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A Geoarchaeological Investigation of Storage and Surplus at Tel Tsaf, Israel

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A Geoarchaeological Investigation of Storage and Surplus at Tel Tsaf, Israel A Geoarchaeological Investigation of Storage and Surplus at Tel Tsaf, Israel by Emily Marie Hubbard A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Anthropology University of Toronto © Copyright by Emily M. Hubbard 2015 A Geological Investigation of Storage and Surplus at Tel Tsaf, Israel Emily Marie Hubbard Doctor of Philosophy Department of Anthropology University of Toronto 2015 Abstract The Chalcolithic period of the southern Levant spans from c. 5800 - 3600 cal BC. Traditional hallmarks of this period include caches of copper items, non-domestic shrine sites and large off site cemeteries or burial caves. However, these features date to the later portion of the period (Late Chalcolithic) and date to c. 4400 cal BC onwards. The focus of this dissertation is on the Middle Chalcolithic period (c. 5040 – 4440 cal BC), specifically in relation to storage and access to resources at the village of Tel Tsaf, Israel. Excavations at Tel Tsaf uncovered evidence of at least four walled courtyard complexes spanning two Chalcolithic phases. Each courtyard contained either rectangular broadroom houses or circular buildings, with no evidence of both structural forms in the same courtyard. Each courtyard also contained multiple large, mudbrick-lined circular silos. The research goals of this work address the implications of these varied architectural forms and the possible identification of surplus of both floral and faunal goods. Microscopic sediment analysis was used to investigate these questions, and the results are discussed in relation to the big picture debates of the Chalcolithic period. ii Micromorphology and bulk sediment samples were taken from Building Complexes I, II and IV during the 2006 and 2007 field seasons. Results demonstrate that domestic activities centred in the broadroom house and courtyard of Building Complex I, and animal penning activity was restricted to the circular buildings in Building Complex II. This distribution, combined with the numerous large silos, indicate there may have been some economic specialization at Tel Tsaf. The relationship among storage, surplus and wealth is explored and put in context of public and private access to resources and potential feasting at the site. It is established that the evidence is not significant enough to classify Tel Tsaf or the Middle Chalcolithic societies as chiefdoms. The evidence of likely surplus and potential private ownership of animals without evidence of a central distribution system or regional hierarchy further differentiates Tel Tsaf from large Late Chalcolithic villages. However, the evidence from Tel Tsaf demonstrates that it is distinct from the Early and Late Chalcolithic sites, demonstrating some similarity to both periods, as well as some evidence unique to the Middle Chalcolithic. iii Acknowledgments I am indebted to a great number of people for their support during the creation of this dissertation. My sincere appreciation goes out to my advisor, Ted Banning, for his patience and guidance during this process. His insight and feedback was spot on, always identifying the areas I knew were weakest and offering suggestions to help put me back on track. I am also incredibly grateful to Lisa Maher, a late committee addition who was invaluable. Her readiness to have meetings at the drop of a hat, help me formulate ideas and structures, and provide prompt feedback were essential. Her endless optimism was also appreciated when my own waned! My final committee member, Michael Chazan, also provided excellent feedback and guidance. It was his encouragement in the early days of my PhD that set me on this specific path, and I am grateful it did. Many thanks to my external examiner, Arlene Rosen, for providing insightful feedback and constructive criticism during the defense process. I owe a great deal of gratitude to Wendy Matthews and the Department of Archaeology at the University of Reading. The micromorphology analysis would not have been possible without Wendy’s willingness to take me on as a visiting student and provide me with a strong foundation. I would also like to acknowledge Yosef Garfinkel for allowing me to participate in the Tel Tsaf excavations and take samples from the site. His support of my analysis allowed me to collect extensive samples throughout the site. Throughout the creation of this dissertation I received access to facilities at a number of institutions, both formally and informally. I would like to acknowledge the University of Bristol, the University of Leeds and the University of California, Berkeley. The Archaeology Research Facility at UC Berkeley has been especially welcoming, providing me with access to the facilities necessary to complete my research. None of this would have been possible without the support of my many colleagues. At Toronto, talks and meetings with Jennifer Campbell, Emma Humphrey, Lesley Howse, Trevor Orchard, Terry Clark, Andrew Riddle, Kevin Gibbs and Adam Allentuck were essential in both academic and stress-management ways! At Reading, a huge thanks to Carol Mansfield, Kay Lakin and Alex Brown, all of whom not only shared advice and ideas, but spare rooms during my visits! A great field crew is also essential to good field seasons, and I am grateful to Chad Hill for two iv years of encouragement during heat waves and early mornings. Discussion of data and ideas with Chad was essential in my dissertation! I was also a pleasure to have work with Kelly Sayers, Kit Atwood, Mirah Burgener and Jennifer Hood at Tel Tsaf. A huge thanks to my family. My parents have always been supportive and I thank them for encouraging me to follow my dreams. I could not have made it this far without their example of hard work, kindness and perseverance. I am also lucky to have married into fantastic in-laws who have been patient and loving through this process. Last, and certainly not least, I am indebted to my patient, patient husband, Chris. He knew he was marrying my PhD dissertation when he got into this, but neither of us expected it to be with us for so long! Despite his career making this an adventure (immigrating twice!!), his support, love and encouragement have seen me through it all! We will both be pleased to hang the degree on the wall and move forward! v Table of Contents Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. x List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. xiii List of Appendices ....................................................................................................................... xix Chapter 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Research Objectives ............................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Summary of Chapters ......................................................................................................... 5 Chapter 2 Background Chapter ....................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Chronology ......................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Overview of Excavation History ...................................................................................... 14 2.3 Early Chalcolithic (Wadi Rabah and variants) ................................................................. 19 2.4 The Middle Chalcolithic ................................................................................................... 20 2.5 The Late Chalcolithic Period ............................................................................................ 22 2.5.1 Material Culture .................................................................................................... 23 2.5.2 Burial Practices ..................................................................................................... 26 2.5.3 Architecture ........................................................................................................... 27 2.6 Beyond the Southern Levant ............................................................................................. 28 2.7 Social Organization ........................................................................................................... 29 2.8 Tel Tsaf ............................................................................................................................. 33 2.8.1 Regional Geology and Paleoclimate ..................................................................... 34 2.8.2 History of Excavation ........................................................................................... 41 2.8.3 Area B ................................................................................................................... 41 2.8.4 Area C ................................................................................................................... 43 vi 2.8.4.1 Building Complex I ...............................................................................
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