Pre-pottery Neolithic A Website Links For
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Pre-pottery Neolithic A




The Pre-Pottery Neolithic A and the following Pre-Pottery Neolithic B were originally defined by Kathleen Kenyon in the Type Site of Jericho (Palestinian Territories). During this time, Pottery was yet unknown. They precede the ceramic Neolithic ( Yarmukian ).

10,200-9,200 BP ( Uncalibrated ) in the climatic phase Dryas II (arid climate).

There is evidence for the use of Wheat , Barley and Legume s from carbonized Seed s, but whether these seeds were collected, planted or even brought into the settlements as part of animal Dung used for fuel remains the subject of debate. Sickle -blades and grinding stones certainly indicate the use of Cereal s. Some scholars speak of an 'agriculture prédomestique'.


SETTLEMENTS


The settlements consist of round semi-subterranean houses with stone foundations and Terrazzo -floors. The superstructures were constructed of unbaked Mudbrick s with plano-convex cross-sections. The hearths were small and covered with cobbles. Heated rocks were used in cooking, which led to an accumulation of fire-cracked rock in the buildings. Almost every settlement contains storage bins made either stones or mud-brick. The sites are much larger than in the preceding Natufian and contain traces of communal structures, like the famous Wall Of Jericho , possibly built against floods.


LITHICS

The lithic industry is based on Blades struck from regular cores. Sickle -blades and Arrowhead s continue traditions from the late Natufian Culture , transverse-blow Axe s and polished Adze s appear for the first time.


REGIONAL VARIANTS

With more sites becoming known, the archaeologists have defined a number of regional variants:
  • 'Sultanien' in the Jordan River valley and southern Levant with the type site of Jerich. Other sites include Netiv Hagdud , El-Khiam, Hatoula and Nahal Oren .

  • 'Mureybetian' in the Northern Levant. Defined by the finds from s, sickle-blades with base amenagée or short stem and terminal retouch. Other sites include Sheyk Hasan and Jerf el-Ahmar.

  • 'Aswadien' in the Damascus Basin. Defined by finds from Tell Aswad IA. Typical: bipolar cores, big sickle blades, Aswad-point s.

  • sites in 'Upper Mesopotamia' include Çayönü and Göbekli Tepe .



SEE ALSO



FURTHER READING


  • O. Bar-Yosef, The PPNA in the Levant – an overview. Paléorient 15/1, 1989, 57-63.

  • J. Cauvin, Naissance des divinités, Naissance de l’agriculture. La révolution des symboles au Néolithique (CNRS 1994). Translation (T. Watkins) The birth of the gods and the origins of agriculture (Cambridge 2000).