Ebla and Its Landscape: Early State Formation in the Ancient Near East

564 Pages·2013·14.7 MB·English

by  Paolo Malthiae

ebla and its landscape
early state Formation in the ancient near east

ebla and its landscape
early state Formation in the ancient near east
Edited by
Paolo Matthiae and Nicolò Marchetti
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copyright © 2013 by left coast press, inc.
editorial staff
Frances pinnock (head), Marta d'andrea, Maria Gabriella Micale, sara pizzimenti, agnese Vacca
The research leading to these results has received funding from the european Union seventh
Framework programme, ideas, under grant agreement no. 249394, project "ebla cHORa -
The early state and its chora. towns, villages and landscape at ebla in syria during the 3rd Millennium b.c."
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isbn 978-1-61132-228-6 hardcover
isbn 978-1-61132-230-9 institutional ebook
isbn 978-1-61132-674-1 consumer ebook
library of congress cataloging-in-publication data
ebla and its landscape : early state formation in the ancient near east / edited by paolo Matthiae and nicolò Marchetti.
pages cm
includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 978-1-61132-228-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) — isbn 978-1-61132-230-9 (institutional ebook) —
isbn 978-1-61132-674-1 (consumer ebook)
1. ebla (extinct city)—antiquities. 2. ebla (extinct city))—politics and government. 3. landscape archaeology)—
syria-ebla (extinct city) 4. social archaeology)—syria-ebla (extinct city) 5. city and town life)—syria-ebla (extinct
city) 6. excavations (archaeology))—syria-ebla (extinct city) 7. Material culture )— syria-ebla (extinct city) 8.
Geomorphology)—syria-ebla (extinct city) 9. plant remains (archaeology))—syria-ebla (extinct city) 10. animal
remains (archaeology)—syria-ebla (extinct city) i. Matthiae, paolo. ii. Marchetti, nicolò, 1968-
ds99.e25e27 2013
939.4'33—dc23
2013000596
printed in the United states of america
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of american
national standard for information sciences-permanence of paper for printed library
Materials, ansi/nisO Z39.48-1992.
cOntents
list OF illUstRatiOns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
intROdUctiOn. Representing the Chora of ebla
P. Matthiae and N. Marchetti. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
part 1. town archaeology
cHapteR 1. a long Journey. Fifty Years of Research on the bronze age at tell Mardikh/ebla
P. Matthiae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
cHapteR 2. The Royal palace. Functions of the Quarters and the Government of the Chora
P. Matthiae. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
cHapteR 3. palace vs. common Glyptic in early syrian ebla and its territory
F. Pinnock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
cHapteR 4. popular iconographies in a courtly environment. clay Figurines from Royal palace
G and the coroplastic of inner syria during eb iVa
L. Peyronel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
cHapteR 5. centralization and Redistribution. The pottery assemblage of Royal palace G
S. Mazzoni. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
cHapteR 6. Form and content. a preliminary Functional interpretation of the storage Jars
from Royal palace G
M. D'Andrea and A. Vacca. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
cHapteR 7. Working for the elites. The pottery assemblage of building p4
N. Marchetti. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
part 2. regional archaeology
cHapteR 8. exploiting diversity. The archaeological landscape of the eblaite Chora
S. Mantellini, M.G. Micale, and L. Peyronel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .163
cHapteR 9. trends in Village life. The early bronze age phases at tell tuqan
F. Baffi and L. Peyronel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
cHapteR 10. assembling the evidence. excavated sites dating from the early bronze age in
and around the Chora of ebla
E. Ascalone and M. D'Andrea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215
cHapteR 11. Regional approach and archaeological surveys in northern syria. an Overview
S. Mantellini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .238
part 3. textual evidence
cHapteR 12. defining the Chora of ebla. a textual perspective
M.G. Biga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .259
cHapteR 13. distribution and exchange of Goods in the Chora of ebla
G. Ferrero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .268
cHapteR 14. Of plants and trees. crops and Vegetable Resources at ebla
G. Marchesi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274
part 4. geomorphology and remote sensing
cHapteR 15. a land in its setting. Remote sensing satellite imagery for the characterization of
the eblaite Chora
G. Bitelli, E. Mandanici and L. Vittuari . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .295
cHapteR 16. analysis of cOROna imagery of the ebla Region
N. Galiatsatos and S. Mantellini. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .302
cHapteR 17. From Wetland to desert. a Geomorphologic approach to the eblaite Chora
V. Cantelli, V.M.L. Martina and L. Picotti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
cHapteR 18. a Thin basis. The soil landscape of ebla and tell tuqan
A. Arnoldus-Huyzendveld. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .324
cHapteR 19. Modern agriculture in the ebla Region
P. Rossi Pisa, F. Ventura and M. Vignudelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 334
part 5. archaeometry and bioarchaeology
cHapteR 20. archaeometrical analysis of Metal Objects from Royal palace G
A.C. Felici and M. Vendittelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
cHapteR 21. archaeometrical analysis of pottery production at eb iii-iVa ebla and tell tuqan
M.L. Santarelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
cHapteR 22. archaeometrical analysis of architectural components of Royal palace G
M.L. Santarelli and G. Spreafico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .367
cHapteR 23. consuming plants. archaeobotanical samples from Royal palace G and building p4
C. Wachter-Sarkady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .376
cHapteR 24. Forests near and Far. an anthracological perspective on ebla
V. Caracuta and G. Fiorentino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
cHapteR 25. exploiting animals. The Zooarchaeological evidence through the early bronze
age at ebla
C. Minniti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
cHapteR 26. natural Resources, technology and Manufacture processes at ebla. a preliminary
assessment
L. Peyronel and A. Vacca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 431
cHapteR 27. Just at that time. 14c determinations and analysis from eb iVa layers
L. Calcagnile, G. Quarta, and M. D'Elia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 450
cOnclUsiOns. in search of an explanatory Model for the early syrian state of ebla
P. Matthiae and N. Marchetti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .459
abbReViatiOns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463
ReFeRences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 467
indeX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .519
abOUt tHe aUtHORs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 529
cOlOUR plates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 537

list OF illUstRatiOns
Figure 0.1 detail of tell Mardikh in a 1:50,000 topographical map originally drawn in 1943 by the services
Géographiques de l’armée du levant (repr. with arabic captions in 1959). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Figure 0.2 detail of tell Mardikh in a 1:18,000 aerial photo by the syrian air Force (taken on 1st
October 1967). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Figure 0.3 detail of tell Mardikh in a cOROna satellite image (frame id ds1107-1122da057, taken on
31st July 1969); resolution 2 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Figure 0.4 detail of tell Mardikh in a panchromatic cartosat-1 satellite image (taken on 27th september
2009); resolution 2.5 m. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Figure 0.5 topographical map of tell Mardikh drawn in 1968; contour interval 1 m. excavated areas up to
that year indicated in black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Figure 0.6 topographical map of tell Mardikh drawn in 2000–2001; contour interval 0.5 m. schematic plans
of excavated eb iVa monuments up to 2010 are indicated inside relevant excavation areas. . . . . . . . 32
Figure 1.1 ebla, general view of the tell, from the north-east. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Figure 1.2 topographical map of tell Mardikh with schematic plans of excavated Mb ii monuments up to
2010 indicated inside relevant excavation areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Figure 1.3 ebla, inscribed torso of the archaic Old syrian basalt votive statue of king ibbit-lim, tM.68.G.61,
from the acropolis south-western sector, ca. 2000 b.c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Figure 1.4 ebla, the central complex of Royal palace G, eb iVa, ca. 2400–2300 b.c., and the temple of
ishtar, Mba, ca. 2000–1600 b.c., in the background, from the south. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Figure 1.5 ebla, Royal palace G, tablets in place along the northern and eastern walls of the Great archive
l.2769 in the administrative Quarter, from the south-west, eb iVa, ca. 2300 b.c. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Figure 1.6 ebla, Royal palace G, tablets in place along the northern and eastern walls of the Great archive
l.2769 in the administrative Quarter, from the south-west (detail), eb iVa, ca. 2300 b.c . . . . . . . . 43
Figure 1.7 ebla, area p north, the remains of the archaic palace, eb iVb-Mb ia, ca. 2100–1900 b.c.,
and of the northern palace, Mb ii, ca. 1800–1600 b.c. from the north; the acropolis is in the
background. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Figure 1.8 ebla, area FF, the southern palace, from the north-west, Mb ii, ca. 1800–1600 b.c. . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Figure 1.9 ebla, Royal palace G, alabaster lid bearing the titles of pharaoh pepi i, tM.77.G.600, 6th dynasty,
ca. 2300 b.c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45