Interpreting a ritual funerary area at the Early Neolithic site of Tell Qarassa North (South Syria, late 9th millennium BC)

Santana, J.J.; Velasco, Juan Antonio Prieto; Balbo, Andrea L.; Iriarte, Eneko; Zapata, Lydia; Teira, Luís; Nicolle, Christophe; Braemer, François; Ibáñez, Juan José

doi:10.1016/j.jaa.2014.12.003

Cited by 22 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Testing the Late Antiquity individuals as an outgroup to Saudi and Bedouin B revealed this to be a scenario consistent with the data (Z=0. 19) confirming that the two Late Antiquity Syrians form their own group and are not directly matched by any of the modern populations in our reference data.…”

Section: Genomic Analysis Of the Individualssupporting

confidence: 57%

“…The village of Qarassa is a Druze community today. Pre-Pottery Neolithic mortuary practices have been described from this site, shedding light on such practices in this period 18,19 . The Late Antiquity burials consisted of two narrow graves that were opened in superficial layers of Tell Qarassa North.…”

Section: Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…1a). While Tell Qarassa North is usually known as a prehistoric site 18,19 (see also Supplementary Text S1), the two individuals analysed here were found on surface levels of the site and directly radiocarbon dated to the Late Antiquity period (7 th to 8 th centuries) ( Table 1). No cultural artifacts were associated with the human remains, however, their archaeological context revealed that these were primary burials with the bodies placed in decubitus position, inside pits that were intrusive in the Neolithic levels ( Fig.…”

Section: Description Of the Burialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bioarchaeological analysis of one of the earliest Islamic burials in the Levant

Srigyan

Bolívar

Ureña

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The Middle East plays a central role in human history harbouring a vast diversity of ethnic, cultural and religious groups. However, much remains to be understood about past and present genomic diversity in this region. Here, we present for the first time, a multidisciplinary bioarchaeological analysis of two individuals dated to late 7th and early 8th centuries from Tell Qarassa, an open-air site in modern-day Syria. Radiocarbon dates, religious and cultural burial evidence indicate that this site represents one of the earliest Islamic Arab burials in the Levant during the Late Antiquity period. Interestingly, we found genomic similarity to a genotyped group of modern-day Bedouins and Saudi rather than to most neighbouring Levantine groups. This is highlighted through substantial Neolithic Levant ancestry in our samples, inviting an alternative scenario of long-term continuity in this region. This raises questions about the influence of ancient populations and historical migrations to genetic structure in the Middle East. As our study represents the first genomic analysis of an early Islamic burial in the Levant, we discuss our findings and possible historic scenarios in light of forces such as genetic drift and their possible interaction with religious and cultural processes.

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Section: Genomic Analysis Of the Individualssupporting

confidence: 57%

Section: Archaeological Contextmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Description Of the Burialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Bioarchaeological analysis of one of the earliest Islamic burials in the Levant

Srigyan

Bolívar

Ureña

et al. 2020

Preprint

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“…Skeletal survival rate (%survivorship) in assemblages with human‐induced manipulation including cannibalism and secondary burial practices (Boulestin & Coupey, ; Bello et al, ; Robb et al, ; Santana et al, )…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aggressive or funerary cannibalism? Skull‐cup and human bone manipulation in Cueva de El Toro (Early Neolithic, southern Iberia)

Santana

Santos

Camalich-Massieu

et al. 2019

American J Phys Anthropol

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Objective: We analyze the processing sequence involved in the manufacture of a skull-cup and the manipulation of human bones from the Early Neolithic of Cueva de El Toro (Málaga, Spain). Materials and methods:The Early Neolithic material studied includes human remains found in two separate assemblages. Assemblage A consists of one skull-cup, a non-manipulated adult human mandible, and four ceramic vessels. Assemblage B contains manipulated and nonmanipulated human remains that appeared mingled with domestic waste. Using a taphonomic approach, we evaluate the skull-cup processing and the anthropogenic alteration of human bones.Results: The skull-cup was processed by careful paring away of skin, fragmentation of the facial skeleton and base of the skull, and controlled percussion of the edges of the calotte to achieve a regular shape. It was later boiled for some time in a container that caused pot polish in a specific area. The other human bones appeared scattered throughout the living area, mixed with other remains of domestic activity. Some of these bones show cut marks, percussion damage for marrow extraction, and tooth/chewing marks.Discussion: Evidence from Cueva de El Toro suggests that cannibalism was conducted in the domestic sphere, likely following ritualized practices where the skull-cup could have played a part. Interpretation of this evidence suggests two hypotheses: (a) aggressive cannibalism relates to extreme inter-group violence; and (b) funerary cannibalism is a facet of multi-stage burial practices. Similar evidence has been found in other Neolithic sites of this region and suggests that cannibalism and skull-cups were elements widespread in these communities. These practices may be linked to significant transformations associated with the end of the Early Neolithic in southern Iberia. K E Y W O R D SAndalusia, funerary practice, human skull-cup, Neolithic, prehistoric cannibalism

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“…In later periods, as well as in many ethnographic cases, there is an association between food, food processing implements, and mortuary ritual (e.g. Grosman & Munro 2007;Santana et al 2015; see also Rosenberg 2013).…”

Section: Installationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of stone at Ohalo II, a 23,000 year old site in the Jordan Valley, Israel

Spivak

Nadel

2016

JLS

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Abstract:A wide range of stones were found at the 22,000-24,000 year old lakeshore camp of Ohalo II, the Sea of Galilee, Israel. The well-preserved camp includes the floors of six brush huts, several open-air hearths, a grave, a midden, and small installations. Stones were found in all excavated loci. These include a small assemblage of basalt and limestone tools, among which bowls, grinding implements and weights are the most common. Use-wear analysis supports the identification of the grinding tools, suggesting that cereals were indeed processed with them, but not in an intensive manner. The presence of thousands of cereal grains as well as several sickle blades accord well these finds. Bowls were all shallow and only their fragments were found. Weights were likely used as fishing net sinkers. Limestone and basalt flakes indicate local knapping. Basalt and limestone fragments, shattered from heat, were abundant in all the excavated loci. Their original use is yet to be verified, but their shattering from heat was affirmed by a series of experiments. Stones were also used as wall supports. The range of types, contexts and activities reflected by stone tools and natural stones is unprecedented in other contemporaneous sites in the southern Levant.

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Interpreting a ritual funerary area at the Early Neolithic site of Tell Qarassa North (South Syria, late 9th millennium BC)

Cited by 22 publications

References 48 publications

Bioarchaeological analysis of one of the earliest Islamic burials in the Levant

Bioarchaeological analysis of one of the earliest Islamic burials in the Levant

Aggressive or funerary cannibalism? Skull‐cup and human bone manipulation in Cueva de El Toro (Early Neolithic, southern Iberia)

The use of stone at Ohalo II, a 23,000 year old site in the Jordan Valley, Israel

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