Groundstone Tools of a Copper-Smiths’ Community
Understanding Stone-Related Aspects of the Early Bronze Age Site of Ashqelon Barnea
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/jmea.v25i1.27Keywords:
Basalt tools, copper industry, Ashqelon Barnea, trade/exchange networks, Early Bronze Age, southern LevantAbstract
Extensive excavations at the site of Ashqelon Barnea, situated on the Mediterranean coast of southern Israel, have revealed a large and diversified groundstone assemblage, specific components of which reflect clear selection for raw material and uniformity in typological, morphometric and technological characteristics. These components, namely basalt bowls, potters’ wheels and spindle whorls, form the focus of this paper, and are used to discuss raw material selection, long-distance Early Bronze Age exchange in stone and copper and the role of Ashqelon Barnea in this trade.