The Archaeology of Palestine from the Neolithic through the Middle Bronze Age

Abstract

These three fascicules of CAH2 were written by two of the most distinguished figures in Near Eastern archaeology. Their surveys span a period of over 5000 years. The nature of the treatment of the various periods is examined and the general agreements which have been reached are summarized. Particular attention is paid, however, to the areas where problems exist. At critical junctions what may be termed minority viewpoints were adopted by the authors, even though eloquently expressed and defended in the literature. It seemed worth the effort, therefore, to discuss those areas in every period where alternate solutions to specific problems are not only possible, but are held by a variety of people. Some different viewpoints are defended on the basis of new data and bibliography. Among such problems are the sequence of cultures in the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, how to interpret and label the material in the era leading up to the full urbanism of the third millennium, the chronology, data and terminology of the period between ca. 2300 and 1550 B.C., etc.