Variability within consistency: cairns and funerary practices of the Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic in the Al-Thulaythuwat area, southern Jordan

Abstract

Exploration undertaken in Al-Thulaythuwat/Jabal Kabd area, in the framework of the south-eastern Badia Archaeological Project, identified an extensive funerary phenomenon dating back to either, the Late Neolithic, or a transitional Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic phase. Excavation of a small but representative sample of burial structures, along with an analysis of the cairns and associated structures, highlighted different levels of variability. However, when viewed as a whole, this necropolis on the south-eastern arid margins of Jordan demonstrates a marked level of consistency. While our interpretations remain tentative, we have tried here to offer working hypotheses for this variability.

Monumental landscapes of the Holocene humid period in Northern Arabia: The mustatil phenomenon

“…While no exact equivalent exists and the unique character of mustatils must be emphasised, there may be some form of relationship between mustatils and two forms of structure in the southern Levant. Firstly, there are the rectangular platforms associated with late Neolithic cairns, as previously mentioned at the start of this paper ( Abu-Azizeh et al, 2014 ). Secondly, ‘cultic’ sites, often described as shrines and sanctuaries, have been recorded across the arid southern Levant (e.g.…”

“…Cairns – typically relatively small structures with a funerary function (e.g. Abu-Azizeh et al, 2014 ; Alsharekh, 2006 ; Guagnin et al, 2020 ; Harrower et al, 2013 ) – are found across the region and occurred from the Neolithic to at least ca. 600 AD ( Alsharekh, 2004 ).…”

“…This has taken the form of mapping and analysis of the various sorts of stone structures which are abundant in northwest Arabia, as well as in the adjacent southern Levant (e.g. Abu-Azizeh et al, 2014 , 2015 ; Crassard et al, 2015 ; Kennedy, 2011 , 2017 ; Kennedy and Al-Saeed, 2009 ). Kennedy and Al-Saeed (2009) described one enigmatic form of stone structure that they called ‘gates’, due to their resemblance to farm gates when viewed from satellite imagery.…”

“…8000 BC ( Al Khasawneh et al, 2019 ), and of ‘wheels’ to seemingly Neolithic to Bronze age times ( Athanassas et al, 2015 ; Rollefson et al, 2016 ), indicate that large-scale stone structures were being constructed on the margins of northern Arabia in the early to middle Holocene. Likewise, cairns, date from the Neolithic to at least the Iron Age ( Abu-Azizeh et al, 2014 ; Guagnin et al 2017b , 2020 ). In southern Jordan, cairns associated with platforms and other rectangular structures arranged in specific spatial arrangements were dated to the Neolithic periods, with the oldest cairn dating to 5341–5049 BC ( Abu-Azizeh et al, 2014 ; see also Fujii, 2013 ).…”

“…Likewise, cairns, date from the Neolithic to at least the Iron Age ( Abu-Azizeh et al, 2014 ; Guagnin et al 2017b , 2020 ). In southern Jordan, cairns associated with platforms and other rectangular structures arranged in specific spatial arrangements were dated to the Neolithic periods, with the oldest cairn dating to 5341–5049 BC ( Abu-Azizeh et al, 2014 ; see also Fujii, 2013 ). Likewise, three cairns at Jubbah have been dated to 6372–6060 BC, 5306–5216 BC and 5301–5061 BC respectively ( Guagnin et al, 2017b , 2020 ).…”