Klimonas: An Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic Village in Cyprus / An early pre-pottery Neolithic village in Cyprus.
CNRS| N° d'inventaire | 29521 |
| Format | 22.5 x 29 |
| Détails | 630 p., illustrated, publisher's hardcover. |
| Publication | Paris, 2023 |
| Etat | Nine |
| ISBN | 9782271139535 |
Klimonas is the oldest Mediterranean island village. Occupied ca. 8,800 cal BC, it postpones by several centuries the Neolithic presence in Cyprus, at that time located more than 80 km offshore.
The village extends over more than 5,500 mÇ, facing the sea, 2 km from the famous pre-pottery site of Shillourokambos and near rich flint outcrops. Excavations (2009-2016) revealed that it was composed of circular or oval earthen buildings 3-6 m in diameter, notched into the slope, modestly fitted out and organized around a semi-buried 10 m communal building.
The construction techniques, the abundance of either knapped or polished stone material, together with ornaments,
symbolic objects, and plants and animal remains, as well as the 52 radiometric dates, point to the end of the Levantine
Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA). The presence of a communal building, rebuilt numerous times over the course of
several decades, also points to the same conclusion.
The villagers gathered seeds and fruits and cultivated wild starch and einkorn, recently imported from the continent.
They primarily hunted small endemic wild boar, the only large mammal species attested on the island at that time and, secondarily, birds. They didn't eat fish or marine shellfish. Domestic dogs, mice and cats brought from the continent also lived in the village.
The remains of this cultivator-hunter community testify to the early extension of the Near Eastern Neolithic and to unsuspected seafaring skills, substantially improving our knowledge of the Neolithic transition in the Mediterranean.
Klimonas is the oldest island village in the Mediterranean. Occupied around 8,800 BC, it pushes back by several centuries the beginning of the Neolithic presence in Cyprus, at that time already located more than 80 km from the mainland.
The village extended over at least 5,500 mÇ, facing the sea, 2 km from the famous pre-ceramic site of Shillourokambos and in contact with rich flint sources. Excavations (2009-2016) showed that it was composed of raw earth (bauge) buildings 3 to 6 m in diameter, circular or oval, notched in the slope, modestly arranged, organized around a semi-buried community building 10 m in diameter.
The construction techniques, the abundant cut stone furniture, the macro-tools, the ornaments and symbolic objects, the plant remains and the animal bones, as well as the 52 radiometric dates refer to the end of the Levantine Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA). The presence of a community building, rebuilt several times over a few decades, confirms this.
The villagers gathered and cultivated wild emmer and einkorn, recently imported from the mainland. They hunted a small endemic wild boar, the only large mammal species recorded on the island at that time, and, secondarily, birds. Fish and marine shellfish were not eaten. Domestic dogs, mice, and cats of mainland origin lived in the village.
The remains of this community of hunter-farmers bear witness to the early expansion of the first Neolithic period in the Near East and to an unsuspected mastery of navigation. It substantially enriches our knowledge of the Neolithic transition in the Mediterranean.
Klimonas is the oldest Mediterranean island village. Occupied ca. 8,800 cal BC, it postpones by several centuries the Neolithic presence in Cyprus, at that time located more than 80 km offshore.
The village extends over more than 5,500 mÇ, facing the sea, 2 km from the famous pre-pottery site of Shillourokambos and near rich flint outcrops. Excavations (2009-2016) revealed that it was composed of circular or oval earthen buildings 3-6 m in diameter, notched into the slope, modestly fitted out and organized around a semi-buried 10 m communal building.
The construction techniques, the abundance of either knapped or polished stone material, together with ornaments,
symbolic objects, and plants and animal remains, as well as the 52 radiometric dates, point to the end of the Levantine
Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA). The presence of a communal building, rebuilt numerous times over the course of
several decades, also points to the same conclusion.
The villagers gathered seeds and fruits and cultivated wild starch and einkorn, recently imported from the continent.
They primarily hunted small endemic wild boar, the only large mammal species attested on the island at that time and, secondarily, birds. They didn't eat fish or marine shellfish. Domestic dogs, mice and cats brought from the continent also lived in the village.
The remains of this cultivator-hunter community testify to the early extension of the Near Eastern Neolithic and to unsuspected seafaring skills, substantially improving our knowledge of the Neolithic transition in the Mediterranean.
Klimonas is the oldest island village in the Mediterranean. Occupied around 8,800 BC, it pushes back by several centuries the beginning of the Neolithic presence in Cyprus, at that time already located more than 80 km from the mainland.
The village extended over at least 5,500 mÇ, facing the sea, 2 km from the famous pre-ceramic site of Shillourokambos and in contact with rich flint sources. Excavations (2009-2016) showed that it was composed of raw earth (bauge) buildings 3 to 6 m in diameter, circular or oval, notched in the slope, modestly arranged, organized around a semi-buried community building 10 m in diameter.
The construction techniques, the abundant cut stone furniture, the macro-tools, the ornaments and symbolic objects, the plant remains and the animal bones, as well as the 52 radiometric dates refer to the end of the Levantine Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA). The presence of a community building, rebuilt several times over a few decades, confirms this.
The villagers gathered and cultivated wild emmer and einkorn, recently imported from the mainland. They hunted a small endemic wild boar, the only large mammal species recorded on the island at that time, and, secondarily, birds. Fish and marine shellfish were not eaten. Domestic dogs, mice, and cats of mainland origin lived in the village.
The remains of this community of hunter-farmers bear witness to the early expansion of the first Neolithic period in the Near East and to an unsuspected mastery of navigation. It substantially enriches our knowledge of the Neolithic transition in the Mediterranean.