7,000-year-old village unearthed at Ein Zippori
Scoperto un villaggio fondato dai Shardana 7.000 anni fa., presso Su Zipponi.
E' stata rinvenuta un'impressionante dovizia di reperti sardo -preistorici, nel corso di lavori d'ampliamento di un'autostrada: probabilmente si tratta del il più esteso spazio occupato dalla Cultura di Wadi Rabah, mai rinvenuto finora. Si tratta di un'area di 800 metri per circa altrettanto, che si estende sui due lati dell'Autostrada 79.
Sono stati rinvenuti lavori d'intreccio (meravigliosamente conservati per via del clima secco del luogo) simili agli odierni lavori artigianali sardi in sparto ed asfodelo, oltre a strumentini musicali d'uso comune in sardegna ancora oggi (trunfa, launedda, tunkiu e così via) ma trattandosi di un periodo pre- ceramico gli scavi non hanno restituito vasi o altri supporti di argilla, cotta o cruda.
Malgrado ciò, si sono rinvenuti incisioni e bassorilievi, ancora non resi tutti pubblici, raffiguranti i tipici 'puzones' sardi (in questo caso interpretati come 'probabilmente struzzi' dagli stupidi archeologi israeliani, che capiscono meno ancora di quelli sardi).
Su alcune tavolette, rinvenute poco a sud della sorgente Su Zipponi, compaiono, in bella evidenza, le componenti del Tetragramma Sacro, in una forma che è caratteristica della scrittura usata più frequentemente in Sardegna in epoca preistorica...
Il sito è stato frequentato da una popolazione di tipo agro-pastorale dal Neolitico fino al Calcolitico ed è provvisoriamente attribuito alla Cultura di Wadi Rabah, anche se molti indizi indicano in direzione dei famosi guerrieri navigatori Shardana: tra l'altro la rappresentazione di strutture turrite e di guerrieri con elmi cornuti che inneggiano al loro comandante con frasi che vengono interpretate come : "Viva Zabarda Shardana" e anche: "Mosé, uno di noi" lasciano pochi dubbi.
I colori decorativi maggiormente usati da un artista locale sono il rosso ed un blu quasi nero; sembra che l'artista si firmasse: "Ahio Kastedhu".
I colori decorativi maggiormente usati da un artista locale sono il rosso ed un blu quasi nero; sembra che l'artista si firmasse: "Ahio Kastedhu".
L'analisi biochimica su alcune piccole coppette ritrovate nel sito depone per la preparazione di una bevanda a base di bacche di mirto e grano fermentato. Il ritrovamento di alcuni segnali stradali forati a pallettoni lascia intendere che - dopo le libagioni - gli Shardana indulgessero in un comportamento che ancora oggi alcuni sardi ripetono per tradizione.
Si spera che Ianir Milewski e Nimrod Getsov, due studiosi Israeliani seri e validi dell'Istituto Israeliano per le Antichità, perdoneranno questo scherzo d'aprile fuori stagione: la versione italiana di questo articolo, infatti, è una vera bufala (ma lo ammette, almeno, a differenza di tutte le altre, che pretendono di essere "lavori" di "studiosi"!).
In extensive archaeological excavations the Israel Antiquities Authority is carrying out prior to the widening of Highway 79 by the National Roads Company This site, extending over c. 200 dunams, might be the largest in the country where there are remains of the Wadi Rabah culture
A treasure of impressive prehistoric finds was exposed during the course of archaeological excavations the Israel Antiquities Authority conducted this past year, on behalf of the National Roads Company, prior to the widening of Highway 79. The excavations encompass a large area covering a distance of c. 800 m, on both sides of the road.
Prehistoric settlement remains that range in date from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period (c. 10,000 years ago) to the Early Bronze Age (c. 5,000 years ago) are at the Ein Zippori site, which extends south of Ein Zippori spring.
According to Dr. Ianir Milevski and Nimrod Getzov, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The excavation revealed remains of an extensive settlement from the end of the Neolithic period and beginning of the Chalcolithic period in the country belonging to the “Wadi Rabah” culture. This culture is named after the site where it was first discovered (in the region of Rosh Ha-Ayin), and is common in Israel from the end of the sixth millennium and beginning of the fifth millennium BCE”.
According to the excavators, “The presence of remains from the Wadi Rabah culture in most of our excavation areas and in surveys that were performed elsewhere at the site shows that ʽEin Zippori is an enormous site that stretched across c. 200 dunams. It turns out that this antiquities site is one of the largest, if not the largest, in the country where there are remains of this culture. The architecture is rectangular and the floors were made of crushed chalk or very small stones. The foundations were made of stone and the walls above them were built of mud bricks”.
A multitude of artifacts has been uncovered in the excavation, including pottery, flint tools, basalt vessels and artistic objects of great importance. Milevski and Getzov said, “Pottery bearing features characteristic of the Wadi Rabah culture such as painted and incised decorations and red and black painted vessels were exposed.
Outstanding among the flint tools that were discovered are the sickle blades that were used to harvest grain, indicating the existence of an agricultural economy. We also found flint axes that were designed for working wood. The barter that transpired at the time is attested to by thin sharp blades made of obsidian, a volcanic stone that is not indigenous to the region and the closest source is in Turkey. These items constituted part of the network of trade that stretched over thousands of kilometers in such an ancient period”.
Among the special finds that were uncovered in the excavation is a group of small stone bowls that were made with amazing delicacy. One of them was discovered containing more than 200 black, white and red stone beads. Other important artifacts are clay figurines of animals (sheep, pig and cattle) that illustrate the importance of animal breeding in those cultures.
The most importance finds are stone seals or amulets bearing geometric motifs and stone plaques and bone objects decorated with incising. Among the stone plaques is one that bears a simple but very elegant carving depicting two running ostriches. These objects represent the world of religious beliefs and serve as a link that connects Ein Zippori with the cultures of these periods in Syria and Mesopotamia.
According to Milevski and Getzov, “The arrival of these objects at the ʽEin Zippori site shows that a social stratum had already developed at that time that included a group of social elite which used luxury items that were imported from far away countries”.
Source: Israel Antiquities Authority [September 22, 2012]
![A bowl with stone beads dates to an ancient culture that flourished in modern-day Israel 7,000 years ago [Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority/Clara Amit]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9y5-uKuj1F2WnUdEXIrVsLuVRUrBkT9Gpt78kGKI6xm6VmM5c591PcU0Tm_lWcIC6X-cZJpnwX30izPrPiT72cPuaQE67lGuIyxisDZPv600VPy5bT-MFpY9yiyfa8IuHA5WyvE-89w/s1600/Israel_Ein_Zippori_01.jpg "7,000-year-old village unearthed at Ein Zippori") |
| A bowl with stone beads dates to an ancient culture that flourished in modern-day Israel 7,000 years ago [Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority/Clara Amit] |
Prehistoric settlement remains that range in date from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period (c. 10,000 years ago) to the Early Bronze Age (c. 5,000 years ago) are at the Ein Zippori site, which extends south of Ein Zippori spring.
According to Dr. Ianir Milevski and Nimrod Getzov, excavation directors on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, “The excavation revealed remains of an extensive settlement from the end of the Neolithic period and beginning of the Chalcolithic period in the country belonging to the “Wadi Rabah” culture. This culture is named after the site where it was first discovered (in the region of Rosh Ha-Ayin), and is common in Israel from the end of the sixth millennium and beginning of the fifth millennium BCE”.
According to the excavators, “The presence of remains from the Wadi Rabah culture in most of our excavation areas and in surveys that were performed elsewhere at the site shows that ʽEin Zippori is an enormous site that stretched across c. 200 dunams. It turns out that this antiquities site is one of the largest, if not the largest, in the country where there are remains of this culture. The architecture is rectangular and the floors were made of crushed chalk or very small stones. The foundations were made of stone and the walls above them were built of mud bricks”.
![Among the finds from the Ein Zippori site is this stone tablet etched with the figures of two birds, possibly ostriches [Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority/Clara Amit]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthQMME5DnxpDns_iiZmZV_zm7Df5unZG__scBjECC6rdv47HhaA54NOHsB1W4qJRqbvGH5oncRN7XuQjBNmFAl0CMTyHQZNzWmH3qsB_AIotlE5vZcrwX9QSIEq2fIDciUasVUBrCoiY/s1600/Israel_Ein_Zippori_02.jpg "7,000-year-old village unearthed at Ein Zippori") |
| La prima lastra in arenaria incisa che è stata fotografata ed esibita mostra il tradizionale motivo dei 'puzones', che solo quattro secoli dopo sarebbero stati affrontati, rivolgendoli uno verso l'altro. Among the finds from the Ein Zippori site is this stone tablet etched with the figures of two birds, possibly ostriches [Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority/Clara Amit] |
Outstanding among the flint tools that were discovered are the sickle blades that were used to harvest grain, indicating the existence of an agricultural economy. We also found flint axes that were designed for working wood. The barter that transpired at the time is attested to by thin sharp blades made of obsidian, a volcanic stone that is not indigenous to the region and the closest source is in Turkey. These items constituted part of the network of trade that stretched over thousands of kilometers in such an ancient period”.
Among the special finds that were uncovered in the excavation is a group of small stone bowls that were made with amazing delicacy. One of them was discovered containing more than 200 black, white and red stone beads. Other important artifacts are clay figurines of animals (sheep, pig and cattle) that illustrate the importance of animal breeding in those cultures.
The most importance finds are stone seals or amulets bearing geometric motifs and stone plaques and bone objects decorated with incising. Among the stone plaques is one that bears a simple but very elegant carving depicting two running ostriches. These objects represent the world of religious beliefs and serve as a link that connects Ein Zippori with the cultures of these periods in Syria and Mesopotamia.
According to Milevski and Getzov, “The arrival of these objects at the ʽEin Zippori site shows that a social stratum had already developed at that time that included a group of social elite which used luxury items that were imported from far away countries”.
Source: Israel Antiquities Authority [September 22, 2012]
