The onset of faba bean farming in the Southern Levant

Even though the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is among the most ubiquitously cultivated crops, very little is known about its origins. Here, we report discoveries of charred faba beans from three adjacent Neolithic sites in the lower Galilee region, in the southern Levant, that offer new insights into the early history of this species. Biometric measurements, radiocarbon dating and stable carbon isotope analyses of the archaeological remains, supported by experiments on modern material, date the earliest farming of this crop to ~10,200 cal BP. The large quantity of faba beans found in these adjacent sites indicates intensive production of faba beans in the region that can only have been achieved by planting non-dormant seeds. Selection of mutant-non-dormant stock suggests that the domestication of the crop occurred as early as the 11(th) millennium cal BP. Plant domestication| Vicia faba L.| Pre-Pottery Neolithic B| radiocarbon dating| Δ(13)C analysis

A techno-typological analysis of fan (tabular) scrapers from Ein Zippori, Israel

Fan (or tabular) scrapers are a diagnostic  tool type in Chalcolithic Ghassulian and Early Bronze Age lithic assemblages from  the southern Levant. To date, only small numbers of fan scrapers have been reported from the Late Pottery Neolithic Wadi Rabah culture. In this paper we present a techno-typological analysis of a fair sample of fan scrapers and fan scrapers spalls from Wadi Rabah and Early Bronze Age layers at Ein Zippori, Lower Galilee, Israel. Techno-typological similarities and differences of Wadi Rabah, Chalcolithic Ghassulian and Early Bronze Age fan scrapers from Ein Zippori and other sites in the region are presented, trends of change along time are noted, and an updated definition is proposed. Our results indicate that fan scrapers are highly efficient tools for accurate and prolonged animal butchering and hide working. The main advantage of fan scrapers is their mostly flat, thin morphology and large size that permits the creation of several relatively long working edges, various retouched angles (from sharp to abrupt), extensive resharpening, and a comfortable grasp. While fan scrapers were products of a local trajectory in Late Pottery Neolithic Wadi Rabah lithic industries at Ein Zippori, a standardized, off-site manufacturing of fan scrapers is evident during the Early Bronze Age

Exotic foods reveal contact between South Asia and the Near East during the second millennium BCE

Aunque el papel clave del comercio a larga distancia en la transformación de las cocinas en todo el mundo está bien documentado desde al menos la época romana, la prehistoria del comercio de alimentos euroasiático es menos visible. Con el fin de arrojar luz sobre la transformación de las cocinas del Mediterráneo oriental durante la Edad del Bronce y la Edad del Hierro Temprana, analizamos los microrestos y las proteínas conservadas en el cálculo dental de individuos que vivieron durante el segundo milenio a. Nuestros resultados proporcionan evidencia clara del consumo de alimentos básicos esperados, como cereales (Triticeae), sésamo ( Sesamum ) y dátiles ( Phoenix ). Además, informamos evidencia del consumo de soja ( glicina ), probable banano ( Musa ) y cúrcuma (Curcuma ), que hace retroceder la evidencia más antigua de estos alimentos en el Mediterráneo por siglos (cúrcuma) o incluso milenios (soja). Descubrimos que, desde principios del segundo milenio en adelante, al menos algunas personas en el Mediterráneo oriental tuvieron acceso a alimentos de lugares distantes, incluido el sur de Asia, y esos productos probablemente se consumieron en forma de aceites, frutos secos y especias. Estos conocimientos nos obligan a repensar la complejidad y la intensidad del comercio indo-mediterráneo durante la Edad del Bronce, así como el grado de globalización en la cocina del Mediterráneo oriental temprano. Although the key role of long-distance trade in the transformation of cuisines worldwide has been well-documented since at least the Roman era, the prehistory of the Eurasian food trade is less visible. In order to shed light on the transformation of Eastern Mediterranean cuisines during the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, we analyzed microremains and proteins preserved in the dental calculus of individuals who lived during the second millennium BCE in the Southern Levant. Our results provide clear evidence for the consumption of expected staple foods, such as cereals (Triticeae), sesame (Sesamum), and dates (Phoenix). We additionally report evidence for the consumption of soybean (Glycine), probable banana (Musa), and turmeric (Curcuma), which pushes back the earliest evidence of these foods in the Mediterranean by centuries (turmeric) or even millennia (soybean). We find that, from the early second millennium onwards, at least some people in the Eastern Mediterranean had access to food from distant locations, including South Asia, and such goods were likely consumed as oils, dried fruits, and spices. These insights force us to rethink the complexity and intensity of Indo-Mediterranean trade during the Bronze Age as well as the degree of globalization in early Eastern Mediterranean cuisine

Tel Erani, Israel: Report of the 2018 Season and Its Background

En el mes de julio de 2018, un equipo de investigadores del Instituto de Historia Antigua Oriental “Dr. Abraham Rosenvasser” en el marco del Proyecto PICT-Raíces 2015-2943, participó en las excavaciones de la campaña arqueológica realizada en Tel Erani, Israel. Este sitio, excavado desde la década del ‘50 del siglo pasado, es clave para comprender las relaciones entre el sur de Palestina (Levante meridional) y Egipto durante la Edad del Bronce Antiguo IB (segunda mitad del IV° milenio a.C.), pues se ha hallado una presencia significativa de cultura material egipcia, incluyendo un tiesto con un serekh del rey Narmer, así como también cerámica de un estilo local característico, llamada Erani C, que ha podido ser identificada en el delta del Nilo (Tell el-Farkha) y en tumbas protodinásticas, como la denominada U-j de Abidos. Parte de estos hallazgos se relaciona con la presencia de por lo menos dos murallas superpuestas que posiblemente rodeaban la totalidad del tel, de aproximadamente 25 ha, por lo que se trataría de uno de los asentamientos fortificados más tempranos de Palestina. En la campaña del año 2018 se excavaron dos áreas: el Área D3, donde abunda el material egipcio junto con elementos locales, y el Área P-Q, correspondiente a una de las zonas donde se encuentran las fortificaciones. Los resultados de esta última campaña indican que estas murallas serían anteriores a la fase egipcia, es decir el Bronce Antiguo IB1, pero luego, durante el Bronce Antiguo IB2, las relaciones entre ambas regiones se habrían intensificado, con la posibilidad de que los egipcios hayan pasado a tener un rol más activo en Tel Erani.In July 2018, a team of researchers from the Institute of Ancient Near Eastern History “Dr. Abraham Rosenvasser”, in the framework of the Project PICT-Raíces 2015-2943, participated in the excavations at Tel Erani, Israel. Tel Erani, excavated since the 1950’s, is a key site to understand the relations between southern Palestine (Southern Levant) and Egypt during the Early Bronze IB (second half of the 4th millennium BC), since a significant presence of Egyptian findings has been found, including a sherd with a serekh of King Narmer. Furthermore, pottery of a characteristic local style, called Erani C has been found, identified also at the Nile Delta (Tell el-Farkha) and in proto-dynastic tombs, such as U-j in Abydos. Parts of these finds are related to at least two overlapping fortification walls that possibly surrounded the entire tel which occupied approximately 25 ha. This would be one of the earliest fortified settlements in southern Palestine. In the campaign of 2018, two areas were excavated: Area D3, where Egyptian material is abundant along with local elements, and Area P-Q, corresponding to one of the areas where the fortifications are located. The results of this last campaign indicate that these defensive walls would be prior to the Egyptian phase, i.e. during the Early Bronze IB1. During the late phase, Early Bronze IB2, the relations between both regions would have intensified, with the possibility that the Egyptians have played a more active role at Tel Erani

Archaeometric evidence for the earliest exploitation of lignite from the bronze age Eastern Mediterranean

This paper presents the earliest evidence for the exploitation of lignite (brown coal) in Europe and sheds new light on the use of combustion fuel sources in the 2nd millennium BCE Eastern Mediterranean. We applied Thermal Desorption/Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Polarizing Microscopy to the dental calculus of 67 individuals and we identified clear evidence for combustion markers embedded within this calculus. In contrast to the scant evidence for combustion markers within the calculus samples from Egypt, all other individuals show the inhalation of smoke from fires burning wood identified as Pinaceae, in addition to hardwood, such as oak and olive, and/ or dung. Importantly, individuals from the Palatial Period at the Mycenaean citadel of Tiryns and the Cretan harbour site of Chania also show the inhalation of fire-smoke from lignite, consistent with the chemical signature of sources in the northwestern Peloponnese and Western Crete respectively. This first evidence for lignite exploitation was likely connected to and at the same time enabled Late Bronze Age Aegean metal and pottery production, significantly by both male and female individuals

Cultural Heritage and Cultural Diversity. The Case of the Archaeology in Israel/Palestine: A Socialist Point of View

El patrimonio cultural y la diversidad cultural en arqueología son dos conceptos estrechamente vinculados en la agenda política de las instituciones de antigüedades y la interpretación del registro arqueológico en el presente mundo capitalista global. Cada nación/estado del mundo tiene sus propias características y, por tanto, el tipo de arqueología, tal como se definió hace tiempo Trigger (1984), y la utilización del "pasado" para justificar el "presente" y deslindar el "futuro", son diferentes en cada país. En este artículo presentaremos el caso de Israel/Palestina para debatir los conceptos de antigüedades, patrimonio cultural y diversidad cultural desde un punto de vista socialista. La arqueología es definitivamente nacional en su forma, ya que las culturas y sociedades investigadas se desarrollan de manera local, a veces regional. Pero el contenido de la arqueología es social. En nuestro caso, los sitios arqueológicos y las antigüedades no sólo son nacionales sino que forman parte de una herencia social común y, por lo tanto, pertenecen a todos los pueblos de la región.Cultural heritage and cultural diversity in archaeology are two concepts closely tied with the political agenda of antiquities and the interpretation of the archaeological record in present-day capitalistic global world. Different nations have their own characteristics and so their own type of archaeology, as defined by Bruce Trigger (1984); the utilization of the "past" to justify the "present" and delineate the "future" is clearer in some countries than others. In this paper we will present the case of Israel/Palestine in order to debate the concept of antiquities and cultural heritage from a socialist point of view. Archaeology is definitely national in form, since the cultures and societies researched develop in a local, sometimes regional, way. But the content of archaeology is social. In our case, ancient sites and antiquities are not only national but part of a common social heritage and, therefore, belong to all the peoples of the region.Fil: Milevski, Ianir. Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Productiva; Argentina

The Transition from the Chalcolithic to the Early Bronze Age of the Southern Levant in socioeconomic context

The transition from the Chalcolithic to the Early Bronze Age in the Southern Levant (ca 3800-3600 BC) had multiple aspects. While often the term transition is used to describe material culture remains of both periods, the aim of this paper is to characterize the changes in the socio-economic reality during the two centuries or so during which the transition took place. Degrees of change were uneven and happened in different ways in different regions. Socio-economic systems went from predominantly agropastoral communities during the Chalcolithic, with relatively developed secondary production branches, to an urban revolution towards the end of Early Bronze (EB) I. In spite of continuity in several traditions such as the manufacture of pottery, fl int tools, basalt vessels, changes occurred in both technology and organization of production and distribution. Agricultural and pastoral activities also changed but more slowly. Means of transportation were radically transformed with the domestication of the donkey. Circulation of commodities, albeit in a somewhat limited way, increased from the Chalcolithic to the EB I. Architectural concepts changed from the very beginning of the EB I, while burial practices as well as iconographic expressions related to religious beliefs and society, were drastically altered. This paper explores this transition taking into consideration those socio-economic changes and their probable political and cultural implications.La transition Chalcolithique – Bronze ancien dans le Sud Levant (ca 3800-3600 BC) revêt de multiples facettes. Alors que le terme de transition est souvent utilisé pour décrire les vestiges de la culture matérielle des deux périodes, on s’attache ici à caractériser les modifications socio-économiques qui sont advenues pendant les deux siècles environ, au cours desquels a pris place cette transition. Les changements se sont échelonnés inégalement et différemment selon les régions. Les systèmes socio-économiques allaient de communautés essentiellement agropastorales pendant le Chalcolithique, avec des branches de production secondaires assez développées, jusqu’à une révolution urbaine vers la fi n du Bronze ancien I. Malgré une continuité observée au sein de plusieurs traditions (poterie, outils lithiques, récipients en basalte), des changements se sont opérés dans la technologie et dans l’organisation de la production et de la distribution. Les activités agricoles et l’élevage ont subi également des modifications mais selon un rythme plus lent. Les moyens de transport ont été radicalement transformés avec la domestication de l’âne. La circulation des produits, bien que limitée, s’est accrue entre le Chalcolithique et le Bronze ancien I. Les concepts architecturaux ont changé dès le début du Bronze ancien I, tandis que les pratiques funéraires et les expressions iconographiques associées aux croyances religieuses et à la société, ont été complètement transformées. Cet article examine donc cette transition en prenant en considération ces changements socioéconomiques, ainsi que les possibles implications politiques et culturelles que ces derniers ont pu engendrer.Milevski Ianir. The Transition from the Chalcolithic to the Early Bronze Age of the Southern Levant in socioeconomic context. In: Paléorient, 2013, vol. 39, n°1. The Transition Late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age in the Southern Levant. pp. 193-208