AN UNUSUAL BUILDING IN A
MIDDLE PPNB SETTLEMENT IN JORDAN
Adamantios Sampson
University of the Aegean , Greece
The
site Wadi Hamarash 1 is located at an altitude of -50m (31.016783 Latid.; 35.542582 Long.) on
an extended plateau north-west of the junction of the al-Hasa and
Hamarash-Suweif wadis. The Neolithic settlement extends
over a circular flat
area of 80m in diameter and dominates an arid plateau. The site is isolated and inaccessible, about a three-hour
walk from the village of Safi
Since
2007 a team of the University of the Aegean has participated in a survey in the Safi Aegean started systematic archaeological excavations at Wadi
Hamarash 1 which continued in 2009, 2010 and 2011 (Sampson 2011, 2011a; Sampson
in print). So far, five areas with an extent of 1600 sq. meters have been investigated. Thick walls that belonged
to two-storey buildings and thin walls, separating rooms within buildings have
been exposed. More than 100 loci, rectangular or trapezoid in shape, with
rounded corners were excavated in this area. Some sites were excavated to the
virgin soil and were revealed to contain two floors. Smaller rooms were
connected to larger rooms via narrow openings. This architecture closely
resembles the ones found at es-Sifiya (Mahasneh 2004) and Ghweir I (Simmons and Najjar 2000, 2001) in southern Jordan
Apart from the one thousand ground stone tools found, the recovered stone
vases and flint artefacts (blades, pointed tools and cores) were also in the
hundreds. The numerous millstones indicate extensive food preparation and
cultivation of cereals presumably on the plateau, with its easy access to fresh
water from the wadi.
Four
charcoal samples collected from these levels gave the following radiocarbon
dates: 8660±45 (7709-7598 BC), 8650±60 (7720-7590 BC), 8710±50 (7760-7600 BC)
and 8425±45 BP (7566-7477 BC) that correspond to the early stages of PPNB given the presence of arrowheads of the Helwan
type (Gopher 1994). The site seems contemporary with the settlements Ghweir I (Simmons and Najjar
2000, 2001) and es-Sifiya (Mahasneh
2004).
Recent researches show that the phase of
Wadi Hamarash (PPNB), es-Sifiya, and Ghweir is the one that succeeds the PPNA
in southern Jordan
In 2010 an exceptional rectangular building was excavated measuring internally 10.60X9.50m. It constitutes an independent building that does not relate with the dense layout of other buildings and does not follow the orientation pattern of the rest of the buildings.The masonry of the external side is exceptional and comprises slab stones combined with great consistency. In the southern part, the foundation wall’s in-depth is 1.65m, while in the northern part, the foundation was revealed at a smaller depth. Even though it looks as a rectangle or roughly square in shape, there is no absolute symmetry in dimensions. Hundreds of stones fallen from the walls were found both in the interior and the exterior area, indicating that the walls were of considerable height. Two main doors with stone thresholds exist in the building, in the western side and in the SW corner, 0.95m and 0.90m wide respectively. Three narrow openings are at small distance from each other at the western side.
The construction of the floor was meticulous and included three phases. Initially there was a substratum comprising big stones and slabs. Then, small gravel mixed with earth was placed, and, finally, this was covered with white plaster. Unfortunately, the plaster was preserved in few areas, whereas the layer of gravel to a greater extent. In very few cases the plaster on the walls was preserved. What is original in the building is that on the walls had been created 9 niches for placement of posts that differ in size. It is characteristic that the niches are larger inside to house the wooden posts more efficiently.
In 2010 an exceptional rectangular building was excavated measuring internally 10.60X9.50m. It constitutes an independent building that does not relate with the dense layout of other buildings and does not follow the orientation pattern of the rest of the buildings.The masonry of the external side is exceptional and comprises slab stones combined with great consistency. In the southern part, the foundation wall’s in-depth is 1.65m, while in the northern part, the foundation was revealed at a smaller depth. Even though it looks as a rectangle or roughly square in shape, there is no absolute symmetry in dimensions. Hundreds of stones fallen from the walls were found both in the interior and the exterior area, indicating that the walls were of considerable height. Two main doors with stone thresholds exist in the building, in the western side and in the SW corner, 0.95m and 0.90m wide respectively. Three narrow openings are at small distance from each other at the western side.
The construction of the floor was meticulous and included three phases. Initially there was a substratum comprising big stones and slabs. Then, small gravel mixed with earth was placed, and, finally, this was covered with white plaster. Unfortunately, the plaster was preserved in few areas, whereas the layer of gravel to a greater extent. In very few cases the plaster on the walls was preserved. What is original in the building is that on the walls had been created 9 niches for placement of posts that differ in size. It is characteristic that the niches are larger inside to house the wooden posts more efficiently.
The
difference in the size of posts is conclusive that in the area pre-existed a wooden construction with posts which in a later phase the residents of settlement attended to incorporate
into the walls of the building. The walls could be as high as the roof, but
they could also be lower for better ventilation. The asymmetrical position of
the posts is indicative of a gabled roof constructed with beams and grasses. The providence for the drainage of rainwater
shows that the roof was not horizontal. It is likely that posts also existed that
stood out of the walls. A line of posts
would be in the centre of the room, but because of the destruction of flooring no
traces were found. Because of the big dimensions of the room a horizontal roof
would present problems. By examining the ground plan of the building we realize
that this was not
precisely rectangular and probably
this was dictated by the pre-existing wooden construction. The three narrow
openings at the western side seem unnecessary, even though they could be
purposeful since they are placed on the main face of the building that gives on
to an open square with
an extent of 200 sq.m. Next to its
central entrance an extraordinary platform was found. A small niche in this
platform probably served as a base for an ortholith found in situ.
Characteristic is that in the building itself minimal discoveries were made, such as a few grinders and lithics, and not at floor level. In general, the floor of the building has suffered big destruction after its abandonment due to its small depth. In several spots, pits with large stones exist.
The only structure in the building was a rectangular hearth measuring 1.00X0.80m, in square 24, that is asymmetrical compared to the walls. Near the hearth, (square 33) a circular pit surrounded by small stones was revealed at floor level, containing a flint nodule with roughly spherical shape (diam. 0.43 and height 0.35m). One side of the stone featured a flat surface with circular dents with diam. 0.17m, and below it, two similar incised symbols. Each symbol is marked by a straight line with two emerging aerials. A precisely similar symbol was found in Locus 20 on an ellipsoid sandstone object with dimensions 0.18X0.16m and thickness of 0.03m. Several similar objects without incised symbols were found from the beginning of the excavation in Areas I and II. The use of these objects is for the moment inexplicable, however the presence of the incised symbol on one of them could also characterize the other similar objects as items with a symbolic significance. The same symbol on a sandstone plaquette was found in 2010 on another nearby site (Wadi Hamarash 5) very close to the river.
Discussion
A settlement in such a remote area, far from fertile plains, as the Safi area, is an unusual phenomenon. It would be more natural for a settlement of this period to be found in the valley next to the Dead Sea, irrigated by the river Wadi al- Hasa. A big settlement (regional center) probably existed in this area that has not been found yet. Wadi Hamarash 1 had the advantage of the river, but the cultivable area is small compared to that of Safi. It seems improbable that the residents of the site exploited the water of the river and transported this to the plateau, even if the level was higher than today. This would require technology that the residents of the site did not possess. The settlement probably constituted part of a “hydraulic society” that had established a singular culture along a river that had abundant water all year long.
The recent discovery of two flint balls in the calcareous sediments that constitute the base of the plateau in Wadi Hamarash 1 have changed our initial opinion that this objects were imported from a distance and were therefore particularly precious. However, they constituted something unique and could lead to striking symbolisms about the people of this period. Perhaps the belief that these balls fell from the sky after natural disasters is proportional to modern beliefs of people living in the countryside that along with lightning stone axes fall from the sky.
These objects have different sizes, weight and form, from perfectly circular to that of pressed ball. A ball that was found under the plateau next to the path that leads to the river was quite big and it was impossible to be carried to the settlement. The ball with the symbols that was found in the building could be transported to the area with great difficulty. A similar spherical nodule was found outside the symbolic building, at a small distance from the southern entrance. Its dimensions were smaller, with diam.0.36m and height 0.20m.
As for the incised symbols, they could allude to a human body with upraised arms. Depictions of human forms on clay vessels or other materials are not rare in the Neolithic of the Balkans. A human figure with raised hands in Hungary dates back to the Bukk phase (Kalicz 1980, fig. 19). A similar incised symbol on vessels or figurines of the Vinca culture in Serbia is included in the early Neolithic writing of the Balkans (Winn 2009, 586, Pesic 2003, fig. 5), while a similar symbol on ceramics from Troia I (Winn 1981, 248, Haarmann,fig. 2) has also been found. In any case, to my knowledge, this symbol has not been found in the Near East. However, in Saudi Arabia PPNB incisions on rocks have been found that portray schematic human figures. Two of them resemble the symbols found in Wadi Hamarash 1(Νayeem1990, 99; Khan 1988).
Characteristic is that in the building itself minimal discoveries were made, such as a few grinders and lithics, and not at floor level. In general, the floor of the building has suffered big destruction after its abandonment due to its small depth. In several spots, pits with large stones exist.
The only structure in the building was a rectangular hearth measuring 1.00X0.80m, in square 24, that is asymmetrical compared to the walls. Near the hearth, (square 33) a circular pit surrounded by small stones was revealed at floor level, containing a flint nodule with roughly spherical shape (diam. 0.43 and height 0.35m). One side of the stone featured a flat surface with circular dents with diam. 0.17m, and below it, two similar incised symbols. Each symbol is marked by a straight line with two emerging aerials. A precisely similar symbol was found in Locus 20 on an ellipsoid sandstone object with dimensions 0.18X0.16m and thickness of 0.03m. Several similar objects without incised symbols were found from the beginning of the excavation in Areas I and II. The use of these objects is for the moment inexplicable, however the presence of the incised symbol on one of them could also characterize the other similar objects as items with a symbolic significance. The same symbol on a sandstone plaquette was found in 2010 on another nearby site (Wadi Hamarash 5) very close to the river.
Discussion
A settlement in such a remote area, far from fertile plains, as the Safi area, is an unusual phenomenon. It would be more natural for a settlement of this period to be found in the valley next to the Dead Sea, irrigated by the river Wadi al- Hasa. A big settlement (regional center) probably existed in this area that has not been found yet. Wadi Hamarash 1 had the advantage of the river, but the cultivable area is small compared to that of Safi. It seems improbable that the residents of the site exploited the water of the river and transported this to the plateau, even if the level was higher than today. This would require technology that the residents of the site did not possess. The settlement probably constituted part of a “hydraulic society” that had established a singular culture along a river that had abundant water all year long.
The recent discovery of two flint balls in the calcareous sediments that constitute the base of the plateau in Wadi Hamarash 1 have changed our initial opinion that this objects were imported from a distance and were therefore particularly precious. However, they constituted something unique and could lead to striking symbolisms about the people of this period. Perhaps the belief that these balls fell from the sky after natural disasters is proportional to modern beliefs of people living in the countryside that along with lightning stone axes fall from the sky.
These objects have different sizes, weight and form, from perfectly circular to that of pressed ball. A ball that was found under the plateau next to the path that leads to the river was quite big and it was impossible to be carried to the settlement. The ball with the symbols that was found in the building could be transported to the area with great difficulty. A similar spherical nodule was found outside the symbolic building, at a small distance from the southern entrance. Its dimensions were smaller, with diam.0.36m and height 0.20m.
As for the incised symbols, they could allude to a human body with upraised arms. Depictions of human forms on clay vessels or other materials are not rare in the Neolithic of the Balkans. A human figure with raised hands in Hungary dates back to the Bukk phase (Kalicz 1980, fig. 19). A similar incised symbol on vessels or figurines of the Vinca culture in Serbia is included in the early Neolithic writing of the Balkans (Winn 2009, 586, Pesic 2003, fig. 5), while a similar symbol on ceramics from Troia I (Winn 1981, 248, Haarmann,fig. 2) has also been found. In any case, to my knowledge, this symbol has not been found in the Near East. However, in Saudi Arabia PPNB incisions on rocks have been found that portray schematic human figures. Two of them resemble the symbols found in Wadi Hamarash 1(Νayeem1990, 99; Khan 1988).
Two
important questions arise: Is it possible that a type of adoration was popular
in the ΡΡΝΒ, performed by the community or certain privileged individuals
in certain particular areas? Would this be a communal area such as the
rectangular building where they carried out their religious duties? Gebel
(2002) is uncertain as to whether during this period featured a social hierachy
or a segregation between religion and daily needs.
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