Dawn of the Metal Age: Technology and Society during the Levantine Chalcolithic

253 Pages·20140·6.633 MB·English

by  Jonathan M. Golden

Dawn of the Metal Age
Approaches to Anthropological Archaeology
Series Editor: Thomas E. Levy, University of California, San Diego
Editorial Board:
Guillermo Algaze, University of California, San Diego
Geoffrey E. Braswell (University of California, San Diego)
Paul S. Goldstein, University of California, San Diego
Joyce Marcus, University of Michigan
This series recognizes the fundamental role that anthropology now plays in archaeology and also
integrates the strengths of various research paradigms that characterize archaeology on the world
scene today. Some of these different approaches include ‘New’ or ‘Processual’ archaeology, ‘Post-
Processual’, evolutionist, cognitive, symbolic, Marxist, and historical archaeologies. Anthropological
archaeology accomplishes its goals by taking into account the cultural and, when possible, historical
context of the material remains being studied. This involves the development of models concerning
the formative role of cognition, symbolism, and ideology in human societies to explain the more
material and economic dimensions of human culture that are the natural purview of archaeological
data. It also involves an understanding of the cultural ecology of the societies being studied, and of
the limitations and opportunities that the environment (both natural and cultural) imposes on the
evolution or devolution of human societies. Based on the assumption that cultures never develop
in isolation, Anthropological Archaeology takes a regional approach to tackling fundamental issues
concerning past cultural evolution anywhere in the world.
Published: Forthcoming:
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Israel’s Ethnogenesis Edited by Thomas E. Levy, Yorke M. Rowan and
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Avraham Faust
Ultimate Devotion
Axe Age The Historical Impact and Archaeological Reflections of
Acheulian Tool-making from Quarry to Discard Religious Extremism
Edited by Naama Goren-Inbar and Gonen Sharon Yoav Arbel
New Approaches to Old Stones Animal Husbandry in Ancient Israel – A
Recent Studies of Ground Stone Artifacts Zoo-archaeo logical Perspective
Edited by Yorke M. Rowan and Jennie R. Ebling Herd Management, Economic Strategies and Animal
Exploitation
Prehistoric Societies on the Northern Frontiers of China Aharon Sassoon
Archaeological Perspectives on Identity Formation and
Economic Change during the First Millennium bce Metal, Nomads and Cultural Contact
Gideon Shelach The Middle East and North Africa
Nils Anfinset
Dawn of the Metal Age
Technology and Society during the Levantine
Chalcolithic
Jonathan M. Golden
First published 2010 by Equinox, an imprint of Acumen

Published 2014 by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© Jonathan M. Golden 2009
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN-13 978 1 904768 99 9 (hardback)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Golden, Jonathan Michael.
Dawn of the metal age : technology and society during the Levantine
Chalcolithic / Jonathan M. Golden.
p. cm. -- (Approaches to anthropological archaeology)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-904768-99-9 (hb)
1. Copper age--Middle East. 2. Copper mines and mining,
Prehistoric--Middle East. 3. Copper implements--Middle East. 4.
Metal-work, Prehistoric--Middle East. 5. Excavations
(Archaeology)--Middle East. 6. Middle East--Antiquities. I. Title.
GN778.32.M628G65 2008
939’.4--dc22
2007031548
Typeset by CA Typesetting Ltd, Sheffield
In memory of my beloved parents, Carl and Dorie Golden
Page Intentionally Left Blank
Contents
List of Figures ix
List of Tables xi
Acknowledgments xii
Preface by Thomas E. Levy xvii
1 The Dawn of the Metal Age 1
2 Leaving the Neolithic 8
3 The Northern Negev Copper Boom 35
4 Elite Tombs of the Chalcolithic 48
5 Cornets and Copper— A Metallurgical Perspective on
Chalcolithic Chronology 71
6 A Model for Specialized Craft Production 97
7 Copper Production at Abu Matar 108
8 The Seduction of the Industry 150
9 Technology and Society 163
10 Production and Social Organization during the Chalcolithic 181
11 Conclusion 191
Bibliography 203
Index 228
Page Intentionally Left Blank
List of Figures
2.1 Burial from Gilat with ‘V-shape’ bowl.
2.2. ‘Lady with Churn’, ceramic sculpture from Gilat
2.3 ‘Ram with Cornets’, ceramic sculpture from Gilat.
2.4 Anthropomorphic figure with exaggerated eyes from portion of a painted wall ‘fresco’ found at
Ghassul.
3.1 Map of Chalcolithic sites in the Beer Sheva area.
3.2 Profile drawings of subterranean structure, Locus 127 at Abu Matar.
3.3 Beer Sheva Chalcolithic ceramics.
3.4 Examples of anthropomorphic figurines from the northern Negev.
3.5 Fenestrated basalt stand (‘incense burner’) from Abu Matar.
3.6 Distribution of archaeological evidence for copper production at the Chalcolithic village of Shiqmim.
4.1 Tomb with kurkar ossuaries discovered at the coastal site of Palmachim.
4.2 Ceramic ossuary (‘bone box’) from Peqi'in with depiction of human face.
4.3 Standard made from a complex metal found at Nahal Mishmar (No. 21).
4.4 Ibex Standard from Nahal Mishmar (No. 17).
4.5 ‘Crown’ from Nahal Mishmar (No.10).
5.1 Bar graph showing distribution of pig bones according to rainfall patterns.
7.1 Ternary diagram showing relative proportions of mineral phases in Chalcolithic slag.
7.2 Diagram showing levels of magnesium and manganese in ores from Chalcolithic settlements.
7.3 SEM micrograph of ore.
7.4 SEM micrograph showing reaction between the silica and iron oxides.
7.5 Crucible fragments from Abu Matar.
7.6 Reconstruction of Chalcolithic crucible.
7.7 ‘V-shape’ vessel re-used as a crucible.
7.8 Photograph of furnace wall with slag coating.
7.9 Drawing of furnace wall, interior face with profile and overview.
7.10 Photograph of furnace fragment from Shiqmim.
7.11 Photograph of ceramic furnace fragment, possibly a lid, from Abu Matar.
7.12 Reconstruction of smelting furnace, section drawing.
7.13 Photograph of furnace fragment with slag and trapped beads of copper.
7.14 Map of Abu Matar showing distribution of artifacts related to metal production.
7.15 Distribution of furnace remains at Abu Matar.
7.16 Distribution of crucible remains at Abu Matar.
7.17 Chart depicting the frequency of smelting furnaces at Abu Matar according to phase of occupation.
7.18 The number of loci with furnace remains.
7.19 Distribution of slag and ore according to locus.
7.20 Graph comparing size of ores are found in Loci 218 and 244.
7.21 Photograph of metal artifact, possibly an ingot, from Bir es-Safadi.
7.22 Photograph of metal artifact, possibly an ingot, from Bir es-Safadi, section.