Animals, environment and society : a zooarchaeological approach to the Late Chalcolithic-Early Bronze I transition in the southern Levant
The Chalcolithic-Early Bronze I (ca. 4500-3000 BCE) in the southern Levant saw significant social, political, and economic changes, evidenced by changing architectural styles, settlement patterns, and material cultures. Developments in the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze I gave way to the first walled settlements in the Early Bronze II, sometimes termed the first ~urban~ period in the southern Levant. This study investigates the animal component of the subsistence economy during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze I in the southern Levant. In light of the proposed social, political, and economic changes occurring at this time, certain changes in the use of animals and their products are proposed. Zooarchaeological data are used to address four research themes: 1) the nature and degree of change in the transition from the Chalcolithic to the Early Bronze IA; 2) evidence within the subsistence economy that might help explain the Chalcolithic collapse; 3) zooarchaeological distinctions between the Early Bronze IA and IB, two discrete phases which are rarely separated in zooarchaeological studies; and, 4) a zooarchaeological assessment of the relationship between Egypt and the southern Levant from its incipience in
Whitcher, Sarah E.
Animals, environment and society : a zooarchaeological approach to the Late Chalcolithic-Early Bronze I transition in the southern Levant. The Chalcolithic-Early Bronze I (ca. 4500-3000 BCE) in the southern Levant saw significant social, political, and economic changes, evidenced by changing architectural styles, settlement patterns, and material cultures. Developments in the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze I gave way to the first walled settlements in the Early Bronze II, sometimes termed the first ~urban~ period in the southern Levant. This study investigates the animal component of the subsistence economy during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze I in the southern Levant. In light of the proposed social, political, and economic changes occurring at this time, certain changes in the use of animals and their products are proposed. Zooarchaeological data are used to address four research themes: 1) the nature and degree of change in the transition from the Chalcolithic to the Early Bronze IA; 2) evidence within the subsistence economy that might help explain the Chalcolithic collapse; 3) zooarchaeological distinctions between the Early Bronze IA and IB, two discrete phases which are rarely separated in zooarchaeological studies; and, 4) a zooarchaeological assessment of the relationship between Egypt and the southern Levant from its incipience in
animals environment society zooarchaeological late_chalcolithic early_bronze transition southern_levant chalcolithic_early bronze bce southern_levant saw significant social_political economic_change evidence change architectural_style settlement_pattern material_culture developments chalcolithic_early bronze give_way first wall settlement early_bronze sometimes term first urban period southern_levant study_investigate animal component subsistence_economy chalcolithic_early bronze southern_levant light propose social_political economic_change occur time certain change use animal_product propose zooarchaeological_data use address four_theme nature degree change transition chalcolithic_early bronze evidence within subsistence_economy might help_explain chalcolithic collapse zooarchaeological distinction early bronze discrete phase rarely separate zooarchaeological study zooarchaeological assessment relationship egypt southern_levant