Chalcolithic Sites in Northeastern Sinai

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between El-Arish and Rapha (Fig. 2; sites prefixed by A and R).2 Some 200 sites were mapped, mostly of the classical period, although nearly 50 of them belong ...
CHALCO LITHIC SITES IN NORTHEASTERN SINAI Eliezer D. Oren and Isaac Gilead During the past nine years (1972-1980) the North Sinai Expedition of Ben Gurion University of the Negev has conducted, under the direction of the co-author, E.D: Oren, a systematic archaeological survey and excavations along the Mediterranean coast of Sinai between the Suez Canal and the Gaza strip (Fig. I).' So far we have recorded over a thousand sites, ranging from the Paleolithic through the Medieval period (Oren 1979). The eighth season of exploration (1979) was devoted to the coastal strip of northeastern Sinai between El-Arish and Rapha (Fig. 2; sites prefixed by A and R).2 Some 200 sites were mapped, mostly of the classical period, although nearly 50 of them belong to earlier periods. The survey area may be divided into three longitudinal strips: (1) the beach, about 100200 m. wide, which includes two sea-terrace systems composed of reddish clays and slightly calcified sand; (2) a strip about 3-5 km. wide covered by mobile sand dunes, rising in some places as high as 50 m. above sea-level, separated by small depressed basins where ancient surfaces are exposed; (3) a wide undulating plain of sand (loess?) and red sandy soils, large parts of which are presently under cultivation. In several localities along the coastal terraces and ancient stabilized surfaces left exposed amidst active sand dunes, th~ expedition encountered the remains of some dozen prehistoric sites dating from the Paleolithic through the Chalcolithic periods. The Paleolithic and Epi-Paleolithic remains are evidence of the earliest human occupation in northeastern Sinai. One small and eroded scatter of Middle Paleolithic artefacts, lying only ISO m. from the beach (Site A306), includes Levallois flakes, points and cores, the earliest prehistoric manifestation yet discovered in the Sinai coastal plain. A second eroded flint concentration (Site A302) is dominated by arched-truncated backed bladelets along with micro-burin technique, typical of the so-called Negev-Kebaran assemblages of the central Negev highlands (Marks and Simmons 1977) or the Moushabian of Gebel Maghara (Phillips and Mintz 1977).

2

The expedition is aided by the Archaeological Liaison Officers for Sinai (A. Goren and B. Sass) and the Gaza strip (D. Meiron). The Southern Command of the Israel Defense Forces assisted the expedition in every way possible. During the 1974-1976 seasons the Israel Academy for Sciences helped to finance the expedition. The 1979 expedition was headed by E.D. Oren and occasionally also by I. Gilead, with the participation of students from Ben Gurion University of the Negev and Sha'ar Hanegev College. Excavations were supervised by Rachel Feinstein-Fux, S. Kornberg and M. Khalialah. P. Louppen served as surveyor and prepared the maps and plans. Pottery was drawn by Kim Bradley and Batya Ton, flint tools by Judith Eizenberg. Objects were photographed by A. Fogel. Geological research was carried out by D. Neev ofthe Geological Survey of Israel.

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Tel Aviv 8 (\981)

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Fig. I. Survey area of North Sinai Expedition.

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Fig. 2. Inset map of northeastern Sinai survey area.

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,

Oren and Gilead: Chalcolithic Sites in Northeastern Sinai

A detailed paleoecological reconstruction of the site environment is not yet available, hence the uncertainty as to the location of the shoreline during the times the sites were occupied. Wreschner (1977), for instance, argued for a retreat of the sea-level during the Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods to as much as 5 m. below its present level, whereas Neev (1967) suggested coastal tectonic movements that warrant against a stable coastline during these periods. Judging by the mobile sand dunes covering our sites either partially or completely, it is possible that during their occupation the dunes were not as close to them as at present. THE CHALCO LITHIC SITES

Two clusters of Chalcolithic sites were investigated (Fig. 2), the first near Haruvit fishing anchorage (Sites A295, A300, A301, A304, A305) and the second west of Yamit (Sites R15, R17, R45, R48, R79). Two of these, A301 and R48, were systematically collected and excavated. Site A30I is located west of Haruvit anchorage, some 500 m. south of the seashore. It lies on a sparsely vegetated surface scattered with relics of carbonate-cemented quartz sandstone concretions and carbonate moulds of roots and seashells (PI. 4: I), partially covered by a huge active sand dune at the west; on the east and southeast there are stabilized sand dunes, one of which is scattered with the remains of an Early Arab site.3 About 700 m.2 of the Chalcolithic site are exposed, but judging by the undisturbed remains unearthed under the active sand dune, it is evident that part of it is still covered. At the north on slightly higher ground there are a number of raised humps of hard clayey material. Surface remains included clay ovens, hearths, ash pits, installations, stone implements, potsherds and flint tools (Fig. 3: Pis. 4:2; 5: I). Several probes showed the occupational A

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Tel Aviv 8 (1981)

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Oren and Gilead: Chalcolithic Sites in Northeastern Sinai

the Beer-sheba-Arad basin are too small for comparative purposes (Yeivin 1959; Schick 1978), while major assemblages from the Beer-sheba sites (e.g. Bir Safadi and Abu Matar) have not yet been published. Nevertheless, from the available comparative material, it is evident that our Sinai flint assemblages belong to the Chalcolithic period, although their exact temporal-cultural relationship cannot at present be correlated with the above collections. For the reconstruction of economic activities at our sites, the presence of sickle blades is most informative. Taken together with the numerous grinding slabs, the sickle blades suggest a subsistance pattern based on the harvesting and processing of cereals, perhaps barley, which is cultivated by the local Bedouin even today. The minimal frequency of sickle blades at Site A301 (2.9%) compared with those of R48 and R45 (14.2% and 13.5% respectively) may indicate that it had a somewhat different economic basis.

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From the foregoing evidence, it seems that the sites under review were in all likelihood seasonal settlements or encampments occupied for short periods by a few related groups and then peacefully abandonded. Their temporary nature is confirmed by the huts and/or tents and flimsy brick dwellings of Site R48, particularly by the shallow deposits of all three of its habitational phases, and by the single phase of Site A30 I and the other surveyed sites. An identical pattern of seasonal settlement, often associated with mudbrick architecture, was observed in many of the Chalcolithic sites of Nahal Besor (prehistoric Far'ah) and as far afield as predynastic Ma'adi in the Egyptian Delta (BP !I:Pls. II-IX; Menghin a.o. 1932:Pls. IV; XI; XIII; Gophna 1979). The recently discovered sites in northwestern Sinai mark the westernmost extent of Chalcolithic settlement in southern Canaan.5 Cultural affinities with the Ghassul5

For Chalcolithic sites in the Aravah and southern Sinai, see Beit Arieh 1975; 1980; Beit Arieh and Gophna 1977; Rothenberg 1977; Rothenberg and Wayer 1979).

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Tel Aviv 8 (1981)

Beer-sheba assemblages, particularly with the Besor group, are evident in the V-shaped bowls and cups, holemouth jars, indented rims, lug and loop handles, painted and appliqued decoration, figurines and stone vessels, as welI as the flint tools (Perrot 1955:174-179; 1968:416-438). Possible the large Chalcolithic settlement recently exposed by our expedition near Khan Younes, some 20 km. northeast of Site R48 and just 7 km. south of Na~al Besor (Site Y2 on our expedition map),6 was a link between the Chalcolithic clusters of northeastern Sinai and the extensive settlement of Nal)al Besor. In spite of these similarities, there are nevertheless significant differences between the assemblages, namely the scarcity of churns and cornets, the total absence of copper objects, the numerous vessels made of clay mixed heavily with straw and tempered, if at alI, with few grits, as well as typological variations in the lithic industry. The overalI impression is that our sites represent a localized variant of the Chalcolithic culture, more closely related to Besor than to the Beer-sheba group. Regarding the scarcity or frequency of churns and cornets in Chalcolithic sites: as noted above, these vessels were almost completely absent in the Haruvit- Yamit assem blages, whereas they are abundant at Site Y2 and elsewhere in the Besor-Beer-sheba region and at Ghassul. The recent discovery in what is considered to be a temple at Gilat of two vessels, one portraying a woman holding a churn on her head and another of a ram bearing three cornets, suggests that these cult vessels served as symbols in a ritual connected with milk and its by-products. Their cultic significance is further reflected by the bulI figurine laden with a pair of miniature churns from the Chalcolithic shrine at En-gedi and the presence of a considerable number of cornets at both En-gedi and Gilat (Ussishkin 1980:Figs. 7; II; Alon 1976a:116-lI8; Pis. XXXIII-XXXVI; Amiran 1976). This and other evidence leads us to the deduction that sheep and goat raising for the production of milk figured prominently in the Chalcolithic economy (Perrot 1968:416-438). Accordingly, the scarcity - or even complete absence - of churns and cornets in the Haruvit- Yamit sites would indicate that milk herds were not raised in northeastern Sinai but were confined to the grazing land of Na~al Besor (Gophna 1979:207-208). Alternatively, the Haruvit-Yamit sites might have been seasonal encampments of contemporary herdsmen who used to settle for the grazing season in one region (Naqal Besor?) and moved periodicalIy, like certain Bedouin groups today, to other locations in northeastern Sinai to sow and harvest their crops. At the present stage of research, however, it is premature to rule out the chronological factor as an explanation of the variations in the material cultures of the two regions. The assemblages of northeastern Sinai exhibit cultural analogies with predynastic Egypt, a phenomenon already attested in Nal;lal Besor and perhaps also in the Beer-sheba sites and Teleilat Ghassul (Perrot 1955:185-189). These affinities are discernible in certain pottery vessels of Egyptian origin and the fragment of a stone palette of an early Gerzean (Naqada) type, objects that are of immense importance for establishing the chronological synchronization between the Chalcolithic assemblages of southern Canaan and predynastic Egypt (Kantor 1965:6-8). Our new evidence for trade relations with Egypt already in the 6. Trial excavations at Site Y2 were conducted by Claire Epstein in 1973 (Had. Arch. 48-49: 10). The first season of systematic excavations at this site was conducted in June 1979 by the North Sinai Expedition under the supervision of Kornberg and Khalialah.

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Oren and Gilead: Chalcolithic Sites in Northeastern Sinai Chalco lithic period, previously

together

gathered

of Egyptian

in northern

artefacts

interchange

with the large volume

between

from

Sinai (Oren

southern

and archaic

materials

1973) may be added to the ever-growing

Canaan

Egypt and its neighbour

of predynastic

to illustrate

the broad

scope

body

of cultural

during these times.

REFERENCES Alon, D. 1976a. Two Cult Vessels from Gilat. Alon, D. 1976b. A Chalcolithic

Temple

'Atiqot II: 116-118. (English Series),

at Gilat. Qadmoniot9:102-105.

Amiran,

Ruth. 1969. Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land. Jerusalem-

Amiran,

Ruth.

1974. An Egyptian

Jar Fragment

(Hebrew).

Ramat Gan.

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24:4-12. Amiran,

Ruth. 1976. Note on the Gilat Vessels. 'Atiqot 11:119-120. (English Series).

Amiran,

Ruth a.o. 1978. Early Arad, the Chalcolithic

First-Fifth Seasons of Excavations Baumgartel,

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L. 1931. Beth-peleth II. London.

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6 : 163-179,226-238. Elliott,

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and Aban-

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Chronology

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between

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Peet, T.E. 1914. The Cemeteries of Abydos II. London. Perrot,

J. 1955. The Excavations

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IEJ 5: 17-40, 73-84,

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J. 1968. Prehistoire

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Petrie, W. F. M. 1921. Corpus of Prehistoric Pottery and Palettes. London. Phillips, J.L. and Mintz, Ester. 1977. The Moushabian. 1.L. eds. Prehistoric

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183. Rothenberg,

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at Timna

Site

39

I: 1-20.

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Tixier, J. 1963. Typologie de I'Epipaleolithique duMagreb. Paris. Ussishkin, D. 1980. The Ghassulian Shrine at En-gedi. Tel Aviv 7:1-44. Wreschner,

E.E. 1977. Sea Level Changes

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EI 13:277*-288*.

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44

from Horvat

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'Atiqot 2:43-