The Yarmukian culture, which gets its name from the Yarmuk river, was a Neolithic culture of the ancient Levant. The most interesting feature of the culture is the large number of art objects found at its sites. The Seated Woman, found at Munhata in 1965, is one of many similar figurines to be discovered from Yarmukian sites and it is perhaps the best known.
Table of Contents
S1 – Discovery
The first Yarmukian settlement was discovered in the 1930s at Tel Megiddo in northern Israel. Russian born archaeologist Moshe Stekelis was the first to distinguish the Yarmukian culture at the site of Shaʽar HaGolan in the Jordan Valley area of Israel. He recognized its unique character and named it after the nearby Yarmuk river. Also, he was the one to date it to the Neolithic period. In the 1950s, several other Yarmukian settlements were unearthed including Munhata.
A rich collection of art objects have been found at Yarmukian sites. The most common clay figurine discovered is the anthropomorphic figurine with coffee-bean eyes. These sculptures are highly stylized with many minute details. The Yarmukian Seated Woman is the most impressive among these. It was found by Jean Perrot at Munhata in 1965.
S2 – Description
In keeping with other Yarmukian figurines of females, several minute details have been captured in this sculpture. These include coffee bean eyes, nose, ears, headdress and legs which have been portrayed in a somewhat exaggerated fashion. The triangular head rests directly on her shoulders. Her right arm is straight while her left arm is folded to support her small breasts. Her lower body has enlarged hips and tapering legs.
The statue was created by wrapping a layer of clay around a cylindrical clay core. The body parts were made separately and added later. Details, like the garment covering the shoulders and back, are indicated by applied bits of clay. It is believed that the figurine represents a ‘mother goddess’ as such cults were widespread in ancient civilizations.
S3 – Age
Radiocarbon dates from the major Yarmukian sites have allowed to set its absolute chronology. The Yarmukian culture lasted for a span of around 500 years from around 6,400 BCE to 5,900 BCE. It was the first culture to manufactured pottery on a large scale in the Southern Levant. The Yarmukian Seated Woman is thus considered to be around 8,000 years old.
S4 – Neolithic Art Overview
Main Sources
S1:-
Garfinkel Y. (1993). “The Yarmukian Culture in Israel”. pp 115, 123, 124.
S2:-
“Seated woman”. The Israel Museum.
S3:-
Van den Brink, Edwin C M. (2016). “Pottery function and culinary practices of Yarmukian societies in the late 7th millennium cal. BC: First results”. pp 98, 99.