The Lithic Assemblage fronz Tabaqat al-Bûma: A Late Neolithic Site in Wadi Ziqtab, Northenz Jordan by Julian F.C. Siggers A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Anthropology University of Toronto @ Copyright by Jidiarz F. C. Sigpm 1997 National Library Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie SeMces seMces bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue WeUiigtor~ OüawaON K1A ON4 OttawaON KIAON4 canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une Iicence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibhotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, disuihuer ou copies of this thesis in microfonn, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thése ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Abstract Studies of Late Neolithic stone tools kom the Levant have concentrated on the formed tools and morphological typology, and typically pay little attention to retouched flakes or unretouched used flakes (Cauvin 1968; Stekelis 1972; Noy 1976; Crowfoot-Payne 1983; Gopher 1985), even though the latter represent a fundamental shift in the perception and application of teduiology. Throughout the history of the study of prehistoric stone tools, formed or shaped lithics have received far more attention than ones produced with simpler technologies, such as bipolar or other "expedient" tools (Hayden 1977, Parry and Kelly 1987, Gero 1991 and Casey 1993). The objective of ths thesis is to examine a sample of chipped stone tools from Tabaqat al-Bûma, a Late Neolithic site in northern Jordan, and use the findings of this analysis to investigate the marked shift in lithic technology that occurs during this period. This change in technological orientation is charaderised by a reliance on flake tools as opposed to the blade-dominated industries of preceding Neolithic periods. 1 will argue that Late Neolithic stone tools are often a reflection of the degrees of risk that new activities entailed. To my parents, Joy and Peter Siggers Acknowledgments First and foremost, 1 would like to extend my deep gratitude to Dr. Ted Banning who was my senior supervisor for this research. Dr. Banning has been a constant source of knowledge and expertise and has given me unremittllig support and encouragement. Throughout the course of my Ph.D. program Dr. Banning has provided much of the stimulus and support that has made this chapter of my Me so rewarding. Dr. Maxine Kleindienst has provided many invaluable comments on clrafts of this thesis. My approach to stone tool technology was inspired by many of her observations on Bake tool technology and technology in general. I would also like to thank Dr. Gary Coupland for being a member of the examination committee and providing useful comments. Du~gmy tirne at the University of Toronto, 1 have always profited greatly from discussions with Dr. Bruce Schroeder. His advice and comments on this work have been invaluable. 1 would like to express my gratitude to the University of Toronto for the Open and Doctoral Fellowships that they provided dunng my Ph.D. program. In the course of this work I have had the good fortune to have had the advice and support of a number of extraordinary friends. They were, in many different ways, invaluable in enabling me to complete this research. 1 would like to thank Jennifer Dawson, Stacey Burr and Rebecca Rankin for putting up with me at various stages of this endeavor. 1 would also like to thank Charlton CarscaIlen, Joanna Casey, Kevin Leonard, Paul Racher, Dan Rahirni and Frank Weban-Smith for their friendship and helping to make my often chaotic ideas on things archaeological more coherent. The following individuals I would like to thank not ody for their friendship, but also for the many diversions and digressions that has made my sojourn in Toronto so enjoyable: Serge Avery, Troy Hansen, Henry Knight, Srinivas Krishna, Anna Pratt and Dina Fayeman. Finally, 1 would like to thank my parents, Joy and Peter, to whom this volume is dedicated. Your support and generosity is, and has always been, monumental, and I shall never be able to repay you. At this junchire it is customary, 1 believe, to daim sole responsibility for any errors within these pages. Contents Abstract 1 Acknowledgments iii Table of Contents v List of Figures ix List of Tables xiv Chapter 1 1.0 Lntroduction 1.1 The Neolithic Canvas and Technological Variabiliîy in the Late Neolithic 1.2 The Location and Environment at Tabaqat al-Bûma 1.3 Late Neolithic Occupation at Tabaqat al-Bûma Chapter 2 2.0 The Analysis of Late Neolithic Flake Technology 2.1 Neolithic Tool Typology 2.2 Hake Tools of the Late Neolithic Style and Late Neolifhic Stone 7001s 2.3 Stone Tool Optimisation and Design in the Neolithic Tradition Design Theory Op timl Tool Use Modeling 2.4 The Nature of the Lithic Sample from Tabaqat al-Bûma Summy of Stone Tools Sampling Sfrategy 2.5 Analysis of Basic Flakes and Formed Tools Basic FIake Taols Lifhic Tool Types 2.6 Formed Tool Analysis Chapter 3: The Results of the Analysis of the Fiake Tool Sample 3.0 Introduction to the Flake Tools 3.1 Unretouched Flake Took Raw Material Selection Ou fline Morphology Edge Angle Unretouched Flake Tool Observafions Unretouched Flake Buft Obseruations 3.2 Retouched Flake Tools Raw Material Selectiorl Re to uched Flake Me fric Observations Retouched Flnke Oir fline Morphology The Edge Angles of Reto~rched Flakes Retouch Types of Retouched Flake Tools Retouch Position of Retouched Flake Tools Shape and Locution of Retouch on FZake kols Nurnbn of Ridges and Siriking Platform Observations Summnj of Unretoiiched Used Flakes and Retouched Flakes 3.3 Formed Flake Tools E ndscrapers on Flakes Corzvex Scrapers Notched Flake Tools Au& Burins Surnmary of the Fonned Fhke Tools Chapter 4: The Results of the Analysis of the Blade and Bladelet Tool Sample 4.0 Introduction to the Blade and BladeIet Tools 4.1 Blade Tools Utilised Blade Tools Retouched and Backed Blade Tools Blade Fragments Blade Tool Types 4.2 Bladelet Tools 4.3 Adzes 4.4 Miscellaneous Tools Chapter 5: The Results of the Sickle Blade Analysis 5.0 Introduction to the Sickie Blades of the Late Neolithic The Sickle Blade Sample Sickle Blade Observa f ions 5.1 Backed and Denticulated Sickle Blades Sickle Blade Types Raui Material Select ion Sickle Blade Mefric Obsmatiorzs 5.2 The Working Edges and Backing of Denticulated Sidde Blades Edge Angles Retouch Type Backing and Tru~rcatiorz Types Backed and denticrrlnted Sickle Blade Cross-Sec f ions vii 5.3 The Nature of Polish Formation on Backed and Dentidated Sidde Blades 163 Use-Wem Analysis and Polished Sickle Blades 166 Use-Wear Exnrninafion of Sickle Blades fiom Tabaqat al- Bûma 167 SEM Sickle Polish Observations 175 5.4 Summary of the Sidde Blade Sample 175 Chapter 6: Summary and Condusions of the Analysis of the Chipped Stone Sample from Tabaqat al-Bûma 177 6.0 Introduction 177 6.1 Late Neoüthic Stone Tool Technology at Tabaqat al-Bûma 177 Cereal Agriciiltzrre 179 Animal Husband y 183 Land Clearance, Luinber Acquisition and Architecture 185 6.2 Discussion of Stone Tools in the Technological System at Tabaqat al-Bûma 186 6.3 Conclusion 189 6.4 Some Implications of the Conclusions of this Research and Future Research on the Stone Tools of the Levantine Late Neolithic 190 Bibliography Appendix 1 Database Syntax for Tool Types Database Syntax for Obsenrations of the Stone Tool Sample Key for the Abbreviated Titles of the Data Spread Sheets Observations of the Stone Tool Sample From Tabaqat al-Bûma viii List of Figures Figure 1.1 Map showing the location of Tabaqat al-BGma and other Late Neolithic sites in the Levant Figure 1.2 Map showing the topography and 1990 excavation areas at Tabaqat al-Bûma Figure 1.3 Plan of the 1992 excavation areas and Late Neolithic architecture at Tabaqat al-Bûma Figure 2.1 Classification of Basic Flake/ Piece Technologies Figure 2.2 The regularity of flake/ blade production according to core type and associated striking method. Figure 3.0 Unretouched used flake tools Figure 3.1 Retouched basic flake tools Figure 3.1.1 Retouched basic flake tools Figure 3.2 The frequency distribution of the major tool categories from the Late Neolithic sample Figure 3.3 The frequency distribution of the chert raw material types used to make unretouched flake tools Figure 3.4 The frequency distributions of the outline morphology types of unretouched flake tools Figure 3.5 Histog~amshowing the distribution of outline morphology types of unretouched flake tools 75 Figure 3.6 The frequency distribution of the edge angles of unretouched flake tools at ten intervais 77 Figure 3.7 The histogram of the edge angles of unretouched flake tools 77 Figure 3.8 Cumulative frequency of the edge angles of umetouched flake tools Figure 3.9 Histogram showing the maximum lengths of used unretouched flakes at ten intervals Figure 3.10 Histogram showing the maximum wid ths of used unretouched flakes at ten intewals Figure 3.11 Histogram showing