Guy Bar-Oz | University of Haifa (original) (raw)

Papers by Guy Bar-Oz

Journal of Arid Environments, 2020

Ancient agricultural systems in the Negev Desert preserves abundant evidence of dryland farming f... more Ancient agricultural systems in the Negev Desert preserves abundant evidence of dryland farming from the Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. These systems consist of dams, field plots, field towers, cisterns and thousands of human-made stone mounds. In the environment of Shivta, these systems also included built dovecotes to produce dung to fertilize vineyards and orchards. All of these elements established an intensive agronomic practice. Extensive survey and excavations in one completely preserved agricultural system in a small wadi in the hinterland of Shivta, followed by OSL dating of loess accumulations in the adjacent agricultural installations, in addition to dates from archaeological finds, revealed clear stratigraphic and chronological sequences. We found that the first human-made components were established in the Roman period (1st-2nd centuries CE) and the agricultural system flourished during the Byzantine period (5th-6th centuries CE) before it was abandoned in the post-Byzantine era. At its peak, all artificial components of the system would have had to operate together at an optimum level to make intensive agriculture possible. This agricultural system is a prime example of the enormous skill and knowledge of Shivta farmers in synergizing different agricultural installations to maintain agriculture in a desert environment.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2021

Abstract Recent archaeological excavations in the Negev desert of the southern Levant have yielde... more Abstract Recent archaeological excavations in the Negev desert of the southern Levant have yielded a surprising and unprecedented amount of fish remains, found in the landfills at Byzantine (4th–7th century CE) and Early Islamic (7th–9th century CE) sites. The significant economic and dietary role of Red Sea fish, especially parrotfish (Scaridae), in addition to fish originating from freshwater habitats, including the Nile, as well as from the Mediterranean Sea, attest to the importance of fish in sophisticated trade networks, which facilitated the transport of fish from different aquatic habitats to the distant provinces. The discovery of Red Sea parrotfish at all three studied sites is of particular interest. Analysis of the Scaridae remains revealed their role as a flagship species of the Red Sea coral-reef fishery and as an essential commodity in the Byzantine and Early Islamic economic systems; as well as the presence of more than one Scaridae species. The study of skeletal element representation indicated that complete fish, larger than 23 cm in length (SL), were transported to the sites. The bone fragmentation patterns reflected typical traditional butchering during the desiccation processes. The fish remains recovered from the desert provide new insights into the infrastructure of commercial networks that enabled the transport of fish over long distances during periods of high demand for fish products.

We present the results of a detailed taphonomic and zooarchaeological study of the faunal remains... more We present the results of a detailed taphonomic and zooarchaeological study of the faunal remains from the late Middle Palaeolithic (LMP) and early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP) bone assemblage of Ortvale Klde, Georgian Republic. A series of taphonomic tests and analyses are employed to reconstruct the depositional history of the bone assemblage and investigate LMP (Neanderthal) and EUP (Modern human) hunting and subsistence strategies. We identify the maximum number of skeletal elements, document bone surface modifications, the mode of bone fragmentation, and the demographic structure of the main hunted ungulate population. The assemblage is characterized by significant densitymediated biases, yet in situ attrition and carnivore damage play a minimal role in assemblage formation. Data suggest that most bone destruction occurred during site occupation, probably in relation to marrow consumption as indicated by the mode of bone fragmentation. Caucasian tur (Capra caucasica) is the major prey species throughout the LMP and EUP, and body part representation, the absence of selective transport, and butchery marks from all stages of carcass processing suggest that Caucasian tur were subjected to extensive handling. Analysis of Caucasian tur dental eruption and wear indicates that prime-age adult individuals dominate the assemblage. The results of this study, the first zooarchaeological and taphonomic study carried out on a Palaeolithic bone assemblage from the southern Caucasus, indicates that hunting strategies and meat processing behaviors were not significantly different between Neanderthals and Modern humans

Near Eastern Archaeology, 2021

Corals comprised valuable resources throughout human history and were used as remedies for multip... more Corals comprised valuable resources throughout human history and were used as remedies for multiple diseases and as amulets. Despite their traditional, historical uses, corals are not frequently encountered in the archaeological record. Recent archaeological excavations in the Negev Desert have yielded an unprecedented number of Red Sea coral remains, found in the landfills of Byzantine and Early Islamic sites located more than 200 km from the Red Sea. The bulk of the assemblage comprises primarily the tree-like branching Stylophora pistillata. Other species found include the columnar coral Favites abdita. Both are among the most common shallow water corals in the Red Sea. Their remains attest to the importance of corals for Negev society, as well as to the cultural trajectory of goods and their trade and commerce that facilitated the supply of Red Sea products to distant inland locations.

Antiquity

Long-distance trade routes criss-crossed ancient Africa and Eurasia. Archaeological research has ... more Long-distance trade routes criss-crossed ancient Africa and Eurasia. Archaeological research has focused on the commodities in transit and the excavation of major centres located along these routes, with less attention paid to smaller caravanserai and evidence such as rubbish middens. The ‘Incense Route’ linked the Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, with activity peaking during the Nabataean and Roman periods. The authors present the results of test-pit excavations of middens at three small Nabataean–Roman desert caravanserai along the ‘Incense Route’. The assemblages recovered include material culture attesting to wide, inter-regional connections, combined with archaeobotanical and zooarchaeological data illuminating the subsistence basis of the caravan trade.

PLOS ONE, 2021

The region of western Georgia (Imereti) in the Southern Caucasus has been a major geographic corr... more The region of western Georgia (Imereti) in the Southern Caucasus has been a major geographic corridor for human migrations during the Middle and Upper Paleolithic. Data of recent research and excavations in this region display its importance as a possible route for the dispersal of anatomically modern humans (AMH) into northern Eurasia. Nevertheless, within the local research context, bone-working and personal ornaments have yet contributed but little to the Upper Palaeolithic (UP) regional sequence’s characterization. Here we present an archaeozoological, technological and use-wear study of pendants from two local UP assemblages, originating in the Dzudzuana Cave and Satsurblia Cave. The ornaments were made mostly of perforated teeth, though some specimens were made on bone. Both the manufacturing marks made during preparation and use-wear traces indicate that they were personal ornaments, used as pendants or attached to garments. Detailed comparison between ornament assemblages fr...

Excavations in the City of David, Jerusalem (1995-2010), 2021

SummaryArchaeological sediments have been shown to preserve ancient DNA, but so far have not yiel... more SummaryArchaeological sediments have been shown to preserve ancient DNA, but so far have not yielded genome-scale information of the magnitude of skeletal remains. We retrieved and analysed human and mammalian low-coverage nuclear and high-coverage mitochondrial genomes from Upper Palaeolithic sediments from Satsurblia cave, western Georgia, dated to 25,000 years ago. First, a human female genome with substantial basal Eurasian ancestry, which was an ancestry component of the majority of post-Ice Age people in the Near East, North Africa, and parts of Europe. Second, a wolf genome that is basal to extant Eurasian wolves and dogs and represents a previously unknown, likely extinct, Caucasian lineage that diverged from the ancestors of modern wolves and dogs before these diversified. Third, a bison genome that is basal to present-day populations, suggesting that population structure has been substantially reshaped since the Last Glacial Maximum. Our results provide new insights into t...

Journal of Medical Entomology, 2020

A fine-toothed comb found in the Judean Desert and resembling an ancient louse comb was examined.... more A fine-toothed comb found in the Judean Desert and resembling an ancient louse comb was examined. Based on radiocarbon dating, it ranged between 1660 AD and 1950 AD. From the material accumulated between the teeth, an oribatid mite, a pseudoscorpion, exuviae of beetle larvae, a sucking louse (Polyplax brachyrrhyncha Cummings, 1915), as well as a fully engorged larva and a nymph of the ixodid tick Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantzev, 1936 were recorded. Additionally, the comb included numerous hairs of a spiny mouse (Acomys sp.). Although finding mites, beetle larvae, and a pseudoscorpion on a louse comb could be regarded as contamination, the findings of P. brachyrrhyncha, as well as of a larva and nymph of R. turanicus, are noteworthy. We hypothesize that the presence of animal lice and ticks could indicate some sort of pet grooming.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022

Olive (Olea europaea) trees in the arid Negev Desert of southern Israel are important relicts on ... more Olive (Olea europaea) trees in the arid Negev Desert of southern Israel are important relicts on the ancient agricultural landscape. Among them are a cluster of several trees located in Wadi Zetan, at the heart of the Shivta horticulture terroir, with its abundant agricultural runoff remains. Two isolated olive bearing trees stand in a sheltered beneath cliff in the upper part of the wadi. Radiocarbon dating of an internal part of the trunk of one of these living trees estimates its minimum age as the mid-16th-early 17th century CE (~500 years old). Archaeological excavations conducted beneath the trees and the adjacent dam revealed OSL samples of loess accumulation dated to the Early Islamic period (8th-9th centuries CE). The stratigraphy and chronology of this sediment deposition indicate its rapid and short accumulation. Palynological analysis of the same OSL dated samples indicates that grapevines and olive trees were cultivated in the immediate vicinity of the site during the Early Islamic period. The lack of pollen of cultivated taxa from the latter part of the sequence points to cessation of the agricultural activity, probably a few hundred years later. Leaf samples for DNA profiling of the trees in comparison to other local old olive trees around the country, indicate that the trees in Wadi Zetan are genetically close to a known cultivar common among ancient olive trees. The trees have survived for at least a few hundred years, in an arid area, due to the local conditions and enhanced drainage from the man-made upper runoff system. These old olive trees bear a powerful and symbolic significance, indicating the endurance and sustainability of ancient desert runoff agriculture. Moreover, the survival of their relicts in Wadi Zetan suggests their potential as cultivars greater resilience to the harsh growing conditions of arid environments.

International Council for Archaeozoology Newsletter Volume 13, No. 2 (Fall 2012)

The Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series, 2019

Excavations in the City of David, Jerusalem (1995-2010), 2021

This chapter presents the analysis of the faunal remains discovered in the excavations of Area L.... more This chapter presents the analysis of the faunal remains discovered in the excavations of Area L. As noted im Chapter 26, a survey of the area prior to excavation revealed that the slope was covered with a 6–10 m thick deposit layer, containing massive quantities of debris, rubble and waste, primarily pottery sherds, glass, animal remains and several coins (Bar-Oz et al. 2007). Reich and Shukron (2000, 2003) suggested that this layer represents the garbage dump of Jerusalem in the Early Roman period. According to the pottery and coins, it is clear that the waste was deposited from the mid-1st century BCE until the Great Revolt of 66 CE, when this area ceased to be used for this purpose (Reich and Shukron 2000). Faunal remains were collected from a section naturally formed by water draining along the slope. One hundred sandbags of earth were collected and subsequently sifted using a 5 × 5 mm sieve. The fauna were separated and identified in the archaeozoological laboratory of the University of Haifa. The identification of the various fauna from the garbage dump provides us with important information on the consumption habits and the implicit religious and cultural practices of Jerusalem’s population in the Early Roman period. Such practices are reflected in culinary traditions, including the way in which meat was prepared, cooked and consumed.

Science, 2020

Dog domestication was multifaceted Dogs were the first domesticated animal, likely originating fr... more Dog domestication was multifaceted Dogs were the first domesticated animal, likely originating from human-associated wolves, but their origin remains unclear. Bergstrom et al. sequenced 27 ancient dog genomes from multiple locations near to and corresponding in time to comparable human ancient DNA sites (see the Perspective by Pavlidis and Somel). By analyzing these genomes, along with other ancient and modern dog genomes, the authors found that dogs likely arose once from a now-extinct wolf population. They also found that at least five different dog populations ∼10,000 years before the present show replacement in Europe at later dates. Furthermore, some dog population genetics are similar to those of humans, whereas others differ, inferring a complex ancestral history for humanity's best friend. Science , this issue p. 557 ; see also p. 522

Journal of Arid Environments, 2021

Abstract The Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica), can be found in the arid regions of the Negev... more Abstract The Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica), can be found in the arid regions of the Negev highlands, the Judean desert, and the northern Arava in a number of clustered populations located near permanent water sources. The trees' distribution in the desert regions is not continuous, being disconnected from its major area of distribution along the Jordan River, where its distribution is uninterrupted. It is unclear how and when this disjunctive distribution occurred, and what were the initial ecological conditions for this poplar's original establishment and success. In this article we present a study of the current distribution of these trees within an arid environment, and of their various traditional uses. A strong relationship is demonstrated between the present location of the trees and settlements from the Roman and Byzantine periods (between the 1st century BCE to 7th century CE). Euphrates poplars are abundant today near early Christian monasteries, which could have been the main factor responsible for their present-day distribution.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2020

The international scope of the Mediterranean wine trade in Late Antiquity raises important questi... more The international scope of the Mediterranean wine trade in Late Antiquity raises important questions concerning sustainability in an ancient international economy and offers a valuable historical precedent to modern globalization. Such questions involve the role of intercontinental commerce in maintaining sustainable production within important supply regions and the vulnerability of peripheral regions believed to have been especially sensitive to environmental and political disturbances. We provide archaeobotanical evidence from trash mounds at three sites in the central Negev Desert, Israel, unraveling the rise and fall of viticulture over the second to eighth centuries of the common era (CE). Using quantitative ceramic data obtained in the same archaeological contexts, we further investigate connections between Negev viticulture and circum-Mediterranean trade. Our findings demonstrate interrelated growth in viticulture and involvement in Mediterranean trade reaching what appears ...

Journal of Arid Environments, 2020

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2021

Near Eastern Archaeology, 2021

Antiquity

PLOS ONE, 2021

Excavations in the City of David, Jerusalem (1995-2010), 2021

Journal of Medical Entomology, 2020

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022

International Council for Archaeozoology Newsletter Volume 13, No. 2 (Fall 2012)

The Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series, 2019

Excavations in the City of David, Jerusalem (1995-2010), 2021

Science, 2020

Journal of Arid Environments, 2021

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2020

The beginning of the Bronze Age in the southern Caucasus has been thought to coincide with the ap... more The beginning of the Bronze Age in the southern Caucasus has been thought to coincide with the appearance of the Kura Araxes (KA) culture around 3500 CAL B.C. KA artifacts are known not only from the southern Caucasus but also from sites in Anatolia, Iran, and the Levant. Recent discoveries from Areni-1 Cave in the Vayots Dzor region of Armenia demonstrate that the origin of the distinctive KA artifact assemblage lies in the Late Chalcolithic of the late 5th to early 4th millennia B.C. The cave contains rich assemblages of desiccated botanical remains that allow the site to be precisely dated and that demonstrate that its inhabitants exploited a wide variety of domesticated and wild plants. It would appear that from 4000 CAL B.C. onwards, people used Areni-1 Cave for habitation and for keeping goats, storing plant foods, and ritual purposes; unusual for this time period are ceramic vessels containing the skulls of children.

The territory of present day Armenia is a geographic contact zone between the Near East and the n... more The territory of present day Armenia is a geographic contact zone between the Near East and the northern Caucasus. Armenian Middle and Upper Paleolithic records are both few and patchy as a result of the historical paucity of systematic archaeological research in the country. Consequently, it is currently difficult to correlate the Armenian Middle and Upper Paleolithic records with those from other neighboring regions. We present new archaeological and chronometric data (luminescence, U-Th, and 14C) from our ongoing research at Hovk 1 Cave in northeast Armenia. We discuss in particular two activity phases in Hovk 1 Cave for which we have outline chronometric data: (1) an early Middle Paleolithic occupational phase, dated by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) to 104 9.8 ka BPOSL; and (2) a Paleolithic occupational phase characterized by microlithic flakes dated by AMS 14C to 39,109 1,324 calibrated years BPHulu. The two phases are separated by a hiatus in hominin occupation corresponding to MIS 4 and an episode in early MIS 3. These chronometric data, taken together with the preliminary paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Hovk 1 Cave and environment, suggest that these activity phases represent short-lived and seasonal use of the cave presumably by small groups of hunters during episodes of mild climate. Neither tool manufacture nor butchery appears to have taken place within the cave, and consequently, the archaeological record included, for the most part, finished tools and blanks. We address the chronology and techno-typological aspects of Hovk 1 lithics in relation to: (1) the Paleolithic records of Armenia, and (2) the broader interregional context of early Middle Paleolithic hominin occupation and the Middle-Upper Paleolithic transition in the Caucasus.

Charting the timing of human occupation in the mountainous regions of the Caucasus during the Las... more Charting the timing of human occupation in the mountainous regions of the Caucasus during the Last Interglacial/Glacial periods is of particular interest to the understanding of past human adaptive and behavioural plasticity and capacity. In this paper we analyse palaeoenvironmental, faunal, and archaeological data gathered during 2006-2009 excavations of the Palaeolithic cave site of Hovk-1, Armenia, in order to address whether human presence in this cave correlates with episodes of mild climate and certain environmental and ecological conditions that were favourable to huminin occupation in such a region. In the second part of the paper we evaluate the implications of our results in understanding the nature of human presence in other mountainous regions such as the Alps and its potential implications for Palaeolithic research.
Our analysis demonstrates that hominins occupied Hovk-1 Cave during milder climatic phases of the Last Interglacial sensu lato (MIS 5d-c) and Last Glacial (late MIS 4/early MIS 3) periods when the area surrounding the cave was an open meadow environment. The stratigraphic Units with noticeable traces of hominin occupation (Units 4, 5 & 8) contrast with others in the lack of cave bear fauna and suggest an inverse correlation between human and cave bear occupational phases in Hovk-1. We speculate that human groups visited this region to hunt specific prey species that prevailed in this habitat (such as the bezoar goat). However, the assemblages of large mammals from Hovk-1 do not provide any clear anthropogenic signal and therefore highlight the difficulty of teasing apart natural and cultural formation processes.

Two small faunal assemblages were recently recovered during a re-organization of the storage room... more Two small faunal assemblages were recently recovered during a re-organization of the storage room in the Stekelis Museum of Prehistory in Haifa. The assemblages were collected some fifty years ago by the late Ya'aqov Olami as part of his comprehensive prehistoric survey of Mount Carmel. They originate from Ein Timsakh Cave, a Middle Palaeolithic rock shelter in the southern Carmel, and from Haifa 1 (German Colony), a terrace or open-air Kebaran site inside the modern city of Haifa (now destroyed by construction works). Here we present a detailed taphonomic and zooarchaeological analysis of these faunal collections. The Middle Palaeolithic remains from Ein Timsakh Cave were extracted from lumps of breccia, following some exposure to the elements. No definite signs of human consumption were found on the bones, but their context indicates ungulate procurement by the inhabitants of the site (mainly aurochs and fallow deer) consistent with other Middle Palaeolithic sites in the area. The Haifa 1 assemblage is poorly preserved as a result of long exposure of the bones to sub-aerial weathering conditions and post-depositional bone attrition. Nevertheless, the presence of cut marks on several bones indicates that butchering of gazelle, fallow deer and aurochs had taken place at the site. Together, these faunal assemblages expand our knowledge of the surveyed sites and the exploitation of animals in Mount Carmel during the Middle Palaeolithic and the Epipalaeolithic periods.

Rantis Cave is a recently discovered filled cave in central Israel, displaying a rich faunal accu... more Rantis Cave is a recently discovered filled cave in central Israel, displaying a rich faunal accumulation composed of micromammals, ungulates and carnivores. U-Th dating assigns the beginning of accumulation to ca. 140 ka. The accumulation is culturally assigned to the late half of the Middle Paleolithic (MP) period. Single-grain OSL measurements attest to complex sedimentological history. We present the cross-disciplinary results of taphonomic and geomorphological analyses, which point to the cave serving as a natural pitfall trap for the large fauna, with little human or carnivore activity. The fauna is dominated by Dama among the ungulates and by Microtus among the micromammals. These data in conjunction with ungulate tooth mesowear analysis suggest a xeric Mediterranean environment on the eastern margin of the southern Levantine foothills. The relative taxonomic abundance of ungulate taxa displays some differences compared to anthropogenic MP sites, possibly reflect the prey choice patterns of MP hunters. Overall, the natural accumulation scenario for Rantis Cave provides a rare paleoenvironmental and paleoeconomic reference to the rich anthropogenic MP faunas of the Southern Levant, enabling the reconstruction of a rich and diverse environmental setting for this important human dispersal route.

Journal of human evolution, Jan 1, 2007

Understanding the behavioral adaptations and subsistence strategies of Middle Paleolithic humans ... more Understanding the behavioral adaptations and subsistence strategies of Middle Paleolithic humans is critical in the debate over the evolution and manifestations of modern human behavior. The study of faunal remains plays a central role in this context. Until now, the majority of Levantine archaeofaunal evidence was derived from late Middle Paleolithic sites. The discovery of faunal remains from Misliya Cave, Mount Carmel, Israel (>200 ka), allowed for detailed taphonomic and zooarchaeological analyses of these early Middle Paleolithic remains. The Misliya Cave faunal assemblage is overwhelmingly dominated by ungulate taxa. The most common prey species is the Mesopotamian fallow deer (Dama mesopotamica), followed closely by the mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella). Some aurochs (Bos primigenius) remains are also present. Small-game species are rare. The fallow deer mortality pattern is dominated by prime-aged individuals. A multivariate taphonomic analysis demonstrates (1) that the assemblage was created solely by humans occupying the cave and was primarily modified by their food-processing activities; and (2) that gazelle carcasses were transported complete to the site, while fallow deer carcasses underwent some field butchery. The new zooarchaeological data from Misliya Cave, particularly the abundance of meat-bearing limb bones displaying filleting cut marks and the acquisition of prime-age prey, demonstrate that early Middle Paleolithic people possessed developed hunting capabilities. Thus, modern large-game hunting, carcass transport, and meat-processing behaviors were already established in the Levant in the early Middle Paleolithic, more than 200 ka ago.

Remains of early architecture at the Epipaleolithic-Neolithic transition of the Near East are com... more Remains of early architecture at the Epipaleolithic-Neolithic transition of the Near East are commonly evaluated by means of two criteria: structure size and permanent interior features or decorations. Less attention has been given to associated refuse, which could be the key for discerning the role of architectural space in the lives and minds of the last hunter-gatherers. We consider this dimension by modeling the deposition of animal remains in an Early Natufian (ca. 14,000 cal BP) architectural complex at the el-Wad Terrace (Mount Carmel, Israel). Contextual taphonomy shows that a sequence of structures was used for everyday living activities, including food preparation and consumption—probably at the household level—as well as bone working. Despite the relatively permanent habitation, reflected by repeatedly renovated stone architecture, a broad-spectrum economy, and the infliction of heavy habitation damage to in situ refuse, the inhabitants did not systematically engage in the clearing away of organic trash or otherwise marking out their domicile. The perception of the house was probably still “Paleolithic” and functional in character, highlighting the complex mosaic of old and new traits in the preagricultural communities of the Levant.

The archaeology of mortuary practices and related foodways in the Late Natufian (LN; ca. 14,000... more The archaeology of mortuary practices and related foodways in the Late Natufian (LN; ca. 14,000/13,500–11,700 BP) sheds light on the communal activities of the last hunter–gatherers in the Mediterranean Levant. We present a detailed analysis of the fauna from the LN cemetery of Raqefet Cave (Mount Carmel, Israel). Taphonomic evidence indicates that the animal bones are butchery and consumption leftovers. While the patterns of animal exploitation are reminiscent of Natufian habitation sites, the remains do not reflect the typical recurring post-discard damage resulting from continuous or repeating habitations in those sites. Hence the fauna is interpreted as the leftovers of punctuated, short-term events, rather than ‘ordinary’ Natufian household trash. Taking into account the special depositional context and site characteristics, we interpret the fauna as the intentionally-gathered and buried remains of simple funerary feasts. Elaborate mortuary behavior and symbolic role of food refuse were recently suggested at the contemporaneous cave of Hilazon Tachtit (Israel). The new data from Raqefet Cave probably reflect a somewhat different type of communal meals, adding to the diversity and complexity of pre-agricultural life-ways in the Levant.

The question of domestic refuse maintenance in the Natufian Culture reflects on the issue of evol... more The question of domestic refuse maintenance in the Natufian Culture reflects on the issue of evolving adaptations to increasing sedentism, which results in an increasing accumulation of household rubbish. Here we assemble together stratigraphic and contextual information from the renewed excavation of the major base-camp of el-Wad, Mount Carmel, with results of multivariate taphonomic analysis of the animal bone assemblage, in order to shed light on Natufian refuse behavior in the context of an Early Natufian dwelling. Our results show that the structure and its surroundings are all filled with large quantities of butchery refuse, mostly in primary deposition, which had been discarded, trampled, indirectly burned and subsequently become embedded in the Natufian living surfaces. We conclude that, in the case of the el-Wad Terrace assemblage, faunal remains can usually be regarded as primary refuse and thus are contextually informative; and that animal consumption took place inside and outside the structure, producing refuse that was discarded without further attention (inside) or sometimes cleared (outside). This pattern seems to continue the refuse behavior of the preceding Paleolithic societies. However, the reflection of this simple refuse behavior on the degree of sedentism and site-occupation intensity may not be straightforward.

Among the rich and varied Chalcolithic artifacts from the Cave of the Treasure at Nahal Mishmar a... more Among the rich and varied Chalcolithic artifacts from the Cave of the Treasure at Nahal Mishmar are several bone tools which are presented here. The bone tools seem to represent domestic types, commonly utilized for multiple daily tasks. They include bone points and spatulae resembling other bone tool assemblages from Chalcolithic settlements. The tools were fabricated from gazelle and caprine tibiae and metapodials using abrasive methods and sometimes scraping. There is one case of re-sharpening, but other than that the tools display rather short life histories, being lightly used and haphazardly discarded. Whereas the simple, practical and low-investment objects present a stark contrast to the extravagance of the treasure discovered in the cave their presence accords well with that of numerous other mundane artifacts found at the site.

We are delighted to announce the second conference of the Asian Sphere Program. The conference wi... more We are delighted to announce the second conference of the
Asian Sphere Program. The conference will take place from
26 February to 2 March 2017, at the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, Israel.

The historic event of the Late Antique Little Ice Age (LALIA) was recently identified in dozens o... more The historic event of the Late Antique Little Ice Age (LALIA) was recently identified in dozens of natural and geological climate proxies of the northern hemisphere. Although this climatic downturn was proposed as a major cause for pandemic and extensive societal upheavals in the sixth-seventh centuries CE, archaeological evidence for the magnitude of societal response to this event is sparse. This study uses ancient trash mounds as a type of proxy for identifying societal crisis in the urban domain, and employs multidisciplinary investigations to establish the terminal date of organized trash collection and high-level municipal functioning on a city-wide scale. Survey, excavation, sediment analysis, and geographic information system assessment of mound volume were conducted on a series of mounds surrounding the Byzantine urban settlement of Elusa in the Negev Desert. These reveal the massive collection and dumping of domestic and construction waste over time on the city edges. Carbon dating of charred seeds and charcoal fragments combined with ceramic analysis establish the end date of orchestrated trash removal near the mid-sixth century, coinciding closely with the beginning of the LALIA event and outbreak of the Justinian Plague in the year 541. This evidence for societal decline during the sixth century ties with other arguments for urban dysfunction across the Byzantine Le-vant at this time. We demonstrate the utility of trash mounds as sensitive proxies of social response and unravel the time-space dynamics of urban collapse, suggesting diminished resilience to rapid climate change in the frontier Negev region of the empire. ancient urban trash mounds | societal collapse | Late Antique Little Ice Age | Byzantine period | southern Levant