the ac­ tivities of the occupants, they are typical of larger assemblages. Furthermore, the house itself, which was a broadhouse structure of standard size with the entrance in the south wall, was built in chain formation with non­aligned corners with a second similar­sized house to the west; while at a distance of 16 m to the east, lay a similarly­aligned structure, all three being integral to the succession of houses forming this group.

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House 16 Identified 1983.L 15 m (?);W 5.5 m. Although the house has only been identified on the sur­ face, sufficient of its wall remains can be distinguished for a reliable reconstruction of the overall plan (Fig. 133). The south wall was summarily cleaned along the outer face, as was also the south­east corner and a sec­ tion of the adjoining east cross­wall (which was in line with that of the neighbouring House 15 to the north). Little of the corresponding north wall could be

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96

PART

2:

THE EXCAVATED SITES

distinguished, since a stone­heap had been built obliquely : over the structure in the north­east and its periphery ^f^­ef;of­ ^­ almost certainly conceals the south­east corner. The out­ I■ IBBB^^^^^^efisSiS^^ lines of the building have been further obscured by tne Mr ­ jjjliP^^ hikers' path which crosses it from north to south. |jfii|g^3i^^ House 16 lay east of House 14, oriented along a simi­ ^^HBg^9H^^^^^^H^^^^^^^^^B^^^H lar axis, the distance between them being 16 m, which is equivalent to the length of astandard­ sized structure. ^^^B^afJIJlBllll^^ Thus the possibility of the existence of an mtermediate ^^^^^B^^^^^BbmB^^^^^^^^^bBh^^B building should not be entirely ruled out, though there is ^^^^^^^^^^H^^^^|HB^^^^yH|H9B■ no surface indication to this effect. In the light of present H^Hh^^^^^^HJ^HHJ^HHH^H^I^^^^H knowledge, it is suggested that while forming part of me ^n^^^^^^mS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ same group as Houses 6 and 14 (which are chain­builtFig. 134.House2overview:eastcross­wall sharedwithneighbouirng and represent the dwellings of an extended famil }House5ar^Type4^itoningateastendFwmnorth­east. Note

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House 16 represents that of a non­related family. Since it was neither probed nor excavated, no artifacts are recorded from House 16. Its importance lies in its position and orientation, since it can be regarded as the link between the east and west ends of the group of houses, which, despite many unknown factors, provides the key to understanding the basic layout patternof the site.

House 2 Partially exc. 1982. Extant L6.5 m;W5.4 m. On the north, House 2 is skirted by a small wadi which runs into the Daliyyot stream; in the east, the cross­wall served as a party­wall with House 5; the west end, how­ ever, is completely hidden beneath an elongated stone­heap built over and across the whole of its width. While only a relatively small section has been exposed, this was probably a standard­sized structure (comparable to Houses 6, 14 and 16). House 2 was a Type 4 structure ­ the only one found to date at Site 21. The internal spatial area was divided by an inner long wall into two unequal parts, that on the north being the narrower (inner width: 1 m); close to the east cross­wall, a doorway led from one to the other (Fig. 134). The entrance in the south long wall was also closer to the east end of the building, which was cleared for 6 m from east to west to c. 0.50 m below the surface; floor level was not reached and only a small assemblage came to light.

Finds.­ Little material was found

in the narrow north sector; this included coarse­ware sherds of a rope­deco­ rated pithos, the upper rim ornamented with close lines of incised dots; a fragment of a basalt quern and a poun­ der/grinder. In the south sector the following came to light: a pithos decorated below the rim with two bands of rope­decora­

remainsof modern fieldfence overlying west end.

tion (PL VIII:6); rim sherds of a rope­decorated pithos, as well as of various­sized plain and decorated bowls. Sherds, including a fragmentary spout, were also found near the outer face of the south long wall, together with a fragment of a basalt bowl rim and a flint adze and an awl ­ all probably having originated inside the house. This is a small but characteristic assemblage. Thus, from the point of view of both artifacts and architecture, House 2 is seen to be a typical structure. Not only was it built in accordance with a Type 4 plan, but also in chain formation with the neighbouring house on the east. Nor should the possibility be ruled out that it formed part of a longer chain of houses with non­aligned corners which extended as far as and included House 16 in the west.

House 5 Exc. 1982, 1983.L 15 m (?);W 5.6m. Prior to its investigation, a modern cattle track had cut across the centre of the house from north to south. It was here that Chalcolithic sherds were first identified, in­

eluding pithos fragments. Further investigations revealed the existence of wall remains. The east end of the structure proved to be greatly denuded, only patches of paving and residual wall frag­ ments being extant. The latter may well be all that remains of the east cross­wall and a Type 5 tongue of wall built out from it (length unknown, owing to the proximityof the track). The suggested lengthof House 5 is based on the assumption that the north­to­south wall fragment identified here is indeed a remnant of the east cross­wall, the overall plan thus resembling that of other standard­sized buildings in the group. In the west, the cross­wall was shared with House 2, built with a non­aligned corner on the north, close to the

97

SITES 16, 21: NEAR THE DALIYYOT WATERFALL

small tributary wadi; the west end was divided into two The assemblage comprised the following: rim and small Type 2a store­rooms (inner width: 1.8 and 1.3 m), shoulder sherds of rope­decorated pithoi, on two of each with a doorway, the south room being slightly which the upper rim is decorated with a zigzag line of larger. dots (PL XXVIII: 11); the upper part of a narrow­necked The main house area (Fig. 135) was excavated to pithos, with a small horizontal auxiliary shoulder handle within a short distance of the track and the north and on either side, the body decorated with close bands of south walls were cleared forc. 6m from east to west; a rope pattern, the neck with four incised curved zigzag low shelf (bench) ran at the base of the south wall; no lines and the upper rim with close rows of incised dots entrance was found and it is likely that this was situated (PL V:l); bowl rim sherds, both decorated and plain (PL towards the centre of the south wall in a section obliter­XVIII: 13); a small fragment of a spouted vessel; an oval ated by the track; the floor was paved and near the small basalt bowl in which there was residual charred material north­west room were several broken stone slabs, which (PLXXXVI: 8); a pillar figure (PL XXXI:9), found to­ may perhaps have been used as paving. gether with sherds from the aforementioned An unusual feature of the building was the almost­ narrow­necked pithos, lying close to the north wall; a square enclosed area (3.5x4 m) built against the outer heavy circular basalt object with central perforation (a face of the south wall, slightly east of the south­west door socket?) found near fragments of burnt wood out­ corner, to which no entrance was found (Fig. 21 above). side the entrance to the small south­west room and a flint Though the small assemblage retrieved resembled that awl; the lower part of a large pillar figure found on the from inside the house, with nothing to indicate any spe­ shelf at the base of the south wall (with no trace of the cific function or use, the above enclosed space may have missing upper portion). been used as an outer courtyard, or storage place for In the denuded east part of the house (beyond the tools, provender and other materials (see House 22, Site track), there were only scattered sherds, all diagnostic. 20 above). In the squarish enclosed area outside the south wall there was a typical but small array of sherds: fragments of a Finds. ­ In the north­westof the main house area sherds second narrow­necked pithos (PL V:2), resembling that were piled up on the broken stone slabs, where there was described above, the wider neck also decorated with an also a basalt bowl and residual burnt material. Another incised pattern of curved zigzag lines ­ the two clearly sherd concentration was found near the inner face of the having been fashioned by the same potter. A vessel of north wall. The material was widely scattered, with this kind was not likely to have been placed in an outer matching sherds from the same vessel found in different courtyard and it is probable that its original position was parts of the house, including in the south­west store­ also inside the house. room. With this in mind and in view of the small area Although partially destroyed by the cattle track, cleared, the artifacts from the main house area are de­ enough of the architectural features were preserved for scribed together. House 5 to be recognized as a typical structure contain­ ... , ing a characteristic assemblage, including two pillar

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98

PART

2:

THE EXCAVATED SITES

stone accumulations and it was here that the south wall was first identified and cleaned for c. 11 m along the outer face. In the course of subsequent probes the lower courseof the less well­preserved north wall was revealed and a section of the main house area investigated. Al­ though the exact position of the cross­walls is not known, it is suggested that the total length of the struc­ ture approximated 15­16 m and that, like others nearby, it was of standard size. In the west there are surface indications of a continuation of the south wall beyond the stone­heap, pointing to the likelihood of an addi­ tional structure (or structures) built parallel with Houses 6 and 14. Thus House 4, situated c. 12m to the south of and parallel to the east end of House 14, may well be one of a succession of houses built end to end (possibly partly in chain formation), aligned adjacent to the above group. In 1982 and 1983, limited probes were made between the two stone­heaps in the area bordered by the north and south walls (Fig. 136), where patches of the paved floor combined with bedrock were quickly reached. It is not surprising, then, that there was little residual material, all of it diagnostic, including sherds belonging to a large pithos, which confirmed this as a typical structure, though only partially investigated.

tically rendered horn and sherds from the centre section (PLXXII: 8, 12), possibly from the same vessel. The out­ standing artifact was the unusually large and slightly warped pithos, whose rim diameter and maximum girth are greater than its height, while the base is exceptionally small (PL IV:1). The vessel (Fig. 137) is covered with close concentric rope pattern bands, save on the shoulder which is decorated with a single zigzag band, while the upper rim is filled with close linesof incised dots; on the handles the decoration consists of short oblique incisions on either side, interlaced on the spine. This unique store jar (not all of which was retrieved), illustrates once again the skill of the local potters who, using currently ac­ cepted ornamental motifs, succeeded in creating original vessels for daily use. In addition to the above, the following came to light outside the south long wall: a rim sherd of a rope­deco­ rated pithos; two bowl rim sherds, one decorated with incised dots (including on the upper rim), the other with short diagonal incisions; the centre section and some of the upper part of the base of a fenestrated footed bowl, decorated with close bands of rope ornament (PL al­XXII: 15); a fragment of a perforated flint discoid (PL LVI:4) and a sickle blade. While no basalt vessels and few flint artifacts were found in the probed section of Finds. ­ Most of the small assemblage was found either House 4, the following flints were found on the surface close to the stone­heaps or adjacent to the north wall. nearby: a fragment of a perforated discoid, two awls and Diagnostic material was also recovered in a trial probe a sickle blade. made adjacent to the outer face of the south wall further Although this is not a large assemblage, it is a charac­ west which, although not found within the house itself, teristic one. Despite the relatively small area examined, may well have originated there. House 4 is seen to be a typical structure, oriented simi­ The following came to light in the section of the main lady to others in the vicinity; and there is a strong house area investigated: rim sherds of two rope­deco­ probability that it formed part of a group of dwellings rated pithoi and a smaller store jar, all decorated with aligned parallel with and south of the succession of dots on the upper rim; a plain bowl rim fragment; a houses regarded as typical of the basic layout pattern at fenestrated footed bowl fragment decorated with a plas­ the site. W■ /

Fig. 136. House 4: probe in main house area: south wall (left) and overlying stone­heap (beyond). From east.

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Fig. 137. House 4: sherdsoflarge pithos (PLIV: 1)as found in main house area. From north.

SITES 16, 21: NEAR THE DALIYYOT WATERFALL

House 15 Summarilyprobed 1983.L 15 m(7);W5.5 m. This is a structure in which an area of no more than 2.5 m was cleared across the width of the building, yet it suf­ ficed to confirm the lines of the long walls both to north and south (Fig. 138). In the east the cross­wall has been used to mark the border of the hikers' path which crosses the structure from north to south. Nothing, however, is known of the cross­wall in the west, so that it is impossi­ ble to estimate the overall length; but it will not be stretching a point to suggest that House 15, like its neighbours, is more or less of standard size. This is in keeping with the width of the building and ties in well with the alignment of the east cross­wall which, at a distance of 6 m, is in line with that of House 16 to the south, the two structures being similarly oriented. It is thus suggested that House 15 belongs to a group of houses built end to end further down the slope, aligned parallel with and not far below Houses 16, 14 and 6. While no supporting surface evidence to this effect has so far come to light, this may in large measure be due to the steep configuration of the terrain, which today lies close to the wadi bank and is subject to the recurrent crumbling and fall of rocks from the cliff face. Examina­ tion of the relative positions and orientation of Houses 15 and 16 favours the suggestionof two adjacent lines of dwellings, with a third further south represented by House 4.

Finds. ­ Owing to the small area examined, only a few artifacts came to light. Among the usual array of typical sherds the following may be noted: one or two decorated pithos rim sherds, a rim sherd of a rope­decorated spouted krater (PI. XIV:4) and a base fragment of a fenestrated footed bowl. The diagnostic find is the pillar figure (PI. XXXI:6), which was found lying on its side near the north long wall at a depth of no more than 0.40 m below the surface; the nose, broken off in antiquity, was retrieved close by. ''

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Summarily probed 1987. L 15­16 m (?); W 5.5 ^ ‫י‬ The outlines of House C were noted on the surface at aj?■ rig. 14o. 1AQ zj ^ , , . " House C: probed area west+r^ of twin tumuli7. and, north, wall. distanceofc.9 m from the south­west corner of House From north­east. +

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SITE 18: 'SILO SITE', NEAR 'EIN EL­FARAS

107

point opposite. To offset this, the south wall continued further east, so that the north wall can be presumed to extend eastwards below the northernmost of the two tumuli for a further 2.5 m, to a point opposite the south wall as revealed. Both long walls probably continued as far as the north­east and south­east corners, in line with the identified section of the cross­wall in the east. Al­ though no trace of the west cross­wall was found, it is assumed that the building extended at least as far as the identified west extremityof the north wall. Notwithstanding the intermittent wall remains and the lack of details regarding the plan and possible internal partitioning, House C can be regarded as a standard­ sized dwelling resembling many others at this and other contemporary sites in the region., ,

material was found, all of it indicative, including body sherds of a rope­decorated pithos and a tabular flint flake. As a result of the above restricted probe, the siting of yet another typical rectangular house was confirmed and that in a sector of Site 16 which, on the basis of surface indications, may yet prove to be the main settlement area. Should this indeed be so, the indications are that Houses A, B, C and E were peripheral dwellings erected on its outskirts (see Sites 12, 20 and 22 above).

House F

Situation

Summarily probed 1987. L (?);W6 m. ­.: Higher up the slope towards the north­west, at a distance of c. 90 m from the west cross­wall of House A, lies House F, the two being oriented along parallel axes. Situated between two similarly­aligned, surface­identi­ fied structures (not probed or plotted), House F probably formed part of the settlement on the crown of the upland further west (near a small isolated oak tree), where much of Site 16 may well be located. Only a limited area was investigated during a probe lasting a few hours, in the course of which the line of the east cross­wall was traced, as alsoc.4 mof the adjoining north and south walls, all solidly built of large stones (Fig. 149). Since the purpose of the examination was to establish the position of a typical structure in this part of the site, the walls were only superficially cleaned; and while it is not known to what height they are preserved, there can be little doubt that, in contrast to those of Houses E and C, several courses are extant. No attempt was made to reach floor level and thus little residual

First recognized during the course of a survey in the late summer of 1980 (undertaken with a view to examining the area adjoining the then planned Sha'abaniyye Reser­ voir), the site lies half a kilometre west of the spring of 'Ein el­Faras. It is bounded on the south by the perennial Daliyyot stream, into which drains a meandering sea­ sonal stream. The seasonal stream, aflow in winter but dry in summer, traverses the site from north to south (Fig. 150). On either side there is a thick growthof plants indigenous to moist habitats, especially Ononis an­ tiquorum L. and Vitex agnus­castus L, while on the slope to the east there are also scattered hydrophytes (personal communication by R. Haiman during a visit to the site ­ see Haiman 1980). The terrain is characterized by a considerable stone cover, as well as by tumuli and dolmens; in addition, there is a network of modern field fences running in all directions, including across the seasonal stream. The first indication of close­lying Chalcolithic struc­ tures was noted on the surface near a small Tabor oak ­ an isolated reminder of the former tree cover ­ growing from between the stones of a modern east­west field fence. At a distance of 5­6 m south of the field fence and more or less parallel with it,a3 m stretch of a well­built wall was identified, standing two courses high above the surface; while c. 12m to the south­east, additional simi­ larly­oriented walls were distinguished on the surface. Here, at some unknown date in the past, a metre­deep pit had been dug which laid bare the inner face of two walls forming a corner, their stones covered with patina indi­ eating long exposure. All the above pointed to the . , r . ‫^ ן‬. ‫ן‬ ,.,1. , ‫ך‬.‫ך‬ , existence of typical Chalcolithic structures, although there was only sparse surface material to confirm this.

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