Empire and Environment in the Northern Fertile Crescent

Wilkinson, T. J.

doi:10.1007/978-90-481-9413-1_9

Cited by 10 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Higher up these mountains, within traditional summer pasture zones ( yayla ), medieval and modern settlement is more rare, and sites of Roman and late Roman date are often easier to recognize, as at the large upland village of Karacaoluk Yaylası (AS 334; Casana ), located at nearly 1000 masl. Sites like this one, up to the highest altitude site recorded in the Amanus, AS 225 (Casana , 546), a small cluster of buildings at nearly 1800 masl, suggest the existence of highly specialized agricultural production or other activities, as they are above the altitude which can support traditional mixed cultivation of olive, grape and cereals (Wilkinson , 142).…”

Section: Regional Surveysmentioning

confidence: 90%

The Late Roman Landscape of the Northern Levant: A view from Tell Qarqur and the lower Orontes River Valley

Casana

2014

Oxford J Archaeology

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Summary This paper presents a review and synthesis of archaeological surveys in western Syria and southern Turkey, alongside finds from recent excavations at Tell Qarqur, Syria, revealing regional patterns of late Roman settlement and land use in the lower Orontes River Valley. Survey data show that the late Roman period witnessed a peak in settlement density, with the extension of occupation into previously unoccupied areas and widespread agricultural intensification. Excavations of a typical lowland site at Tell Qarqur reveal an opulent building complex, possibly a church, with a columned hall, elaborate mosaic floor and frescoed interior. Analysis explores the process of agricultural intensification during the late Roman period, the relationship between lowland settlements and the better‐known Dead Cities of the limestone massif to the east, and the ultimate abandonment of the settlement system following the seventh century AD.

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Section: Regional Surveysmentioning

confidence: 90%

The Late Roman Landscape of the Northern Levant: A view from Tell Qarqur and the lower Orontes River Valley

Casana

2014

Oxford J Archaeology

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“…to C.E. 1000) that we see some increases in valley floor aggradation (Wilkinson ). Unfortunately, because valley floors receive episodic delivery of sediments from the neighboring terrain and sedimentation rates vary depending upon local geomorphology and river basin conditions, it is difficult to quantify rates of erosion and sedimentation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

13 Comparative Landscape Analysis: Contrasting the Middle East and Maya Regions

Wilkinson

2014

Archaeological Papers of the American

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The Maya Lowlands and the Middle East occupy two contrasting latitudinal zones of ancient settlement, the former comprising part of the semi-tropical belt of low-density urbanism whereas in the Middle East dense nucleated settlement has predominated. Building upon the foundation lain down by Robert McC. Adams and published in 1966, but primarily drawing upon new evidence from archaeological landscape surveys, this paper explores the commonalities and contrasts between these two landscapes. Emphasis is placed upon settlement and landscape dynamics, specifically those features that contribute to our understanding of settlement sustainability or fragility. In addition, the different responses of large and small sites to both internal and external stresses are examined with particular reference to models of collapse and resilience. This paper selectively draws upon evidence from case studies from each geographical zone. These include those previously presented from the Maya region together with case studies drawn from the large data base available from Durham University's Fragile Crescent Project. Key features of settlement landscape dynamics include: agricultural intensification, polity size, transport networks, and patterns of exchange. In addition, reference is made to settlement landscapes in the sub-humid and semi-arid Yemen highlands which occupy a latitudinal zone equivalent to the Yucatan Peninsula and which show some characteristics of low density urbanism. [Middle East, Maya, landscape archaeology, collapse, sustainability, resilience]

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“…Here we focus on the later sedimentary sequences from the valley in the Carchemish and Kurban Höyük areas (Fig. 1) which provide compelling evidence for a later phase of colluviation (Wilkinson 2010) and which followed on from earlier alluvial fills (Miller-Rosen and Goldberg in Algaze 1995; Pournelle in Algaze et al 2001: 59). At the river basin scale, the complex alluvial fills of the Euphrates River have been interpreted as demonstrating the following chronological sequence:…”

Section: The Middle Euphratesmentioning

confidence: 99%