Paléorient, vol. 43.2, p. 177-187 © CNRS ÉDITIONS 2017 Recensions

Höflmayer F., Eichmann R. (eds.) 2014. Egypt and the Southern Levant in the Early Bronze Age. Rahden/ Westf.: Verlag Marie Leidorf GmbH (Orient-Archäologie 31). 317 p. By S. Kerner1

The volume, based on a symposium in the year 2011, sets explicitly out to fill a gap between the ARCANE-project, which dealt with Egypt only to a rather limited amount (at least in the beginning) and the SCIEM-project that concentrates on the 2nd millennium BC. The articles collected here are to treat the 3rd mill. BC relations between Egypt, the Levant and to a much smaller extent Cyprus. S. J. Bourke gives an overview of the sequence and material of Early Bronze Age (EBA) I and II material on Tell Husn (Pella in Central Jordan). Radiocarbon dates are given with information about kind, laboratory, calibration, etc. pointing out the lengthening of EB I compared to older dating assumptions. The impressive platforms and other structures of the EBA are described in detail. The city-wall is from EB IB/ II.

EB I begins 3800/ 3700 BC EB II begins 3200/ 3100 BC – beginning of 1st Dynasty EB II ends 2900/ 2800 BC (earthquake) – beginning of 3rd Dynasty

M. P. Fischer describes the EBA sequence in Tell Abu al-Kharaz (central Jordan). He discusses only primary contexts, which he first defines and then connects in each case with 14C

dates and typical finds, thus providing a stable base for comparisons. The contexts are also given a functional interpretation such as, e. g. a bakery. The bakery is also the place with imported Egyptian jars (which might have held spices). The material evidence is presented in much detail, and the chronological relevance of complete vessels versus sherds is discussed. This is a point often neglected when attempting comparisons, but few excavators are in a situation such as Fischer with his large amount of complete vessels. The citywall is from EB IB.

EB IB – 3150-3050 BC (Phases IA-B in Kharaz = Early Southern Levant 3b) Naqada IIIB imports (pre-Dynastic) EB II – 3050-2950/ 2900 BC (Phases II+ III in Kharaz = EDL 4), earthquake Proto-dynastic (based on Metallic ware from the Northern Levant)

I. Forstner-Müller and D. Raue portray Levantine contacts seen in Elephantine. In the long continuous stratigraphy from the 4th millennium BC to Islamic times, imports from the Levant (Byblos, Tell Arqa and unidentified sites) are only known from layers of the 5th and 6th Dynasties. The pottery (mostly storage jars) is described and fabric sections are shown. The oldest imported material does come from fill layers, thus making a precise dating difficult. The pottery has been found in settlement layers and in elite contexts. These pots would have travelled over 1400 km.

Oldest imported material 5th Dynasty (Djedkare-Isesi) Elephantine D-1 Slightly later material 6th Dynasty (Pepi II) Elephantine D-4 – Byblos/ Tell Arqa

H. Genz has excavated the EBA and MBA site of Tell Fardous-Kfarabida in Lebanon. The architecture and pottery of the different layers are described in detail, which allows good comparisons. Other relevant material such as decorated bone tubes are also shown, while the 14C dates lack further elaboration. The site and its development are put into a socioeconomic context.

LC/ EB I – Kfarabida Phase 1 EB II-III – Kfarabida Phase 2-4 Phase 2 = Tell Arqa 18 Phase 3 = Tell Arqa 17 – 2900-2600 BC