Beads were often neglected in archeological considerations, investigated in an unsatisfactory way, used as eye catcher for publications and reduced to their esthetic value. In fact they are an...Show moreBeads were often neglected in archeological considerations, investigated in an unsatisfactory way, used as eye catcher for publications and reduced to their esthetic value. In fact they are an essential and inseparable part of Neolithic life, requiring complex concepts. They are linked to technology, exchange, ritual and esthetic. Tell Sabi Ayad yielded beads from the Late Neolithic only, which facilitates a case study focused on this restricted period. A large part of the beads is not directly datable, as many bead types and materials are diachronic, used in the Late Neolithic and Late Bronze Age. So the beads are dated according the levels where they were found. The excavations on Tell Sabi Ayad were subdivided in 5 operations, all with an own stratigraphy. Operation III was excavated over the largest surface area and most levels could be C14 dated. Only this operation allowed statistical considerations. It turned out that bead rates, diversity of types and colors did not increase with time, but in certain periods only. Raw materials, unfinished and reused beads in association with possible tools are rare on the tell. However this evidence and the amount of local stones suggest production on household level on the tell. Partly beads are fractured, but there are no indications for intentional fragmentation. On the contrary it seems that in grave context only pristine pieces of jewelry were deposited, but jewelry is not mandatory in burials. There are large differences regarding amount and quality of beads in the graves. These differences might indicate some kind of stratification within the society. The major portions of beads are single, complete beads. Necklaces, bracelets and anklets were found in much lesser quantities and mainly in grave context. The beads are all stored in depots in Syria and could not be studied directly. Therefore my study is based on the documentations produced in the field, and Neolithic bead technology is discussed in general. Generally investigations on beads are focused on technological or social aspects but do not work out the variations between Early and Late Neolithic stone beads. It remains challenging to investigate how beads changed with the onset of the Late Neolithic in a semi sedentary society. Show less
The Neolithic witnessed the inception of dedicated trade networks which encompassed vast distances, over 3000 years prior to the invention of the wheel and before the domestication of traditional...Show moreThe Neolithic witnessed the inception of dedicated trade networks which encompassed vast distances, over 3000 years prior to the invention of the wheel and before the domestication of traditional beasts of burden such as horses, donkeys and camels. Communities were able to transport large quantities of material by land and water through use of a mixture of purposely created equipment and techniques. Strangely, few attempts have been made to retrace these networks of transport and attempt to postulate how material was moved from one place to another. Theoretical models of exchange are well attested, but this does not extend into practical application. This thesis will attempt to perform this application through the case study of Tell Sabi Abyad, a Late Neolithic settlement in northern Syria. The presence of bitumen and obsidian at the site have been determined to have arrived from over 300km in distance. As such, this body of research will attempt to break down such journeys and establish how they eventually arrived at a site, either by direct acquisition or otherwise. It will attempt to establish – assuming groups were indeed undertaking expeditions directly to the source – how long such a journey would have taken and by what means material was transported. The tracing of such networks of exchange provides an intriguing insight into the interconnectedness of Late Neolithic communities, and what levels of organisation existed in the facilitation of this activity.Show less
Since the very beginnings of archaeology as a science graves have fascinated archaeologists and have proven to be important sources of information. The approaches used to study graves however, have...Show moreSince the very beginnings of archaeology as a science graves have fascinated archaeologists and have proven to be important sources of information. The approaches used to study graves however, have often not included the personal, intimate aspects of death, nor the persons in the past involved. Also, funerary practices are often set apart from other aspects of society, and the interconnectedness of the individual with society neglected. The concept of personhood can be used to bridge this divide that has formed within archaeology between people and society, as it enables the investigation of the persons in the past through their relationships. This study aims to explore the relationships of the Late Neolithic inhabitants of Tell Sabi Abyad with their social, cultural, material and natural environments. The main focus lies on the grave goods, a not yet studied aspect of the Late Neolithic cemeteries at the site, as they can be regarded elements of identity and personhood of the deceased, but also of the living community. The cemeteries at Tell Sabi Abyad, dated to ca. 6400-5800 BC, hold tremendous potential to add to the emerging image of death and burial during the Late Neolithic in the Near East. Owing to the presence of secure chronological control, extensive documentation and an unusually large burial sample, we are able to investigate practices surrounding death and burial from a bottom-up approach. Within the present research, it becomes clear that the Late Neolithic cemeteries at Tell Sabi Abyad, Operation III, offer ample opportunity to go further than the mere analyses of social complexity and the creation of typologies of burial practice, and to investigate aspects of mortuary behavior related to the person. As deduced from the burial record, personhood at Tell Sabi Abyad seems to have been experienced in terms of both relational and individual identities. Within the grave good assemblages we see expressions of the wide variety of relationships held by the prehistoric inhabitants of the site. These relationships range from supra-regional, to the most intimate of relations, such as those between mother and child.Show less
Ground stone tools have clearly been neglected in archaeological research. The misconception that nothing interesting is to be learned from this particular material category has had a devastating...Show moreGround stone tools have clearly been neglected in archaeological research. The misconception that nothing interesting is to be learned from this particular material category has had a devastating effect on the amount of attention these objects have received in archaeological projects. They are often neglected in literature and discarded in the field. The presumption that these objects have nothing to tell is however wrong. Ground stone assemblages can tell us many things about the daily life on a site. This is why a new look into the ground stone artefacts of Tell Sabi Abyad was warranted. Research started with a look into the occurring types on the site. To facilitate this the original ground stone shape typology was revised. Via a look into ground stone types and the used stone types to produce these artefacts an overview of the Late Bronze Age ground stone assemblage of Tell Sabi Abyad was constructed. Tell Sabi Abyad also has the great advantage of having a clear stratigraphy and lots of in situ ground stone artefacts. However, perhaps even more interesting, there is also clear evidence of different crafts being practiced on site. Known crafts location include a baker, brewer and potter. By comparing their known locations on the site to concentrations of different types of ground stone a correlation between use, type and tool was researhed. A close look was taken at preferences in shape and stone type per ground stone tool category. Furthermore, both the spatial and chronological dispersal of the artefacts were examined to ascertain if any of the patterns could lend an insight into any of the preferences the inhabitants of the site had, where ground stone was concerned. Clusters of ground stone objects were found in areas of the site where certain crafts were performed. There were, for example, clusters of ground stone found inside a pottery workshop (Duistermaat 2007, 705) and the office of the brewer22. Other than some cuneiform the location of the brewer was confirmed by any other material evidence. Illustrating that ground stone archaeological research is not as insignificant as it is being generally portrayed.Show less
This thesis deals with basketry impressions on fragments of bitumen, gypsum and pottery found during excavations at the (Late) Neolithic (7000 - 5300 BC) site of Tell Sabi Abyad in Syria. It would...Show moreThis thesis deals with basketry impressions on fragments of bitumen, gypsum and pottery found during excavations at the (Late) Neolithic (7000 - 5300 BC) site of Tell Sabi Abyad in Syria. It would seem that basketry was produced on-site: botanical evidence shows that the required vegetable materials were readily available in the then fertile grounds surrounding the mounds, whereas hundreds of bone awls and needles suggest a range of on-site production activities concerning perishable artefacts, including textiles and basketry. After production, basketry artefacts were either used instantly as containers (and presumably as architectural elements, such as floor coverings and roof constructions) or used in the production sequence of other artefacts, such as bitumen-coated waterproof containers, White Ware and pottery. The untreated containers were used for communal storage facilities of dry goods, whilst the treated basketry was used to store liquids or to shape gypsum and clay into rigid vessels. Finally, diachronic analysis shows that different basketry techniques were introduced and used at different times at the site. The appearance of coiled basketry seems to have instigated a usage decline of bitumen-coated plaited baskets, as the former was used to shape larger waterproof vessels of gypsum and pottery.Show less
Figurines have been the subject of many archaeological studies and publications since the early 20th century. Studies in the past tended to be universalistic in nature and studied figurines mostly...Show moreFigurines have been the subject of many archaeological studies and publications since the early 20th century. Studies in the past tended to be universalistic in nature and studied figurines mostly as art objects. In recent years there has been a move towards more contextualised research and a move away from universalistic explanations. However, there are still some shortcomings in figurine literature. Site publications often lack synthesis into a larger temporal and geographical framework. Also figurines are sometimes still presented out of context and treated separately, as if they fall into a singular, special category, instead of being part of the artefact assemblage as a whole. New interesting themes in figurine theory have emerged, but these have to be critically reviewed and assessed for their practical use. Turning to other fields like sociology and psychology can lead to interesting viewpoints, but can also result in generalising statements which, in the end, do not help with interpreting an individual dataset. In this thesis some of the new themes in figurine theory have been chosen, namely: fragmentation, figurines and fire-related contexts, miniaturisation and schematisation and finally, materiality. The literature on these themes has been reviewed and subsequently the value and usability of these themes has been assessed by applying them on a case study – the (Early) Halaf figurines of Tell Sabi Abyad, Operation III. The case-study showed that these themes can lead to new insights, but only when taking a more contextual and practical approach. Some new research questions were also formulated which can be dealt with in future research.Show less
Summary This thesis investigates the Middle Assyrian jewel assemblage from Tell Sabi Abyad, which comprises a period of about 110 years from 1225 BC to at most 1115 BC. The dunnu with only 900...Show moreSummary This thesis investigates the Middle Assyrian jewel assemblage from Tell Sabi Abyad, which comprises a period of about 110 years from 1225 BC to at most 1115 BC. The dunnu with only 900 people belonging to it was quite a small village; however its significance was based on the location. Its significance is demonstrated by the fact that the dunnu was ruled by powerful, high ranking officials who were members of the royal family. The western provinces of the Assyrian empire were essential for agricultural production. Moreover the tell was not only situated close to the border of the Hittite empire, but was also located at an important trade route from the Levant, North Syria and Anatolia to Aššur. This is mirrored in the jewelry assemblage, which shows far reaching trading connections with raw stones, shells and manufactured products. There is evidence for stone and shell processing for jewelry purposes, but metal items were likely received from bronze working centers like Tell Brak, Chuera or Aššur. On Tell Sabi Abyad graves with cremations and inhumations were encountered. Often the graves yielded, beside various objects, jewelry. Not all graves contained jewelry and the graves with jewelry showed considerable variations in abundance. Two cremation graves have striking similarities in abundance and types of jewelry. Especially figurative, exotic types such as scarabs, frogs, duck weights and pomegranates are found in this context. Jewels were worn by females, males and children and often given into their graves. Women possessed likely the majority, but also man owned bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings and needles. Striking is the find of two necklaces inside the tower of the fort. Some beads of the necklaces were in shape of phallus symbols and two small combs were likely pendants. Possibly these items belonged to prostitutes who lived in the tower, perhaps in captivity. The design resembles that of other treasures from that region; but Tell Rimah and Aššur show more variety and more wealth than those of the small village Sabi Abyad. Jewels from Sabi Abyad are not exceptional but are designed in Assyrian style typical for that region and period.Show less
This MA thesis is a study into the assemblage of bone tools from the Late Neolithic period of Tell Sabi Abyad, specifically the tools that come from the Operation III area. Only those objects that...Show moreThis MA thesis is a study into the assemblage of bone tools from the Late Neolithic period of Tell Sabi Abyad, specifically the tools that come from the Operation III area. Only those objects that can be seen as tools or implements have been the subject of the research. In total this amounts to an assemblage of 1081 objects. Of these objects this study investigates which types are present, the numbers in which they occur, and the manner of distribution across the area. The first step is the forming of a typology that is easy to understand for anyone working with the bone tool material from Tell Sabi Abyad yet retains enough detail to make clear distinctions in the distribution of the different objects. The framework of the typology is based on several different ways in which researchers have looked at bone tool assemblages; from the very detailed work of J. Schibler to the more basic idea of expedient versus time-invested tools as first proposed by A.T. Clason. A quantitative analysis is then given, where the different typological classifications and the arguments underlying them are mentioned in detail. Secondly, the implement distribution and contexts per typological entity is investigated. This results in the identification of what can be seen as two main centres within the distribution of the Operation III area. Whether these can be counted as centres of activity is not certain. The available data on the contexts gives an ambiguous view and specific activity localities could not be recognized. From the study it becomes clear that Tell Sabi Abyad shows an assemblage comparable to other Neolithic sites in the Near East and other regions. The typology as it is set up fits well within the limits of the typologies of other sites and, as such, is recognizable for those working on similar studies. This counts both for Tell Sabi Abyad as for other sites. Future work will in all likelihood give rise to reasons for alteration of the current typology but it is believed that the main body will remain upright.Show less
This BA thesis investigates the worked-bone assemblage of Late Bronze Age (LBA) Tell Sabi Abyad (ca. 1230-1150 B.C), a settlement mound located in the Raqqa province of Northern Syria. The LBA...Show moreThis BA thesis investigates the worked-bone assemblage of Late Bronze Age (LBA) Tell Sabi Abyad (ca. 1230-1150 B.C), a settlement mound located in the Raqqa province of Northern Syria. The LBA settlement comprises a Middle Assyrian stronghold. It was a military and administrative centre which primarily functioned as a fortified farmstead, named a dunnu by the Assyrians. The goal of this thesis is to determine the character of the assemblage and to shed light on the function and role of the bone artefacts in the LBA society. In addition I have performed a diachronic analysis to find out whether the assemblage changed through time. The worked-bone assemblage is a relatively small but diverse. It comprises approximately 105 artefacts. A preliminary classification, based on morphology, is presented. The assemblage consists of three categories: bone tools, bone ornaments and other bone objects. The category bone tools comprise awls, combs, needles, spatulas and nails. The bone ornaments exist from beads, inlay, plaques and a bracelet. The other bone objects comprise discs, polished knucklebones and a number of miscellaneous objects. First, the function of the artefacts is analysed based on their morphology and when possible, traces of use. For some artefacts, the analysis of the morphology could not shed light on a plausible function. To further elucidate their function and role, the context of the artefacts was analysed. I have tried to elucidate in which areas of the LBA settlement the bone artefacts were used. From the context and morphology it appears that the worked-bone artefacts were used in domestic buildings, workshops and in open areas of the Late Bronze Age settlement. They were probably used for pottery production and in the production of basketry, matting and leather working. The bone objects had a diverse role in society as they were used as tools, jewellery, personal ornaments, game pieces and grave goods. They were present in every phase of the LBA occupation. The worked-bone objects of LBA Tell Sabi Abyad may have been small in numbers but were used in all dimensions of society for a large variety of activities.Show less
In deze BA3 scriptie behandel ik de slingerkogels van Tell Sabi Abyad, een site gelegen in de Balikh vallei in Noord Syrië die bewoond werd gedurende het Late Neolithicum (7000-5300 B.C.). Deze...Show moreIn deze BA3 scriptie behandel ik de slingerkogels van Tell Sabi Abyad, een site gelegen in de Balikh vallei in Noord Syrië die bewoond werd gedurende het Late Neolithicum (7000-5300 B.C.). Deze site wordt gezien als een bron van informatie die van zeer groot belang is voor het begrip van deze periode in het Nabije Oosten. Er is op deze site dan ook meerdere jaren lang grondig onderzoek verricht, verdeeld in meerdere Operations (I tot en met V). Gedurende de verschillende opgravingen in deze Operations zijn er meerdere slingerkogels aangetroffen: een vondstcategorie waar over de functie vele verschillende theorieën bestaan. In deze scriptie heb ik getracht de functie van deze kogels van klei te achterhalen om zo deel te nemen aan het debat betreffende deze kwestie. Sommige van deze slingerkogels, die van Operation I, zijn al eerder bekeken en uitgewerkt, maar de slingerkogels uit de overige Operations zijn nog niet grondig onderzocht. Deze scriptie houdt zich dan ook voornamelijk bezig met een beschrijving en analyse van de kogels uit de Operations II tot en met V. De slingerkogels op Tell Sabi Abyad aanwezig zijn voornamelijk van het type Biconical, gemiddeld zo’n 4,6 centimeter lang, en zijn overwegend gemaakt van ongebakken, in de zon gedroogde klei. Zij worden zowel als losse vondst als geclusterd aangetroffen. Al deze verschillende factoren kunnen een invloed hebben op de manier waarop de slingerkogels worden gebruikt, maar tot nu toe is hier weinig over bekend. Uit het onderzoek blijkt dat slingerkogels voorwerpen zijn met meerdere functionele mogelijkheden die elkaar niet uitsluiten. Om voor een bepaalde site de daar uitgeoefende functie te achterhalen dient er niet enkel uitgegaan te worden van de aanwezigheid van de slingerkogel, maar ook gekeken te worden naar de andere gebruiksindicatoren. Erg opwindend en interessant is dat gedurende dit onderzoek ook naar voren kwam dat de slingerkogels al op Tell Sabi Abyad aanwezig zijn gedurende de bewoningssequentie gedateerd tot de Early Pottery Neolithic (6700-6200 B.C.). Dit is een stuk eerder dan tot nu toe altijd werd aangenomen en beïnvloed de manier waarop er naar deze voorwerpjes gekeken wordt enorm.Show less
Research on ecosystem resilience and climate-ecosystem interactions is extremely complex due to the large variety of factors that play a role. This research aimed at determining which factors are...Show moreResearch on ecosystem resilience and climate-ecosystem interactions is extremely complex due to the large variety of factors that play a role. This research aimed at determining which factors are involved in ecosystem resilience, which methods are needed to research this, and how archaeology can contribute to such research. The influence of the 8.2 ka climate event on the natural environment of Tell Sabi Abyad served as a case study for larger-scale research on ecosystem resilience. This study presents critical notes to the assumption that the changes which took place in Tell Sabi Abyad at the timing of the 8.2 event were a consequence of climate change. First, the timing of the changes in Tell Sabi Abyad is earlier than the timing of the expected impact of the 8.2 event. In addition, the botanical records of Tell Sabi Abyad do not indicate a climate deterioration. As no direct influences of the 8.2 event have been observed, it is likely that the natural environment of Tell Sabi Abyad had a level of resilience that was high enough to cope with the sudden effects of the 8.2 climate perturbation. Possibly other factors, like anthropogenic influences or cultural development, account for the changes observed in the archaeological material of Tell Sabi Abyad. Furthermore, this study shows that archaeology can form a valuable contribution to research on ecosystem resilience if future research would focus on wild plant and animal species and long term ecosystem changes. This would enable research on the direct effects of climate change. By combining the archaeological results found in such research, a dataset can be made with information on the characteristics of ecosystems with different levels of resilience and different levels of environmental impact.Show less
