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Mujahiya, an Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B Site in the Golan Heights

1990; Routledge; Volume: 17; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1179/tav.1990.1990.2.115

2040-4786

Avi Gopher,

Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

The site of Mujahiya is located on a flat plateau south of Nahal Samach (Wadi Sumak), 80 m. above sea level, some 5 km. east of the Sea of Galilee and some 500 m. northwest of the Mujahiya Springs (CEnMei Geha) (Fig. 1). The site lies at the junction of two different rock formations. The surrounding rock is basaltic, of Neogene and Pleistocen formations, but along the banks of Nahal Samach there are Senon and Paleocene limestone exposures. The average annual rainfall in the area today amounts to 500 mm. Mediterranean mountain vegetation currently grows in the area of the site and to its east, including remains of Tabor Oak forests (restricted in this area to heights of 200 m. above sea level). West of the site, on the slope descending to the Sea of Galilee, the conditions are warmer and vegetation is dominated by bushes and grass typical of the Mediterranean bata, and trees such as almond and pistada atlantica. The site was discovered by D. Ben-Ami in the early 1970s, in the course of road construction. A 12metre wide channel had been driven through the site from east to west to a depth of 2-2.5 metres. The displaced material was piled on both sides creating two hillocks on either side of the road. An analysis of the exposed sections showed that the depth of accumulation at the site varies from 1.2 to 1.8metres. The dispersion of flint and groundstone artifacts indicates that the site covered an area of some tens of dunams, although such methods of assessment need further examination. An excavation was cond ucted here by the author in the summer of 1985on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology of Tel Aviv University. Four areas were excavated, totalling some 60 sq. metres (Fig. 2): two sections along the northern edge of the road which bisected the site, Area A some 20 sq. m., and Area B 4 sq. m.; and two areas north of the road, Area C 24 sq. m. of which only four metres were excavated to depth, and Area D 12sq. m. Excavation was carried out in units of one square metre divided into quarters, with height intervals of 5 cms. All sediments were sieved through a 2-3 mm. mesh.