Umm an‐Nar Settlement Dahwa 7 (DH7) Near the Northern Batinah Coast of Oman

The article deals with fragments of ceramics originating from the archaeological complex of the Bronze Age located on the terraces above the floodplain at the exit of the Rakhat River from the gorge of the same name, between the cities of Talgar and Esik along the road to the gorge. Orman and 1.5 km southeast of the ancient settlement of Rakhat. The complex consists of a settlement and memorial and burial fences of the Bronze Age. This monument was studied by the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Esik”. The settlement and mounds have layers of the Saka community, early and late Middle Ages. The main materials i.e. archaeological sources for the interpretation of the cultural layers of the site are fragments of ceramics of the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age. This article will consider fragments of ceramics and tools of the Bronze Age. The task of the study was the scientific attribution of ceramic fragments based on the traces of work, the identification of separate groups among them with features characteristic of each series, and the restoration to some extent of those production processes that took place in the economy of the tribes of the Bronze Age. To achieve this goal, a comparison and comparative typological analysis of artifacts from the collection of ceramics of the Bronze Age of the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan was carried out. Ceramics is the most widely used material in any archaeological site. Definable fragments of ceramics are reliably associated with their own characteristics, for example, pottery school, visual culture, sign system, etc. An analysis of the studied artifacts shows that in the Bronze Age, traditional stone tools were mainly used, which were used in metallurgy and ceramic production in the extraction and processing of minerals, successively associated with the previous era. These are tools used in mining, copper smelting, agriculture, hunting and domestic crafts. Key words: Rahat settlement, ceramics, collection, bronze Age, typology, archaeological expedition, settlements, analysis, monument, foothills of Ile Alatau

Grave Matters: Mediating Corporeal Objects and Subjects through Mortuary Practices

The multicultural site 4 in Sztynwag occupies a small section of the second fluvial terrace (fi gs. 1, 2) of the Grudziądz Basin mesoregion. The site lies on cambic arenosols which were originally surrounded by waterlogged ground (wetlands), most of which has now been drained (Bienias 2006). An open-plan excavation carried out at this site in 2000 revealed 680 archaeological features and over 8000 pottery sherds, around 70% of which were associated with phase IIIB of the Chelmno group of the Funnel Beaker culture (Chudziak 2006; Slupczewski 2006). Four features and 100 ceramic sherds were attributed to the Globular Amphora culture (figs. 4–6); they represented the remains of a small settlement dated to phases IIIa–IIIb of this culture in the Kuyavia region. The Corded Ware culture was evidenced by the presence of three features and 65 potsherds, most of them (58 sherds) produced using a technology that involved the addition of crushed stone temper to the ceramic fabric; only seven of these sherds were tempered with a mixture of sand and grog (fi gs. 7–9). Three rim sherds are particularly distinctive: they came from vessels with a fabric tempered with crushed stone and were decorated with a motif of intersecting horizontal and vertical impressions made with a thick two-stranded cord (fig. 8: 7–9). This type of pottery is currently ascribed to the so-called northeast trend of the Corded Ware culture sphere. It can probably be linked to the late period of this sphere’s development or to the early Bronze Age. The discovered remains provide evidence of multiple though transient use of this site by communities representing almost every stage of development of the Corded Ware culture (the most intensive use occurring during the earlier phase). Early Bronze Age evidence took the form of nine features and 490 ceramic vessel sherds attributable on stylistic grounds to the Iwno/Trzciniec culture of the Chelmno region (figs. 10–15). They are generally consistent with the end of the early horizon/beginning of the classic horizon of the Trzciniec cultural sphere in Kuyavia (HT 1–2 – after Makarowicz 1998a; 1998b; 2010). The pottery assemblage is from a single stylistic phase and probably represents the remains of a relatively permanent (multi-season?) settlement located on the sandy elevation of a fluvial terrace. The number of features and finds dating from the transitional period between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age discovered in Sztynwag indicates that this was an area of relatively intensive occupation, particularly well-evidenced in the early Bronze Age. Rescue excavations carried along the route of the A–1 motorway in the Chelmno region, within the Lower Vistula valley, led to the discovery of several other sites which yielded finds dating from the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age which were stylistically similar to those recovered from Sztynwag (Kamionki Duze, Łysomice Commune, sites 2 and 15; Stare Marzy, Grudziądz Commune, site 5; Ruda, Grudziądz Commune, sites 3–6).

Et monumentalt midtsulehus ved Nørre Holsted i Sydjylland

Bronzealderens keramik – En kilde til forståelse af kommunikation og social interaktion i bronzealderen

Flodfund - Bronzealderdeponeringer fra Gudenåen

VIRVELINĖS KERAMIKOS KULTŪRA LIETUVOJE 2800–2400 cal BC

Agerbruget i enkeltgravskultur – Senneolitikum og ældre bronzealder i Jylland belyst ud fra plantemakrofossil

Il est plus ou moins acquis depuis les travaux de P. Du Chatellier qu’il existe une forme d’art à l’âge du Bronze ancien en Bretagne dont les représentations se limiteraient à quelques dalles ornées de cupules et autres motifs simples, opinion défendue par J. Briard mais combattue par C. Burgess. Afin d’y voir plus clair, nous avons repris cette question sans a priori en nous limitant géographiquement à la Bretagne. En premier lieu, nous avons réuni le corpus des dalles ornées découvertes en contexte campaniforme ou Bronze et avons intégré celles issues de contextes probables et possibles. La moisson est plutôt maigre puisque ce sont seulement douze sépultures et un habitat qui ont livré des dalles en contexte certain du Campaniforme ou de l’âge du Bronze ancien, auxquels s’ajoutent onze cas plus incertains. Ces dalles ornées (à cupules ou à représentations figuratives) sont toutes en situation de réemploi selon des modalités variées. Les surfaces gravées sont généralement tournées vers l’extérieur mais aussi cachées vers l’intérieur des sépultures. Ces pierres décorées peuvent être réutilisées telles quelles, cassées ou réaménagées. En second lieu, la confrontation avec le corpus des dalles à cupules des sépultures néolithiques ne permet pas de dégager des types ou des agencements de cupules propres à l’âge du Bronze. On peut donc difficilement soutenir l’idée d’un développement de l’art des cupules à cette période en Bretagne ; ce qu’infirme d’ailleurs le nombre écrasant de dalles à cupules en contexte néolithique. Une large part de ces pierres ornées réutilisées dans les sépultures de l’âge du Bronze pourrait bien provenir d’affleurement à cupules ou de monuments néolithiques, comme l’attestent par ailleurs le réemploi de certaines représentations clairement néolithiques (figures anthropomorphes, haches emmanchées). Cependant, un lot de quatre dalles à cupules se distingue par leur perforation, inédite dans l’art mégalithique néolithique, et des figurations de cupules et de formes géométriques reliées entre elles, alors que les signes gravés néolithiques sont généralement placés côte à côte. Les auteurs proposent d’attribuer ce petit ensemble à l’âge du Bronze ancien, voire au Néolithique final. À cela s’ajoutent six petites dalles à cupules, découvertes sur l’habitat de Beg ar Loued comme dans le tumulus de Cruguel ; leur support modeste paraît être une originalité de l’âge du Bronze.

Part 1 Historical summary: Neolithic early Bronze Age (c. 3000-2000 B.C.) middle Bronze Age (c. 2000-1450 B.C.) - the shaft grave period on the mainland (c. 1575-1475 B.C.), the eruption of Thera, and the conquest of Crete c. 1450 B.C. later Bronze Age (c. 1450 B.C. onwards). Part 2 Pottery: Neolithic - Crete, the Cyclades, the mainland early Bronze Age (c. 3000-2000 B.C.) - Crete, the Cyclades, the mainland middle Bronze Age (c. 2000-1450 B.C.) - Crete, the Cyclades, the mainland later Bronze Age (c. 1450 B.C. onwards) coffins and bathtubs. Part 3 Painting: Crete and the Cyclades - miniature frescoes, relief frescoes the mainland technique. Part 4 Sculpture: Neolithic earlier Bonze Age (c. 3000-1700 B.C.) - Crete, the Cyclades, the mainland later Bronze Age (c. 1700-1100 B.C.) - Crete, the mainland, clay statues and figurines, bronze figurines. Part 5 Wood, shell, bone and ivory - faience - glass: wood, shell, bone, and ivory - early and middle Bronze Age (until c. 1450 B.C.) - Crete, the mainland, later Bronze Age (c. 1450 B.C. onwards) faience - early middle and Bronze Age (until c. 1450 B.C.) - the temple repositories, the Mycenae shaft graves, later Bronze Age (c. 1450 B.C. onwards) glass. Part 6 Stone vases: materials, methods of manufacture, lamps. Part 7 Metal vases: early Middle Bonze Age (until c. 1450 B.C.) later Bronze Age (c. 1450 B.C. onwards) copper and bronze vessels technique. Part 8 Arms: early and middle Bronze Age (until c. 1450 B.C.) - Crete, the mainland, the Mycenae shaft graves later Bronze Age (c. 1450 B.C. onwards). Part 9 Jewellery: Neolithic early Bronze Age (c. 3000-2000 B.C.) - Crete, the Cyclades, the mainland middle Bonze Age (c. 2000-1450 B.C.) - Crete, the Cyclades, the mainland, the Mycenae shaft graves later Bronze Age (c. 1450 B.C. onwards) technique. Part 10 Seals and gems: early Bronze Age (c. 3000-2000 B.C.) - Crete, the Cyclades, the mainland middle Bronze Age (c. 2000-1450 B.C.) - Crete, the Cyclades, the mainland later Bronze Age (c. 1450 B.C. onwards) materials and techniques. Part 11 Conclusion: the early Bronze Age koine in the Aegean the Minoan art of Crete Mycenaean art end of the Bronze Age (from c. 1200 B.C. onwards).

This article presents the role of climate fluctuations in shaping southern Levantine human history from 3600 to 600 BCE (the Bronze and Iron Ages) as evidenced in palynological studies. This time interval is critical in the history of the region; it includes two phases of rise and decline of urban life, organization of the first territorial kingdoms, and domination of the area by great Ancient Near Eastern empires. The study is based on a comparison of several fossil pollen records that span a north-south transect of 220 km along the southern Levant: Birkat Ram in the northern Golan Heights, Sea of Galilee, and Ein Feshkha and Ze'elim Gully both on the western shore of the Dead Sea. The vegetation history and its climatic implications are as follows: during the Early Bronze Age I (∼3600–3000 BCE) climate conditions were wet; a minor reduction in humidity was documented during the Early Bronze Age II–III (∼3000–2500 BCE). The Intermediate Bronze Age (∼2500–1950 BCE) was characterized by moderate climate conditions, however, since ∼2000 BCE and during the Middle Bronze Age I (∼1950–1750 BCE) drier climate conditions were prevalent, while the Middle Bronze Age II–III (∼1750–1550 BCE) was comparably wet. Humid conditions continued in the early phases of the Late Bronze Age, while towards the end of the period and down to ∼1100 BCE the area features the driest climate conditions in the timespan reported here; this observation is based on the dramatic decrease in arboreal vegetation. During the period of ∼1100–750 BCE, which covers most of the Iron Age I (∼1150–950 BCE) and the Iron Age IIA (∼950–780 BCE), an increase in Mediterranean trees was documented, representing wetter climate conditions, which followed the severe dry phase of the end of the Late Bronze Age. The decrease in arboreal percentages, which characterize the Iron Age IIB (∼780–680 BCE) and Iron Age IIC (∼680–586 BCE), could have been caused by anthropogenic activity and/or might have derived from slightly drier climate conditions. Variations in the distribution of cultivated olive trees along the different periods resulted from human preference and/or changes in the available moisture.

Summary Lusatian Urnfield communities inhabiting Lubusz Land and western Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) in the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages occupy a unique position on the settlement map of the middle Oder basin. For nearly a thousand years, they acted as a kind of buffer between the buoyant Silesian centre, which had achieved its culture-making role thanks to direct exchange contacts with the Transcarpathian and Danubian-Alpine centres of the south, and West Pomeranian groups inspired from the west and northwest by the Nordic circle. The importance of Lubusz-Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) populations to the overall cultural picture of the territories on the banks of the Oder River can hardly be overestimated, so it is worth analysing this phenomenon in more detail. One of the significant cultural elements is the ceramic style. It can be a means of manifesting outside the identity of a group, the identity consolidated by a tradition functioning within this group. It is hard to imagine a relative standardisation of patterns in pottery produced over a certain area to be only the result of more or less random movement of female potters or small groups of people. The standardisation of material culture, resulting from the existence of a style, no doubt enhances homogeneity and stability in everyday life, and therefore can be regarded as a factor integrating neighbouring communities in territorial communities within a supra-local scale. In the Late Bronze Age, in Lubusz Land and western Greater Poland (Wielkopolska), one can notice the same stylistic tendencies in pottery manufacture (bossed style, Urad style, Late Bronze Age style) and in figural art in clay, and a similar repertoire of bronze objects, produced in local metallurgical workshops on the Oder. The formation of Urnfield communities in Lubusz Land and western Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) was no doubt part of a broader process of cultural integration, of supra-local character, which was taking place throughout the upper and middle Oder basin at the transition of the Middle and Late Bronze Ages. This was a process of acculturation, based on the reception of the influx of new cultural contents along the River Oder from Lower Silesia and perhaps, although to a much smaller extent, from Lusatia and Saxony. The result was the cultural unification, for the first time to such an extent, of the western part of what is now Poland. The archaeological indicator of the discussed process was the appearance of large cremation cemeteries, with burials furnished with bossed pottery of the Silesia-Greater Polish type, representing a style typical of most of the middle Oder basin. Similar tendencies can be seen in bronze metallurgy, where a nearly complete unification of the repertoire of produced objects can be observed from the beginning of the Late Bronze Age. Here, however, the distributions of particular forms are much broader and encompass almost the entire western part of the Lusatian Urnfields. In Lubusz Land and western Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) the Late Bronze Age saw a very dynamic development of local bronze production, performed primarily within the Oder metallurgical centre. The result was a relatively high percentage of bronze artefacts in the cultural inventory of Urnfield populations inhabiting the region, most of them ultimately deposited in the many hoards buried during that period. A broad spectrum of manufactured designs, their notable standardisation, and the finds of durable casting moulds all seem to confirm that bronze metallurgy, along with pot-making, belonged to the most important areas of production performed by the population inhabiting the middle Oder basin at the conclusion of the 2 nd and beginning of the 1 st millennium BC, despite it having been carried out by a limited group of initiated specialists. The process of formation of Lusatian Urnfields in the middle Oder basin was most likely not complete before HaA2, and from the subsequent phase onwards one can notice a steady expansion of settled areas, resulting from intensive internal colonisation and the processes of acculturation. The dynamics of this phenomenon are best illustrated by newly established, vast cremation cemeteries, most of which were then continuously used at least until the close of the Bronze Age, with some persisting into the Early Iron Age. With the onset of the Early Iron Age, the Lubusz-Greater Polish territorial community of Lusatian Urnfields started to slowly disintegrate, a phenomenon explained by the adoption of a different model of Hallstatisation by these communities. In Lubusz Land, pottery of the Górzyce style ( Göritzer Stil ) appears, inspired more by Białowice ( Billendorf ) than Silesian patterns, while in western Greater Poland (Wielkopolska) ceramic workshops still maintained a close connection with the tendencies set by their Silesian neighbours, who at that time closely followed the East Hallstatt trends. The Lubusz-Greater Polish territorial community, which crystallised and developed throughout the entirety of the Late Bronze Age largely thanks to the unique role of the Oder River as a route of long-distance exchange and at the same time a culturally unifying element of the landscape, ceased to exist with the onset of the Early Iron Age, never to be reborn.

The site of Kul Tepe is located near the city of Hadishahr, in Eastern Azerbaijan Province. It is an ancient multi-period mound, having an extension of about 6 hectares and rising 19 meters above the surrounding land. The second season of archeological excavations at the site, carried out in 2013, aimed at clarifying its chronology and its settlement organization. In the meantime it aimed at elucidating fundamental questions concerning the transition process from Late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age, at identifying different cultural horizons (including Proto-Kura-Araxes and Kura-Araxes I periods) and also at outlining cultural conditions of the region during prehistoric and historic periods. The present paper exposes briefly the main stratigraphic, architectural and material data from the site. On the basis of the results from the first and the second seasons of excavation, it is argued that Kul Tepe possessed cultural material pertaining to Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic (Dalma), Late Chalcolithic (Pisdeli=LC1; LC2 and LC3=Chaff-faced Ware), Proto-Kura-Araxes and Kura-Araxes I, Early, Middle, Late Bronze Age, Iron III, Urartian and Achaemenid periods.

During February, March and September 2007 and April 2008, excavations were conducted at the site of Sheikh Diab 2, located in the Jordan Valley, on a spur along the edge of Wadi Fazael, about 20 km north of Jericho, and 1 km west of the settlement of Fazael. This chapter presents the results of the excavation, and analyses the main archaeological finds, putting them into the broader geographical and cultural framework of the early Bronze Age I (EB I) period. During the two excavation seasons it was decided to open four different areas: in the upper part of the site, where the remains of a building are located at surface level; the main area of excavations, in a region where the slope of the spur diminishes and the remains of many walls are visible; building remains located in the north-eastern part of the site; and remains of other residential complexes.Keywords: early Bronze Age I; Fazael; Jordan Valley; residential complexes; Sheikh Diab 2

Ancient cisterns in the Negev Highlands: Types and spatial correlation with Bronze and Iron Age sites