PPNA and PPNB lithic industries at Kharaysin (Jordan)

Abstract

The recent archaeological fieldwork at the large Pre-Pottery Neolithic site of Kharaysin (Zarqa Valley, North Jordan) has revealed one PPNA and three PPNB architectural phases. Phase 1 is dated to the end of the 10th and the beginning of the 9th millennia cal. BC, corresponding to the PPNA occupation of the site, with oval sunken dwellings with mud and lime plastered floors. Phase 2, attributed to the late Early PPNB, is dated in the second half of the 9th millennium cal. BC. At that time architectural structures consisted of contiguous houses sharing intermediate walls, rectangular rooms with rounded corners, plastered floors and walls, and central round fireplaces. In Phase 3, corresponding to the Middle PPNB and dated to the beginning of the 8th millennium cal. BC, rectangular houses were arranged parallel to one another, with internal divisions, plastered floors and burials inside the houses. Phase 4, dated at the end of the 8th millennium cal. BC, during the Late PPNB, has been detected in a test sounding in the upper part of the site. In this paper, we present the preliminary results of the techno-typological analysis of the abundant chipped industry recovered at the site. In this sense, the long and almost unique (for the Southern Levant) occupational sequence at Kharaysin allows full characterization of stone tool production and use during the PPNA to PPNB transition, thus providing interesting insights into the evolution of lithic production during this still poorly understood period in the region. In addition, the results shed light on the chronology of the dissemination of bidirectional blade technology to the Southern Levant.