The Neolithic Stone beads of Nahal Hemar Cave, Israel

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) site of Nahal Hemar Cave in the Judean Desert yielded, among others, many beads made of wood, plaster, shell and stone. The study of 35 stone beads recovered at the site highlights three main inter-related aspects: a broad range of raw materials used, the workmanship of bead production according to their types, and the fashioning of beads into types intended for a particular method of using them. Raw material identification was based on SEM-EDS and XRF analyses. Eleven minerals identified reveal a vast geographical range from which they were extracted. Typologically, they have mostly a round and lenticular transverse section. Experimentation indicated that the bead makers had an intimate acquaintance with the properties of the minerals. Microscopic wear analysis indicates the methods of abrasion and polishing, and selective methods of drilling and binding consistent with bead types. This is a technological approach that reflects careful planning and execution that contributes to the wider perspective of novel trends of the Neolithic period paralleling other developments associated with the establishment of village life and agriculture.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38578.0