Jacques Cauvin
Encyclopedia
Professor Jacques Cauvin (1930 – 26 December 2001) was a French
archaeologist
who specialised in the prehistory
of the Levant
and Near East
.
and Chazelles
Caves in 1959 and 1960 and then Chandolas
in 1965. He began to specialise in archaeology of the Middle East
in 1958 when Maurice Dunand
invited him to assist with excavations and studies of the stone tool industries at Byblos
in Lebanon
. He carried out seven seasons there until 1967, which included surveys extendeding to Lebanon's Mediterranean coast. Cauvin's extensive typological studies of this fully excavated site are still used as references for students of lithics today. Also at this time he began studies in Syria
at Horan
in 1962, in the Jezireh in 1969 and excavations at Taibe in 1965 and Tell Aswad
in 1972. Because of his experience in this area, he was chosen to lead excavations at the major site of Mureybet
, originally discovered and surveyed by Maurits van Loon. Mureybet was a large-scale rescue operation and had at the time the longest stratigraphic sequence seen since the excavation at Tell es-Sultan to the south. Excavations and multidisciplinary studies were conducted from 1971 to 1974. Flooding of the site prevented further work. Another season was carried out at the neighbouring and partly contemporary site of Sheikh Hassan in 1976.
Another important site was discovered and surveyed by van Loon around this time at El Kowm
where the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed with the Syrian authorities to study a large 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) area without the constraints of urgency at Mureybet. In 1977 Cauvin prepared the groundwork for the permanent mission to El Kowm-Mureybet (Syria), which he retained leadership of until 1993, when he was replaced by Danielle Stordeur
. In 1978, Cauvin was asked by the Turkish
government to launch a new rescue campaign on the Euphrates
at Cafer Hoyuk which ended in 1986 due to flooding of the area. His work on these various important sites and the materials collected have highlighted the steps in humanity's development through the late Natufian to the end of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B
(PPNB).
In 1966, with the support of the CNRS and other research fellows, he founded the Centre de Recherche d'Ecologie humaine et de Préhistoire (CREP) in a converted mill in southern Ardeche to study and stock collections of stone tools and work on the problems of the Neolithic. These collections include paleobotanical and archaeozoological specimens and everything related to the manufacturing (technology) and use (traceology) of stone objects and bones. This developed into the Maison de l'Orient Méditerranéen Ancien, equipped with a library, meeting rooms and accommodation on site. This has further developed and is now called the Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée
.
He remained a researcher at the CNRS throughout his career, successively as Research Fellow in 1957, "Chargé" in 1966, Master in 1977, Director in 1983 then Director Emeritus in 1995. He taught in Paris
from 1978 to 1982 and Lyon
from 1977 to 1982 in the form of courses or seminars directing Masters degree programs. Cauvin was regarded as an objective thinker, prolific author, charismatic team leader and one of the great French experts on prehistory. He was married to Marie-Claire Cauvin, also a Director at CNRS, author and specialist in Near East Archaeology.
of cereals during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A
(PPNA) stage and supported ideas of diffusionism from the northern Levant into Anatolia
at the end of the PPNB. He referred to this as "the acculturation of a local cultural background by a dominant, expansionist culture". Evidence supports his suggestion about the importation of animal husbandry and plant cultivation from the northern Levant, his theories regarding the diffusion of sedentism have been much challenged from recent evidence in Turkey
. One of Cauvin's most important themes was the "Revolution of the Symbols" and the birth of "religion" in the Neolithic. He argued that the Neolithic revolution
was influenced by a change in thinking as much as changes in the environment and noted a series of stages in this process. His work suggested important concepts in the evolution of human thinking, by examining figurines and early art depicting first women as goddesses and bulls as gods, he suggested several important ideas about the evolution of perception and duality.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
archaeologist
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
who specialised in the prehistory
Prehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
of the Levant
Levant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
and Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
.
Biography
Cauvin started his work in France at OullinsOullins
Oullins is a commune in the Rhône department in eastern France.It is a suburb of the city of Lyon, and is adjacent to it on the southwest.-Notable people:*Lionel Bah - Professional footballer*Féthi Harek - Professional footballer...
and Chazelles
Chazelles
Chazelles may refer to the following places in France:*Chazelles, Cantal, a commune in the department of Cantal*Chazelles, Charente, a commune in the department of Charente*Chazelles, Jura, a commune in the department of Jura...
Caves in 1959 and 1960 and then Chandolas
Chandolas
Chandolas is a commune in the Ardèche department in southern France....
in 1965. He began to specialise in archaeology of the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
in 1958 when Maurice Dunand
Maurice Dunand
Maurice Dunand was a prominent French archaeologist specializing in the ancient Near East, who served as director of the mission archéologique française in Lebanon. Dunand excavated Byblos from 1928 to 1932, and published a Byblos syllabary in his monograph Byblia Grammata, 1945...
invited him to assist with excavations and studies of the stone tool industries at Byblos
Byblos
Byblos is the Greek name of the Phoenician city Gebal . It is a Mediterranean city in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of present-day Lebanon under the current Arabic name of Jubayl and was also referred to as Gibelet during the Crusades...
in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
. He carried out seven seasons there until 1967, which included surveys extendeding to Lebanon's Mediterranean coast. Cauvin's extensive typological studies of this fully excavated site are still used as references for students of lithics today. Also at this time he began studies in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
at Horan
Horan
Horan is a surname that originated in County Galway, Ireland, and from there spread into County Mayo.Notable people with the name Horan include:*Allan Horan , New Zealand rower*Arthur Horan , Irish rugby union player...
in 1962, in the Jezireh in 1969 and excavations at Taibe in 1965 and Tell Aswad
Tell Aswad
Tell Aswad , Su-uk-su, Shuksa or Tell Sukas is a large prehistoric, Neolithic Tell, about in size, located around from Damascus in Syria, on a tributary of the Balikh River at the eastern end of the village of Jdeidet el Khass.-Excavation:...
in 1972. Because of his experience in this area, he was chosen to lead excavations at the major site of Mureybet
Mureybet
Mureybet is a tell, or ancient settlement mound, located on the west bank of the Euphrates in Ar-Raqqah Governorate, northern Syria. The site was excavated between 1964 and 1974 and has since disappeared under the rising waters of Lake Assad...
, originally discovered and surveyed by Maurits van Loon. Mureybet was a large-scale rescue operation and had at the time the longest stratigraphic sequence seen since the excavation at Tell es-Sultan to the south. Excavations and multidisciplinary studies were conducted from 1971 to 1974. Flooding of the site prevented further work. Another season was carried out at the neighbouring and partly contemporary site of Sheikh Hassan in 1976.
Another important site was discovered and surveyed by van Loon around this time at El Kowm
El Kowm (archaeological site)
El Kowm or Al Kawm is a circular, gap in the Syrian mountains that houses a series of archaeological sites. The El Kowm oasis is located northeast of Palmyra in Syria, near Al-Sukhnah...
where the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed with the Syrian authorities to study a large 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) area without the constraints of urgency at Mureybet. In 1977 Cauvin prepared the groundwork for the permanent mission to El Kowm-Mureybet (Syria), which he retained leadership of until 1993, when he was replaced by Danielle Stordeur
Danielle Stordeur
Danielle Stordeur is a French Archaeologist and Directeur de Recherche at the CNRS. She is also Director of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs permanent mission to El Kowm-Mureybet , replacing Jacques Cauvin in 1993 until 2010, when Frédéric Abbès is due to take over this position.-Positions...
. In 1978, Cauvin was asked by the Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
government to launch a new rescue campaign on the Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
at Cafer Hoyuk which ended in 1986 due to flooding of the area. His work on these various important sites and the materials collected have highlighted the steps in humanity's development through the late Natufian to the end of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B
Pre-Pottery Neolithic B
Pre-Pottery Neolithic B is a division of the Neolithic developed by Dame Kathleen Kenyon during her archaeological excavations at Jericho in the southern Levant region....
(PPNB).
In 1966, with the support of the CNRS and other research fellows, he founded the Centre de Recherche d'Ecologie humaine et de Préhistoire (CREP) in a converted mill in southern Ardeche to study and stock collections of stone tools and work on the problems of the Neolithic. These collections include paleobotanical and archaeozoological specimens and everything related to the manufacturing (technology) and use (traceology) of stone objects and bones. This developed into the Maison de l'Orient Méditerranéen Ancien, equipped with a library, meeting rooms and accommodation on site. This has further developed and is now called the Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée
Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée
The Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée is a research body in Lyon, France that specialises in the Mediterranean and the Middle East and the first steps of humanity...
.
He remained a researcher at the CNRS throughout his career, successively as Research Fellow in 1957, "Chargé" in 1966, Master in 1977, Director in 1983 then Director Emeritus in 1995. He taught in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from 1978 to 1982 and Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
from 1977 to 1982 in the form of courses or seminars directing Masters degree programs. Cauvin was regarded as an objective thinker, prolific author, charismatic team leader and one of the great French experts on prehistory. He was married to Marie-Claire Cauvin, also a Director at CNRS, author and specialist in Near East Archaeology.
The Revolution of the Symbols
Jacques Cauvin wrote with an impressive breadth and variety in a multitude of books, articles in scientific journals, collaborations with scientists and other agencies. He discussed the involvement of humans in domesticationDomestication
Domestication or taming is the process whereby a population of animals or plants, through a process of selection, becomes accustomed to human provision and control. In the Convention on Biological Diversity a domesticated species is defined as a 'species in which the evolutionary process has been...
of cereals during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A
Pre-Pottery Neolithic A
Pre-Pottery Neolithic A denotes the first stage in early Levantine Neolithic culture, dating around 9500 to 8500 BC. Archaeological remains are located in the Levantine and upper Mesopotamian region of the Fertile Crescent...
(PPNA) stage and supported ideas of diffusionism from the northern Levant into Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
at the end of the PPNB. He referred to this as "the acculturation of a local cultural background by a dominant, expansionist culture". Evidence supports his suggestion about the importation of animal husbandry and plant cultivation from the northern Levant, his theories regarding the diffusion of sedentism have been much challenged from recent evidence in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. One of Cauvin's most important themes was the "Revolution of the Symbols" and the birth of "religion" in the Neolithic. He argued that the Neolithic revolution
Neolithic Revolution
The Neolithic Revolution was the first agricultural revolution. It was the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture and settlement. Archaeological data indicates that various forms of plants and animal domestication evolved independently in 6 separate locations worldwide circa...
was influenced by a change in thinking as much as changes in the environment and noted a series of stages in this process. His work suggested important concepts in the evolution of human thinking, by examining figurines and early art depicting first women as goddesses and bulls as gods, he suggested several important ideas about the evolution of perception and duality.
Books authored
- Cauvin, Jacques., Les outillages néolithiques de Byhlos et du littoral Libanais., Paris Librairie d'Amérique et d'Orient, Jean Maisonneuve (Fouilles de Byblos tome IV), 1968.
- Cauvin, Jacques., Religions néolithiques de Syrie-Palestine. Paris Librairie d'Amérique et d'Orient, Jean Maisonneuve, 1972.
- Cauvin, Jacques., Les premiers villages de Syrie-Palestine du IXe au VIIe millénaire avant Jésus-Christ. Lyon Maison de l'Orient méditerranéen (Collection de la Maison de l'Orient n° 4, Série archéologique 3), 1978.
- Cauvin, Jacques., Diyânât al- 'asr al-hajarî al-hadîhfi bilâd al-sham (avec une préface et trad, arabe par S. Muhesen, de Religions néolithique de Syro-Palestine). Damas Dâr Dimashq, 1988.
- Cauvin, Jacques., Naissance des divinités, naissance de l'agriculture (2 edition augmentée et corrigée parue en 1997). Paris CNRS Éditions, 1994.
- Cauvin, Jacques., The Origins of Agriculture in the Near East : a Symbolic Interpretation (English edition with Trevor Watkins of Naissance des divinités..., with updated postcript). Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Collective works (editor, co-author or co-editor)
- Cauvin, Jacques., Cahiers de l'Euphrate 1-8 (éd.). Paris Éd. du CNRS (n° 1-3) Éd. ERC (n° 4-8), 1978-1998.
- Cauvin, Jacques., with Sanlaville P. (éd.) Préhistoire du Levant :logie et organisation de l 'espace depuis les origines jusqu 'au VIe millénaire. Actes du Colloque international CNRS n° 508. Paris Éd. du CNRS, 1981.
- Cauvin, Jacques., with Lichardus J., Lichardus-ltten M. et Bailloud G., La Protohistoire de l'Europe. Paris PUF (Nouvelle Clio), 1985.
- Cauvin, Jacques., with Le Goff J., Marin L., Peter J.P., Perrot M., Auget R., Durand G. et Cazenave M., Histoire et Ima, 1986. ginaire. Poiesis.
- Cauvin, Jacques., with Aurenche O. (éd.): Néolithisations. BAR Int. Ser., 516. Oxford, 1989.
- Cauvin, Jacques., with Hours F., Aurenche O., Cauvin M..-C,Copeland L. et Salanville P. et la collaboration de P.Lombard: Atlas des sites du Proche-Orient (14 000-5 700 BP), Travaux de la Maison de l'Orient 24. Lyon, Maison de l'Orient et de la MéditerranéeMaison de l'Orient et de la MéditerranéeThe Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée is a research body in Lyon, France that specialises in the Mediterranean and the Middle East and the first steps of humanity...
et Paris Diffusion de Boccard.