The Chalcolithic Period in the Golan Heights

2011 THE CHALCOLITHIC PERIOD IN THE GOLAN HEIGHTS:

EDITIONS A REGIONAL OR LOCAL CULTURE

CNRS Z. KAFAFI • 2011 Abstract: The archaeological ﬁ eld work conducted in the Golan Heights proves that the region was densely occupied during the Chalcolithic period (Late 5th and Early 4th millennia BC). Some of the archaeological materials from excavations and surveys show similarities with others excavated in the surrounding areas. This presentation will discuss Chalcolithic architecture, ﬂ int industries, pottery vessels, and basalt stands and vessels. In addition, economic and ritual aspects will be discussed.

Résumé : Les travaux de terrain sur le plateau du Golan montrent que cette région était densément occupée au Chalcolithique EDITIONS (IVe millénaire av. J.-C.) et une partie du matériel étudié présente des similarités avec celui trouvé dans les régions avoisinantes. Cet article concerne tout à la fois l’architecture, l’industrie lithique et la céramique, ainsi que sur les supports et les vases en basalte. La discussion concerne aussi les aspects économiques et rituels.

CNRS Keywords: Chalcolithic; Golan; Levant; Syria; Jordan; Palestine; Settlement Patterns; Architecture; Pottery; Stone Tools.

• Mots-clés : Chalcolithique ; Golan ; Levant ; Syrie ; Jordanie ; Palestine ; Conditions d’installation ; Architecture ; Céramique ; Indus- trie lithique. 2011

The Chalcolithic of the Golan Heights has only recently Sea in the lower Jordan Valley, which yielded architectural become well understood, in contrast to the other Southern remains and other objects ascribed to an agropastoral com- Levantine regions. For example, many publications studying munity4 (ﬁ g. 1). the results of excavations at Chalcolithic sites excavated either More information about this period was obtained in the in Palestine1 or in Jordan2 provided rich information about the 1950s with the discovery of a number of sites clustered in the

EDITIONS Late 5th and Early 4th millennia BC. As regards to the Golan Northern Negev Region.5 Scholars considered that the archae- Heights, as noted below it is only recently that a comprehen- ological materials from both the Jordan Valley and the Negev sive publication prepared by late C. Epstein3 was published. are contemporary but not identical. However, the two regions Her intensive archaeological work and publication made it pos- were looked at as representative the Chalcolithic period as a CNRS sible to envisage the Chalcolithic of the Golan Heights, which whole and it was named the “Ghassul-Beer Sheva Culture.”6 • is in the most southwestern part of modern Syria. Actually, Moreover, archaeological ﬁ eldwork conducted on the Palestin- it was only during the 1930s that period “Chalcolithic” was ian Coastal Plain revealed a number of sites with Chalcolithic recognized as a phase of cultural development in the Southern material, especially the so-called ossuaries. It seems that the 2011 Levant. This is resulted from the excavations conducted at the inhabitants of this region of the Levant practiced a different site of Teleilat el-Ghassul, 5 km to the northeast of the Dead burial custom than those of other regions.7

1. P ERROT, 1955; 1957 and 1968; PERROT et LADIRAY, 1980; PERROT et al., 1967. 4. M ALLON et al., 1934; KOEPPEL, 1940. 2. DOLLFUS and KAFAFI, 2001; BOURKE, 2001; KERNER, 2001; LOVELL, 5. P ERROT, 1955 and 1957. 2001. 6. Ibid., 1968: 416. EDITIONS 3. E PSTEIN, 1998. 7. P ERROT et LADIRAY, 1980.

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Mediterranean Sea Syria Golan Heights

Sheikh Ali

EDITIONS Neve Ur N.Shouneh Tell Mutsallem Tell el-Arbaein Beisan Sheikh Meter Jebel Sabarta Fara N Abu Hamid Khudeireh Rabah Amman Yazour

CNRS Jericho Ben Shemeh Teleilat Ghassul Murabba 'at Sahab • Zeita Umm Qatafa Dead Ghazzeh Ein Geddi Seasea Gerar Patish Mishmar Zoumeili Birsaba 2011 Abu matarMatar

Jordan

Fig. 2 – Surveyed Golan Chalcolithic sites (after EPSTEIN, 1998: ﬁ g . 1 ) . 1, ed-Dûra; 2, south-east of Fâkhûra; 3, Tell Fanus; 4, near Egypt Upper Zavitan Waterfall; 5, Siyar el-Kherfân; 6, el-Majâmi; 7, Tell EDITIONS Saudi Arabia Slûqiyye; 8, near Ja‘adan Stream; 9, Musha‘an; 10, near Nûkheile Waterfall; 11, Shabbe; 12, Rasm Harbush;. 13, el-Havi. (Yonathan); 0 50 km 14, north-west of Qaliq; 15, Dab‘es (Dvash) Reservoir; 16, near Dal- iyyot Waterfall—north bank; 17, Stone-heap n° 4; 18, “Silo Site,”

CNRS near ‘Ein el-Faras; 19, el-Arba‘in; 20, ‘Ein el-Hariri;. 21, near Dali-

• Fig. 1 – A map showing major Chalcolithic sites in the South yyot Waterfall—south bank; 22, Rasm el-Kabash; 23, Water Tower of the Levant (drawing by M. BATAINEH). Site; 24, near Bazelet Waterfall; 25, Khirbet el-Hûtiyye.. 2011

In addition, during the 1960s several Chalcolithic discov- the Chalcolithic period in the Golan Heights. Archaeological eries were excavated at sites located on the eastern side of the materials belonging to the Chalcolithic from both excavations Dead Sea such as the sanctuary at ‘Ein Gedi8 and the hoard and surveys have been described as having unique aspects not of cultic copper objects at Wadi Mehris or “Nahal Mishmar.”9 previously identiﬁ ed.13 This region has been characterized by ‘Ein Gedi Sanctuary The above information indicates that several cultural units

EDITIONS and the hoard of copper cultic objects found at Wadi Mehris. were recognized in various parts of the Levant, and each During recent decades, intensive work aimed at studying region has its own characteristics. Nevertheless, the following the Chalcolithic period, has been undertaken at several regions study of parallels may help to clarify the cultural relationships in the Southern Levant such as the Negev Southern Palestine10 amongst several of the regions in the Levant during the Chal- CNRS and the Wadi Faynan in Southern Jordan.11 Moreover, several colithic period. • excavations were also conducted at sites in the middle Jordan Valley at Abu Hamid and the Northern Jordan Valley at Pella and Tell esh-Shuneh.12 2011 SETTLEMENT PATTERNS After the Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights in 1967, starting in the year 1973, Israeli archaeologists begun to explore It has been published that 25 Chalcolithic sites spread over 8. U SSISHKIN, 1980. the area extending from the Jordan River in the West to Wadi 9. BAR-ADON, 1980. 10. LEVY, 2003. 11. LEVY and NAJJAR, 2007. 13. EPSTEIN, 1977; 1978a-b; 1993 and 1998; KOCHAVI, 1991; CARMI et al., EDITIONS 12. LOVELL, 2001. 1995.

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141-158-Kafafi.indd 142 3/01/11 14:06:28 The Chalcolithic Period in the Golan Heights: A Regional or Local Culture 143 2011 el-‘Al in the East, were visited, explored or excavated in the Golan Heights Region. These were characterized as scattered farms, small groups of houses probably the dwellings of the extended families, hamlets contain up to ﬁ fteen houses and large villages (ﬁ g. 2).

EDITIONS All of theses settlements were unfortiﬁ ed and open, consisting of a group of houses often erected on both sides of a perennial or seasonal stream.14 The best example of a large Chalcolithic village is the site of Rasm Harbush. CNRS •

ARCHITECTURE 2011 The main plan of Chalcolithic houses excavated at the Golan is the so-called chain-buildings, and all structures are of the broadhouse type. To explain, this means that a row of houses were jointed with each other by building up a party- wall (ﬁ gs. 3-4). This phenomenon of construction allows the

EDITIONS members of the extended family to live next to one another and to add as much roofed space to the building as they need. However, the number of houses belonging to a chain-building never exceeded six structures in a row.

CNRS Actually, the idea of having a building that consisted of a Fig. 3 – Rasm H. arbush: General view of excavated houses • number of rooms (houses?) accommodating an extended fami- (after EPSTEIN, 1998). lies also was attested at other sites in the regions such as the Jordan Valley. For example at Teleilat el-Ghassul15 and Tel Te’o 2011 Stratum VII,16 the excavators published that they have excavated buildings which consist of several rooms built around a courtyard, and not similar in plan to the chain-houses of the 12 Golan. We may argue, however, that this serves the same purpose as building a chain-building in the Golan Heights. It has been proposed that this type of house reﬂ ects the social and

EDITIONS economic relationships amongst the members of the same fam- 13 ily. It has been suggested that the dwellers of the houses were mixed farmers and pastoralists, some members of the family exploiting the land while others herded the ﬂ ocks.17 However, CNRS it is likely that such a type of houses belonged not only to agro- • pastoralists communities, but they were also erected by tran- shumant pastoral groups (ﬁ g. 5).18 Other than the chain-house found at several sites in the 2011 Fig. 4 – Reconstruction of Houses 12 and 13, House-Chain 2 Golan Heights, another Chalcolithic house plan has been rec- at Rasm H. arbush. ognized at the site ‘Ein El-Hariri. Here, a building with stone

14. EPSTEIN, 1998: 6-8. 15. KOEPPEL, 1940. walls, still standing 1 m in height, and was divided into two 16. EISENBERG, 1989; EISENBERG et al., 2001: 29. 17. EPSTEIN, 1998: 7. sectors by a length of 7 m wall. In addition a well paved ﬂ oor EDITIONS 18. BRAEMER, 1991. has been uncovered in the main entrance hall. The unusual

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ab EDITIONS CNRS • 2011

0 30 m EDITIONS

c CNRS • 2011 EDITIONS CNRS • 2011

0 100 m

Fig. 5 – Examples of chain-buildings found at several sites in the South of the Levant: EDITIONS a, Abu Hamid/Jordan Valley; b, EBI houses at Al-Sharaya/Hauran; c, EBI houses at Al-Sharaya.

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2011 0 4 m

Fig. 6 – ‘Ein el-Hariri: Plan of House 22 and annex Fig. 8 – A silo found at ‘Ein el-Faras (after EPSTEIN, 1998: ﬁ g. 100). (after EPSTEIN, 1998: ﬁ g. 153). EDITIONS N CNRS • 2011

12a345 0 10 m EDITIONS Fig. 7 – Types of internal portioning (after EPSTEIN, 1998: fi g. 9). CNRS • structural element in the plan of this house is the annexed fea- The inner walls were built parallel either to the long or short ture, which was built against the outer face of the long wall walls, creating narrow spaces which were generally roofed by (fi g. 6). The archaeological excavations conducted inside this wooden beams. Some of small rooms thus created were used 2011 structure yielded in addition to Chalcolithic decorated pot- for storage. tery sherds and fl int tools, two pillar fi gures and at least seven During the Chalcolithic period the inhabitants of the Golan basalt bowls.19 Heights used different ways to store their products and goods. The Golan Chalcolithic houses were subdivided with sev- For example, and in addition to small subdivisions within eral internal walls to suit the purposes of the dwellers (fi g. 7). houses, people built up silos to serve such purpose and best examples were excavated at the site ‘Ein el-Faras (fi g. 8). This EDITIONS 19. EPSTEIN, 1998: 73-75. type of storage structure has been also recognized at other

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141-158-Kafafi.indd 145 3/01/11 14:06:30 146 Z. KAFAFI 2011 areas in the Levant such as el-Sayyeh, in the az-Zarqa Val- formed a part of a larger Levantine community spread through- ley in Jordan.20 Moreover, in the Jordan Valley region during out modern Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine. the Chalcolithic period, storage pits were dug deeply into the However, the main aspect here is not just elongated houses, earth. The best examples can be seen from the sites of Pella,21 but that the chain-houses were organized in parallel lines and Abu Hamid,22 and Tell eh-Sayyeh in the az-Zarqa Valley in thus created a unique settlement planning. This aspect is not 23

EDITIONS Jordan. known in any other part of the Levant. The Golan Heights Chalcolithic houses were mostly of the so-called chain-house type. The question is: Is this type lim- ited to the Golan Heights region? Or could it be found else- POTTERY CNRS where in the other Levantine regions?

• To answer this question, the published reports of the results of the excavations conducted at Chalcolithic sites in the Levant It has been published that no speciﬁ c Chalcolithic work- were checked. And the results were as the followings: shops have been detected at the Golan Heights similar to those

2011 1. Chain-house type has been recognized at the sites of Tel found at the Jordan Valley sites,30 for example, the ﬂ int knap- Te’o, 24 and Tell Turmus,25 in the Hula Basin in North of ping ﬂ oors recognized at the sites of Abu Hamid31 and Teleilat Palestine. el-Ghassul32 and the indication of a potter’s tournette used for 2. In the Jordan Valley, several Chalcolithic houses exca- pottery making at Abu Hamid.33 vated especially at the sites of Abu Hamid and Teleilat Moreover, it has been suggested that during the Chalco- el-Ghassul show similarities with those from the Golan. lithic period and in the Golan sites, people used to manufacture

EDITIONS At Abu Hamid, an irregular long wall running east-west their tools and utensils either inside the residences or in their was explored, which indicated that a series of rectan- immediate vicinity. This means, that the pottery vessels were gular rooms were built attached to each other and in a produced at the Golan Heights and there is no evidence for the row.26 At Teleilat el-Ghassul, a small rectangular house trading of ceramic with the other regions. However, Golan pot-

CNRS was excavated27 and considered to be similar to those tery was reported from other sites in the adjacent regions such • from the Golan Heights.28 as in the Upper Galilee from the burial cave of Peq’in.34 Below, 3. More parallels were found at other sites such as Shiqmim we present a comparative study of the types of excavated pot- in the Negev in Southern Palestine and Byblos in Leba- tery vessels found at sites located on the Golan Heights and 2011 non.29 those excavated in the surrounding regions. 4. Partitioned houses with indoor storage facilities have only been in the Golan Heights. 5. The material of construction was different; stones were BOWLS used in building up those in the Golan Heights, while mudbricks were used in constructing Chalcolithic Several types of bowls were recognized in the assemblage

EDITIONS houses in the Jordan Valley. of the excavated pottery vessels on the Golan Heights. These To summarize, the parallel use of the chain-house type and are: large single-handled, rope-decorated and incised small the rectangular building consisting of a courtyard surrounded bowls or cups. by a number of rooms shows that the inhabitants of the Golan Small bowls used as cups were few in number amongst the CNRS vessels assemblages of the Golan (fi g. 9). The bowls were dec- • orated with incised, mostly wavy lines; one or more lines of punctured dots just below the rim, and applied rope-moldings. 20. KAFAFI et al., 2000; CANEVA et al., 2001: 104. 21. BOURKE, 2001; BOURKE et al., 1998: 180. In fact, the types of small bowls recognized at the Golan 2011 22. DOLLFUS et al., 1988; DOLLFUS and KAFAFI, 1993. Height sites have parallels elsewhere in the Levant. The most 23. KAFAFI et al., 1999: 11. 24. EISENBERG, 1985 and 1989: fi gs. 2a and 3; EISENBERG et al., 2001: 15-49. 25. DAYAN, 1969: fi g. 2. 30. Ibid. , 1998: 159. 26. DOLLFUS et al., 1988. 31. DOLLFUS et KAFAFI, 1988: 47. 27. MALLON et al., 1934: fi g. 12. 32. HENNESSY, 1982: 56. 28. EPSTEIN, 1998: 11. 33. ROUX et COURTY, 1997. EDITIONS 29. Ibid. , 1998: 12. 34. GAL et al., 1997: fi g. 5.

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0 10 cm

Fig. 9 – Several types of deep bowls excavated at the Golan Heights (after EPSTEIN, 1998: pl. XV: 1, XVII: 16 and 7). CNRS • 2011

10 cm EDITIONS

0 CNRS

• Fig. 10 – A fenestrated pottery bowl from the Golan Heights (after EPSTEIN, 1998: pl. XXII.1).

Fig. 11 – A fenestrated basalt bowl from Abu

2011 Hamid (photo by Y. ZOU’BI).

similar assemblages are to be found at the Jordan Valley sites, Two facts should be declared in the respect of the fenes- such as at Abu Hamid. 35 trated bowls: 1. They have a wide distribution all over the Southern EDITIONS Levant, they were found at sites in the Jordan Valley FENESTRATED BOWLS (e.g., Neve Ur, Khirbet Delhamiyah, Abu Hamid and Teleilat Ghassul); in the Negev Region (e.g., Shiqmim,

CNRS During the Chalcolithic period the fenestrated-bowls made Abu Matar and Beer es-Safadi), and in the area of the 39 • either of clay (ﬁ g. 10) or of basalt are dominant (ﬁ g. 11). The Dead Sea (e.g., Ein Gedi). function of this type of vessels still debated, some scholars 2. We would argue that not all of the excavated clay or proposed that they were used as incense-burners for funerary stone fenestrated vessels were made to serve cultic or 36 37 2011 rites, while others agreed that it was used as a cultic vessel. ritual purpose; others may have been used as food or As regard to the Golan Height fenestrate-bowls, the excavator fruit vessels. This is due to the fact that some of them pointed out that they were also used for cultic purposes.38 were found in domestic constructions, for example at Abu Hamid.

35. DOLLFUS et KAFAFI, 1988; DOLLFUS et al., 1988. 36. KAPLAN, 1963: 302. 37. AMIRAN, 1992. EDITIONS 38. EPSTEIN, 1998: 167. 39. KAFAFI, forthcoming; AMIRAN, 1977; USSISHKIN, 1980: 37, ﬁ gs. 1-9.

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Small Jars The small jars are mostly of the form known as hole-mouths, and they were found in small number at the Golan sites. How- ever, Epstein41 considered the type which has double handles,

EDITIONS either upright or horizontal on the shoulder or on the upper 10 cm part of the pot, like the small kraters. Some of those jars were decorated by incised wavy lines, punctured dots and slashes. Plain or undecorated hole-mouth jars were also encountered in

CNRS 0 the Chalcolithic pottery assemblage of the Golan Heights. It • has been proposed that this type of jars may have been used as Fig. 12 – A drawing of a krater excavated at the Golan Heights cooking-pots. This is due to the fact that traces of burning were (after EPSTEIN, 1998: pl. XII.1). visible on bottoms of some similar vessels found elsewhere in

2011 the Levant such as at Abu Hamid. Parallels to this type were recognized in the pottery assemblages of Abu Hamid42 and Teleilat Ghassul,43 in the lower Jor- KRATERS dan Valley (ﬁ g. 14).

The excavated Kraters from the Chalcolithic sites on the Pithoi or Large Jars EDITIONS Golan Heights are of different sizes but most are spouted (ﬁ g. 12). The largest ones have a wide-mouth, ﬂ attened rim, This type of pottery container, which was used for pur- and vertical handles at the sides, and most are decorated with poses of grain storage is the dominant form in all the assem- rope-molding decorations. However, herring-bone incisions blage.44 Epstein recognized several types of Pithoi based on

CNRS and punctates are also visible, the latter on small kraters. the decorative motives and on other variants features such as • The spouts were made separately and added to the body. the type of rim, the diameter of the opening and the presence They were fi xed just below to the rim and reach, even some- of small handles (fi g. 15). times exceed, the height of the lip. At some cases there is a The best parallels for this type of large jar are to be sought 2011 lug or ledge handle built at the base of the spout-hole. Epstein in the Chalcolithic pottery assemblages found in the Jordan argued that this type of vessel was common item of the house- Valley such as at Beisan,45 and Abu Hamid46 (fi g. 16) and at hold equipment, which was made to hold liquids and especially Beqi’in in the Upper Galilee.47 However, it has been noted that olive oil.40 Although the Golan Heights spouted kraters must the types of the decorative elements recognized on the body be distinguished from similar ones found in other region of the of the Golan large storage jars are unique and different than Levant by their size and function. those of the Jordan Valley. All, however, were used for storing

EDITIONS The small kraters were squat in shape, double handled and grain. some were decorated with incised wavy lines, punctured dots To sum up, the Golan Heights Chalcolithic pottery assem- and slashes. In our point view, and based on similar forms blage has parallels at other sites in the surrounding areas, espe- excavated at Abu Hamid, they were used as cooking-pots. cially in the Jordan Valley. This does not mean that we should CNRS exclude the possibility of that the Golan assemblage has its • own characteristics such as the decorative elements visible on JARS the large jars and the types of the decorated handles.

2011 At the Golan Heights Chalcolithic sites two types of jars were recognizable (fi g. 13): small jars and Pithoi or large jars. 41. Ibid. , 1998: 165-166. 42. DOLLFUS et al., 1988; DOLLFUS and KAFAFI, 1989. 43. MALLON et al., 1934: fi g. 46; KOEPPEL, 1940: fi g. 96.7. 44. EPSTEIN, 1998: 162-164. 45. FITZGERALD, 1935. 46. DOLLFUS et al., 1988. EDITIONS 40. EPSTEIN, 1998: 164. 47. GAL et al., 1997: fi g. 5.

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20 cm CNRS •

0 0 10 cm 2011

Fig. 13 – Pottery vessels from the Golan Heights (after EPSTEIN, 1998: pl. XIX.1, XX.1 and IX.2).

52 53 54 55 EDITIONS Neve Ur, Pella, Abu Hamid and Teleilat Ghassul and at the Negev Region in South of Palestine such as at Abu Matar and Beer es-Safadi.56 In our study, we present below a brief description of the

CNRS excavated main ﬂ int tools types recognized at the Chalcolithic • sites founded on the Golan Heights.

2011 ADZES, CHISELS AND PICKS Fig. 14 – Pottery vessels from the Jordan Valley/Abu Hamid. As at all the major Chalcolithic sites in the Levant an important class of ﬂ int tool is the adze or chisel. This type of FLINT INDUSTRY tool is made of a high quality of raw material; most probably collected on the surface in the form pebbles. The predominant

EDITIONS type of adze is elongated and triangular shaped (fi gs. 17-18). The fl int assemblage excavated from the Chalcolithic sites The working edge of the adzes shows traces of use-wear. in the Golan Heights includes a number of unique types of fl int The excavated chisels from the Golan Heights are very few tools. Based on a comparative study,48 it has been published in number (only 3 pieces were encountered), which is surpris- CNRS that this assemblage has similarities with others encountered ing. These chisels have a rectangular shape with narrow work- • fl int tools in Northern Palestine and Jordan. For example, in ing edges, in contrast to the adzes. the Hauran Plains, the fl int assemblage published from the site In addition, other types of the bifacial tools have been rec- Dera’a49 showed several tools similar to those from the Golan ognized amongst the tool kit assemblage including axes and 2011 Heights. In addition, fl int tool assemblages excavated at the picks. Jordan Rift Valley sites, e.g., Geser Banat Ya’qoub,50 Tel Te’o, 51

52. PERROT et al., 1967. 53. SMITH and HANBURY-TENISON, 1992. 48. CAUVIN, 1969; NOY, 1998. 54. DOLLFUS et al., 1988. 49. NASRALLAH, 1948. 55. MALLON et al., 1934: 55-65; KOEPPEL, 1940: 89-110; HENNESSY, 1969: 50. STEKELIS, 1967. ﬁ g. 10 and 1982: 57-58. EDITIONS 51. EISENBERG, 1989. 56. P ERROT, 1955 and 1957.

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0 20 cm 2011 EDITIONS CNRS • Fig. 15 – Large storage jars/Pithoi from the Golan Heights (after EPSTEIN, 1998: pl. I.1, III.1, 6 and IV.1). 2011 EDITIONS CNRS • 2011 2 cm

Fig. 16 – Large storage jars/Pithoi from the Jordan Fig. 17 – An adze from the Golan Heights EDITIONS Valley/Abu Hamid (photo by C. ANDREWS). (after EPSTEIN, 1998: pl. LVII.1).

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141-158-Kafafi.indd 150 3/01/11 14:06:32 The Chalcolithic Period in the Golan Heights: A Regional or Local Culture 151 2011 In sum, parallel-sided adzes, chisels axes, and picks were encountered at most Chalcolithic sites located in the different regions of the Southern Levant.57

EDITIONS SCRAPERS

Scrapers were found in good number and different styles at most the Chalcolithic sites at the Golan Heights. The pub-

CNRS lished study shows that several types of scrapers were recog-

• nized e.g., end-scrapers, side-scrapers, denticulated-scrapers, 4 cm and fan-scrapers (ﬁ gs. 19-20). These scrapers were made of a high quality ﬂ int and they

2011 were used for a variety of purposes such as the working of hides, cutting, butchering, for working plant and soft wood materials.58

PERFORATED TOOLS Fig. 18 – An adze from the Jordan Valley/ Abu Hamid (photo by Y. ZOU’BI). EDITIONS Perforated ﬂ int tools were found at all Chalcolithic sites on the Golan Heights (ﬁ gs. 21-22). They are characterized on account of their diversity of type such as the perforated star- of tools has a regional workshop which must be situated very

CNRS shaped with a concave base, perforated with concave base, per- close of the raw material.59 • forated with straight base and perforated discoid. The perforated fl int tools are also unique in the technique of their manufacture, the large size and the high quality of OTHER STONE TOOLS 2011 fl int from which they were made. It has been proposed that they were in everyday use and based on the exact similarity In addition to the above discussed types of fl int tools oth- with others found at other regional sites (fi g. 23), that this type ers were also encountered. Among these are sickle-blades, EDITIONS CNRS •

2011 0 2 cm

Fig. 19 – Fan scrapers from the Golan Heights (after EPSTEIN, 1998: pl. XLVI.2).

57. NOY, 1998: 287. EDITIONS 58. ROWAN and LEVY, 1991: 132. 59. NOY, 1998: 279; EPSTEIN and NOY, 1988.

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141-158-Kafafi.indd 151 3/01/11 14:06:34 152 Z. KAFAFI 2011 was part of the greater Levant and was in touch with the surrounding regions. The types of the manufactured ﬂ int tools encountered at the Golan Heights invited the excavators to conclude that “it reﬂ ects processes and crafts connected with secondary

EDITIONS products, such as the preparation of hides, wool-making and agriculture.”60

CNRS BASALT OBJECTS •

Based on the wide-range of the variety of the excavated 2 cm basalt objects found at the Chalcolithic sites on the Golan 2011 Heights, it has been deduced that people of this region mas- 0 tered the working of this volcanic material. In addition, unﬁ n- Fig. 20 – Fan scraper from the Jordan Valley/ ished basalt pieces, intended to be made into bowls, were Abu Hamid (drawing by É. COQUEUGNIOT). excavated inside houses at three different sites at the Golan Heights. Moreover, people of the Golan had and have always easy access to the basalt raw material, which can be found in EDITIONS the Yarmouk River Basin. We present below a brief discussion knives, borers, awls, and blades. Since the aim of this paper is to the main excavated basalt objects found at the Golan and the at focusing on the most commonly characterized tools we are surrounding regions. not going to discuss these items further. CNRS

• The comparative study of types of ﬂ int tools encountered at the Golan Heights shows that certain types and techniques PILLARS/STANDS (ﬁ g. 24) of tool making were the same as those used in extensive region

2011 extending from Teleilat Ghassul in the South to the Beqa’a Val- One of the hallmarks of the Golan Chalcolithic culture is ley and Byblos Region in the North. To add, unfortunately the the carved basalt pillars or standing ﬁ gures. Actually, their center for production of the above discussed tool types are still diffusion reached further regions beyond the Golan, such as unknown, but the comparisons show that the Golan Heights the Hula Basin and North of Jordan.61 An intensive study of EDITIONS CNRS • 2011

0 2 cm

Fig. 21 – Perforated star shaped tools (after EPSTEIN, 1998: pl. XLIX.1).

60. NOY, 1998: 299. EDITIONS 61. IBRAHIM, 1988; IBRAHIM and MITTMANN, 1998.

141-158-Kafafi.indd 152 3/01/11 14:06:34 The Chalcolithic Period in the Golan Heights: A Regional or Local Culture 153 2011 EDITIONS CNRS • 2011 0 2 cm

Fig. 22 – Discoid from the Golan Heights (after EPSTEIN, 1998: pl. LIV.1). EDITIONS CNRS • 2011 EDITIONS CNRS •

2011 5 cm

EDITIONS Fig. 23 – Discoids from the Jordan Valley/Abu Hamid (drawing by É. COQUEUGNIOT).

141-158-Kafafi.indd 153 3/01/11 14:06:34 154 Z. KAFAFI 2011

10 cm EDITIONS

Fig. 24 – A horned basalt pillar/stand from Fig. 25 – Basalt bowls from the Golan Heights (after EPSTEIN, the Golan Heights (after EPSTEIN, 1998: pl. XXX.1). CNRS 1998: pl. XXXIV.9, XXXV.15). •

the pillar fi gures has already been published by Epstein62 who 2011 pointed to their fi rst discovery at Tell Turmus in Upper Galilee in Northern Palestine. Unfortunately, little can be determined about their origin, function and exact date. Nevertheless, they were encountered in both Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age contexts and were used as cultic objects. EDITIONS It has mentioned63 that around fi fty pieces of this type of objects were found at the Golan Heights. They are often in either circular or biconical in shape, and ends at the top with a shallow bowl form. On several pieces of them, facial features, CNRS

• ear-knobs, horns, and noses were carved on the upper part of Fig. 26 – A basalt bowl from the Jordan Valley/ the pillar. Abu Hamid (photo by Y. ZOU’BI). 2011 BASALT BOWLS (ﬁ gs. 25-26) CONCLUSION A wide variety of basalt bowls were excavated on the Golan and were used for many purposes, including as ordinary utensils. The most common type is the so-called ﬂ ower-pot shaped To conclude, the Chalcolithic period in the Golan Heights bowls, which were excavated at all sites in the Golan Heights. has been studied during the last few decades and the exca- EDITIONS Parallels for the Golan basalt bowls were found at Chalco- vated Chalcolithic material have been described as they are lithic sites extending from the Negev region in Southern Pal- unique archaeological material and not previously found in the estine to the Golan Heights. The sites of Abu Matar, Shiqmim, region. The above comparative study of the excavated Golan

CNRS Teleilat Ghassul, and Abu Hamid produced bowls similar to Chalcolithic architectural plans and associated objects show 64 • those from the Golan. similarities with the surrounding regions. This means that the Chalcolithic of the Golan was never isolated from the contem- poraneous cultures of the surrounding areas. 2011

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks are due to S. Kerner for her help in bringing this manuscript completely to light and for editing the language. My sincere 62. EPSTEIN, 1988 and 1998. 63. Ibid. , 1998: 230. gratitude goes to my colleagues: C. Andrews (photographer of the EDITIONS 64. AMIRAN and PORAT, 1984. Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology), and A. Omari, Y. Zou’bi

141-158-Kafafi.indd 154 3/01/11 14:06:36 The Chalcolithic Period in the Golan Heights: A Regional or Local Culture 155 2011 and M. Bataineh of the Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology, for Zeidan KAFAFI providing part of the illustrations. This article was ﬁ rst presented in Department of Archaeology the International Colloquium on the “History and Antiquities of Al- Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology Golan” held in Damascus on November 11th-15th, 2008 and partially Yarmouk University published by the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums. Irbid – JORDAN Thanks are due to B. Jamous and A. Abdul-Rahman for giving the [email protected]

EDITIONS permission to publish this manuscript in its ﬁ nal and complete form in the journal Paléorient. CNRS • BIBLIOGRAPHY

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