Lithic technology of Neolithic Syria : a series of analyses of flaked stone assemblages from Douara Cave II, Tell Damishilyya, Tell Nebi Mend, and Tell Kashkashok II
The interpretive possibility of lithics for understanding cultural development in the Levantine Neolithic has not been fully exploited. Current lithic studies are strongly biased to typological study of particular tool forms, leaving many other important aspects of lithic industry such as technology and raw material use rather unexplored. It is intended in this study to fill this important gap of information, and to provide a more comprehensive and dynamic picture on the use of lithic material by the Neolithic people in Syria. The raw material procurement, core reduction, and tool manufacturing processes at Pre-Pottery to Pottery Neolithic sites in Syria (Douara Cave II, Tell Damishilyya, Tell Nebi Mend and Tell Kashkashok II) were analysed in detail to examine their inter-relations, so that the complex factors creating the technological variability of Neolithic assemblages were isolated. The results suggest that one important factor was availability, kinds and procurement methods of raw material, and that the change from the Pre-Pottery to the Pottery Neolithic was characterised by the increasing use of locally available raw material, as well as a move from specialised blade to more expedient flake production.
Nishiaki, Yoshihiro
Archaeology
Lithic technology of Neolithic Syria : a series of analyses of flaked stone assemblages from Douara Cave II, Tell Damishilyya, Tell Nebi Mend, and Tell Kashkashok II. The interpretive possibility of lithics for understanding cultural development in the Levantine Neolithic has not been fully exploited. Current lithic studies are strongly biased to typological study of particular tool forms, leaving many other important aspects of lithic industry such as technology and raw material use rather unexplored. It is intended in this study to fill this important gap of information, and to provide a more comprehensive and dynamic picture on the use of lithic material by the Neolithic people in Syria. The raw material procurement, core reduction, and tool manufacturing processes at Pre-Pottery to Pottery Neolithic sites in Syria (Douara Cave II, Tell Damishilyya, Tell Nebi Mend and Tell Kashkashok II) were analysed in detail to examine their inter-relations, so that the complex factors creating the technological variability of Neolithic assemblages were isolated. The results suggest that one important factor was availability, kinds and procurement methods of raw material, and that the change from the Pre-Pottery to the Pottery Neolithic was characterised by the increasing use of locally available raw material, as well as a move from specialised blade to more expedient flake production.
lithic_technology neolithic syria series analyse stone assemblage cave tell tell tell interpretive possibility lithics cultural_development levantine neolithic fully exploit current lithic study strongly bias typological_study particular tool form leave many important_aspect lithic industry technology raw_material use rather unexplored intend study fill important gap information_provide comprehensive dynamic picture use lithic_material neolithic people syria raw_material procurement core reduction tool manufacturing_process pre pottery pottery neolithic_sit syria cave tell tell tell analyse_detail examine inter relations complex factor create technological variability neolithic assemblages isolate suggest one_important factor availability kinds procurement method raw_material change pre pottery pottery neolithic characterise increase_use locally available raw_material well move specialise blade flake production