Nachcharini
Encyclopedia
Nachcharini is a medium-sized cave and Neolithic
settlement located on the high (2100 m), central plateau of the Anti-Lebanon mountains near the Syria
n border. It is one of the highest PPNA occupations found to date.
It is an important site for the early Neolithic in Lebanon
and was excavated in in 1972 and 1974 by Bruce Schroeder as part of the University of Toronto
's investigation of Neolithic
occupation in the Beqaa
, Lebanon
. Research was disrupted by the Lebanese Civil War
. The one radiocarbon date for the Neolithic period from this site has a high deviation, it therefore falls between 8500 BC and 7700 BC. Further investigations into the prehistoric land use of this site were carried out in 2001 directed by Alex Wasse of CBRL
. They found the site badly looted, but were able to recoved numerous tools and flints for further study.
Chipped stone analysis revealed similarities to Jericho
's Sultanian style, suggesting more advanced activities than carried out at other PPNA sites. Recent evidence from Wadi Faynan suggests a variety of non-hunting purposes for these type of tools.
Snows last into the spring which irrigates the area into June, watering what were historically some of the richest Levantine pastures.
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
settlement located on the high (2100 m), central plateau of the Anti-Lebanon mountains near the 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....
n border. It is one of the highest PPNA occupations found to date.
It is an important site for the early Neolithic 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...
and was excavated in in 1972 and 1974 by Bruce Schroeder as part of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
's investigation of Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
occupation in the Beqaa
Beqaa Valley
The Beqaa Valley is a fertile valley in east Lebanon. For the Romans, the Beqaa Valley was a major agricultural source, and today it remains Lebanon’s most important farming region...
, 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...
. Research was disrupted by the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
. The one radiocarbon date for the Neolithic period from this site has a high deviation, it therefore falls between 8500 BC and 7700 BC. Further investigations into the prehistoric land use of this site were carried out in 2001 directed by Alex Wasse of CBRL
Council for British Research in the Levant
The Council for British Research in the Levant was formed in 1998 with the amalgamation of the British Institute at Amman for Archaeology and History and the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem...
. They found the site badly looted, but were able to recoved numerous tools and flints for further study.
Chipped stone analysis revealed similarities to Jericho
Jericho
Jericho ; is a city located near the Jordan River in the West Bank of the Palestinian territories. It is the capital of the Jericho Governorate and has a population of more than 20,000. Situated well below sea level on an east-west route north of the Dead Sea, Jericho is the lowest permanently...
's Sultanian style, suggesting more advanced activities than carried out at other PPNA sites. Recent evidence from Wadi Faynan suggests a variety of non-hunting purposes for these type of tools.
Snows last into the spring which irrigates the area into June, watering what were historically some of the richest Levantine pastures.
Literature
- Ofer Bar-Yosef, François Raymond Valla. The Natufian culture in the Levant, International Monographs in Prehistory, 1991.