Infrared spectrometry is a well-established method for the identification of minerals. Due to
its simplicity and the short time required to obtain a result, it can be practiced on-site during …

The Neolithic of the Near East is a period of human development which saw fundamental
changes in the nature of human society. It is traditionally studied for its development of …

Even though the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is among the most ubiquitously cultivated crops,
very little is known about its origins. Here, we report discoveries of charred faba beans from …

Material studies of ancient plaster can provide invaluable information on pyro-technological
advancements, living practices, stylistic preferences and possibly the cultural organization …

New discoveries of legumes in the lower Galilee at the prehistoric site of Ahihud in Israel
shed light on early farming systems in the southern Levant. Radiocarbon dating of twelve …

This paper discusses the practice of skull removal in the Late Epipalaeolithic and Pre-
Pottery Neolithic in the Northern and Southern Levant, a feature which may serve as a basis …

Aurochs played a prominent role in mortuary and feasting practices during the Neolithic
transition in south-west Asia, although evidence of these practices is diverse and regionally …

Three plastered skulls, dating to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B, were found at the site of
Yiftahel, in the Lower Galilee (Israel). The skulls underwent refitting and restoration …

Two extended seasons of excavations were recently conducted at the site of Yiftahel (Khalet
Khalladyiah) in the fringe of Beit Netofa valley, Lower Galilee. Four new areas (F, G, H and I) …

For thousands of years, mortar-based materials—including bedding mortars, plaster floors,
internal wall plasters, external wall renders and stuccos, and concrete—have been key …