Ein el-Jarba
Ein el-Jarba is a two-period settlement with remains dating to the Early Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age IB. The Early Chalcolithic settlement is ascribed to the Wadi Rabah culture. The site is located in the Jezreel Valley, ca. 20 km south-east of Haifa, Israel.
Geography
The site is located at the foot of the Menashe Heights, in the Jezreel Valley, which was – and still is – a main artery connection the Mediterranean coast with the Jordan Rift Valley. Ein el-Jarba is today in the vicinity of Kibbutz HaZore'a.Excavation history
There have been several excavations on the site. Following the uncovering of remains by mechanical work, one season of excavation was conducted by J. Kaplan in 1966. This was followed by remains being discovered in 1979 c. 75m west of the area uncovered by J. Kaplan; a salvage excavation was conducted in 1980 by E. Meyerhof, recording substantial architectural remains.Several other sites with Wadi Rabah remains were uncovered nearby, including Tell Qiri, Hazorea, Tell Zeriq, Abu Zureiq and Mishmar HaEmek stratum V.
There was also a surface collection survey conducted in 1973 by E. Anati.
The archaeological work at Ein el-Jarba was renewed in 2013 until 2016 on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, directed by Katharina Streit, in cooperation with the Jezreel Valley Regional Project.
Findings
Periods
The 2013-2016 excavation uncovered a two-period settlement with remains dating to the Early Bronze Age IB and the Early Chalcolithic.Early Chalcolithic settlement
A ca. 65 m2 large excavation area at Ein el-Jarba excavated by Kaplan in 1966 yielded four phases of Chalcolithic occupation with architectural remains as well as burials. The stratigraphic accumulation between virgin soil and topsoil was only ca. 1 m.The Early Chalcolithic phase consists of several floors and decayed mudbrick material, as well as a plastered surface with circular installation. The ceramic assemblage of the Early Chalcolithic phase is dominated by classic Wadi Rabah style pottery.