A Study of the Settlement Organization in Neolithic Syria

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We executed the intensive general surveys of the Rouj Basin, northwest Syria, in 1990-1992, and our results indicated that there had been two hierarchical settlement systems in the Basin during the Neolithic period. One of the systems includes the large tell complex of Tell el-Kerkh and two small Neolithic tells around it. We planned to excavate Tell el-Kerkh to study the administration system of such a large Neolithic settlement, and we executed our excavations and natural environmental studies in 1997 and 1998.The excavation has been carried out in the central, the north, and the northwest areas of Tell Ain el-Kerkh, the northern part of the tell complex at Tell el-Kerkh. These three areas produced plentiful Neolithic structures and materials. All of our operations of two seasons at Tell Aim el-Kerkh indicated the existence of a series of large Neolithic settlements from the end of the 7th through the 6th millennium uncal.b.c.In addition to a quite large number of pottery and chipped stones, some important materials, which can be used for considering the management system of Neolithic settlements, were also obtained by the excavations. Some of the most interesting materials are stamp seals made of stone and bone including unfinished stone ones, and clay sealings which having the seal impressions on the front and trace of string and cord marks on the reverse side. A lot of beads made of local and non-local stones such as turquoise, serpentinite and obsidian, are also notable. Some unfinished beads were discovered together with broken flint drills. These materials indicate that the Neolithic settlements of Tell el-Kerkh imported various kinds of stones, and that seal and bead production were executed within the settlements. The sealing system also worked there. It is becoming clear that the Neolithic settlements of Tell el-Kerkh not only covered a vast areal expanse but also possessed a highly complex socio-economic system.