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The Archaeology of Syria: From Complex Hunter-Gatherers to Early Urban Societies (c. 16,000-300 BC) by Peter M. M. G.

Akkermans; Glenn M. Schwartz Review by: Bradley J. Parker Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, No. 341 (Feb., 2006), pp. 67-68 Published by: The American Schools of Oriental Research Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25066936 . Accessed: 10/09/2013 08:00
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2006

BOOK REVIEWS 67

Levy,

T. E.;

Adams,

R.

B.;

Najjar, Brandi,

M.; B.;

Hauptmann, Robinson, M.

A.; A.;

Anderson, and Higham,

J. D.; T.

trends in ceramics, food ing general relevant material culture categories.

production,

and other

2004

Reassessing
New en-Nahas

the Chronology of Biblical Edom:


and 14C Dates 302: from Khirbat 865-79.

Excavations

each chapter the various foci of re outlines Although search in a given often presenting in detail oppos period, the authors offered scholars, by different ing arguments

van

der

Steen,

E.,

(Jordan). Antiquity and Bienkowski, P.

(admirably) stop short of taking a firm stand on most of


these ments informs out issues. and go Instead, on of the authors discuss the various data. facing follow This argu to describe the various relevant issues them to approach the field with a particular is a textbook monograph. not ad does theories, as an or syn ab

2006

Radiocarbon Dates from Khirbat en-Nahas: A Methodological Critique. Antiquity 307 (online
Project Gallery, December): (in press). http://antiquity. ac.uk/projgall/

readers

attempting point of view. rather style work vance although the field it does

to persuade The result of than

this methodology

a problem-oriented of Syria data, role

Thus,

The by

Archaeology

The Archaeology of Syria: From Complex Hunter to Early Urban Societies Gatherers (c. 16,000 300 bc), by Peter M. M. G. Akkermans and Glenn M. Schwartz. University Cambridge Cambridge: Press, 2004. xviii + 467 pp., 215 figures. Cloth. $110.00.
The Gatherers Archaeology to Early of Urban Syria: From Complex (ca. M. Hunter bc) is

theses,

new contributing an play important one

accessible,

comprehensive sent until now. Akkermans choices field record. two mans

overview,

that was

conspicuously

and

Schwartz such

are

to author experience At the scholars

an overview. and the

undeniably Each has

excellent extensive scholarly of these Akker interests the sites to

in same are

Syria time,

an impeccable research interests

Societies

16,000-300 Schwartz

concentrates

by Peter M. M. G. Akkermans both an exhaustive introduction archaeologists, cellent outline and for students, reference

and Glenn

lie in archaic and materials what

and complementary: divergent on while Schwartz's prehistory states. Their firsthand of knowledge outlined in this book

to the archaeology of Syria and an ex and laypersons tool for ancient Near East and

Middle East specialists. The strength of this work is that


thorough a comprehensive the region, with bibliography (thorough some to approximately and 2000 1999 with references), of current remains within the framework those places it contains discussions of the material remains of

clearly otherwise be dry reading. might Unlike overviews, many strong textbook-style scholars has resulted ship by two complementary even treatment obvious across highlights of the history of are Akkermans'

adds much

author in a re

markably Nevertheless, 5 and tion"

the region. discus

sion of the Neolithic


Schwartz's in chapters Akkermans' social, of and

and Ubaid periods in chapters 3 and


the Uruk broad theme and 9. A "regenera that stretches

treatment 6 and

scholarly debate in the field. The book is composed of a brief


conclusion ological kermans and order. ten substantive It is divided the

introduction and
in chron with Ak

across cal,

arranged chapters between the authors four and the substantive early last six

Instead

on ideologi is an emphasis chapters economic continuities through prehistory. the transitions for example, between, seeing

contributing on hunter-gatherer 2-5) (chapters and Schwartz cieties, contributing

first

chapters so complex substantive empires. written.

(chapters chapters The introduction

on archaic states and 6-11) were and conclusion jointly

as major and Ubaid devel Halaf, periods or of Akkermans opments disruptions previous lifeways, as well as change to consider the reader urges continuity in conceptualizing the impetus behind these transitions. the Neolithic, At the same and time, Akkermans local development as the Halaf rightly emphasizes regional within the larger cultural and the Ubaid. Akkermans culture were 'cultures' do not nec also uni

Chapters 2 through 11,which range in length from 20 to 55


are generally pages, tual sections. Each divided into three (unmarked) concep a discussion of the begins with chapter or scholarly in theories research the issues given shaping are very helpful not only in sit These discussions period. the relevance of the following but also in sections, uating an up-to-date are the reader with review of what orienting often complicated overview theoretical debates spread sites over a wide

diversity complexes out essarily form. He

such

points

that similar that

mean states,

types of material social developments "Individual consistent

probably social net

did not exist in the fifth millennium;


think in terms of overlapping were exercised and

instead we should

intersecting

works of varying dimensions,


of social power

in which different types


by different of the Late groups . . ."

body of literature. This first section is followed by an ex


haustive of archaeological and regions (usu

(p. 158).
Schwartz's concise summary Chalcolithic in

ally divided geographically). These thorough yet succinct


sections a given provide highlight region the reader archaeological a particular during with remains that characterize so, and, in doing period a comprehensive of the summary as well as a good starting point for fur each and chapter lifeways contains of a discussion describ the period,

Syria (chapter 6) is exemplary, especially considering the


ever-growing body of literature nomenon. Schwartz's emphasis his discussion of how the Uruk not have affected local complexity on the so-called on local Uruk development phe and

archaeological ther research. of the material

record Finally, culture

or may may phenomenon is a refreshing approach

to these data.With the chronology of the Late Chalcolithic

This content downloaded from 145.118.236.174 on Tue, 10 Sep 2013 08:00:06 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions

68 BOOK REVIEWS

BASOR

341

articulated and Schwartz's clearly role in the Uruk divided expansion a much clearer understanding gains riod. Further, views of of Schwartz he has calls

discussion by

of Syria's the reader subphase, of the pace and ef

fect of Uruk influence through the Late Chalcolithic


successfully "regeneration" Instead of a process

pe

his own integrated into the history

northwest and

lapse Schwartz describe uted

col emphasizing as new seeing succeeding periods developments, to combines and exogenous factors indigenous Mesopotamia.

in Cyprus: Past His Field Survey Archaeological of a Confer tory Future Potentials: Proceedings ence Held by the Archaeological Unit of Research 1-2 Maria December edited laco 2000, Cyprus, by vou. British School at Athens Studies 11. London: at Athens, British School 2004. 208 pp., 89 fig 1 unnumbered 10 tables. Cloth. ures, photograph, ?49.00. [Distributed In North America by The Da vid Brown Book Company]
Iacovou lative site cites and the impetus for this work failures" as the "cumu which have

states may have contrib how vestiges of former to the revival of urban societies during Syria's Middle Bronze also be noted that, unlike 9). It should Age (chapter traditional the data. ancient Instead treatments Near of East, of this and other is not once the Late Letters, Schwartz historic periods on textual in

landscape and

protection

resulted in "multiple crimes [being] inflicted against our


shared vou natural is referring a result of the anthropogenic to the rapid pace and heritage" (p. of archaeological demands increasing 11). Iaco loss of mod as

emphasis

Shamshi-Adad system described

enumerating and his sons, in the Amarna for example, only which some

placed the again Bronze

of exploits Age world

incessant

the Assyrian

kings,

or the exploits of sticks to the ar the his

ern

evidence, chaeological torical context within which may be seen

briefly summarizing it was created. This as a detriment, at the same a period that

development, especially, the tourism Iacovou industry. crete but less time demanding to compensate and information," for

to accommodate in Cyprus, con that "[s]omething posits should than excavation be

apart from existing a fresh archaeological well-trodden An posed obvious by the historical

by studies

approach, sets this work time offering is otherwise

done

while of

view ground.

velop ern threats and

the rapid loss of potentially vital that de survey might suggests regional these mod into a "model of scientific for response" to the ancient remains was conference, (p. 11). This to explore intended the as compared with full exca of of ancient their settle

Archaeology bridge World

im this book has been facing and in the The is title, apparent publisher in the Cam the other books of Syria. As with is constrained this book series, Archaeology problem boundaries There are,

its published proceedings, of regional usefulness survey, vations, ments as a tool and land-use

in the documentation patterns in the face

impending contribu both in

destruction. This tions, consists monograph two unnumbered with and of 14 numbered

or geographic administrative, by the political, or geographic of a modern nation-state region. to be made for placing of course, arguments parameters 467 pages sues, book scope dealing outside cultural have of around in length. studies The such as this. The book

contributions The first

set apart is an "Editor's

geographic is already

placement ace," aims; based

complexes, connections

is that many of the is problem in this and/or discussed peoples or relevance the with, beyond, do a good job of areas

designation. the conference's outlining origins, is a contribution the second by upon an and interview

pref and organization, Gerald Cadogan,

The authors the present work. with this restriction by briefly the need of modern Syria when the scope of this book

the genesis contributions recent and

history fall into

with Hector Catling, recording of Cypriot survey. The numbered two categories: those that discuss itself of (nos. 2-10) in work

discussing arises. Neverthe

those

or ongoing survey work on Cyprus that offer ? comparative view of the Mediterranean (nos.

survey

less, widening

to, for example,

the

other

areas

have of northwestern Mesopotamia, might archaeology to define more the topics the authors license broadly given in doing in into larger trends discussed so, fit them and, it is, The Archae of the Middle East. As the archaeology con a difficult of Syria occupies especially position, an in of the the absence of "Archaeology Iraq" sidering the that series. It is reviewer's sincere this hope Cambridge ology publisher in a much is considering broader companion while volumes for the rest of

sessions held at the conference poster in the published volume. but not reproduced, interview with Cadogan's Catling provides new historiographie on the pioneers information Cypriot archaeology and their shaping of edge of the Cypriot archaeological contribution that of complements a valuable record. Cadogan,

The three 1, 11-14). were acknowledged, valuable of modern knowl

the current

Hadjisavvas's providing a

brief history of Cypriot survey since Catling. Again, this is


as Hadjisavvas contribution, historiographie as the foremost within the Depart is regarded surveyor was ment his tenure as director, of Antiquities and, during known Cyprus The for his instigation and of survey work support the present reviewer. the heated discussions in

theMiddle East. Doing so would certainly put this volume


context helping to alleviate the

insensitivity to historical geography imposed by modern political borders in theMiddle East. Bradley J. Parker University of Utah
bradley.j .parker@utah.edu

teams, including by foreign editor's documents preface

led to the drafting which management concerning heritage of a Survey the reestablishment of a resolution proposing

Branch of the Cypriot Department of Antiquities,


of which keynote is reproduced speaker, (p. 16). Cherry, faces the issue squarely the of cultural

the text
heri

conference's

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