AL-SHARK 4 University of Tsukuba: Studies for West Asian Archaeology Excavation Reports of Tell el-Kerkh, Northwestern Syria 1 Edited by Akira Tsuneki and Jamal Hydar The Neolithic Lithic Industry at Tell Ain El-Kerkh Makoto Arimura Archaeopress Archaeology Archaeopress Publishing Ltd Summertown Pavilion 18-24 Middle Way Summertown Oxford OX2 7LG www.archaeopress.com ISBN 978-1-78969-456-7 ISBN 978-1-78969-457-4 (e-Pdf) © Archaeopress and Makoto Arimura 2020 Cover images: Front: Distant view of Tell el-Kerkh in the Rouj Basin. Back: Various points discovered from the excavations of Tell el-Kerkh. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners. Printed in England by Severn, Gloucester This book is available direct from Archaeopress or from our website www.archaeopress.com Contents List of Figures, Tables and Plates ........................................................................................................................................ vii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................................ xiv Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................1 1. The research subject ..........................................................................................................................................................1 2. Organisation of the research ............................................................................................................................................1 3. Illustrations .........................................................................................................................................................................1 Chapter I The research framework ..........................................................................................................................................................2 1. Neolithisation of the northern Levant ............................................................................................................................2 1.1. Geographical situation..............................................................................................................................................2 1.2. Chronological framework ........................................................................................................................................7 1.2.1. Early PPNB .........................................................................................................................................................9 1.2.2. Middle PPNB ....................................................................................................................................................11 1.2.3. Late PPNB.........................................................................................................................................................11 1.2.4. Pottery Neolithic ............................................................................................................................................11 2. Neolithisation of north-western Syria ..........................................................................................................................12 2.1. State of research ......................................................................................................................................................12 2.2. Archaeological research in the Rouj basin ..........................................................................................................13 2.2.1. The Rouj basin: geomorphology ..................................................................................................................13 2.2.2. Archaeological research in the years 1990–1992 ......................................................................................14 2.3. Excavations at Tell Ain el-Kerkh and the present state of research ...............................................................19 2.3.1. New excavations at Tell Ain el-Kerkh (1997–2002) ...................................................................................19 2.3.2. Revision of the Rouj chronology ..................................................................................................................24 2.3.3. Re-examination of the Neolithic sites in the Rouj basin .........................................................................25 Chapter II Methodology ..............................................................................................................................................................................27 1. The subject of analysis .....................................................................................................................................................27 2. Methodological framework: Reconstitution of the operational sequence in lithic production ..........................27 2.1. Acquisition of raw material ...................................................................................................................................27 2.1.1. Sources in primary positions .......................................................................................................................27 2.1.2. Sources in secondary positions ....................................................................................................................27 2.2. Knapping technology ..............................................................................................................................................29 2.2.1. Method .............................................................................................................................................................29 2.2.2. Technique ........................................................................................................................................................31 2.3. Shaping of the tools ................................................................................................................................................32 3. Analytical method ............................................................................................................................................................32 3.1. Raw material selection ...........................................................................................................................................32 3.2. Technological analysis ............................................................................................................................................34 3.3. Typological analysis ................................................................................................................................................35 3.3.1. Debitage ...........................................................................................................................................................35 3.3.2. Tools .................................................................................................................................................................41 Chapter III The lithic industries of the Pre-Pottery and the Pottery Neolithic at Tell Ain el-Kerkh .....................................45 1. The collections ..................................................................................................................................................................45 2. Raw material for the lithic industry at Tell Ain el-Kerkh and geological surveys for flint research .................45 2.1. Flint types of Tell Ain el-Kerkh .............................................................................................................................45 2.2. Geological surveys ...................................................................................................................................................45 i 3. The lithic industry of the Rouj 1a period ......................................................................................................................50 3.1. Raw material ............................................................................................................................................................50 3.2. Debitage ....................................................................................................................................................................50 3.2.1. Cores .................................................................................................................................................................51 3.2.2. Debitage products ..........................................................................................................................................53 3.3. Tools ..........................................................................................................................................................................55 3.3.1. Points ................................................................................................................................................................55 3.3.2. Glossed blades .................................................................................................................................................57