ABSTRACT
The Chalcolithic period was formative in Near Eastern prehistory, being a time of fundamental social change in craft specialization, horticulture and temple life. Gilat - a low mound, semi-communal farming settlement in the Negev desert - is one of the few Chalcolithic sanctuary sites in the Southern Levant. 'Archaeology, Anthropology and Cult' presents a critical analysis of the archaeological data from Gilat. The book brings together archaeological finds and anthropological theory to examine the role of religion in the evolution of society and the power of ritual in promoting change. This comprehensive volume, which includes artefact drawings, photographs, maps and data tables, will be of interest to students and scholars of ancient history, anthropology, archaeology, as well as biblical and religious studies.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|92 pages
Theory
chapter 2|20 pages
Cults, Shrines, and the Emergence of Regional Ritual Centers:
chapter 4|18 pages
The Rise of a New Negev Cult Center Today:
part II|120 pages
Archaeological Foundations
part III|154 pages
Biological Data from Gilat
part IV|336 pages
The Emergence of Gilat as a Regional Cult Center: Production and Exchange
chapter 12|110 pages
Gilat's Ground Stone Assemblage:
part V|144 pages
Processes of Integration: The Emergence of a Pan-Regional Ritual Center