Location | near Saint Catherine's Monastery, Egypt |
---|---|
Region | Sinai |
Coordinates | 28°33′20″N 33°58′34″E / 28.5555°N 33.9762°E |
Type | Cluster of Tells |
Part of | Settlements |
Length | 20 metres (66 ft) (Abu Madi III) |
Width | 20 metres (66 ft) (Abu Madi III) |
Area | 0.008 hectares (860 sq ft) (Abu Madi I) |
History | |
Material | Granite |
Founded | c. 10100 BP |
Abandoned | c. 9700 BP |
Periods | Khiamian, PPNA |
Cultures | Khiamian, Abu Madi Entity |
Site notes | |
Excavation dates | 1980– |
Archaeologists | Ofer Bar-Yosef |
Condition | Ruins |
Public access | Yes |
Abu Madi ( Arabic:أبو ماضي) is a cluster of prehistoric, Neolithic tell mounds in Southern Sinai, Egypt. It is located east of Saint Catherine's Monastery at the bottom of a granite ridge. It was suggested to have been a seasonal encampment for groups of hunter gatherers and contained the remains of two major settlements; Abu Madi I and Abu Madi III. [1] [2] Abi Madi I is a small site with the remains of a partially buried 4 metres (13 ft) building containing deposits up to a depth of 1.3 metres (4.3 ft). [3] Abu Madi III was an area of roughly 20 square metres (220 sq ft) that was excavated close to a large nearby boulder. [4] Dwellings were found to have stone built silos next to them. [5] It was first excavated in the early 1980s by Ofer Bar-Yosef. [6]
The culture has been referred to as the Abu Madi Entity as it shows evidence of having retained Natufian characteristics of a temporary settlement, while being at least partly contemporary with the PPNA cultures of the Levant further to the North. It has been dated approximately 10100 to 9700 BP [7] or from between 9660 to 9180 BC [8] with calibrated datings ranging between c. 9750 and 7760 BC. [9] Judging by these radiocarbon dates, Abu Madi has been suggested to be a form of late Khiamian culture. [10] It has been suggested that the dwellings found housed small groups of nuclear families continuing in the Natufian style. [11] A large number of chipped flints were recovered including a new type of aerodynamic arrowhead known as the Abu Madi Point characterised by elongated ovals or rhomboid shapes, occasionally with a small tang. [1] El Khiam points were also found with deep concave bases [12] and it has been suggested these arrowheads were used to hunt such animals as gazelles and wild ibexes. [13] Abu Madi has been suggested to be amongst the ten probable centers for the origin of agriculture and used in statistical analysis to determine the rate of spread into Europe. [14]
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cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
Location | near Saint Catherine's Monastery, Egypt |
---|---|
Region | Sinai |
Coordinates | 28°33′20″N 33°58′34″E / 28.5555°N 33.9762°E |
Type | Cluster of Tells |
Part of | Settlements |
Length | 20 metres (66 ft) (Abu Madi III) |
Width | 20 metres (66 ft) (Abu Madi III) |
Area | 0.008 hectares (860 sq ft) (Abu Madi I) |
History | |
Material | Granite |
Founded | c. 10100 BP |
Abandoned | c. 9700 BP |
Periods | Khiamian, PPNA |
Cultures | Khiamian, Abu Madi Entity |
Site notes | |
Excavation dates | 1980– |
Archaeologists | Ofer Bar-Yosef |
Condition | Ruins |
Public access | Yes |
Abu Madi ( Arabic:أبو ماضي) is a cluster of prehistoric, Neolithic tell mounds in Southern Sinai, Egypt. It is located east of Saint Catherine's Monastery at the bottom of a granite ridge. It was suggested to have been a seasonal encampment for groups of hunter gatherers and contained the remains of two major settlements; Abu Madi I and Abu Madi III. [1] [2] Abi Madi I is a small site with the remains of a partially buried 4 metres (13 ft) building containing deposits up to a depth of 1.3 metres (4.3 ft). [3] Abu Madi III was an area of roughly 20 square metres (220 sq ft) that was excavated close to a large nearby boulder. [4] Dwellings were found to have stone built silos next to them. [5] It was first excavated in the early 1980s by Ofer Bar-Yosef. [6]
The culture has been referred to as the Abu Madi Entity as it shows evidence of having retained Natufian characteristics of a temporary settlement, while being at least partly contemporary with the PPNA cultures of the Levant further to the North. It has been dated approximately 10100 to 9700 BP [7] or from between 9660 to 9180 BC [8] with calibrated datings ranging between c. 9750 and 7760 BC. [9] Judging by these radiocarbon dates, Abu Madi has been suggested to be a form of late Khiamian culture. [10] It has been suggested that the dwellings found housed small groups of nuclear families continuing in the Natufian style. [11] A large number of chipped flints were recovered including a new type of aerodynamic arrowhead known as the Abu Madi Point characterised by elongated ovals or rhomboid shapes, occasionally with a small tang. [1] El Khiam points were also found with deep concave bases [12] and it has been suggested these arrowheads were used to hunt such animals as gazelles and wild ibexes. [13] Abu Madi has been suggested to be amongst the ten probable centers for the origin of agriculture and used in statistical analysis to determine the rate of spread into Europe. [14]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)