Large-scale storage and storage symbolism in the ancient Near East: a clay silo model from Tel Tsaf

Rosenberg, Danny; Garfınkel, Yosef; Klimscha, Florian

doi:10.15184/aqy.2017.75

Cited by 28 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The silos at the site follow the principles of construction for the long-term protection of cereals. Recently, a small clay vessel was found in a burial context at the site possibly representing a model of a silo (Rosenberg et al, 2017). The clay vessel is closed and resembles an elongated, bag-shaped jar with a dome-shaped top.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Direct evidence for cereal storage, with multiple silos on site, was unearthed at Tel Tsaf, the Middle Jordan Valley, dated to ca. 7000 BP associated with the Late Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic (Garfinkel et al, 2009;Rosenberg et al, 2017). The silos at the site follow the principles of construction for the long-term protection of cereals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tomorrow’s mundane is today’s extraordinary: A case study of a plastered installation during Neolithization

Grosman

Raz

Friesem

2020

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

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For reconstructing past human ways of life we study mundane remains, but in order to detect special worldviews and behaviors we endeavor to observe the extraordinary embedded in those remains. There are many ways to define the ‘extraordinary’. Here we center on early occurrences of phenomena that later become mundane, rendering them ‘extraordinary’ through being rare compared to later frequent appearances. This study explores such extraordinary phenomena with relation to the processes of Neolithization in the Southern Levant, focusing on a round plastered installation (Feature 6) that was unearthed in the Late Natufian village of Nahal Ein Gev II (ca. 12,000 calBP). To investigate the feature’s function, we conducted a micro-geoarcheological analysis of the walls and fill to understand its use and formation processes, using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and micromorphology. Our results show that the walls were not exposed to elevated temperatures and that the interior of the installation was filled with mixed sediments. We therefore rule out the use of the feature as a cooking installation or a kiln. The interior mixed assemblage indicates secondary infilling after the feature was no longer in use for its initial purpose, thus challenging the identification of its original function. To date, there are no parallels for such lime and clay plastered installations in the Natufian culture. Yet, this type of feature becomes increasingly common with the advance of Neolithization where such features served as storage installations, integral to the farming way of life. We conclude that Feature 6 in NEG II is ‘extraordinary’ in the context of the Late Natufian, heralding the development of clay lined storage installations. We argue that this example of ‘extraordinary’ within the long process of Neolithization in the Near East helps to illuminate the gradual process of cultural innovation in which new features appear at first as extraordinary phenomena which later will become mundane.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tomorrow’s mundane is today’s extraordinary: A case study of a plastered installation during Neolithization

Grosman

Raz

Friesem

2020

Humanit Soc Sci Commun

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“…The current project was initiated in 2013 [59,75]. The project analyzes the temporal and spatial attributes of social and economic variations at the site, documents dietary changes, explores the early lower strata of the settlement, and conducts a paleoenvironmental and ecological study to shed new light on how the Jordan Valley resources were utilized at the site.…”

Section: Tel Tsafmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…27 m 2 ) is surrounded by round structures, most of which were probably used as silos [58,70], as well as cooking pits and ovens scattered over the courtyard. The entrance to the room was probably via the main courtyard [75,84]. Apart from a slight change in the orientation of Room C70 and the location and number of silos, the general plan of the complex did not change between the two phases.…”

Section: The Main Architectural Features At Tel Tsafmentioning

confidence: 99%

7,200 years old constructions and mudbrick technology: The evidence from Tel Tsaf, Jordan Valley, Israel

et al. 2020

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The history of mudbrick production and construction in the southern Levant may be dated as far back to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A. However, at many of the sites where mudbrick remains were noted, their preservation was poor, so investigation of their production and the related construction techniques in antiquity was precluded. The 7,200 year old (cal BP) site of Tel Tsaf, located in the Jordan Valley, is distinguished by outstanding preservation of mudbrick architecture, which enables us to delve into various issues related to mudbrick technology, construction and preservation. The present paper discusses some of the mudbrick features at Tel Tsaf and their characteristics and offers a comprehensive analytical study of the mudbricks from multiple contexts and phases. These demonstrate consistency in three of the four measured variables: magnetic susceptibility, organic content and calcium carbonate equivalent. The results of our study suggest that while we can identify morphometric variability between bricks and walls, by and large, a uniform composition characterized the tested assemblages without any temporal or spatial variability. This indicates that a single locally-sourced raw material was used and that recycling of old decayed mudbricks was likely practiced. The consistency of mudbrick-production during all phases of the occupation at Tel Tsaf and the absence of multiple recipes implies that a shared production and technological know-how was maintained for at least 500 years at the site.

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“…The late 8th/early 7th millennium BP site of Tel Tsaf, located at the Central Jordan Valley (Israel; Fig. 1 ), is significant not only because of its large size but also because of the presence of storage silos on a scale not previously unearthed in the Proto-historic Near East 1 , 2 . The material culture of the site is remarkably rich compared to contemporary sites in the region: dense concentrations of animal bones indicate large-scale feasts 3 ; a unique and elaborate style of pottery decoration was common, consisting of red and black geometric designs on white slip 4 ; a stone seal and some 140 seal impressions were found, including one vessel with two different seals 5 , 6 ; two large concentrations of ostrich eggshell beads were found: ca.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

7000-year-old evidence of fruit tree cultivation in the Jordan Valley, Israel

Langgut

Garfınkel

2022

Sci Rep

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This study provides one of the earliest examples of fruit tree cultivation worldwide, demonstrating that olive (Olea europaea) and fig (Ficus carica) horticulture was practiced as early as 7000 years ago in the Central Jordan Valley, Israel. It is based on the anatomical identification of a charcoal assemblage recovered from the Chalcolithic (7200–6700 cal. BP) site of Tel Tsaf. Given the site’s location outside the wild olive’s natural habitat, the substantial presence of charred olive wood remains at the site constitutes a strong case for horticulture. Furthermore, the occurrence of young charred fig branches (most probably from pruning) may indicate that figs were cultivated too. One such branch was 14C dated, yielding an age of ca. 7000 cal. BP. We hypothesize that established horticulture contributed to more elaborate social contracts and institutions since olive oil, table olives, and dry figs were highly suitable for long-distance trade and taxation.

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Large-scale storage and storage symbolism in the ancient Near East: a clay silo model from Tel Tsaf

Abstract: Abstract

Cited by 28 publications

References 36 publications

Tomorrow’s mundane is today’s extraordinary: A case study of a plastered installation during Neolithization

Tomorrow’s mundane is today’s extraordinary: A case study of a plastered installation during Neolithization

7,200 years old constructions and mudbrick technology: The evidence from Tel Tsaf, Jordan Valley, Israel

7000-year-old evidence of fruit tree cultivation in the Jordan Valley, Israel

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