Trade me an axe? Interpretive challenges of the distribution and provenance of Neolithic basaltic bifacial tools in Israel

Abstract

Abstract

Raw material variability as archaeological tools: Preliminary results from a geochemical study of the basalt vessel workshop at Iron Age Tel Hazor, Israel

“…Previous geochemical-mineralogical studies of basalt artefacts in the southern Levant concentrated mainly on the determination of the provenance of the artefacts, but these studies always had rather limited results due to the fact that basaltic rock extraction sites had not been identified (apart from the Late Neolithic-Early Chalcolithic extraction site at Giv'at Kipod, see Rosenberg et al 2008;Gluhak & Rosenberg 2013;Rosenberg & Gluhak 2016;Shimelmitz & Rosenberg 2016) and that geochemical data from geological samples for comparison were, if available at all, only superficially included (e.g., Amiran & Porat 1984;Philip & Williams-Thorpe 1993;2000;2001;Rowan 1998;Rutter 2003;Rutter et al 2003;Watts et al 2004;Rutter & Philip 2008).…”

“…However, as stated above, these studies reflect the potential of provenance studies while also demonstrating the problems inherent in these studies, in particular the need for a reliable geochemical database of basalt sources. A large-scale project was recently initiated that focuses on establishing the geochemical signature of basalt sources in Israel using a basanite bifacial tool quarry and production site in the Manasseh Hills at the western fringes of the Jezreel Valley as a test case for the chosen methodology (Gluhak & Rosenberg 2013;Rosenberg & Gluhak 2016). The results of the study proved that a highresolution sampling strategy, the geochemical analyses chosen, and statistical, multivariate analyses (see methodology section, below), provide a good combination for studying the provenance of basaltic tools.…”

The organization of basanite bifacial production at Giv’at Kipod Quarry, Israel: Towards an ‘Alyawara Day’ model of extraction

“…The use of a variety of raw materials to manufacture a specific tool type characterized the production of bifacial tools in the southern Levant. Although primarily made of flint (e.g., Barkai 2005), some were produced on basaltic rocks, limestone, and other more 'exotic' raw materials (e.g., Garfinkel & Dag 2006;Rosenberg et al 2008;Rosenberg & Gopher 2010;Gluhak & Rosenberg 2013;Rosenberg and Gluhak 2015;Vardi 2015).…”

“…Currently, Giv'at Kipod is the only known quarry and production site for basaltic bifacial tools in the southern Levant, although a recent geochemical study showed that other locals also served this purpose (Gluhak & Rosenberg 2013;Rosenberg and Gluhak 2015). Similar sites, exploiting non-flint resources, are also rare and include three larnite quarry and bifacial production sites in the Negev of Israel (Vardi 2015), and others, much northern sites in Turkey, Thrace (e.g., Özbek 2000Özbek , Özbek & Erol 2001.…”

“…Furthermore, a provenance study recently showed that the site operated for several millennia, from the PPNA through the period of the Wadi Rabah culture (Gluhak & Rosenberg 2013). Nevertheless, the distribution range of Giv'at Kipod bifacials was limited (Rosenberg & Gluhak 2015). This, in turn, suggests that the significance of producing basanite bifacials at Giv'at Kipod crossed chronological and cultural boundaries yet had a limited geographic impact.…”