November - December 2005 Season III, Excavation Season

Summary

In 2005 we expanded our excavations in Area E, in order to broaden our architectural sample, and also extended our sample of Area D, where we had obtained such good artefactual material in 2004. The discovery of Jaulan-style architecture in Area E was particularly exciting. We also opened three new areas: G, H and I. G is located close to Area E in order to examine adjacent architecture visible in the 2003 survey and H and I are located on the spur (in the south of the site).

Some highlights from 2005:
In 2005 we excavated an exposure of over 420 square metres. Except for material excavated in Area H, all the material excavated dates to the Late Chalcolithic period. Very occasionally fragments of Late Neolithic or Early Chalcolithic ceramics and/or lithics were recovered, but these were included in more recent deposits. A preliminary report is in preparation, in the mean time please email the director for further details. Following is a summary some of the important discoveries in 2005.

Area D

The squares opened in 2005 are located to the southwest of the squares we excavated in 2004. In these excavations we noted architecture (substantial parallel walls) which ran up to and is no doubt associated with the rock-cut installations recorded in the 2003 survey and excavated in 2004. In addition a number of water features appear to have been enclosed by this architecture. Numerous building practises characteristic of other Chalcolithic architecture on the site (including crushed limestone for flooring and modified bedrock for living surfaces) were again noted here.

Area E

The complex of architecture in Area E was further explored, including the structures partially excavated in 2004. The structure excavated as E4-6 in 2004 was further excavated as E7 and E8 in 2005 and found to be similar in style to architecture known from the Jaulan. Further to the west we uncovered a new structure which clearly served some kind of industrial purpose (E9 and E11). We now have three parallel buildings with adjoining walls, all with slightly different assemblages.

The Jaulan-like structure appears to contain domestic ceramics and may have been a domestic space with storage and processing features in its adjoining room, while the building directly south of it (partially exposed in 2004 as E5 and fully excavated as E10 in 2005) contained large numbers of storage jar fragments and may have been used to store agricultural or horticultural produce. The furthest building (E9 and E11) may have been used in the production or processing of pastoral or other agric/horticultural produce.

Area G

In 2004 we noted that in Area E there were some multi-phase structures that required further investigation. We opened three trenches in Area G to examine a neighbouring structure and its relationship with the structure excavated as E6-8. It lay on a different alignment and lacked clear associated surfaces but excavation did confirm the existence of multiple phases of Chalcolithic architecture on the terrace.

Area H

Two trenches were opened in Area H adjacent to a large cairn of stones (thought to be a possible cairn tomb) to test the architecture it overlay. Excavations confirmed that this building was a Middle to Late Bronze Age complex (no doubt related to architecture uncovered in Area B in 2004) with well preserved floors and artefacts. The cairn which overlay it (excavated as H3) was no doubt a result of collapse and clearing of this building. Areas B (2004) and H are the only trenches which have produced significant amounts of material from the historical periods.

Area I

Area I, located on the spur where we recorded the highest density of artefacts in the 2003 survey, revealed a large rectangular room with a good plaster surface and installations. A large scatter of olive stones was found on this floor adjacent to a hearth as well as a fragment of a copper axe head. Excavations in this area significantly expanded our sample of measurable olive stones.