Grar: A chalcolithic site in the northern Negev, Israel

  • Isaac Gilead

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Grar is one of the largest Chalcolithic sites in southern Israel. The first part of this article presents an overview of the results of excavations carried out on the site during 1981-1987. The site of Grar is a cluster of occupational units once inhabited by sedentary farmers growing cereals and raising sheep, goats, pigs, and cattle. Grar is similar to other sites in the northern Negev previously considered as ephemeral. This suggests that the role of pastoralism and semi-nomadism in the Chalcolithic period has been overemphasized. Grar and other sites of the Chalcolithic period are, in fact, the earliest versions of villages of the Near Eastern fellahin, or peasants. A comparative study of Grar and other northern Negev sites follows. Although the area in question is small, it is suggested that during the Chalcolithic period the northern Negev was settled by two groups, or “tribes,” with the same cultural background but different modes of life.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)377-394
Number of pages18
JournalJournal of Field Archaeology
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Archaeology
  • Archaeology

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