Khirbat el-‘Umdan: A Site from the Chalcolithic Period (Ghassulian Culture) at Bet Shemesh (with a contribution by Elisabetta Boaretto) (Hebrew, pp. 1*–12*; English summary, pp. 237–238)

Authors

Ron Be’eri, Israel Antiquities Authority

Abstract

A small excavation near Khirbat el-‘Umdan in the lower Judean Shephelah exposed stone floors bearing remains from the Late Chalcolithic period. The rich finds from the excavation comprise pottery vessels, such as V-shaped bowls, large basins, store jars, holemouths, churns and cornets, and a fragment of a zoomorphic figurine; groundstone vessels; flint tools, including many sickle blades; and a cash of three copper axes and a copper-alloy macehead. Also found were some 30 burned olive stones and animal skeletal remains. It seems that the settlement at the site existed for a short period in the first phase of the Late Chalcolithic period, a date further supported by three Carbon-14 dates.

Keywords

Judean Shephelah, economy, orchards, livestock, trade, metallurgy, Negev, Be’er Sheva“ Valley

Recommended Citation

Be’eri, Ron (2021) "Khirbat el-‘Umdan: A Site from the Chalcolithic Period (Ghassulian Culture) at Bet Shemesh (with a contribution by Elisabetta Boaretto) (Hebrew, pp. 1*–12*; English summary, pp. 237–238)," 'Atiqot: Vol. 104, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70967/2948-040X.1909
Available at: https://publications.iaa.org.il/atiqot/vol104/iss1/2