Chalcolithic Materials from Teleilat Ghassul in the Semitics/ICOR Library

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(Pontifical Biblical Institute Excavations 1929-1960)

Introduction

Descriptive Inventory

CUA Ghassul 1-25

CUA Ghassul 26-50

CUA Ghassul 51-75

CUA Ghassul 76-100

CUA Ghassul 101-112

Selected Bibliography

Additional Resources

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Chalcolithic materials from Teleilat Ghassul

Introduction

Teleilat Ghassul (Tulaylât al-Ghassûl) is a large Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic settlement in the lower Jordan Valley some 5-6 km. (3-4 mi.) northeast of the Dead Sea. The Pontifical Biblical Institute (PBI) conducted excavations of this site between 1929 and 1938, led by Alexis Mallon, S.J. and Robert Koeppel, S.J.; and again in 1959-1960, led by Robert North, S.J.

The 112 items in this collection, all previously published, are a cross section of Chalcolithic materials (diagnostic sherd-types, stone disks and pestles, flints, etc.) from the 1929-1960 excavations. This is one of some twenty study collections given by the Pontifical Biblical Institute, for purposes of archaeological research and teaching, to individuals and institutions associated with the Catholic Biblical Association (CBA). This collection was delivered to the Semitics Department of The Catholic University of America (CUA) on October 10, 1996. Sandra A. Scham completed a descriptive inventory on December 10, 1996.

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Descriptive Inventory prepared by Sandra A. Scham

CUA Number

PBI Number

Item Description

Comments

Ghassul 1	1007/8	Cornet Cup Base	fine, well-fired, no apparent calcitic temper, fired red pink throughout, pre-1936 expedition, probably 1933, from surface or upper stratum
Ghassul 2	1064	Cornet Cup Base	(broken tip) gray core, some blackening, large white calcite grits, from pre-1936 surface or upper stratum
Ghassul 3	6972	Cornet Cup Base	well-fired, pink throughout, some calcite, coil striations visible, 1938 excavations
Ghassul 4	1065	Cornet Cup Base	well-fired pink, some calcite, coil striations visible, salts on surface, pre-1936
Ghassul 5	1062	Cornet Cup Base	brown with some pink, well-fired, calcite visible, pre-1936 surface
Ghassul 6	none	Cornet Cup Base	uneven firing, brick/pink/red, calcite evenly dispersed, painted red ochre, stripes and chevron, gray core, coils clearly visible on inside, rare piece, probably 1938 excavations
Ghassul 7	1407	Cup Base	flat bottom goblet from lower stratum, 1933 excavations, incised vertical marks, gray core, calcite temper
Ghassul 8	1859	Cup Base	flat bottom goblet, fired red throughout, some blackening outside, calcitic temper, 1933 excavations, lower stratum
Ghassul 9	1019	Bowl Base	v-shaped bowl, 1933 excavations, lower stratum, Tell 3, good example of genre, gray core, large calcitic inclusions, inside slipped, grass wiped, red/pink.
Ghassul 10	1029	Hole-Mouth Base	mat impressions, large vessel, coarse, blackened/buff/red, gray core, large calcitic grits, lower stratum, Tell 3, 1933 excavations
Ghassul 11	1044	Bowl Base	red/pink, gray core, fine calcitic inclusions, no mat impressions, coils apparent, 1933 excavations, lower stratum
Ghassul 12	1222	Bowl Base	small v-shaped bowl, red with gray core, slipped, calcitic clay, upper stratum, 1933 excavations, Tell 3
Ghassul 13	6056	Jar Base	mat impressed slight, light pink large jar, light pink throughout, large calcitic grits, 1938 excavations, just below surface
Ghassul 14	1001	Bowl Base	spiral mat base, from 1934 excavations, gray core, pink slipped inside, calcite deposits outside, blackened, from lower stratum, 1933 excavations
Ghassul 15	2064	Bowl Base	pedestal bowl, red/gray core, slipped, rough calcitic temper, blackening, from 1933 excavations, upper stratum
Ghassul 16	1043	Jar Rim	tournette turned neck of close-mouthed jar, well-fired pink/red throughout
Ghassul 17	470	Lug Handle	1933 excavations, calcite organic matter temper, substantially fire blackened (probably post firing), cooking vessel, large gray limestone grits, round bottom hole mouth pot
Ghassul 18	4050	Lug Handle	1936 surface find, substantially eroded, fired red/pink throughout, large calcite grits, hole mouth jar handle
Ghassul 19	7474A & B	Double Lug Handle	Two pieces, joined, 1938 excavations, red painted surface probably from open mouthed bowl, used for hanging
Ghassul 20	6205	Incised Sherd	1938 excavations, pink with gray core, large white grits, reed incisions, parallel crossed bands
Ghassul 21	6000	Incised Sherd	fired red/pink throughout, 1938 excavations, coarse calcitic inclusions, possibly incised twice by fingernails
Ghassul 22	none	Incised Rim Sherd	2 parallel bands of "fingernail" incisions, very blackened inside and out probably from firing, bow-shaped rim, large calcitic inclusions
Ghassul 23	7636	Slightly Ribbed Sherd	1938 excavations, red with gray core, horizontal wheel-turned incisions made with grass wiping
Ghassul 24	4920	Painted Rim Sherd	small red painted bowl rim, inside rim band, 1936 excavations, fine calcitic ware, fired red/pink throughout
Ghassul 25	1437	Painted Sherd	1933, unusual example of thin ware, red painted and slip coated, well-fired, cross hatch pattern, probably from cornet
Ghassul 26	329	Painted Sherd	pre-1933, slip coated, red painted, fired red/pink throughout, some blackening inside from firing, cornet fragment
Ghassul 27	none	Painted Rim Sherd	red outside rim, thin and well-fired, wheel-turned top, unusual wavy bands
Ghassul 28	none	Slip Decorated Sherd	fragment of repaired vessel (hole in sherd), grass wiped, slip decoration, red/pink with gray core
Ghassul 29	none	Slip Decorated Sherd	combed wavy slip decoration, brick red, thin gray core, calcitic inclusions small, some inside blackening
Ghassul 30	4017	Slipped and Painted Sherd	1936 excavations, lower strata from Tell 3, uneven firing
Ghassul 31	2066	Rim Sherd	gray/buff kiln blackened cook pot rim from 1933 excavations
Ghassul 32	6043	Decorated Rim Sherd	thick pinch top rim probably of pithos, blackened gray core, slipped inside, from 1938 excavations
Ghassul 33	5154	Limestone Pestle	smooth sided, cubic rectangular, red ochre trace on surface, probably a paint grinder
Ghassul 34	none	Limestone Pestle	small limestone of type called "cosmetic grinder", hatch marks on grinding surface
Ghassul 35	1069	Limestone Disk	round and flat, may have been intended as a spindle whorl or loom weight but not pierced, from 1938 excavations
Ghassul 36	none	Limestone Disk	red limestone incompletely pierced loom weight or whorl
Ghassul 37	1093	Limestone Pierced Amulet	from surface of 1938 excavations, holes at narrow end
Ghassul 38	1084	Basalt Piece	from surface of 1938 excavation, unusual carved basalt probably from a fenestrated stand or bowl
Ghassul 39	8019	Basalt Pestle	from 1960 excavation, unusual basalt grinding implement
Ghassul 40	8005	Basalt Pestle	unusual basalt cosmetic grinder from North's 1960 excavation
Ghassul 41	201	Flint Chisel	1933 excavation, rough type chisel, not well knapped, some use polish on narrow end, light brown flint
Ghassul 42	none	Flint Chisel	unusual small chisel from surface of 1931 excavation, fine edge, use polish, light brown flint
Ghassul 43	8050	Flint Fan Scraper	fine example from North's 1960 excavations, dark brown, symmetrical percussion bulb, rough limestone left on one side
Ghassul 44	2836	Flint Chisel	early excavations, light brown limestone sided small chisel
Ghassul 45	1038	Flint Blade	fine example of Ghassulian blade, midrib removed, assymmetrical trapezoidal profile, light brown flint, serrated on one side
Ghassul 46	5	Flint Blade	early excavations, Ghassulian proto-Canaanean blade, non-serrated, slightly symmetrical trapezoid
Ghassul 47	1050	Flint Gouge	light brown, from 1938 excavations, surface
Ghassul 48	none	Flint Blade	typical Ghassulian blade, slight serration on left side, assymetrical trapezoidal profile
Ghassul 49	309	Flint Sickle Blade	red-brown flint, serrated edge, backed, use polish, pre-1936 excavations, assymmetrical triangular (midrib not removed)
Ghassul 50	31	Flint Blade	unusual broad blade, serrated edge with use polish, percussion marks, early excavations, probably Neolithic
Ghassul 51	none	Flint Chisel End	nice dark brown flint with use polish, thin chisel end from Tell 3, upper stratum
Ghassul 52	none	Flint Core	very unusual dark brown microlith core, percussion marks, dark brown flint, flat bottom, from Tell 3, upper stratum
Ghassul 53	none	Flint Core	nice gray/red/brown flint blade core, percussion marks on three sides
Ghassul 54	none	Flint Core	same as 53 but with limestone striking platform
Ghassul 55	none	Flint End Scraper	small end scraper, percussion marks, knob on one side, limestone front and back, slightly water rolled
Ghassul 56	none	Flint End Scraper	red/brown flint end scraper, curved surface, limestone side, percussion marks, no retouch
Ghassul 57	none	Flint Core	dark brown bladelet core, could also be a point core but Ghassulian points are rare and not well knapped
Ghassul 58	none	Flint Chisel End	gray flint chisel end from rough chisel
Ghassul 59	none	Flint Blade	unusual dark gray broad blade, non-serrated, assymmetric triangular profile, possibly Neolithic
Ghassul 60	none	Flint Blade	light brown serrated broad blade, triangular profile, assymmetric, possibly Neolithic
Ghassul 61	none	Flint Blade	dark gray, slightly serrated, prototypical Ghassulian blade, triangular profile, percussion marks, round end
Ghassul 62	none	Flint Blade	light brown blade, assymmetrical triangular profile, slight polish on non-serrated edge
Ghassul 63	none	Flint Blade	fine serration on light brown flint, assymmetric trapezoidal profile, both sides serrated
Ghassul 64	none	Flint Blade	roughly serrated red/brown blade, percussion marks, proto-Canaanean
Ghassul 65	none	Flint Blade	serrated on one side backed blade, assymmetric trapezoidal, slight polish
Ghassul 66	none	Flint Blade	short broad blade or point, typical profile non-serrated
Ghassul 67	none	Flint Blade	serrated broad backed blade, assymmetric trapezoidal profile, fine polish, fine serration
Ghassul 68	none	Flint Point	light brown flint, long spear point, possibly Neolithic
Ghassul 69	none	Flint Blade	dark gray, serrated Canaanean blade
Ghassul 70	none	Flint Blade	two serrated edges, broad backed trapezoidal blade, light brown flint
Ghassul 71	none	Flint Chisel End	dark brown thin chisel end
Ghassul 72	none	Flint Point	broken red/brown flint point, bulb of percussion
Ghassul 73	none	Flint Borer End	light gray borer end, thick handle
Ghassul 74	none	Flint Point	broad point with fine serration, triangular profile bulb of percussion
Ghassul 75	500	Flint Core	blade core of dark pink flint, from Tell 3, 1936 excavations
Ghassul 76	none	Flint Point	dark brown, unevenly serrated, roughly triangular profile
Ghassul 77	none	Flint Core	light brown blade core
Ghassul 78	none	Flint Point	dark brown, percussion marks, limestone back
Ghassul 79	none	Flint Chisel End	light brown flint
Ghassul 80	none	Flint Borer	dark pink flint, small borer, point broken
Ghassul 81	none	Flint Core	dark brown, appearance of paint on flat surface
Ghassul 82	none	Flint Scraper	small scraper or denticulate, round profile, serrated finely retouched edge
Ghassul 83	none	Flint Adze End	dark brown flint, percussion marks
Ghassul 84	6442	Cornet Cup Base	red/pink with large calcitic grits, organic matter, well-fired, 1938 excavations
Ghassul 85	1008	Cornet Cup Base	well-fired red/pink with calcitic grits, grog temper, pre-1936 excavations
Ghassul 86	6766	Cornet Cup Base	hollow bottomed base, red ochre paint, reed marks inside, hollowing procedure apparent, found in upper stratum, 1938 excavations
Ghassul 87	1061	Cornet Cup Base	hollow bottom, pre-1936 excavations, broken point, large calcitic grits, red ochre paint
Ghassul 88	6707	Cornet Cup Base	base of large cornet from 1936 excavations, hollow bottom, well-fired, large calcitic grits, traces of red paint, from upper stratum
Ghassul 89	6549	Cornet Cup Base	from 1938 excavations, middle stratum, very elongated point, partially hollow, not well-fired, gray core, slipped interior, carbonized calcite
Ghassul 90	none	Cornet Cup Base	solid cornet bottom, larger calcitic grits, well-fired, salmon pink throughout
Ghassul 91	1080	Cornet Cup Base	from pre-1936 excavations, well-fired cornet bottom, red painted, calcitic grits
Ghassul 92	389	Spout	from 1932, surface, blackened exterior, organic matter pores, calcitic grits, well-fired large holemouth vessel probably
Ghassul 93	5364	Rim Sherd	sawed rim for profile drawing, black/gray core, red slipped, grass wiped exterior and interior calcitic grits, close necked jar, 1936 excavations
Ghassul 94	2398	Base Sherd	pre-1936 excavations, narrow based (v-shaped) bowl, fired red/pink throughout, red ochre paint outside, uneven slip inside, organic matter pores, small calcitic grits
Ghassul 95	8719	Base Sherd	1960 excavations, fired red/pink throughout large gray limestone grits, slipped inside and out, elongated base of v-shaped bowl
Ghassul 96	6884	Painted Sherd	broad red painted stripes, example of cream or buff ware, well-fired, upper stratum
Ghassul 97	none	Painted Sherd	small slipped and painted body sherd, broad stripes, clear paint, wiped inside, slipped outside, calcitic grits, unusual color from 1930 excavations
Ghassul 98	5421	Rim Sherd	from 1936, probably cornet, slipped and painted, gray core, broad stripes
Ghassul 99	none	Base Sherd	from 1938 excavations, beautiful mat imprint, slipped inside, pink/gray
Ghassul 100	6624	Rim Sherd	fine ware, probably from cornet, brick red throughout, red ochre paint inside and out, 1938 excavations
Ghassul 101	5076	Rim Sherd	blackened inside, broad red diagonal stripe, red/pink throughout, with reddish slip inside and out
Ghassul 102	none	Incised Sherd	very rare example of punctated animal design, hind end of a goat probably, fired salmon pink throughout, thin slip, from 1938 excavations
Ghassul 103	none	Basalt Bowl Rim	punctured rim of basalt or phosporite bowl, hole in these vessels is particular to Ghassul
Ghassul 104	none	Limestone Disk	with incomplete hole on both sides probably a loom weight, unusually well drilled maybe by a metal borer, drill hole may not be from Chalcolithic
Ghassul 105	4086	Handle	gray core, coarse slipped outside, from surface of 1936 excavations
Ghassul 106	4660	Decorated Sherd	unusual body sherd, with wiped exterior in wavy pattern, slipped inside and out, red with gray core, organic matter, calcite in slip
Ghassul 107	none	Painted Sherd	cream or buff ware body sherd with solid red paint outside, design (cross hatched) inside, slipped inside and out
Ghassul 108	none	Flint Scraper	beautiful elongated tabular scraper, from surface, retouch on two sides, flat well knapped base with bulb of percussion, dark brown flint
Ghassul 109	none	Flint Chisel	from early excavations, incredible gloss/polish, limestone top and bottom, unusual light brown flint, lower stratum
Ghassul 110	none	Flint Fan Scraper	small fan scraper, 1960 excavations, limestone back, little retouch
Ghassul 111	none	Flint Adze Head	1936 excavations, lower stratum, dark brown chert, matte polish, straight edge
Ghassul 112	none	Flint Fan Scraper	medium fan scraper from 1936 excavations, no retouch, limestone back

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Selected Bibliography

Excavation reports and articles by Alexis Mallon & Robert Koeppel in Biblica 11 (1930) 3-22; 129-148; 12 (1931) 157-161, 257-270; 13 (1932) 6-27, 273-283; 14 (1933) 294-302; 15 (1934) 1-7; 16 (1935) 241-256; 17 (1936) 393-406; 18 (1937) 443-449; 19 (1938) 260-266.
Alexis Mallon, Robert Koeppel, René Neuville, Teleilat Ghassul I. Compte rendu des fouilles de l'Institut Biblique Pontifical 1929-1932 (Rome, 1934).
Robert Koeppel, Teleilat Ghassul II. Compte rendu des fouilles de l'Institut Biblique Pontifical 1932-1936 (Rome, 1940).
Robert North, Ghassul 1960 Excavation Report (Analecta Biblica, 14; Rome, 1961).
Mark Blackham,"Tulaylat Ghassul: an Appraisal of Robert North’s Excavations (1959-60)," Levant 31 (1999).
Sandra A. Scham, "Pastoralism and the Emergence of Sociopolitical Complexity in the Chalcolithic Period - Teleilat Ghassul, Jordan." (Ph.D. diss., Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 1999).

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Additional Resources

Jordan Antiquities Database and Information System (JADIS)

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TITLE: Chalcolithic Materials from Teleilat Ghassul in the Semitics/ICOR Library
URL: http://libraries.cua.edu/semicoll/semicrescoll2.html
Modified: 20 August 2003
Contact: blanchard@cua.edu