Rujm el-Hiri: A Megalithic Monument from the Southern Levant

在C.C.Lamberg-Karlovsky博士的指导下，Yonathan Mizrachi先生将为他的博士论文收集数据。他将在位于以色列北部的巨石纪念碑Rujm el-Hiri遗址进行考古发掘。遗址由一个巨大的、精心建造的中央珊瑚礁组成，直径约20米，周围环绕着几个同心的石圈。这些同心墙有两个不朽的入口，并在一些地方由放射墙连接。紧邻遗址周围的区域点缀着数百个较小的凯恩斯、多曼(独立的石头)和石墙。这个建筑群是独一无二的，可能可以追溯到公元前3千年的青铜时代。在国家科学基金会的支持下，米兹拉奇将继续挖掘该遗址。他的目标是重建年代学、地层学和整体文化序列，并确定建筑群的主要和次要功能。他还希望澄清建筑群的核心和紧邻外围的特征之间的关系。在上一季的工作中，米兹拉奇对中央峡谷进行了一次雷达勘测，找到了几个墓室，他挖掘了第一个墓室。他将指挥一项更详细的雷达调查，并挖掘更多的洞穴。他还将在Cairn周围选定的地区进行挖掘，试图确定该遗址的不同部分是如何使用的，并了解它们是否同时被占用。这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。近东标志着文明的摇篮之一。在这个地区，人们可以追溯到动植物驯化的起源和日益复杂的社会发展。青铜时代标志着这一过程的一个阶段。利用考古数据和采用双时间视角，人们可以洞察复杂社会是如何运作的。Rujm el-Hiri的挖掘将提供与这一目标有关的独特信息。该项目还将帮助培训一位非常有前途的年轻科学家。

Under the direction of Dr. C.C. Lamberg-Karlovsky, Mr. Yonathan Mizrachi will collect data for his doctoral dissertation. He will conduct archaeological excavations at the site of Rujm el- Hiri, a megalithic monument located in northern Israel. The site consists of a massive carefully constructed central cairn ca 20 m. in diameter encircled by several concentric stone circles. These concentric walls have two monumental entryways and are connected in some spots by radial walls. The area immediately surrounding the site is dotted with hundreds of smaller cairns, dolmens (free standing stones) and stone walls. The complex, which is unique, probably dates to the Bronze Age, ca. the 3rd millenium B.C. With National Science Foundation support, Mr. Mizrachi will continue his excavation of the site. His goals are to reconstruct the chronology, stratigraphy and overall cultural sequence and to identify the primary and secondary functions of the complex. He also hopes to clarify the relationship between the core of the complex and features in its immediate periphery. In last season's work, Mr. Mizrachi conducted a radar survey of the central cairn and located several burial chambers, the first of which he excavated. He will direct a more detailed radar survey and excavate additional chambers. He will also conduct excavations in selected areas around the cairn in an attempt to determine how different portions of the site were used and to learn whether they were occupied simultaneously. This research is important for several reasons. The Near East marks one of the cradles of civilization. Within this region, one can trace the origins of plant and animal domestication and the development of increasing social complexity. The Bronze Age marks a stage of this process. Using archaeological data and adopting a dichronic perspective one can gain insight into how complex societies function. Excavation at Rujm el-Hiri will provide unique information relevant to this goal. The project will also assist in the training of an extremely promising young scientist.