Life in Neolithic Farming Communities

by Kuijt, Ian

• ISBN13: 9780306461224
• ISBN10: 0306461226
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-09-01
• Publisher: Plenum Pub Corp

Summary

Drawing on both the results of recent arhaeological research as well as anthropological theory, leading experts synthesize current thinking on the nature of and variation within Neolithic social arrangements. The authors analyze archaeological data within a range of methodological and theoretical perspectives to reconstruct key aspects of ritual practices, labor organization, and collective social identity at the scale of the household, community, and region.

Table of Contents

PART I. INTRODUCTION
Life in Neolithic Farming Communities: An Introduction	3	(16)
Ian Kuijt
Introduction	3	(2)
The Near Eastern Neolithic: Regional Chronology Frameworks	5	(5)
Summary	10	(1)
References	11	(8)
PART II. REGIONAL ISSUES, SETTLEMENT PRACTICES, AND SEDENTISM
Early Sedentism in the Near East: A Bumpy Ride to Village Life	19	(20)
Anna Belfer-Cohen
Ofer Bar-Yosef
Introduction	19	(2)
The Natufian (12,800--10,300 bp)	21	(7)
Pre-Pottery Neolithic A Period (10,300--9,300 bp)	28	(5)
References	33	(6)
Hallan Cemi and Early Village Organization in Eastern Anatolia	39	(24)
Michael Rosenberg
Richard W. Redding
Introduction	39	(2)
Organizational Complexity and Sedentary Societies	41	(1)
Hallan Cemi: An Overview	42	(5)
Community Organization	47	(7)
Symbolism and Organization	54	(3)
Summary	57	(1)
References	58	(5)
Households in Transition: Neolithic Social Organization within Southwest Asia	63	(40)
Brian F. Byrd
Introduction	63	(2)
Definitions and Approach of the Study	65	(6)
Archaeological Data	71	(6)
Diachronic Trends in the Archaeological Record	77	(3)
Interpretation	80	(9)
Domestic Building Sizes and Implications for Household Sizes	80	(5)
Other Factors Affecting Domestic Building Size and Organization	85	(4)
Discussion	89	(3)
References	92	(11)
PART III. ORGANIZATION OF SOCIAL RELATIONS: MORTUARY RITUAL, SOCIAL DIFFERENTIATION, AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEMS
The Quick and the Dead: The Social Context of Aceramic Neolithic Mortuary Practices as Seen from Kfar Hahoresh	103	(34)
Nigel Goring-Morris
Introduction	103	(4)
Kfar HaHoresh	107	(8)
General Observations on Terminal Pleistocene-Early Holocene Mortuary Practices	115	(11)
Ritual Centers, Burial Grounds, and Cemetery Sites	116	(3)
Monitoring Burials	119	(2)
Human and Animal Burials	121	(1)
Ranking as Indicated by Skull Removal and Further Treatment	121	(4)
Favissae as Repositories for Modeled Skulls	125	(1)
Use of Lime Plaster to Integrate Profane and Symbolic Realms	126	(1)
Early Holocene Ritual and Mortuary Practices in Levant	126	(3)
Codification of Funerary Practices through Time	128	(1)
Concluding Remarks	129	(2)
References	131	(6)
Keeping the Peace: Ritual, Skull Caching, and Community Integration in the Levantine Neolithic	137	(26)
Ian Kuijt
Introduction	137	(3)
Ritual Practices in the MPPNB: Shated Themes and Numeric Standazdization	140	(3)
Secondary Mortuary Rituals and Community Identity	143	(8)
Social Impact of MPPNB Secondary Mortuary Practices	145	(4)
Decapitation as a Common Theme: Skull Removal and Anthropomorphic Figurines	149	(1)
Large Anthropomorphic Statue Caches	150	(1)
Numerical Organization of MPPNB Ritual Caches	151	(6)
Skull and Statue Caching: Implications for the Scale of Social Action	155	(1)
Social Differentiation in the MPPNB	156	(1)
Conclusion and Implications	157	(3)
References	160	(3)
Ritual and Social Structure at Neolithic 'Ain Ghazal	163	(28)
Gary O. Rollefson
Introduction	163	(4)
Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period (MPPNB)	167	(5)
Animal and Human Figurines	167	(2)
Human Burials and Skull Caching	169	(2)
Lime Plaster Statuary	171	(1)
Late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B period (LPPNB)	172	(6)
LPPNB Ritual Structures	174	(4)
Pre-Pottery Neolithic C period (PPNC)	178	(3)
Human Burials	178	(1)
The PPNC Temple or Sanctuary	179	(2)
Yarmukian	181	(2)
The ``Public Building''	181	(2)
MPPNB and LPPNB Ritual and Social Structure	183	(3)
PPNC and Yarmukian Ritual and Social Structure	186	(1)
Concluding Remarks	187	(1)
References	188	(3)
Is Size Important? Function and Hierarchy in Neolithic Settlements	191	(20)
Frank Hole
Introduction	191	(2)
What Is Large?	193	(2)
Archaeological Data Sets	195	(9)
Bouqras	195	(3)
Abu Hureyra	198	(1)
Cayonu	199	(2)
Nevali Cori	201	(1)
'Ain Ghazal	202	(1)
Beidha	203	(1)
Conclusions	204	(3)
References	207	(4)
Villages on the Edge: Regional Settlement Change and the End of the Levantine Pre-Pottery Neolithic	211	(24)
Alan H. Simmons
Introduction	211	(1)
The Neolithic in the Levant	212	(2)
Chronology and Phasing	212	(1)
The Levantine Pre-Pottery Neolithic	213	(1)
The Late Neolithic in Eastern Jordan: A Tentative Scenario	214	(4)
Paleoecological Perspective	218	(11)
A Speculative Model of Social Implications	229
Aggregation into Large Regional Centers	220	(3)
Disharmony During the PPNC	223	(1)
The Solution: The return to Tribal Society and Consequent Social Fragmentation	224	(1)
Conclusions	225	(1)
References	226	(9)
PART IV. SOCIAL RELATIONS AND MATERIAL CULTURE: SYMBOLISM AND MEANING
The Symbolic Foundations of the Neolithic Revolution in the Near East	235	(18)
Jacques Cauvin
Introduction	235	(5)
The Advent of Divinities	240	(3)
The Ascendancy of Masculine Symbols and the Neolithic Triumphant	243	(5)
Conclusions	248	(1)
References	249	(4)
Catal Hoyuk in Context: Ritual at Early Neolithic Sites in Central and Eastern Turkey	253	(42)
Mary M. Voigt
Introduction	253	(2)
Defining Archaeological Context: Hajji Firuz Tepe	255	(1)
Nature of the Hajji Firuz Sample	256	(8)
Figurine Form: Application of the Ucko Typology	256	(6)
Figurine Use and Disposal Patterns	262	(2)
Magic and Meaning: Gritille Hoyuk	264	(6)
The Gritille Figurine Sample	265	(2)
Interpretation of the Gritille Figurines	267	(3)
Figures and Architecture in the Taurus PPNB	270	(5)
The Nevali Cori Cult Buildings	270	(1)
Sculptures and Iconography at Nevali Cori	271	(3)
Gobekli Tepe: Sculpted Reptiles on the Urfa Plain	274	(1)
Public Buildings and Mortuary Practices at Cayonu Tepesi	274	(1)
Catal Hoyuk: The Myth of the Goddess Revisited	275	(12)
Figurine Form, Context, and Function at Catal	276	(7)
Male or Female or Both?	283	(4)
A Religious Revolution	287	(1)
An Eastern Perspective	287	(3)
References	290	(5)
The Pottery Neolithic Period: Questions about Pottery Decoration, Symbolism, and Meaning	295	(16)
Estelle Orrelle
Avi Gopher
Introduction	295	(1)
The Yarmukian Culture	296	(1)
The Wadi Raba Culture	297	(1)
Symbolic Assemblages of the Pottery Neolithic	298	(3)
Yarmukian Pottery, Imagery, and Interpretations	298	(2)
Wadi Raba Pottery, Imagery, and Interpretations	300	(1)
Discussion	301	(4)
Organization of Design Space on Vessels	301	(3)
Death and Ancestors in the Pottery Neolithic	304	(1)
References	305	(6)
PART V CONCLUSION
Near Eastern Neolithic Research: Directions and Trends	311	(12)
Ian Kuijt
Social Process, Scale, and the Neolithic	311	(4)
Coexistence of Hierarchical and Egalitarian Elements	312	(2)
Neolithic Social Organization: Heterarchy, Hierarchy, or Both?	314	(1)
Future Directions	315	(4)
Frameworks of Governance and Social Differentiation in Neolithic Society	316	(2)
Neolithic Household, ``House,'' and Links to Economy	318	(1)
Summary	319	(1)
References	320	(3)
Index	323