A Study of Skull Symbolism in Near Eastern Neolithic Societies

2014

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100 pages

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Skull removal practices flourished during the PPNA and PPNB periods and dominated the funeral rituals in society. The treatment of the skull reflected the importance of the skull in Neolithic societies. The skull had a relationship with the life and identity of the dead, and created linkage between the living and dead. In the following Pottery Neolithic Period, this custom obviously decreased. The cemetery of Tell el Kerkh in northwestern Syria presented six clear specimens of skull removal in the primary burials. These specimens may help to understand the reason for continuity of skull removal in this period. Therefore, I will highlight both the rapid decrease of skull removal practices in general and its survival at a few sites in the Pottery Neolithic period. I believe that this kind of study furthers understanding of skull symbolism in Near Eastern Neolithic societies.

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The first excavation was undertaken in 1997 Directorate-General of Antig uity and Museums mounds. Tell el-Kerkh 1 was covered with later Kerkh contain mostly Neolit excavations concentrated on settlement showed various hic period material. the central and nort phases covering ap society as shown in Table 1. Tsuneki 2010, 201 by experts from the University of Tsukuba and the of Syria. Neolithic material was collected from three period deposits while Tell el-Kerkh 2 and Tell Ain el- The Neolithic settlement extended over16 ha and the hern part of Tell Ain el-Kerkh. The chronology of the proximately 3000 years and represented a complex , 2012; Tsuneki et al. 2007, 2011). Excavations conducted in the middle phase of the Neolithic period (El-Rouj 2c) in the central area 20x30m) uncovered a series of one-room and multi-roomed buildings. The latter phase revealed the foundation of a two story building paved with solid lime plaster. This building and the surrounding area plus the discovery of a Tannor (Hearth) indicate the habitation area was used for daily activities Tsuneki 2010, 2011). The most impressive discovery at the site was the Pottery Neolithic cemetery in he central area at Square E271, which later expanded to neighboring, squares E270, E291 and E251.

Figure 3. Str. 752, 20 year old adult female

Figure 4. General view of square E270

Figure 8. Str. 1094, primary burial of an infant

Figure 11. Burial of human skeleton with sheep skeleton fron Catalhoyiik (Russell and Diiring 2006) Figure 10. Intentional deposit of human and animal remains at Kfar HaHores (Goring-Morris et al. 1997)

Figure 12. Death pit from Domuztepe (Carter 2012)

Human infant burial Suid infant remains 75 x 65 c.m human-animal deposit

1. Str. 732 with cow bone 3. Str. 1081 with various burial goods

4. Str. 1058 with many burial goods Figure 15. Individuals supplied with animal bones and artifacts

Figure 16. Trophy skulls cache from Tell Qarassa (Sanatana 2012)

Figure 17. Plastered skulls from Tell Aswad (Stordeur et al. 2006)

Figure 18. Decapitated individual from Jerf el-Ahmar (Akkermans and Schwartz 2006)

Table 2. Primary Burials from Tell el-Kerkh Neolithic Cemetery Individuals categories: fetal (<9mos. in utero), perinatal (9mos. in utero-1 mos. ex utero), infant (B-lyr.), juvenile (1-12), sub-adult (12-20yrs.), young adult (20-35yrs.), middle adult (35-50yrs.), and old adult (+50yrs.).

Table 3. Secondary Burials from Tell el-Kerkh Neolithic Cemetery

Table 4. Cremation pits/burial from Tell el-Kerkh Neolithic Cemetery

Table 5. Urn Burials at Tell el-Kerkh Neolithic Cemetery

Table 6. PPNB and PN Burial Customs C=Common, R=Rare, S=Sometimes, N=Not found)

Table 7. Late Neolithic Funeral Custom (empty fields = unavailable information)