Abstract
The very Late Chalcolithic sites of the Fazael Valley exhibit changes in settlement patterns and material culture. This paper presents the analysis of the ground stone tool assemblages of these sites, and includes the combination of attribute analysis, functional typology, and spatial and contextual analyses, allowing comparisons both between the different sites and between different phases within the sites. The assemblages of the late sites of Fazael 2 and Fazael 7 show similar use of raw materials and tool design, which is clearly different from the assemblage of the earlier typical Ghassulian Chalcolithic site of Fazael 1. In Fazael 2, two phases revealed a shift from the use of large grinding tools to mortars and small grinding tools. In both the earlier and the later phases, the separation of activity areas within the site is clear. Grinding activity in both phases is restricted to the western side of the site, while mortars and spindle whorls were found only in the south-eastern part. Finally, a comparison with Fazael 1, as well as with other Late Chalcolithic sites, such as Gilat, 'Ein Hilu and 'En Esur, show that the large number of mortars found in Fazael 2 and Fazael 7 is unique, and may hint at a shift to different subsistence strategies appearing in this region in the latest phases of the Chalcolithic period.
Highlights
The site of Fazael is located in the central Jordan Valley 20 km north of Jericho (Figures 1 and 2)
The Late Chalcolithic Fazael sites are situated at the foot of the eastern slopes of the Samaria Mountains
The change in settlement pattern, moving to larger courtyard houses set well apart, as well as moving closer to the Fazael stream, might be seen to be accompanied by a change in the methods of food processing using much smaller grinding stones while intensifying the use of mortars. This change does not seem to come in the same phase as the change of settlement pattern, as the large lower grinding tools used in the earlier phase of Fazael 2 might indicate
Summary
The site of Fazael is located in the central Jordan Valley 20 km north of Jericho (map reference: Israel New Grid 2413/6618) (Figures 1 and 2). First described briefly by Porath (1985), and extensively surveyed in 2006 within the framework of the Manasseh Hill Country Survey (Zertal 2012), the site proved to be a concentration of sub-sites along the northern terrace of Wadi Fazael These sites, named Fazael 1, 2, 5, and 7 (Bar 2013; Bar et al 2013; Bar 2014a; Bar 2014b; Bar et al 2014; Bar et al 2015), Fazael Porath (Porath 1985) and Fazael Peleg (Peleg 2000), make up an aggregation of Chalcolithic settlements, all probably part of one large site, located on the perimeter of the fertile alluvial fan of Wadi Fazael which drains the steep Samarian hills. Radiometric dates from one of the complexes suggest that it was inhabited in the first century of the 4th millennium BCE (Bar et al 2013)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
