Landscapes of burial? : The Homs Basalt, Syria in the 4th-3rd  millennia BC
In the basaltic landscape of the Homs region, there exist thousands of hitherto unrecognized burial cairns and settlements provisionally dated to the 4th-3rd millennia BC. They represent a unique opportunity to analyze a largely extant archaeological record of human activity, which contrasts with the traditional landscape of tells characteristic of the Middle East. With this in mind, this thesis aims to investigate such structures and their role within processes of social reproduction in what can be termed 'non-optimal' zones. The timing of their construction, when societies in lowland zones were undergoing a significant augmentation of political and economic complexity,concomitant with the rise of states, is pivotal. Despite assumptions regarding the association between these monuments and nomadic groups, preliminary research within the Homs area suggests that such an association is not necessarily straightforward. As such, the long-term interplay between mobile and sedentary populations within sub-optimal zones is crucial for the consideration of these monuments. Preliminary analysis of data from the Homs area, as well as other areas within the Levant, has also suggested that a sole 4th/3rd millennia BC
Bradbury, Jennie Nicole
Landscapes of burial? : The Homs Basalt, Syria in the 4th-3rd  millennia BC. In the basaltic landscape of the Homs region, there exist thousands of hitherto unrecognized burial cairns and settlements provisionally dated to the 4th-3rd millennia BC. They represent a unique opportunity to analyze a largely extant archaeological record of human activity, which contrasts with the traditional landscape of tells characteristic of the Middle East. With this in mind, this thesis aims to investigate such structures and their role within processes of social reproduction in what can be termed 'non-optimal' zones. The timing of their construction, when societies in lowland zones were undergoing a significant augmentation of political and economic complexity,concomitant with the rise of states, is pivotal. Despite assumptions regarding the association between these monuments and nomadic groups, preliminary research within the Homs area suggests that such an association is not necessarily straightforward. As such, the long-term interplay between mobile and sedentary populations within sub-optimal zones is crucial for the consideration of these monuments. Preliminary analysis of data from the Homs area, as well as other areas within the Levant, has also suggested that a sole 4th/3rd millennia BC
landscapes burial syria landscape region exist thousand hitherto unrecognized burial cairn settlement date represent unique_opportunity analyze largely extant archaeological_record human_activity contrast traditional landscape tell characteristic middle_east mind aim_investigate structure role_within process social_reproduction term non optimal zone time construction society lowland zone undergo significant political_economic complexity concomitant rise state pivotal despite assumption_regard association monument nomadic group preliminary within area suggest association necessarily straightforward long_term interplay mobile sedentary population within sub optimal zone crucial consideration monument preliminary analysis_data area well area within levant also_suggest sole millennia date