A great
deal of archaeological research has focused on the
transition periods from the age of hunter-gatherers
to that of early farmers producing their own food
and residing within settled agricultural societies.
There is significant evidence at sites in our
region for the movement of early humans out of
Africa, particularly within the Jordan Rift and
near the Mediterranean Sea. These sites include
Ubedeiya on the southern shore of the Sea of
Galilee, dating from 1.5 million years BP, to
Neolithic period sites, dating from over six
thousand years BP, representing the Natufian
culture indigenous to the region.
Through systematic excavations, Pre-pottery
Neolithic sites like Beidha in southern Jordan and
the Natufian Neolithic sites have yielded a wide
variety of artifacts including tools used for
grinding grain. Remains of circular, rectangular,
apsidal, and square shaped buildings reflect the
systematic use of skilled construction techniques.
A particularly beautiful example of the region’s
rich and diverse prehistoric cultural landscapes
can be found at Ain al-Jammam, a medium size
pre-pottery Neolithic B settlement near Ras
en-Naqab. Archeological excavations in the area
have uncovered a wealth of stone tools that have
shed important light on prehistoric agricultural
practices.
The establishment of the early farming villages
allowed for a significant increase in the
population and a parallel rise in social
complexity. Taking advantage of favourable
environmental conditions, the residents of
prehistoric communities such as Beidha,
Wadi en-Natuf at Shukba, the
Carmel Caves, and Ain al-Jammam were able to
diversity their food supply, safeguarding their
communities against famine.
Universal
elements of human social development, parallel
geological formations, and geographical proximity
have resulted in the shaping of similar cultural
landscapes throughout our region. Despite political
divisions and differing religious and cultural
traditions, these cultural landscapes highlight
sources of our shared heritage.
Wadi Fukin, located in the mountains southwest of
Bethlehem, is an outstandingly well preserved
living model of a traditional agricultural way of
life. To this day the community continues to
harness the water flowing from the valley's eleven
springs to nourish their fields. Kilometres of
ancient aqueducts direct the spring water to
storage pools and onwards to agricultural plots
making the valley appear as a beautiful mosaic of
cultivated fields.
Not far from Wadi Fukin, about ten kilometres west
of Jerusalem, the area of Sataf offers a similar
historic cultural landscape. Sataf is well known
for its extensive terraced agriculture and complex
water systems which direct natural springs through
channels and tunnels into several pools. The site
also contains ruins from a monastery, ancient stone
houses and arches and Palestinian village.
Another beautiful example of the area's rich and
diverse cultural landscapes can be found in Ain
Al-Jammam, a medium size pre-pottery Neolithic B
settlement near Ras en-Naqab. The area is known for
its long agricultural tradition, terraced hillsides
and fertile soils fed by the area's natural
springs. Archeological excavations in the area have
uncovered a wealth of stone tools indicating
prehistoric period agricultural practices.
These historical cultural landscapes and many
others throughout the area, share similar natural
and man-made features, their conservation and
continued existence also face numerous common
dangers such as socio-economic change and the
resultant rapid development.
