Redefining Chronology and Terminology for the Chalcolithic of the Southern Levant

Joffe, A. H.; Dessel, J. P.

doi:10.1086/204388

Cited by 65Ancient and Medieval Archaeology StudiesAncient Mediterranean Archaeology and HistoryArchaeological and Geological Studies

Redefining Chronology and Terminology for the Chalcolithic of the Southern Levant

Joffe, A. H., Dessel, J. P.·1995·Current Anthropology

DOI 10.1086/204388

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Profound cultural upheaval, leading to the extinction of populations, was associated with the collapse of the Chalcolithic culture in this region.
“This supports the view that profound cultural upheaval, leading to the extinction of populations, was associated with the collapse of the Chalcolithic culture in this region18,60–64.”
From Ancient DNA from Chalcolithic Israel reveals the role of population mixture in cultural transformation (2018) · cites this paper as [60]

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“109 Levy and Shalev 1989; Joffe and Dessel 1995; Levy 1995.”
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“Initial phases of EB I are conventionally believed to follow the collapse of the Late Chalcolithic culture (Braun 1989; Joffe and Dessel 1995:512; Gilead 1994:10), though just when this event took place has been subject to debate (cf. Gilead 1994; Joffee and Dessel 1995).”
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“This work builds on the important earlier studies of Gilead (1994), Joffe and Dessel (1995), Lee (1973), and Weinstein (1984).”
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“Although this is slightly later than the 4000–3900 cal BC previously proposed (Bourke et al. 2001:1221), it remains significantly earlier than the traditional date (approximately 3500 cal BC) of the Chalcolithic–EBA transition (Joffe and Dessel 1995:514).”
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“Regional variation is one of the frequently discussed aspects of the Chalcolithic (e.g., Joffe and Dessel 1995; Kerner 2010; Lovell 2001; Rowan and Golden 2009:14), and differences manifested in the material culture suggest a mosaic of regional entities that share many similarities yet are…”
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“In comparison with 14C-dates from the Southern Levant (e.g., Levy, 1992; Gilead, 1994; Joffe and Dessel, 1995; Golani and Segal, 2002; Lovell, 2002; Klimscha, 2009; Regev et al., 2012), the data from Maadi seem to confi rm the relative chronological estimate gained from the comparison of the fi nds.”
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“There has been considerable debate on the 14C dates which are our only viable means of dating Chalcolithic sites (Bourke et al. 2004; Burton and Levy 2001; Gilead 1988a; 1994; Joffe and Dessel 1995).”
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“…notable changes in social organization, settlement patterns, cult and mortuary practices, subsistence economy, and technological innovations suggesting major cultural transformations (e.g. Levy, 1986; Gilead, 1988; 1994; Joffe and Dessel, 1995; Rowan and Golden, 2009; Winter-Livneh et al., 2010).”
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The Intermediate Bronze Age
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“Chasan, van den Brink, and Rosenberg The Late Chalcolithic period (ca. 4600/4500–3900/3800 cal b.c.e. [e.g., Braun et al. 2013; Gil-ead 1994; Joffe and Dessel 1995]) of the southern Levant is characterized by significant changes in social organization, settlement patterns, and cult and mortuary…”
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“The Late Chalcolithic period (c. 4500–3900 cal BC: Joffe & Dessel, 1995) saw major cultural transformations, which are reflected in various realms, such as settlement patterns, craft, iconography, symbolic behavior, cult and mortuary practices, and technological innovations, including the appearance of full-blown copp…”
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“B.C.E.; for a discussion of the various chrono-cultural terminologies and definitions at hand, see, e.g., Joffe and Dessel 1995; Rowan and Golden 2009: 10–11), in particular the GhassulianBeersheva aspect of it, reflecting a rapidly changing society and social order (cf. Levy 1986; Gilead 1988;…”
Background
Perforated Rods: A New Chalcolithic Ivory Type
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“4,500–3,700 CalBC [4, 5]) and Early Bronze Age (ca.”
Background
Urbanism and Its Demise in the Early Bronze II and III
Greenberg, R. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316275993.004 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Ceramic Neolithic
Banning, E. B. (2002) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-0023-0_6 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
The Characteristics of the Earliest Levels of Tel Tsaf and the Onset of the Middle Chalcolithic Period in the Jordan Valley, Israel
Rosenberg, D., Meier, J. S., Weiss, Y., Pinsky, S., Hruby, K., Horden, M., Weiss, E., Ahituv, H., Shimelmitz, R., Talmor, B., et al. (2025) · Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology · doi:10.52486/01.00008.1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
From Inalienable Possessions to Magic: Social Practices Behind the Diversity of Chalcolithic Symbol-laden Objects
Gošić, M. (2025) · Etnoantropološki problemi / Issues in Ethnology and Anthropology · doi:10.21301/eap.v20i2.10 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Villages, Manors and Integrated City-States of the Middle Bronze Age
Greenberg, R. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316275993.006 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Introduction
Greenberg, R. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316275993.002 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
From Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age: A view from Abu Hof Cave 22 (Israel)
Holl, A. F. C., & Dawson, L. (2023) · International Journal of Modern Anthropology · doi:10.4314/ijma.v2i19.2 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Female Iconography, Chalcolithic Cult, and the End of Southern Levantine Prehistory
Joffe, A. H., Dessel, J. P., & Hallote, R. (2001)
Self-citation
Alexander H. Joffe. Settlement and society in the Early Bronze I & II southern Levant: complementarity and contradiction in a small-scale complex society. (Monographs in Mediterranean Archaeology 4.) 129 pages, 29 figures. 1994. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press; 1-85075-437-3 hardback £25 & $37.50
Marcus, E. S. (1995) · Antiquity · doi:10.1017/s0003598x00082764
Villages and the Growth of Social Power in the Early Bronze I
Greenberg, R. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316275993.003
The Late Bronze Age
Greenberg, R. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316275993.007
Testing Evidence for Local Metalworking at Tell es-Sa’idiyeh, Jordan
Mascelloni, M. L. (2020) · Advances in Historical Studies · doi:10.4236/ahs.2020.94018
“Copper production in general, and especially the production of arsenic/antimony alloy objects, in Jordan would seem to be confined to the latest phases of the Beersheban Chalcolithic (Joffe and Dessel, 1995).”
Bibliography
(2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316275993.009
Preface
Greenberg, R. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316275993.001
Conclusion
Greenberg, R. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316275993.008
Index
Greenberg, R. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316275993.010
Perforated and Unperforated Flint Discs from Late Chalcolithic Fazael: A Note on Their Characteristics and Possible Implications
Rosenberg, D., Pinsky, S., & Bar, S. (2023) · Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology/Interdisciplinary contributions to archaeology · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-27330-8_15
The En Gedi Shrine and the Cave of the Treasure: Disentangling the Entangled
Davidovich, U. (2023) · Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology/Interdisciplinary contributions to archaeology · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-27330-8_10 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Evolution des sociétés prédynastiques et contacts interrégionaux en Egypte et au Levant sud (fin du 5e et première moitié du 4e millénaire)
Guyot, F. (2014) · doi:10.70675/f4f29030zc5b8z4e24zb52fz2ea49931724c
Churns and Churning as a Solution for Preserving Excess Milk Yields and Surplus as Dairy Products: A Case Study from the Late Chalcolithic of the Southern Levant
Rosenberg, D., & Pinsky, S. (2026) · Journal of Archaeological Research · doi:10.1007/s10814-026-09231-6

Review article: Chronology, Ceramics and the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age of the Southern Levant. Review of Philip, G. and Baird, D. (eds), 2000,Ceramics and Change in the Early Bronze Age of the Southern Levant; and J.Lovell, 2001, The Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic Periods in the Southern Levant
Wright, K. (2007) · UCL Discovery (University College London) · Cited by 3 · see citing works
The Late Chalcolithic–Early Bronze Age Transition in the Southern Levant and Some Pottery from Hujeyrat al-Ghuzlan
Kerner, S. (2011) · Penn State University Press eBooks · doi:10.5325/j.ctv1bxh34s.13 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Changes in the Near Eastern chronology between the 5th and the 3rd millennium BC: New AMS 14C dates from Arslantepe (Turkey)
Vignola, C., Marzaioli, F., Restelli, F. B., Nocera, G. M. D., Frangipane, M., Masi, A., Passariello, I., Sadori, L., & Terrasi, F. (2019) · Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms · doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2019.01.033 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
A Synchronized Early Middle Bronze Age Chronology for Egypt, the Levant, and Mesopotamia
Höflmayer, F., & Manning, S. W. (2022) · Journal of Near Eastern Studies · doi:10.1086/718498 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
The Chalcolithic/Early Bronze Age Hillfort Phenomenon in the Northern Badia
Müller-Neuhof, B. (2017) · Near Eastern Archaeology · doi:10.5615/neareastarch.80.2.0124 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

Authors: Joffe, A. H., & Dessel, J. P.
ORCID: Joffe, A. H.
Venue: Current Anthropology
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Published: 1995-06
Volume: 36
Issue: 3
Pages: 507-518
ISSN: 0011-3204 (ISSN-L)
1537-5382
DOI: 10.1086/204388
OpenAlex: W1988121098
Cited by: 65
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
FWCI: 5.58
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Current Anthropology (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
Keywords: Chalcolithic, chronology, terminology, Southern Levant, prehistoric archaeology, cultural periods, ceramic chronology

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Redefining Chronology and Terminology for the Chalcolithic of the Southern Levant

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