Judith Ben-Michael E-mail: Judith@israntique.org.il Ph.D. dissertation topic: The Beginning of Pottery Making in the Levant Advisor: Prof. Anna Belfer-Cohen

Abstract:

The introduction of pottery making is an intriguing phenomenon, since we still do not know the exact origins, tempo of spread and intensity of this important innovation. There is also no apparent consensus as to the definitions of pottery making, what is the meaning of clay modification in this context, what is the critical amount of material evidence needed for declaring the presence of pottery production, etc. Thus there are clear indications of pottery production in sites accepted as representing the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period (e.g., Beidha and Ain Ghazal).  Currently there are various theories concerning the beginning of pottery. Some scholars see it as part of the "Neolithic Revolution" – the changes in the economic subsistence and the preparation of food; others consider it as a result of the transition to a sedentary way of life. My thesis involves the exploration of the use of clay and the emergence of pottery making during its initial stages, which in the Levant are incorporated in the PPN period, in an attempt to understand the processes that were conducive to production and use of pottery.

Publications:

Israel Y., Nahlieli D. and Ben Michael Y., 1995. The Nahal Shahaq Site: An Early Islamic Settlement in the Northern 'Arava.   'Atiqot  26:113 (in Hebrew).

Nahlieli D., Israel Y. and Ben Michael Y. 1996. The Nahal La'ana Site: An Early Islamic Farm in the Negev. 'Atiqot  30:130 (in Hebrew).

Ben Michael J., Israel Y. and Nahlieli D. 2004. Upper Nahal Besor: A Village from the Early Islamic Period in the Negev Highlands. 'Atiqot  48:159-160 (in Hebrew).