The Southern Levant in the Early Bronze Age IV: The Petrographic Perspective

Abstract

The results of comprehensive petrographic analyses of the pottery assemblages from the Early Bronze Age IV (also termed Middle Bronze Age I or Intermediate Bronze Age) sites in southern Israel are presented in detail. The ceramic assemblages of the central Negev sites, excavated in the framework of the Negev Emergency Survey, indicate that most of the vessels were produced in Transjordan or Judaea and imported. Additional production sources include the northern Negev or the southern Shephela. Evidence for local production of pottery in the central Negev was discovered only at Har Yeruham site but the distribution of the products of this workshop was rather limited. The proportion of pottery from each production center varies from one assemblage to another. The petrographic study also revealed that a main production center for pottery was located in the Jerusalem area, most likely at the site of Nahal Refaim. The archaeological and socioeconomic implications of these results are discussed in detail.

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