Peqi`in

In a salvage excavation at Peqi`in in Upper Galilee (map grid 18135 26440) a unique Chalcolithic burial cave was revealed

The cave, 17 m. long and 5-7 m. wide, consists of three units situated in three levels sloping down from east to west. The cave shows two phases of use: at first, in the pre-Ghassulean stage it most probably served for seasonal dwelling. Later, in the Ghassulian phase of the Chalcolithic period, the cave was transformed into a burial place from which most of the finds originated. Shortly after the final burial, but still within the Chalcolithic period, the cave was robbed. Following the robbery the karstic activity increased and produced hundreds of stalactites on the ceiling and stalagmites on the floor.

The most common objects found in the cave are ossuaries of a variety of types. The majority consists of a rectangular box with a saparated gable lid. The facades of the lids comprise flat plaques with symbolic faces, plaques with painted faces, plaques with applied human facial features and three dimensional sculpted human heads. These are the outstanding innovation of the finds from the Peqi`in. Another common type consists of ossuaries possessing a closed box. This type of ossuary is common to the coastal plain of which Haderah has been its northern most limit.

Along with the ossuaries wre found other objects. These include jars of various types, some of whic with female breasts and others identical to those known from the Golan. Also were found bowls on a fesentrated bases, small jars, V - shaped bowls and goblets. A few objects made of copper like those known from the Nahal Mishmar were found as well as two dozen of preforated flint disks similar to those found in the Golan, several maceheads and fragments of basalt. The head of a small ivory figurine likewise in the Be'er Sheba tradition was revealed and ten violin shaped figurines of various sizes similar those from.

All the finds, aside from the sculpted heads, are familiar from other Chalcolithic sites. However, it is for the first time that all of the regional Chalcolithic sub-cultures, from the Negev and the Judaean Desert through the Jordan rift valley to the Golan and as far as Byblos, are found in a single, defined context. Moreover, we may posit the existence of a heretofore unknown Galilean contribution to Chalcolithic regionalism. The co-existence of the various regional sub-cultures in the Peqi`in cave provides a unique opporunity to reexamine the relations among these regions during this period.