Ex-territorial rituals and inter-cultural encounters in the Early Bronze Age Levant: a reconsideration of the Mitzpe Shalem site cluster

Samuel Atkins; Uri Davidovich

doi:10.1080/00758914.2023.2191464

Ex-territorial rituals and inter-cultural encounters in the Early Bronze Age Levant: a reconsideration of the Mitzpe Shalem site cluster

Samuel Atkins, Uri Davidovich

Institute of Archaeology

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The role of marginal areas in the dynamic relations between mobile and sedentary groups in Early Bronze Age Levant is examined through the site cluster of Mitzpe Shalem. This morphologically anomalous cluster was discovered and excavated more than 50 years ago, yet its function has not been subject to rigorous archaeological analysis. A holistic reconsideration of various aspects of the site cluster, including its geographic situation, morphology and artifact distributions, suggests an inter-cultural engagement centre with ties to multiple socio-cultural spheres. An integrative analysis of the remains indicates that encounters at the cluster were oriented around a transformative ritual performance.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	78-100
Number of pages	23
Journal	Levant
Volume	55
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/00758914.2023.2191464
State	Published - 1 Jan 2023

Keywords

Dead Sea
Early Bronze Age
Judean Desert
Mitzpe Shalem
connectivity
morphology
ritual
spatial analysis

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Archaeology
History
Archaeology

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10.1080/00758914.2023.2191464

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Ex-territorial rituals and inter-cultural encounters in the Early Bronze Age Levant: a reconsideration of the Mitzpe Shalem site cluster

Abstract

Keywords

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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