Early Neolithic Social and Economic Organization

位于约旦南部的Beidha考古遗址是1958年至1983年期间八个季节实地研究的重点。这片低地覆盖了大约2935平方英里的区域，广泛的挖掘已经发现了几乎整个区域。已经确定了6个主要的村级，检查了70个建筑物。放射性碳年代测定法表明，在公元前8至7千年期间曾有人居住，这个新石器时代的遗址记录了近东地区向农业和畜牧业过渡的早期阶段。伯德博士参与了发掘工作他有权查阅考古笔记，实地计划和文物。他将分析这些材料，以检查在漫长的职业序列中组织结构和活动领域性质的变化。分析将包括建筑的朝向和布局、交通通道、建筑的大小、特征和内容。这组数据将提供一个独特的机会来审查社区组织、家庭结构和活动以及专业化生产方面的变化。近东的新石器时代见证了一种社会体系的兴起，这种社会体系具有像我们这样的复杂社会的特征。通过对这一过程的研究，考古学家可以深入了解发达国家和发展中国家的复杂社会是如何产生和维持的。

The archaeological site of Beidha, located in Southern Jordan, was the focus of eight seasons field research between 1958 and 1983. The low tell covers an area of approximately 2935 square miles, and extensive excavations have uncovered almost this entire area. Six main village levels have been identified and 70 structures examined. Radiocarbon dates indicate an occupation during the 8th and 7th millennia B.C., and this Neolithic site documents the early stages of the transition to agriculture and herding in the Near East. Dr. Byrd participated in the excavation and has access to the archaeological notes, field plans, and artifacts. He will analyze these materials to examine changes in the organizational structure and nature of activity areas during the long occupation sequence. Analysis will include the orientation and arrangement of buildings, circulation pathways, building size features and contents. This data set will provide a unique opportunity to examine changes in community organization, in household configuration and activities, and in production of specialization. The Neolithic period in the Near East saw the rise of a social system which is characteristic of complex societies such as our own. Through examination of this process, archaeologists can gain insight into how complex societies which characterize both developed and developing countries arise and are maintained.