Fabrizio Venturi
TELL AFIS
The excavaTions of areas e2-e4
Phases v-i
The end of The LaTe Bronze /
iron age i sequence
Stratigraphy, Pottery and Small Finds
ParT 1 - TexT
Le Lettere
Contents
Foreword (S. Mazzoni) ..................................................................................................................................
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................
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I. IntroductIon .............................................................................................................................................
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I.1
I.2
I.3
I.4
I.5
The environment and the morphology of the site ...................................................................................
History of the excavations.......................................................................................................................
The stratigraphy of Areas E2-E4 .............................................................................................................
The Late Bronze Age and Iron Age I in the other Tell Afis excavation Areas ........................................
Methods of excavation recording and the database setting ……………................................................
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II. the archItecture and the stratIgraphy of phases V-I .......................................................................
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II.1 Phases Vc-b .............................................................................................................................................
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Building A and Street C ................................................................................................................
Building E and Area D ..................................................................................................................
Building B .....................................................................................................................................
The functional partition of the spaces during phases Vc-b ...........................................................
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II.2 Phases Va2-1 ...........................................................................................................................................
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II.2.1 Phase Va2 ......................................................................................................................................
II.2.2 Phase Va1 ......................................................................................................................................
II.2.3 The functional partition of the spaces during phases Va2-1 .........................................................
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II.3 Phases IVd-a............................................................................................................................................
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II.3.1 Building A .....................................................................................................................................
II.3.1.1 Phase IVc ........................................................................................................................
II.3.1.2 Phase IVb ........................................................................................................................
II.3.1.3 Phase IVa ........................................................................................................................
II.3.2 Area D ...........................................................................................................................................
II.3.2.1 Phase IVc ........................................................................................................................
II.3.2.2 Phase IVb ........................................................................................................................
II.3.2.3 Phase IVa ........................................................................................................................
II.3.3 Street C..........................................................................................................................................
II.3.3.1 Phase IVc ........................................................................................................................
II.3.3.2 Phase IVb ........................................................................................................................
II.3.3.3 Phase IVa ........................................................................................................................
II.3.4 Building B and Area E ..................................................................................................................
II.3.4.1 Phase IVd ........................................................................................................................
II.3.4.2 Phase IVc ........................................................................................................................
II.3.4.3 Phase IVb ........................................................................................................................
II.3.4.4 Phase IVa ........................................................................................................................
II.3.5 The functional partition of the spaces during phases IVd-a .........................................................
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II.1.1
II.1.2
II.1.3
II.1.4
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CONTENTS
II.4 Phases IIId-a ............................................................................................................................................
p.
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II.4.1 Building A .....................................................................................................................................
II.4.1.1 Phase IIId ........................................................................................................................
II.4.1.2 Phase IIIc ........................................................................................................................
II.4.1.3 Phase IIIb ........................................................................................................................
II.4.1.4 Phase IIIa ........................................................................................................................
II.4.2 Building B and Street C ................................................................................................................
II.4.2.1 Phase IIId ........................................................................................................................
II.4.2.2 Phase IIIc ........................................................................................................................
II.4.2.3 Phases IIIb-a ...................................................................................................................
II.4.3 Buildings E, G and Streets D, F, H ...............................................................................................
II.4.3.1 Phases IIId-c ...................................................................................................................
II.4.3.2 Phases IIIb-a ...................................................................................................................
II.4.4 The functional partition of the spaces during phases IIId-a ..........................................................
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II.5 Phases IIc-a .............................................................................................................................................
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II.5.1
II.5.2
II.5.3
II.5.4
II.5.5
Building A and Street D ................................................................................................................
Building L and Street H ................................................................................................................
Building N and Street M ...............................................................................................................
Building Q and Street P ................................................................................................................
The functional partition of the spaces during phases IIc-a ...........................................................
II.6 Phases Ic-b ..............................................................................................................................................
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II.6.1 Building N and Street M ...............................................................................................................
II.6.2 Building Q and Street P ................................................................................................................
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II.7 Phase Ia ...................................................................................................................................................
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III. the pottery ............................................................................................................................................
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III.1 Typological classification of shapes and pottery classes .......................................................................
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iii.2 Phases Vc-b ............................................................................................................................................
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III.2.1 Tableware ...................................................................................................................................
III.2.1.1 Eating/drinking function: plates (PL), shallow bowls (BL 1), small deep bowls (BL 2)
III.2.1.2 Drinking function: beakers (BK 1), goblets (MJ 1) .....................................................
III.2.1.3 Mixing function: large deep bowls (BL 3), kraters (KR).............................................
III.2.1.4 Pouring function: juglets (MJ 2), flasks (FL), necked jars (NJ) ..................................
III.2.1.5 Other functions: strainers (SR), perforated vessels (PV), potstands (ST) ...................
III.2.1.6 Painted pottery .............................................................................................................
III.2.2 Cooking ware: cooking pots (CP) ..............................................................................................
III.2.3 Storage ware ...............................................................................................................................
III.2.3.1 Fusiform jars (FJ).........................................................................................................
III.2.3.2 Krater jars (KJ) ............................................................................................................
III.2.3.3 Storage jars (SJ) ...........................................................................................................
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III.3 Phases Va2-1 ..........................................................................................................................................
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III.3.1 Tableware ...................................................................................................................................
III.3.1.1 Eating/drinking function: plates (PL), shallow bowls (BL 1), small deep bowls (BL 2)
III.3.1.2 Drinking function: beakers (BK 1) ..............................................................................
III.3.1.3 Mixing function: kraters (KR) .....................................................................................
III.3.1.4 Pouring function: necked jars (NJ) ..............................................................................
III.3.1.5 Other functions: strainers (SR) ....................................................................................
III.3.2 Cooking ware: cooking pots CP) ...............................................................................................
III.3.3 Storage ware: storage jars (SJ) ...................................................................................................
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III.4 Phases IVd-a ..........................................................................................................................................
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IX
CONTENTS
III.4.1 Tableware ...................................................................................................................................
III.4.1.1 Eating/drinking function: shallow bowls (BL 1), small deep bowls (BL 2) ................
III.4.1.2 Drinking function: beakers, cups, mugs (BK1-3) ........................................................
III.4.1.3 Mixing function: large deep bowls (BL 3), kraters (KR).............................................
III.4.1.4 Pouring function: juglets (MJ 2), flasks (FL), spouted jugs (SP), necked jars (NJ) ....
III.4.1.5 Other functions: perforated vessels (PV), potstands (ST) ...........................................
III.4.2 Cooking ware: cooking pots (CP) ..............................................................................................
III.4.3 Storage ware: storage jars (SJ) ...................................................................................................
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III.5 Phases IIId-a...........................................................................................................................................
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III.5.1 Tableware ...................................................................................................................................
III.5.1.1 Eating/drinking function: shallow bowls (BL 1), small deep bowls (BL 2) ................
III.5.1.2 Drinking function: beakers, cups, mugs (BK 1-3), goblets (MJ 1)..............................
III.5.1.3 Mixing function: large deep bowls (BL 3), kraters (KR).............................................
III.5.1.4 Pouring function: spouted bowls (SP), juglets (MJ 2), necked jars (NJ).....................
III.5.1.5 Other functions: zoomorphic vessels (ZV), potstands (ST).........................................
III.5.2 Cooking ware: cooking pots (CP) ..............................................................................................
III.5.3 Storage ware: storage jars (SJ) ...................................................................................................
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III.6 Phases IIc-a ............................................................................................................................................
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III.6.1 Tableware ...................................................................................................................................
III.6.1.1 Eating/drinking function: shallow bowls (BL 1), small deep bowls (BL 2), beakers
(BK) .............................................................................................................................
III.6.1.2 Mixing function: large deep bowls (BL 3), kraters (KR).............................................
III.6.1.3 Pouring function: necked jars (NJ) ..............................................................................
III.6.2 Cooking ware: cooking pots (CP) ..............................................................................................
III.6.3 Storage ware: storage jars (SJ) ...................................................................................................
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III.7 Phases Ic-b .............................................................................................................................................
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III.8 Iron Age I pottery decoration. Phases Va-Icb ........................................................................................
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III.8.1 Monochrome and bichrome decorations ....................................................................................
III.8.2 Geometric motifs........................................................................................................................
III.8.3 Figurative motifs ........................................................................................................................
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III.9 Phase Ia ..................................................................................................................................................
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III.9.1 The pottery in context ................................................................................................................
III.9.2 The pottery of phase Ia; general considerations.........................................................................
III.9.2.1 Shapes ..........................................................................................................................
III.9.2.2 Bichrome ware .............................................................................................................
III.9.2.3 Red slip ware................................................................................................................
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III.10 Pottery evolution at Tell Afis between phases V and I and relative chronology ....................................
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IV. the small fInds.......................................................................................................................................
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IV.1 Ornaments and fastenings ......................................................................................................................
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IV.1.1
IV.1.2
IV.1.3
IV.1.4
IV.1.5
Fibulae ........................................................................................................................................
Pins .............................................................................................................................................
Bracelets, anklets and rings ........................................................................................................
Pendants .....................................................................................................................................
Beads and buttons ......................................................................................................................
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IV.2 Cosmetics ...............................................................................................................................................
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IV.2.1 Kohl boxes .................................................................................................................................
IV.2.2 Pyxides .......................................................................................................................................
IV.2.3 Tweezers.....................................................................................................................................
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IV.3 Drinking tools (filters)............................................................................................................................
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IV.4 Weapons and cutting tools .....................................................................................................................
IV.4.1
IV.4.2
IV.4.3
IV.4.4
IV.4.5
Spearheads and arrowheads .......................................................................................................
Knives and sickles ......................................................................................................................
Axes ...........................................................................................................................................
Celts ...........................................................................................................................................
Maceheads and butts ..................................................................................................................
p. 127
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IV.5 Perforation tools .....................................................................................................................................
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IV.5.1 Awls, chisels, drills and burins ...................................................................................................
IV.5.2 Hooks and spatulae ....................................................................................................................
IV.5.3 Ferrules and ploughshares ..........................................................................................................
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IV.6 Textile tools ............................................................................................................................................
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IV.6.1
IV.6.2
IV.6.3
IV.6.4
IV.6.5
Needles .......................................................................................................................................
Spindles and spindle whorls .......................................................................................................
Loomweights ..............................................................................................................................
Spatulae ......................................................................................................................................
Shuttles .......................................................................................................................................
IV.7 Food processing tools ............................................................................................................................
IV.7.1
IV.7.2
IV.7.3
IV.7.4
Mortars .......................................................................................................................................
Pestles.........................................................................................................................................
Querns and rubbers ....................................................................................................................
Stone containers .........................................................................................................................
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IV.8 Polishing tools ........................................................................................................................................
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IV.8.1 Polishers and scrapers ................................................................................................................
IV.8.2 Whetstones .................................................................................................................................
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IV.9 Counterweights ......................................................................................................................................
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IV.10 Percussion tools (mallets) ......................................................................................................................
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IV.11 Moulding tools (stone moulds) ..............................................................................................................
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IV.12 Measuring tools (scale weights).............................................................................................................
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IV.13 Sealing tools (stoppers) ..........................................................................................................................
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IV.14 Fittings and furniture..............................................................................................................................
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IV.14.1 Inlays ..........................................................................................................................................
IV.14.2 Finials .........................................................................................................................................
IV.14.3 Supports .....................................................................................................................................
IV.14.4 Lamps .........................................................................................................................................
IV.15 Figurative ...............................................................................................................................................
IV.15.1 Figurines.....................................................................................................................................
IV.15.1.1 Female figurines ...........................................................................................................
IV.15.1.2 Male figurines ..............................................................................................................
IV.15.1.3 Animal figurines...........................................................................................................
IV.15.2 Models ........................................................................................................................................
IV.15.3 Molded figurines ........................................................................................................................
IV.15.4 Statues ........................................................................................................................................
IV.15.5 Plastic decoration on vessels ......................................................................................................
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IV.16 Seals .......................................................................................................................................................
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IV.16.1 Cylinder seals .............................................................................................................................
IV.16.2 Stamp seals .................................................................................................................................
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IV.17 Worked bones .........................................................................................................................................
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IV.17.1 Scapulae .....................................................................................................................................
IV.17.2 Astragali .....................................................................................................................................
p. 151
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V. the 14c and mInero-petrographIc/geochemIcal analyses.
the absolute chronology and proVenance of the area e4 myc. IIIc pottery...............................
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C analyses and the absolute chronology of Area E4 and Myc. IIIC ....................................................
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V.1
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V.1.1 Absolute chronology in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean .........................................
V.1.1.1 LH IIIC chronology .....................................................................................................
V.1.1.2 LC IIIA-B chronology .................................................................................................
V.1.1.3 The Philistine pottery and the high-middle-low chronology debate............................
V.1.1.4 The Northern Levant chronology.................................................................................
V.1.2 14C analyses of Tell Afis Area E4 (phases VIII, VI, V, IV) ........................................................
V.1.2.1 The stratigraphy of the SE sector .................................................................................
V.1.2.2 Choice of samples and their stratigraphic position ......................................................
V.1.2.3 Comments on the radiocarbon dating of Tell Afis samples (M. Fedi) .........................
V.1.2.4 Discussion ....................................................................................................................
V.1.2.5 The Area E4 results and their implications for the appearance of Myc. IIIC pottery
in the Northern Levant .................................................................................................
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V.2 The petrographic/chemical pottery analyses and the origin of Myc. IIIC .............................................
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V.2.1 Description of the corpus ...........................................................................................................
V.2.2 Results and discussion (S. Raneri) .............................................................................................
V.2.3 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................
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VI. tell afIs and Its hIstorIcal background ............................................................................................
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VI.1 Tell Afis in Late Bronze Age II, a provincial administrative center on the border of the Hittite empire
(phases Vc-b) ..........................................................................................................................................
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VI.1.1 The Hittites in the Northern Levant: the historical background ................................................
VI.1.2 The Hittites in the Northern Levant: the archaeological evidence.............................................
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VI.2 Winds of change at the beginning of the Iron Age (phases Va-IV). The Sea Peoples in the Northern Levant
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VI.2.1 The written sources ....................................................................................................................
VI.2.2 Celebrative art ............................................................................................................................
VI.2.3 The urban dynamic.....................................................................................................................
VI.2.4 Diffusion of Myc. IIIC and other cultural markers ....................................................................
VI.2.5 Tell Afis during phases Va-IV: a society in transition ................................................................
VI.2.6 The settlement of the Sea Peoples in the Northern Levant: a possible scenario matching the
textual, artistic and archaeological evidence..............................................................................
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VI.3 The formation of an Iron Age I community (phases III-II): a growing urbanization between cultural
integration and new cultural acquisitions...............................................................................................
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VI.4 The end of Iron Age I and the transition to Iron Age II (phases Icb-Ia). The Aramaeans at Tell Afis .......
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VI.4.1 The emergence of the Aramaeans in the Northern Levant .........................................................
VI.4.2 Tell Afis in the transition between Iron Age I and II ..................................................................
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VI.5 Tell Afis and the chronology of the Iron Age I ......................................................................................
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VI.6 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................
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List of US .......................................................................................................................................................
List of figures .................................................................................................................................................
List of tables...................................................................................................................................................
List of plates...................................................................................................................................................
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Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................................
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Fabrizio Venturi