Chalcolithic Culture in the Golan
Remains of an unknown culture of the Chalcolithic
period (4th millennium BCE) have
been discovered in the Golan in the past thirty years. This culture has unique characteristics, but
also shares features common to the Chalcolithic culture that flourished
in other parts of the Land of Israel.
So far some 25 sites have been found in the Golan, and several have
been excavated. Most of the sites are located in the central Golan,
east and northeast of the Sea
of Galilee.
The Golan is a region of basaltic rock with plentiful
rainfall, and its extensive pasturelands have attracted transient herders
in all periods of time. During the Chalcolithic period, they settled
in small permanent villages and in isolated farmsteads, built on the
banks of valleys with small perennial springs.
The villages consisted of between 20 to 40 dwellings,
built on broad terraces in several rows of chain formation, sharing
a common wall. The typical dwelling was rectangular, measuring 15 x
6 m. with the entrance in one of the long walls. The house itself was
lower than the surrounding ground and was reached by descending several
steps. The walls were particularly thick, built of large, unhewn basalt
stones found nearby; the floors were also of stone, with an occasional
stone-lined silo built into them. The interior of the house consisted
of a main living room and a small room next to it, sometimes sub-divided
to serve for storage of food and equipment. This subdivision also facilitated
roofing the house with short wooden beams, since trees do not grow tall
in the Golan. The roof was
supported by a row of wooden columns positioned across the main room.
Branches of trees and bundles of reeds were placed over the wooden structure
and possibly also covered with skins.
Numerous artifacts were found in these Chalcolithic-period
houses of the Golan. Pottery was simple and hand made, using the reddish-brown
clay with many grits from the volcanic soil of the Golan. Jars, bowls,
jugs and spouted large bowls were found, many of them decorated with
bands of impressed rope, or with incised or pierced horizontal and diagonal
lines, circles or spirals. The assemblage contained a large number of
storage jars for food and also spindle whorls of fired clay, which attest
to widespread spinning and weaving activities.
Vessels made of local basalt were also very common
in this culture. Forms include deep flower-pot shaped bowls, shallow
bowls, basins and vessels for grinding. Tools were also made of basalt:
hammers, hoes and axes. Flint was used for borers, fan-shaped scrapers
and sickle blades, which were inserted into handles of bone or wood.
The Chalcolithic population in the Golan relied for
survival on agriculture and herding. Animal bones found in the excavations
attest to domesticated sheep and goats, but also to game animals as
food sources. The botanical findings indicate that the inhabitants consumed
wheat, peas and lentils, amongst other crops. Olive wood was widely
used in construction and olives were, undoubtedly, a food source. The
excavators also believe that some of the basalt and pottery vessels
were used for the production and storage of olive oil.
Figurines of household gods
Characteristic of the Golan Chalcolithic culture are
pillar figurines made of basalt, of which some 50 have been found to
date. The figurines measure 20-25 cm. in height, are carefully sculpted
and variously decorated. Their form is a round pillar with a shallow
offering bowl on top, with sculpted human facial features: eyes, ears
and protruding nose, apparently symbolizing the breath of life. Several
have pronounced horns and even goat beards. These pillar figurines were
part of the local household cult; by offering grain, seeds, olives,
milk and milk products in the bowls on top of the figurine, the family
hoped to satisfy the gods and receive their blessing. These household
figurines are of great value for understanding the beliefs and the cult
of the Chalcolithic period, as well as its art.
Summary
It is not clear why the Golan Chalcolithic culture
came to an end. Some claim that climatic changes impaired the subsistence
farming of the region. The inhabitants abandoned their homes, took the
small objects necessary for their daily lives with them, and left behind
the heavy vessels which they could not carry. A gap in the settlement
of the Golan, which lasted several hundred years, followed.
Sources: Israeli
Foreign Ministry |