Tell es-Sultan, ancient #Jericho in the West Bank, one of the oldest continuously inhabited places we know and the archaeological type site where #KathleenKenyon in the 1950s defined the #PrePotteryNeolithic was just inscribed as #UNESCO #WorldHeritage:
whc.unesco.org/en/list/1687
The term #PrePotteryNeolithic was coined by K. Kenyon at the type site of #Jericho (Tell es-Sultan) to distinguish #Neolithic layers lacking any pottery from those with such implements.
It thus is a technical classification applying to this specific region - not a cultural stage.
#PrePotteryNeolithic hunters likely were aware of these properties - they did experiment with related materials, as numerous figurines (e.g. from #NevaliCori), sculptures (e.g. from #AinGhazal), even a few small vessels made of gypsum plaster (e.g. from #Karahantepe) demonstrate.
Well known and clearly associated with #PrePotteryNeolithic contexts are e.g. #StoneVessels from different places like #KörtikTepe in Turkey or #JerfElAhmar and #TellAbr in Syria as well as (often fragmented though) many more related sites (Göbekli Tepe for instance being one of those).
Maybe fuelled by outdated ideas regarding #Neolithic hunter-gatherers, there seems kind of a misunderstanding about the "#pottery" part in #PrePotteryNeolithic (PPN).
They actually *did* use vessels. Just other vessels.
A short #SundayArchaeology thread:
Well known and clearly associated with #PrePotteryNeolithic contexts are e.g. #StoneVessels from different places like #KörtikTepe in Turkey or #JerfElAhmar and #TellAbr in Syria as well as (often fragmented though) many more related sites (including Göbekli Tepe by the way). https://t.co/6FHeBZT6fx
Maybe fuelled by recent claims that #Neolithic hunters were too "simple" and thus not capable of cultural achievements, there seems to be a misunderstanding about the "#pottery" part in #PrePotteryNeolithic (PPN).
They actually *did* use vessels. Just other vessels.
A short 🧵:
