Jump to content

Gesher (archaeological site): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Importing Wikidata short description: "Archaeological site in Israel" (Shortdesc helper)
carbon dates
Line 37: Line 37:
|notes =
|notes =
}}
}}
'''Gesher''' is an archaeological site located on the southern bank of [[Nahal Tavor]], near [[Gesher, Israel|kibbutz Gesher]] in the central [[Jordan Valley (Middle East)|Jordan Valley]] of [[Israel]]. It bears signs of occupation from two periods, the very [[early Neolithic]] and the [[Middle Bronze Age]]. The site was first excavated between 1986 and 1987 by [[Yosef Garfinkel]] of the [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]] and between 2002 and 2004 by Susan Cohen of [[Montana State University – Bozeman|Montana State University]]. The average of 4 [[Radiocarbon dating]] results suggested inhabitation of the settlement around 8000 [[Before Christ|BC]].<ref name="Garfinkel">{{cite web |url=http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/paleo_0153-9345_1989_num_15_2_4515 |title=Nadel D., Garfinkel Y., The Sultanian Flint Assemblage from Gesher and its Implications for Recognizing Early Neolithic Entities in the Levant, Volume 15, Number 15-2, pp. 139-151, |publisher=Paléorient |date=1989 |accessdate=2011-03-15}}</ref> Gesher actually has the early known carbon date of all known Neolithic sites (10,459 BCE +/- 348), suggesting that it may have been the center of a [[Neolithic revolution]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shukurov |first1=Anvar |last2=Sarson |first2=Graeme R. |last3=Gangal |first3=Kavita |title=The Near-Eastern Roots of the Neolithic in South Asia |journal=PLOS ONE |date=7 May 2014 |volume=9 |issue=5 |pages=1-20 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0095714 |url=https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0095714 |language=en |issn=1932-6203}}</ref>
[[Image:Gesher Pre-Pottery Neolithic A rounded building.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Gesher Pre-Pottery Neolithic A rounded building.]]
[[Image:Gesher Pre-Pottery Neolithic A flint arrowheads.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Gesher Pre-Pottery Neolithic A flint arrowheads.]]
'''Gesher''' is an archaeological site located on the southern bank of [[Nahal Tavor]], near [[Gesher, Israel|kibbutz Gesher]] in the central [[Jordan Valley (Middle East)|Jordan Valley]] of [[Israel]]. It bears signs of occupation from two periods, the very [[early Neolithic]] and the [[Middle Bronze Age]]. The site was first excavated between 1986 and 1987 by [[Yosef Garfinkel]] of the [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]] and between 2002 and 2004 by Susan Cohen of [[Montana State University – Bozeman|Montana State University]]. The average of 4 [[Radiocarbon dating]] results suggested inhabitation of the settlement around 8000 [[Before Christ|BC]].<ref name="Garfinkel">{{cite web |url=http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/paleo_0153-9345_1989_num_15_2_4515 |title=Nadel D., Garfinkel Y., The Sultanian Flint Assemblage from Gesher and its Implications for Recognizing Early Neolithic Entities in the Levant, Volume 15, Number 15-2, pp. 139-151, |publisher=Paléorient |date=1989 |accessdate=2011-03-15}}</ref>


During the [[Pre-Pottery Neolithic A]] the site was a small village composed of a few rounded structures. Typical [[flint]] finds included a high number of [[Khiamian|el-Khiam]] points which Garfinkel argued, along with the relatively early date could class Gesher as a Khiamian site.<ref name="Garfinkel"/> One outstanding discovery, unknown from any other [[Neolithic]] site of the period in the [[Near East]], is a workshop for the production of basalt [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]]. The workshop produced basalt axes and various other tools which were then sent to other early Neolithic centers, such as [[Jericho]] and [[Netiv Hagdud]]. According to radiometric dates, Gesher is one of the earliest Neolithic sites in the Near East. During this period the first villages were established and the transition to agriculture occurred. A final excavation report on the Neolithic site was published in 2006.
During the [[Pre-Pottery Neolithic A]] the site was a small village composed of a few rounded structures. Typical [[flint]] finds included a high number of [[Khiamian|el-Khiam]] points which Garfinkel argued, along with the relatively early date could class Gesher as a Khiamian site.<ref name="Garfinkel"/> One outstanding discovery, unknown from any other [[Neolithic]] site of the period in the [[Near East]], is a workshop for the production of basalt [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]]. The workshop produced basalt axes and various other tools which were then sent to other early Neolithic centers, such as [[Jericho]] and [[Netiv Hagdud]]. According to radiometric dates, Gesher is one of the earliest Neolithic sites in the Near East. During this period the first villages were established and the transition to agriculture occurred. A final excavation report on the Neolithic site was published in 2006.


During the Middle Bronze Age IIA, Gesher served as a cemetery. Some 20 graves have been uncovered. These are shaft graves, dug into the local sediment, used for individual burials and never reopened. This facilitates the study of burial customs, including body position, the quantity of grave goods and their relation to the deceased. Bronze spearheads and axes (including three duck-bill axes) were found in four of the graves. A final excavation report on the Middle Bronze cemetery was published in 2007.
During the Middle Bronze Age IIA, Gesher served as a cemetery. Some 20 graves have been uncovered. These are shaft graves, dug into the local sediment, used for individual burials and never reopened. This facilitates the study of burial customs, including body position, the quantity of grave goods and their relation to the deceased. Bronze spearheads and axes (including three duck-bill axes) were found in four of the graves. A final excavation report on the Middle Bronze cemetery was published in 2007.

<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="4">
File:Calibrated Carbon 14 dates for Gesher as of 2013.jpg|thumb|Calibrated Carbon 14 dates for Gesher as of 2013.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Shukurov |first1=Anvar |last2=Sarson |first2=Graeme R. |last3=Gangal |first3=Kavita |title=The Near-Eastern Roots of the Neolithic in South Asia |journal=PLOS ONE |date=7 May 2014 |volume=9 |issue=5 |pages=Appendix S1 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0095714 |url=https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0095714 |language=en |issn=1932-6203}}</ref>
Image:Gesher Pre-Pottery Neolithic A rounded building.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Gesher Pre-Pottery Neolithic A rounded building.
Image:Gesher Pre-Pottery Neolithic A flint arrowheads.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Gesher Pre-Pottery Neolithic A flint arrowheads.
</gallery>


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==

Revision as of 06:37, 14 May 2019

Gesher
גשר
Gesher (archaeological site) is located in Israel
Gesher (archaeological site)
Shown within Israel
Location12 kilometres (7.5 mi) South of the Sea of Galilee
RegionJordan Valley
Coordinates32°36′10″N 35°33′20″E / 32.602778°N 35.555556°E / 32.602778; 35.555556
TypeTell
Part ofVillage
Area18 square metres (190 sq ft) (excavated by Garfinkel)
History
MaterialLake bed
Foundedc. 8000 BC
Abandonedc. 8000 BC
PeriodsPPNA, Neolithic
CulturesKhiamian
Site notes
Excavation dates1986-1987
2002-2004
ArchaeologistsYosef Garfinkel
Susan Cohen
ConditionRuins
Public accessYes

Gesher is an archaeological site located on the southern bank of Nahal Tavor, near kibbutz Gesher in the central Jordan Valley of Israel. It bears signs of occupation from two periods, the very early Neolithic and the Middle Bronze Age. The site was first excavated between 1986 and 1987 by Yosef Garfinkel of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and between 2002 and 2004 by Susan Cohen of Montana State University. The average of 4 Radiocarbon dating results suggested inhabitation of the settlement around 8000 BC.[1] Gesher actually has the early known carbon date of all known Neolithic sites (10,459 BCE +/- 348), suggesting that it may have been the center of a Neolithic revolution.[2]

During the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A the site was a small village composed of a few rounded structures. Typical flint finds included a high number of el-Khiam points which Garfinkel argued, along with the relatively early date could class Gesher as a Khiamian site.[1] One outstanding discovery, unknown from any other Neolithic site of the period in the Near East, is a workshop for the production of basalt artifacts. The workshop produced basalt axes and various other tools which were then sent to other early Neolithic centers, such as Jericho and Netiv Hagdud. According to radiometric dates, Gesher is one of the earliest Neolithic sites in the Near East. During this period the first villages were established and the transition to agriculture occurred. A final excavation report on the Neolithic site was published in 2006.

During the Middle Bronze Age IIA, Gesher served as a cemetery. Some 20 graves have been uncovered. These are shaft graves, dug into the local sediment, used for individual burials and never reopened. This facilitates the study of burial customs, including body position, the quantity of grave goods and their relation to the deceased. Bronze spearheads and axes (including three duck-bill axes) were found in four of the graves. A final excavation report on the Middle Bronze cemetery was published in 2007.

Bibliography

  • Cohen, Susan L. (2004-05-12). "Gesher 2003" (116). Hadashot Arkheologiyot – Excavations and Surveys in Israel. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Cohen, Susan L. (2005-03-24). "Gesher 2004" (117). Hadashot Arkheologiyot – Excavations and Surveys in Israel. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  • Y. Garfinkel and D. Dag. 2006. Gesher: A Pre-Pottery Neolithic A Site in the Central Jordan Valley, Israel. A Final Report. Berlin: Ex Oriente.
  • Y. Garfinkel and S. Cohen. 2007. The Early Middle Bronze Cemetery of Gesher. Final Excavation Report. AASOR 62. Boston: American Schools of Oriental Research.

References

  1. ^ a b "Nadel D., Garfinkel Y., The Sultanian Flint Assemblage from Gesher and its Implications for Recognizing Early Neolithic Entities in the Levant, Volume 15, Number 15-2, pp. 139-151,". Paléorient. 1989. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  2. ^ Shukurov, Anvar; Sarson, Graeme R.; Gangal, Kavita (7 May 2014). "The Near-Eastern Roots of the Neolithic in South Asia". PLOS ONE. 9 (5): 1–20. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095714. ISSN 1932-6203.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  3. ^ Shukurov, Anvar; Sarson, Graeme R.; Gangal, Kavita (7 May 2014). "The Near-Eastern Roots of the Neolithic in South Asia". PLOS ONE. 9 (5): Appendix S1. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0095714. ISSN 1932-6203.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)