Tepe Gawra has long been seen as an essential site for late prehistoric and early historic period... more Tepe Gawra has long been seen as an essential site for late prehistoric and early historic periods, not only in Iraq but for the entirety of northern Mesopotamia. This importance stems from its long sequence, and its implications for understanding the development of societal complexity. Despite its small size, Tepe Gawra has produced evidence of highly specialized practices that overshadowed farming. This has led to the suggestion that the site was a "center" at the top of an administered network. Some scholars have challenged this assertion and suggested that the site had a lower town, which acted as the source of agriculture goods for the site. Since the area had been closed off to archaeological work this debate has not been resolved. Through recent survey work around Tepe Gawra, the authors show that there was an extensive lower town dating to the Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age stages of occupation. These findings show that Tepe Gawra was a large self-sustaining settlement exploiting its own agricultural hinterland.
Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan , 2020
During August 2018, the University of Toronto mounted excavations at a Yarmukian site called Taba... more During August 2018, the University of Toronto mounted excavations at a Yarmukian site called Tabaqat Ar Rutūbah ة( َ طوب الرُّ طبقة WQ 117), which the Wādī Qusaybah Survey first discovered in 2012, and subjected to small test excavations in 2014. The site is about 0.35ha in size and in 2014 we encountered stone and mud-brick building foundations as well as pits. Although thick colluvium at the site obscures much of its area, where Neolithic deposits are closer to the surface, we have found up to 2m of stratification that may span a period from ca. 6200 to perhaps 5700 cal. BC. This provides an excellent opportunity to study changes in important aspects of Yarmukian material culture, including its pottery, over time. The site also exhibits some enigmatic aspects, including its rarity of sickle elements and a complete lack of mammalian bone, both of which are usually fairly abundant at sites of this period.
This paper presents the results of the 2004-2006 salvage operations conducted at Tell er-Ramadi, ... more This paper presents the results of the 2004-2006 salvage operations conducted at Tell er-Ramadi, located along the west bank of the lower Syrian Euphrates River. Ramadi contains well-preserved deposits dating to the 4 th millennium BC (Late Chalcolithic or LC period), with the most well-preserved sequence dating to the later part of the LC2 to LC4. During the initial phase of occupation, the site was occupied by northern Mesopotamian groups, followed by the gradual appearance of southern Mesopotamian material culture. This interaction ultimately culminated in both northern and southern groups participating in collective labour feasts, taking place within the context of crop harvest, wool collection and spinning. Algaze (1993) originally classi ed Ramadi as an Uruk "station", a type of small, isolated Uruk settlement that facilitated movement of goods towards the Uruk heartland. This work helps understand how such stations may have operated on an intraregional level. Résumé. Cet article présente les résultats des opérations de sauvetage de 2004-2006 menées à Tell er-Ramadi, situé le long de la rive ouest de l'Euphrate syrien. Ramadi contient des dépôts bien conservés datant du IV e millénaire avant J.-C. (Chalcolithique récent ou période LC). La séquence la mieux conservée est toutefois comprise entre la n du LC2 et le LC4. Pendant la phase initiale d'occupation, le site était habité par des groupes du nord de la Mésopotamie. Il voit ensuite apparaître progressivement la culture matérielle du sud de la Mésopotamie. Cette interaction a nalement abouti à la participation de groupes du nord et du sud de la région à des festins collectifs, liés aux récoltes, à la collecte de la laine et aux travaux de lature. Algaze (1993) classait à l'origine Ramadi comme une « station » d'Uruk, un petit établissement isolé qui facilitait la circulation des marchandises vers la région d'Uruk. Ce travail permet de comprendre comment ces établissements ont pu fonctionner au niveau intrarégional.
The Late Chalcolithic Leilatepe “phenomenon” in the Southern Caucases has often been regarded as ... more The Late Chalcolithic Leilatepe “phenomenon” in the Southern Caucases has often been regarded as the product of Mesopotamian incursions into the region for the purpose of acquiring metals and semi-precious stones for trade.The material evidence has shown fairly clearly that these migrations resulted in the development of both hybridised and altogether new ways of engaging with the world, including novel architectural, metallurgical, ceramic, lithic, and ritual technologies and practices. This paper approaches this period of intense cultural interaction from a practice theory lens, aiming to view the social dynamics and processes associated with the emergence of Leilatepe “culture”. In doing so, we draw from Richard White’s Middle Ground concept to illustrate how new social practices emerge when two cultural groups with distinct habitus come into close and sustained contact with each other. Our research indicates that, while trade was likely an important aspect of the Leilatepe phenomenon, a number of factors also point to a sustained migration or migrations by a broad swath of Mesopotamian society who arrived in the region due to a combination of push and pull factors, and did not just engage in extractive trade, but settled permanently, creating new social realities.
This paper presents the results of the 2004-2006 salvage operations conducted at Tell er-Ramadi, ... more This paper presents the results of the 2004-2006 salvage operations conducted at Tell er-Ramadi, located along the west bank of the lower Syrian Euphrates River. Ramadi contains well-preserved deposits dating to the 4 th millennium BC (Late Chalcolithic or LC period), with the most well-preserved sequence dating to the later part of the LC2 to LC4. During the initial phase of occupation, the site was occupied by northern Mesopotamian groups, followed by the gradual appearance of southern Mesopotamian material culture. This interaction ultimately culminated in both northern and southern groups participating in collective labour feasts, taking place within the context of crop harvest, wool collection and spinning. Algaze (1993) originally classi ed Ramadi as an Uruk "station", a type of small, isolated Uruk settlement that facilitated movement of goods towards the Uruk heartland. This work helps understand how such stations may have operated on an intraregional level. Résumé...
The Late Chalcolithic Leilatepe “phenomenon” in the Southern Caucases has often been regarded as ... more The Late Chalcolithic Leilatepe “phenomenon” in the Southern Caucases has often been regarded as the product of Mesopotamian incursions into the region for the purpose of acquiring metals and semi-precious stones for trade.The material evidence has shown fairly clearly that these migrations resulted in the development of both hybridised and altogether new ways of engaging with the world, including novel architectural, metallurgical, ceramic, lithic, and ritual technologies and practices. This paper approaches this period of intense cultural interaction from a practice theory lens, aiming to view the social dynamics and processes associated with the emergence of Leilatepe “culture”. In doing so, we draw from Richard White’s Middle Ground concept to illustrate how new social practices emerge when two cultural groups with distinct habitus come into close and sustained contact with each other. Our research indicates that, while trade was likely an important aspect of the Leilatepe phenomenon, a number of factors also point to a sustained migration or migrations by a broad swath of Mesopotamian society who arrived in the region due to a combination of push and pull factors, and did not just engage in extractive trade, but settled permanently, creating new social realities.
Tepe Gawra has long been seen as an essential site for late prehistoric and early historic period... more Tepe Gawra has long been seen as an essential site for late prehistoric and early historic periods, not only in Iraq but for the entirety of northern Mesopotamia. This importance stems from its long sequence, and its implications for understanding the development of societal complexity. Despite its small size, Tepe Gawra has produced evidence of highly specialized practices that overshadowed farming. This has led to the suggestion that the site was a "center" at the top of an administered network. Some scholars have challenged this assertion and suggested that the site had a lower town, which acted as the source of agriculture goods for the site. Since the area had been closed off to archaeological work this debate has not been resolved. Through recent survey work around Tepe Gawra, the authors show that there was an extensive lower town dating to the Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age stages of occupation. These findings show that Tepe Gawra was a large self-sustaining settlement exploiting its own agricultural hinterland.
Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan , 2020
During August 2018, the University of Toronto mounted excavations at a Yarmukian site called Taba... more During August 2018, the University of Toronto mounted excavations at a Yarmukian site called Tabaqat Ar Rutūbah ة( َ طوب الرُّ طبقة WQ 117), which the Wādī Qusaybah Survey first discovered in 2012, and subjected to small test excavations in 2014. The site is about 0.35ha in size and in 2014 we encountered stone and mud-brick building foundations as well as pits. Although thick colluvium at the site obscures much of its area, where Neolithic deposits are closer to the surface, we have found up to 2m of stratification that may span a period from ca. 6200 to perhaps 5700 cal. BC. This provides an excellent opportunity to study changes in important aspects of Yarmukian material culture, including its pottery, over time. The site also exhibits some enigmatic aspects, including its rarity of sickle elements and a complete lack of mammalian bone, both of which are usually fairly abundant at sites of this period.
This paper presents the results of the 2004-2006 salvage operations conducted at Tell er-Ramadi, ... more This paper presents the results of the 2004-2006 salvage operations conducted at Tell er-Ramadi, located along the west bank of the lower Syrian Euphrates River. Ramadi contains well-preserved deposits dating to the 4 th millennium BC (Late Chalcolithic or LC period), with the most well-preserved sequence dating to the later part of the LC2 to LC4. During the initial phase of occupation, the site was occupied by northern Mesopotamian groups, followed by the gradual appearance of southern Mesopotamian material culture. This interaction ultimately culminated in both northern and southern groups participating in collective labour feasts, taking place within the context of crop harvest, wool collection and spinning. Algaze (1993) originally classi ed Ramadi as an Uruk "station", a type of small, isolated Uruk settlement that facilitated movement of goods towards the Uruk heartland. This work helps understand how such stations may have operated on an intraregional level. Résumé. Cet article présente les résultats des opérations de sauvetage de 2004-2006 menées à Tell er-Ramadi, situé le long de la rive ouest de l'Euphrate syrien. Ramadi contient des dépôts bien conservés datant du IV e millénaire avant J.-C. (Chalcolithique récent ou période LC). La séquence la mieux conservée est toutefois comprise entre la n du LC2 et le LC4. Pendant la phase initiale d'occupation, le site était habité par des groupes du nord de la Mésopotamie. Il voit ensuite apparaître progressivement la culture matérielle du sud de la Mésopotamie. Cette interaction a nalement abouti à la participation de groupes du nord et du sud de la région à des festins collectifs, liés aux récoltes, à la collecte de la laine et aux travaux de lature. Algaze (1993) classait à l'origine Ramadi comme une « station » d'Uruk, un petit établissement isolé qui facilitait la circulation des marchandises vers la région d'Uruk. Ce travail permet de comprendre comment ces établissements ont pu fonctionner au niveau intrarégional.
The Late Chalcolithic Leilatepe “phenomenon” in the Southern Caucases has often been regarded as ... more The Late Chalcolithic Leilatepe “phenomenon” in the Southern Caucases has often been regarded as the product of Mesopotamian incursions into the region for the purpose of acquiring metals and semi-precious stones for trade.The material evidence has shown fairly clearly that these migrations resulted in the development of both hybridised and altogether new ways of engaging with the world, including novel architectural, metallurgical, ceramic, lithic, and ritual technologies and practices. This paper approaches this period of intense cultural interaction from a practice theory lens, aiming to view the social dynamics and processes associated with the emergence of Leilatepe “culture”. In doing so, we draw from Richard White’s Middle Ground concept to illustrate how new social practices emerge when two cultural groups with distinct habitus come into close and sustained contact with each other. Our research indicates that, while trade was likely an important aspect of the Leilatepe phenomenon, a number of factors also point to a sustained migration or migrations by a broad swath of Mesopotamian society who arrived in the region due to a combination of push and pull factors, and did not just engage in extractive trade, but settled permanently, creating new social realities.
This paper presents the results of the 2004-2006 salvage operations conducted at Tell er-Ramadi, ... more This paper presents the results of the 2004-2006 salvage operations conducted at Tell er-Ramadi, located along the west bank of the lower Syrian Euphrates River. Ramadi contains well-preserved deposits dating to the 4 th millennium BC (Late Chalcolithic or LC period), with the most well-preserved sequence dating to the later part of the LC2 to LC4. During the initial phase of occupation, the site was occupied by northern Mesopotamian groups, followed by the gradual appearance of southern Mesopotamian material culture. This interaction ultimately culminated in both northern and southern groups participating in collective labour feasts, taking place within the context of crop harvest, wool collection and spinning. Algaze (1993) originally classi ed Ramadi as an Uruk "station", a type of small, isolated Uruk settlement that facilitated movement of goods towards the Uruk heartland. This work helps understand how such stations may have operated on an intraregional level. Résumé...
The Late Chalcolithic Leilatepe “phenomenon” in the Southern Caucases has often been regarded as ... more The Late Chalcolithic Leilatepe “phenomenon” in the Southern Caucases has often been regarded as the product of Mesopotamian incursions into the region for the purpose of acquiring metals and semi-precious stones for trade.The material evidence has shown fairly clearly that these migrations resulted in the development of both hybridised and altogether new ways of engaging with the world, including novel architectural, metallurgical, ceramic, lithic, and ritual technologies and practices. This paper approaches this period of intense cultural interaction from a practice theory lens, aiming to view the social dynamics and processes associated with the emergence of Leilatepe “culture”. In doing so, we draw from Richard White’s Middle Ground concept to illustrate how new social practices emerge when two cultural groups with distinct habitus come into close and sustained contact with each other. Our research indicates that, while trade was likely an important aspect of the Leilatepe phenomenon, a number of factors also point to a sustained migration or migrations by a broad swath of Mesopotamian society who arrived in the region due to a combination of push and pull factors, and did not just engage in extractive trade, but settled permanently, creating new social realities.
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