THE GEOCHEMISTRY OF BASALT VESSELS: INDICATORS OF TRADE AND EXCHANGE DURING THE CHALCOLITHIC
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2020-11-10

A clear rise in the production of basalt vessels and the appearance of large assemblages of these meticulously made artefacts are one of the most notable characteristics of the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age I periods in the southern Levant (ca. 4500-2950 CalBC). The raw material selection for the production of these highly invested vessels reflects a prevalent use of basalt, even at sites distanced from potential basalt sources. The noted preference for basalt, even if locally not available, rises essential questions regarding trade and exchange mechanisms as well as the social and economic mechanisms which controlled the trade. The current paper presents first results from our ongoing project that aims to provide better understanding of Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age I basalt vessel production and exchange. Selected basalt vessels from different Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age I sites in Israel are sampled and analysed for their geochemical characteristics. The results are used to determine the basalts’ inter- and intra-site geochemical variability, as well as to define the number of different basaltic rock sources which were used for the production. The evaluation of these data will enable us to map not just the distribution of these vessels across the landscape and over time, but also to track possible trade routes and identify distributions centres. To enable a provenance determination of the basalt vessels, the analyses of the artefacts are accompanied by extensive geochemical studies of potential basalt sources in Israel.


Author(s): Gluhak, Tatjana (Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum) - Rosenberg, Danny (Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa)