The transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age in the northern Levant : the evidence from Tell Nebi Mend, Syria
This thesis consists of six chapters of description and analysis of the Second Millennium architecture and ceramics excavated at Tell Nebi Mend (TNM), ancient Qadesh on the Orontes. Further analysis centres on the problem of the apparent gap in occupation in many of the major sites in north-central Syria between ca. 1750-1550 B.C. Chapter One describes previous excavation and research into the archaeology of Second Millennium Syria, reviewing main discoveries and the origins of the major research problems in the field. Chapter Two outlines the history of excavation at TNM and describes in detail the archaeological stratigraphy relevant to Second Millennium investigations, concluding with a summary of stratigraphy and a short comparative analysis of regional site histories. Chapter Three details the ceramic type series, containing sections on type description, shape, ware, and decoration analysis, and a diachronic study of variation in all of the above over the course of the Second Millennium occupation at the site. Chapter Four consists of a comparative ceramic analysis. The TNM assemblage is placed in a regional relative and absolute chronological context. A final point demonstrates the importance of comparative
Bourke, Stephen J.
The transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age in the northern Levant : the evidence from Tell Nebi Mend, Syria. This thesis consists of six chapters of description and analysis of the Second Millennium architecture and ceramics excavated at Tell Nebi Mend (TNM), ancient Qadesh on the Orontes. Further analysis centres on the problem of the apparent gap in occupation in many of the major sites in north-central Syria between ca. 1750-1550 B.C. Chapter One describes previous excavation and research into the archaeology of Second Millennium Syria, reviewing main discoveries and the origins of the major research problems in the field. Chapter Two outlines the history of excavation at TNM and describes in detail the archaeological stratigraphy relevant to Second Millennium investigations, concluding with a summary of stratigraphy and a short comparative analysis of regional site histories. Chapter Three details the ceramic type series, containing sections on type description, shape, ware, and decoration analysis, and a diachronic study of variation in all of the above over the course of the Second Millennium occupation at the site. Chapter Four consists of a comparative ceramic analysis. The TNM assemblage is placed in a regional relative and absolute chronological context. A final point demonstrates the importance of comparative
transition middle_late_bronze_age northern_levant evidence tell syria consists description analysis second_millennium architecture ceramic excavate tell ancient analysis centre problem apparent gap occupation many major site north_central syria describe previous excavation archaeology second_millennium syria review main discovery origins major_problem field outline_history excavation describe_detail archaeological stratigraphy relevant second_millennium investigation conclude summary stratigraphy short comparative_analysis regional site history detail ceramic type series contain section type description shape ware decoration analysis diachronic_study variation course second_millennium occupation_site consist comparative ceramic_analysis assemblage place regional relative absolute chronological_context final point demonstrate_importance comparative