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" Ancient distribution and deposition of prestige objects: "
Y. M. Rowan
J. A. Neely
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Latin Dissertation
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| Language of Document
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English
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| Record Number
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1113370
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| Doc. No
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TLpq304452286
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| Main Entry
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J. A. Neely
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Y. M. Rowan
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| Title & Author
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Ancient distribution and deposition of prestige objects:\ Y. M. RowanJ. A. Neely
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| College
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The University of Texas at Austin
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| Date
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1998
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| student score
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1998
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| Degree
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Ph.D.
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| Page No
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518
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| Abstract
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The emergence of more complex social configurations during the late prehistoric periods in the southern Levant has elicited debate over how to interpret these new patterns. This research focuses on a range of stone bowls, particularly those made of basalt, to provide new data with which to examine these changing social developments. Stone bowls are examined from Late (Pottery) Neolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze (I) Age period (ca. 6000-3100 scBC) sites in Israel and Jordan. Morphological and decorative patterns are used to create a typology, developed to examine assemblages for regional and chronological patterns. In conjunction with the typology, associations of bowl types with contexts is examined to infer possible utilitarian and symbolic functions. Regional concentrations of basalt bowl types are recognizable, co-varying with other artifactual materials. A paucity of absolute dates precludes understanding whether these patterns are a reflection of chronological changes or different production areas, though a combination of both is possible. Strong associations of basalt vessels with caches, mortuary contexts and other ritual deposits suggest these frequently acted as important cultural symbols. Identifying the provenance of these artifacts is a critical component of resolving whether these patterns are chronological, regional or related to production areas. In general, these mineralogically similar basalts cannot be distinguished using petrography. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) has been used to quantify major and trace element concentrations on a small sample of Jordanian basalt sources and vessels, with promising results. A second analytical method, untested in application to archaeological provenience studies in the region but well established for geochemical research, is isotopic analysis by the rubidium-strontium (Rb-Sr) method. These analyses provide precise Sr/Sr ratios and ppm concentrations of Rb and Sr. The advantage of Rb-Sr data is the extremely small sample required for high-precision data. Limited data from inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) is combined with Rb-Sr isotopic data obtained from samples of vessels and basalt flows. The combination of Rb-Sr isotopic and ICP-AES data eliminates a few basalt outcrops as sources, suggesting that with a larger number of samples, the provenience of many basalt bowls could be determined.
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| Subject
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Ancient
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Basalt vessels
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Deposition
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Earth sciences
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Levant
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Social sciences
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