WF16, a new PPNA site in Southern Jordan.

MITHEN, STEVEN ; FINLAYSON, BILL

Wadi Faynan in southern Jordan has a remarkable archaeological landscape with the remains of a vast Roman/Byzantine settlement and field system, many later prehistoric sites and a Pre-Pottery Neolithic B village dating to c. 8700 radiocarbon years BP. Since 1996 we have been conducting survey and excavation within this Wadi, and especially at its confluence with Wadi Ghuwayr, to locate the precursor to the PPNB site and any earlier prehistoric activity. The most important site so far discovered has been called WF16 and is a well preserved Pre-Pottery Neolithic A settlement, dated to between 10,200 and 9400 radiocarbon years BP (FIGURE 1). Sites of this period are extremely rare in the Near East and of considerable importance for they lie right at the juncture between a hunting-gathering and farming lifestyle (Bar-Yosef & Belfer-Cohen 1989). WF16 is particularly well preserved for, unlike other PPNA settlements such as Jericho, it was not buried by a later PPNB settlement, this having been located approximately 100 m away in the lower reaches of Wadi Ghuwayr. Neither does there appear to be significant Natufian deposits at WF16 -- it appears to be a pristine PPNA site and for that reason is of considerable significance.

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Excavations were carried out at WF16, and at an adjacent and contemporary site of WF328 (probably part of a single settlement), between 1997 and 1999. These have exposed two types of structures, one constructed rather crudely using large amorphous boulders, as in FIGURE 2, and one with more carefully constructed walls using orthostats. The former structures have stratified deposits from which a well-preserved faunal assemblage and plant remains have been recovered, as well as a diverse array of artefacts. The fauna, being studied by Denise Carruthers, is dominated by wild goat which is unique for a PPNA site -- the transition from gazelle to goat normally being associated with that from PPNA to PPNB. Bovids, equids, birds and carnivores are also represented in the fauna. The plant remains, studied by Amanda Kennedy contain a range of species, including wild cabbage and probably barley, while the wood charcoal, studied by Phil Austin, has shown that several different ecotypes were being exploited by the WF16 inhabitants, including riparian woodland with willow, alder and figs, and pine-clad uplands. The chipped-stone assemblage, currently being examined by Anne Pirie, provides a series of assemblages from well defined and individually dated contexts so it is hoped that issues concerning the Khiamian and Sultanian facies of the PPNA -- whether these are contemporary or consecutive -- can be resolved. Other items of material culture include a rich coarse stone assemblage, an array of sea shells, several enigmatic incised stone and bone objects and a highly realistic stone phallus. There are numerous graves at the site including both primary and secondary human burials.

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The excavations at WF16 have been undertaken along with an intensive field survey in Wadi Fayan and Wadi Ghuwayr. During September 1999 this identified substantial early Palaeolithic occupation within the region on the basis of a pervasive presence of bifaces and levallois technology within the artefact collections. The fieldwalking takes place on exposed gravel surfaces, the dates of which are being established through a geomorphological survey and OSL dating programme undertaken by Richard Tipping.

At present a substantial monograph on WF16 and associated early prehistoric archaeology is in preparation. A second phase of the project is currently being planned which will involve large-scale excavations at WF16.

Further reading

BAR-YOSEF, O. & A. BELFER-COHEN. 1989. The origins of sedentism and farming communities in the Levant, Journal of World Prehistory 3: 447-98.

FINLAYSON, B., S. MITHEN, A. PIRIE, D. CARRUTHERS, A. KENNEDY & R. TIPPING. In press. The Dana-Faynan-Ghuwayr Early Prehistory project 1997 and 1998 field seasons, Levant.

MITHEN, S., B. FINLAYSON, A. PIRIE, a. CARRUTHERS & A. KENNEDY. In press. WF16: New evidence for economic and technological diversity in the PPNA, Current Anthropology.

STEVEN MITHEN & BILL FINLAYSON Mithen, Department of Archaeology, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AA, England. s.j.mithen@reading.ac.uk Finlayson, Council for British Research in the Levant, PO Box 519, Jubaiha 11941, Amman, Jordan. biaah@nets.com.jo