BRIDGING THE GAP EBIII-IBA: EARLY INTERMEDIATE BRONZE RADIOCARBON DATES FROM KHIRBAT EL-’ALYA NORTHEAST, ISRAEL

Ron Lev,Johanna Regev,Omer Shalev,Yitzhak Paz,Elisabetta Boaretto

doi:10.1017/rdc.2020.83

Ron Lev, Johanna Regev + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1017/rdc.2020.83

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Abstract

ABSTRACTRecent radiocarbon (14C) research demonstrates that the urban culture of Early-Bronze III in the southern Levant ends around 2500 BC, and not around 2300 BC as was widely assumed. This should extend the Intermediate Bronze Age by 200 years. Charred olive pits from Intermediate Bronze Age contexts in the site of Khirbat el-‘Alya Northeast in the Judean Shephelah region (Israel) were 14C dated, resulting in calibrated dates around 2500 BC. The date range of Khirbat el-‘Alya Northeast samples is an indication that in the Mediterranean parts of the southern Levant, the Intermediate Bronze Age material culture appeared around the time of the decline of the preceding culture of Early-Bronze III—around 2500 BC or somewhat earlier. Possible Intermediate Bronze settlement pattern and the site’s relation to the nearby Early-Bronze city of Tel Yarmuth are discussed based on previous Intermediate Bronze and Early-Bronze related research in the surrounding area.

Highlights

The date range of Khirbat el-‘Alya Northeast samples is an indication that in the Mediterranean parts of the southern Levant, the Intermediate Bronze Age material culture appeared around the time of the decline of the preceding culture of Early-Bronze III—around 2500 BC or somewhat earlier
Much progress was made during the last decade in archaeological research of the Intermediate Bronze Age (IBA hereafter, and known as EB-IV) culture that existed in the southern Levant in the second half of the third millennium (e.g. D’Andrea 2014; Dever 2014; Falconer and Fall 2019)
It is still an enigmatic period in some aspects e.g. what was the trigger/cause for the sharp cultural change from the Early Bronze III (EB-III) to the IBA that is evident in site formation processes, burial practices, and material culture? Common characteristics of this period are unfortified rural settlements, usually with only one main layer of occupation, there are few sites with robust and stratified IBA occupation and few enclosed by walls (Richard 2010; Bar et al 2013; Falconer and Fall 2016; Fraser 2017), a distinct pottery repertoire, abundance of vast burial grounds and copper/bronze weapons and tools

Summary

Introduction

Much progress was made during the last decade in archaeological research of the Intermediate Bronze Age (IBA hereafter, and known as EB-IV) culture that existed in the southern Levant in the second half of the third millennium (e.g. D’Andrea 2014; Dever 2014; Falconer and Fall 2019). It is still an enigmatic period in some aspects e.g. what was the trigger/cause for the sharp cultural change from the EB-III to the IBA that is evident in site formation processes, burial practices, and material culture?

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