Investigations of Late Neolithic Barrages and Encampment in the Eastern Jafr Basin, 2013

Sumio Fujii
Kanazawa University, Japan

Introduction
Since the first field season in 2009, the Jafr Basin Prehistoric Project (JBPP) has addressed
the comprehensive study of the Neolithic barrage system that sustained the post-Pleistocene
re-infiltration into the arid margin in southern Jordan. To date, we have excavated a total often examples dated to the PPNB: one at Wadi Abu Tulyaha (Fujii 2007), two at Wadi
Ruweishid ash-Sharqi (Fujii ibid.), two at Wadi Ghuwayr 106 (Fujii et al. 2011), two at Wadi
Nadiya 1 (Fujii et al. 2012), and three at Wadi Nadiya 2 (Fujii et al. 2013). With a view totracing the functional transition of the Jafr Neolithic barrage in the course of pastoral
nomadization, this season was devoted to a general survey of Late Neolithic barrages and abrief excavation at a contemporary encampment both located in the eastern part of the basin(Fig. 1).
Survey of Late Neolithic Barrages in the Eastern Jafr Basin
We located a few dozen barrages in the Adriyyat area, a hilly terrain fringing the eastern edgeof the Jafr Basin. Most of them were a relatively small-scale, more or less closed-form cistern
type of barrage and can probably be dated to the Late Neolithic on the basis of thecomparative study of small finds and the typological sequence suggested at Wadi Nadiya 1and 2 barrage systems.
BR-06 (i.e. Barrage No. 06) is a typical example of the Adriyyat Late Neolithic barrage.
It has a roughly round plan with a diameter of ca. 30 m, being equipped with an intake ca. 15m wide and a pair of guiding walls more than 100 m long (Fig. 2). BR-11 and BR-12 are adevelopment form of BR-06, having an even more closed plan and a few very narrow intakes
ca. 1 m wide (Fig. 3). These barrages incorporated bilaterally-notched stone weights and/or
pillar bases, both chronological indicators of the Jafr Neolithic barrage, into their walls.
The investigation has revealed that while the large-scale basin-irrigation barrage focuseson the western half of the basin nearer to contemporary farming communities, the small-scale1cistern-type of barrage penetrates deep into the eastern Jafr Basin. It has also turned out thatwhile the former is often associated with an outpost, the latter is isolated in desert and notassociated with a fixed operating body. Both facts seem to suggest that the basin-irrigation
barrage belonged to PPNB pastoral transhumants who derived from the contemporary west,
and that the cistern-type of barrage was related to Late Neolithic pastoral nomads whopenetrated further into the arid margin.
Excavation at Khashm al-‘Arfa
In combination with the survey, we conducted a brief excavation at a Late Neolithic
encampment of Khashm al-’Arfa (EJS-88). The site is located ca. 10 km south of theAdriyyat barrage complex, occupying the lower edge of a north-facing gentle hill. The
excavation revealed three semi-subterranean masonry structures ca. 2-3 m by ca. 2.5-3.2 m infloor area and ca. 0.4-0.6 m in floor depth (Fig. 4). They were constructed with low-quality
flint slabs c. 5-10 cm thick and up to ca. 1.5 m long. The upright slab wall technique wasused for the underground retaining wall, whereas the stretcher bond technique was adopted
for the on-ground courses. The uppermost course, when still preserved, often used the header
bond technique for stabilizing the underlying courses. In terms of typology, they had an oval
to bull-nosed rectangular plan and aggregated densely to form a beehive-like complex. Oneof the three structures was equipped with a sloping entrance at its southeastern corner. It wassealed with rubble and soil, suggesting that the settlement was used on a seasonal basis. (Asimilar custom has been confirmed at the PPNB outpost of Wadi Abu Tulayha.) In addition,
five small features were found around the complex. Three of them were fringed with flint
slabs and contained ash and heated rubble, suggesting the use as an outdoor hearth.
The structural complex produced a post-PPNB uni-directional blade assemblage, which
included bifacial tools and various types of points (Figs. 5, 6). Thus the assemblage canprobably be dated to the Late Neolithic. In addition, a stone bar and three bilaterally-notchedstone weights, both chronological indicators of the Jafr Pastoral Neolithic, were alsorecovered. The groundstone assemblage included several grinding slabs and a polished axe(Fig. 7). Both faunal and floral remains were recovered in a certain amount but still await aclose examination.
Kahsm al-‘Arfa is a Late Neolithic settlement first found in the Jafr Basin. The harshsite-setting, the small site size (estimated at ca. 0.05 ha), and the limited variety of small finds
are suggestive of the involvement of a small, high-mobility population who was probably
engaged in initial pastoral nomadism.

2Concluding Remarks
It is commonly accepted that the Late Neolithic holds a key to tracing the process of thepastoral nomadization in the southern Levant, but it has remained poorly documented. The
series of investigation in the Jafr Basin has innovated in the situation. We have now theencampment of Khashm al-‘Arfa and the Adriyyat barrage complex as well as the open
sanctuaries such as Qa’ Abu Tulayha (Fujii 2003) and the ‘Awja sites (Fujii et al. n.d.). Thereis little doubt that the Late Neolithic Jafr Basin witnessed the establishment of initial pastoral
nomadism. However, evidence is still too patchy to formulate the process of the significant
episode. We would like to continue efforts toward a better understanding of the prehistory ofour research field, the Jafr Basin.

References
Fujii, S.
2003
Qa’ Abu Tulayha West, 2002: An Interim Report of the Sixth and Final Season. ADAJ 47: 195-223.
2007
PPNB Barrage Systems at Wadi Abu Tulayha and Wadi ar-Ruweishid ash-Sharqi: A Preliminary
Report of the 2006 Spring Season of the Jafr Basin Prehistoric Project, Phase 2. ADAJ 51: 403-427.
Fujii, S., Adachi, T. Quintero, L. A. and Wilke, P. J.
2011
Wadi Ghuweir 106: A Neolithic Barrage System in the Northeastern al-Jafr Basin. ADAJ 55:
189-212.
Fujii, S., Adachi, T., Endo, H., Yamafuji, M., Arimatsu, Y. and Nagaya, K.
2012
Wadi Nadiya 1: Another Neolithic Barrage System in the Northeastern al-Jafr Basin. ADAJ 56(forthcoming).
Fujii, S., Adachi, T., Endo, H., Yamafuji, M., Arimatsu, Y. and Nagaya, K.
2013
Wadi Nadiya 2: Another Neolithic Barrage System in the Northeastern al-Jafr Basin. ADAJ 57(forthcoming).
Fujii, S., Adachi, T., Endo, H., and Yamafuji, M.
n.d.
‘Awja sites: Supplementary Investigations of Neolithic Open Sanctuaries in Southernmost Jordan.
ADAJ 58 (in print).

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BR-06: general view (looking NW).

Fig. 3BR-12: general view (looking N).

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Fig. 5

Khashm al-‘Arfa: general view (looking NE).

Khashm al-‘Arfa: flint artifacts (points/arrowheads).

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Fig. 6

Khashm al-‘Arfa: flint artifacts (bifacial tools).

Fig. 7

Khashm al-‘Arfa: groundstone artifacts.

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