Culture, chronology and change in the later Neolithic of north Mesopotamia
The aim of this thesis is to examine the spatial, temporal and social patterning of the late Neolithic of north Iraq. In traditional terms, this covers the Hassuna and Halaf cultures. Underpinning much of the analysis is a new chronology for the period which fits the available evidence better than has been achieved previously. This chronology emphasises the continuities as much as the changes and stress has been laid on making it general and able to accommodate regional variations. Important new information on the transition between the Hassuna and the Halaf was obtained by the excavation of one site, Khirbet Garsour, and the detailed surface collection of others in the North Jezira Project survey. Instead of this transition being very abrupt, it is argued that it is a smooth change in north Iraq with considerable cultural continuity. The spread of a single ceramic style over central and northern Iraq and northern Syria is proposed as occurring late in the Hassuna/Samarran sequence rather than several hundred years later in the Halaf. In chapter 6, it is argued that the period saw a progressive degradation of the environment in the main areas of settlement, which may have had an important influence on potential
Campbell, Stuart
Culture, chronology and change in the later Neolithic of north Mesopotamia. The aim of this thesis is to examine the spatial, temporal and social patterning of the late Neolithic of north Iraq. In traditional terms, this covers the Hassuna and Halaf cultures. Underpinning much of the analysis is a new chronology for the period which fits the available evidence better than has been achieved previously. This chronology emphasises the continuities as much as the changes and stress has been laid on making it general and able to accommodate regional variations. Important new information on the transition between the Hassuna and the Halaf was obtained by the excavation of one site, Khirbet Garsour, and the detailed surface collection of others in the North Jezira Project survey. Instead of this transition being very abrupt, it is argued that it is a smooth change in north Iraq with considerable cultural continuity. The spread of a single ceramic style over central and northern Iraq and northern Syria is proposed as occurring late in the Hassuna/Samarran sequence rather than several hundred years later in the Halaf. In chapter 6, it is argued that the period saw a progressive degradation of the environment in the main areas of settlement, which may have had an important influence on potential
culture chronology change later_neolithic north_mesopotamia aim_examine spatial_temporal social patterning late_neolithic north iraq traditional term cover culture underpinning much analysis new_chronology period fit available_evidence well achieve previously chronology emphasise continuity much change stress lay make general able accommodate regional_variation important new_information transition obtain excavation site detail surface_collection others north project survey instead transition abrupt argue smooth change north iraq considerable cultural continuity spread single ceramic style central northern iraq northern_syria propose occur late sequence rather argue period_saw progressive degradation environment main_area settlement may important influence potential