`Ainab 1 and the Eastward Expansion of Early PPNB Traditions: Unveiling Neolithic Connections between the Levant and Arabia through the Lenses of Chipped Stone Industry

Abstract

Abstract. `Ainab 1, situated in southeastern Jordan near the Saudi Arabian border, represents a unique archaeological site discovered by H. G. K. Gebel. This small open-air hunting encampment encompasses 11 structures, with structure A selected for excavation during the 2014 season. The excavations yielded over 5,000 chipped industry specimens, complemented by fragments of animal bones and ground stones. The camp’s dating to the Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (EPPNB) era relies on the exclusive presence of diagnostic Helwan points, Hagdud truncation and bidirectional blade technology. As such, `Ainab 1 signifies the farthest known EPPNB outpost boasting structures in Transjordan and the Arabian Peninsula. This research paper presents the findings from spatial, technological, typological, and raw material analyses of all chipped stone artefacts procured from structure A’s surface and excavation. The comparative investigation of technical, typological, and spatial patterns has facilitated the reconstruction of the chipped industry’s chrono-spatial patterns. These results illuminate new perspectives on the dialogue between the Levantine core area of the Fertile Crescent and peripheral Jordanian regions and further provide fresh insights into the spread of Neolithic into the Arabian Peninsula.