Tell Abu Al-Kharaz in the Jordan Valley: Middle & Late Bronze Age

The multi-period town of Tell Abu al-Kharaz in the Central Transjordanian Jordan Valley has been excavated between 1989 to 2001 under the direction of the author. The town flourished during three main periods: the Early, Middle & Late Bronze, and Iron Ages. A long occupational lacuna occurred between the Early Bronze Age II and the second half of the Middle Bronze Age. The present publication is the first final publication of a Middle & Late Bronze Age settlement in Transjordan. Excavation and processing methods are described in detail in Chapter 1. Stratigraphy, architecture and pottery are presented as an integrated entity in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 presents typo-chronological conclusions and the diachronic development of common wares. The enigmatic Chocolate-on-White Ware, which can be regarded as Palestines most sophisticated earthenware, and imported wares which derive mainly from Cyprus, are studied. Chapter 4 deals with the lithics, and Chapters 5 & 7 with atomic-absorption spectroscopy of copper and copper alloys, the climate, the fauna and flora, and radiocarbon datings. In the last part: Chapter 8, Discussions and Conclusions, the general and specific environment, the settlement, the people and their administration, and population statistics are discussed in detail. This chapter also contains a synthesis of the architecture of the eight phases of Middle and Late Bronze Age occupation, and the pottery and small finds. A reconstruction of the towns economy, trade and trading routes is also presented. The chronological discussion includes a slightly revised terminology and periodization for the late Middle and Late Bronze Ages in addition to the discussion on relative and absolute chronology.