The transition inward burial practise as well as rites during dissimilar phases of the Bronze Age intrigued researchers studying the ancient site of Jericho, they late told The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Times.
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| General sentiment of the site of Tell es-Sultan/ancient Jericho from south, alongside the Middle Bronze Age (1900–1550 BC) fortification plant at the southern side of the tell [Credit: Lorenzo Nigro] |
“The collection is composed of isolated crania [skull], dentition as well as nearly consummate individuals alongside postcranial remains,” Shafiq continued, adding that this form of variable skeletal representation presents a adept reflection of the mortuary practices constitute at Jericho during the dissimilar archaeological periods.
The Jericho site is divided into 2 parts: Tell Es-Sultan, which represents the city-settlement itself, as well as the associated large cemetery that contains numerous shaft burials cutting straight into limestone.
“Most of the tombs are located nether housing constructions at a Palestinian refugee camp, which caused some difficulties as well as limitations during an earthworks yesteryear Kathleen Kenyon [1906-1978] inward the 1950s,” she said.
The cemetery consists of a large lay out of tombs, all carved into the rock, the archeologist elaborated, adding that the tombs are made of 2 parts,” the shaft as well as burial chamber, which both vary inward size betwixt the dissimilar archaeological periods”.
“The tomb construction unremarkably has a vertical shaft entrance alongside rounded edges as well as a depth that varies betwixt ane to 2 metres. The maximum size of shaft reported yesteryear Kenyon [1957] was 4.8 metres long as well as three metres wide, alongside a sleeping accommodation 4.5 metres inward diameter,” Shafiq outlined.
After the burials were completed, the sleeping accommodation was blocked yesteryear rocks, as well as the shafts were filled alongside rubble that came from carving the tombs, the scholar explained, adding that most of the periods represented at Jericho were characterised yesteryear communal burials, alongside the exception of the Early Bronze IV period, which was distinguished yesteryear unmarried interments.
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| Tomb D.641 during the earthworks [Credit: Lorenzo Nigro] |
Tombs dating to the Early Bronze II-III periods were partly damaged yesteryear the collapse of the roofs of the burial chambers, therefore affecting the preservation of the skeletal remains, the researcher said, stressing that most of the remains were represented yesteryear solely skulls as well as a few mixed piles of long bones.
“The Early Bronze IV menstruation showed a hitting divergence inward the burial practices from the preceding Early Bronze II-III as well as the next Middle Bronze. Early Bronze IV is the solely menstruation characterised yesteryear unmarried interment burials. There are a few cases of double burials, but the bulk are unmarried alongside much smaller burial chambers than the other periods." Shafiq elaborated.
Furthermore, several of the Early Bronze IV burials are primary but the bulk are secondary every bit indicated yesteryear the disarticulated skeletons. Burial goods are uncomplicated alongside a few pots, a dagger, some beads as well as the remains of animate beingness bones.
Tombs dating to the Middle Bronze II-III periods are by as well as large re-used Early Bronze IV burial chambers, alongside solely a few tombs of Middle Bronze origin, the scholar said, noting that Kenyon inward 1960 reported that the bulk of the preserved Middle Bronze tombs showed primary articulated burials.
All Middle Bronze tombs exhibited richer burial goods as well as to a greater extent than elaborate trunk treatments compared to the other periods, she highlighted, saying: "Several of the tombs had the remains of wooden objects such every bit tables, stools, cups as well as bowls. There were also the remains of sheep as well as caprine animal bones placed inward pots patently cooked earlier beingness placed into the tombs; as well as parts of these animate beingness bones were constitute inward total joint alongside the desiccated meat yet preserved. There were also remains of fruits such every bit pomegranates as well as peradventure grapes [Kenyon 1960]."
"Certain tombs showed exceptional burial treatments for for sure individuals, which mightiness last interpreted every bit ‘elite burials’; Several tombs showed the trunk of a primary private beingness placed on a wooden bed or a raised platform, spell the remaining interments were placed merely below the platform," she emphasised.
"Generally, weapons were non a frequent honour inward whatever of these archaeological periods, alongside the solely exception — the Early Bronze IV menstruation — that had the highest lay out of weapons inward the cast of daggers [Kenyon 1957]," Shafiq said.
Author: Saeb Rawashdeh | Source: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Times [September 20, 2018]
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