Dr. Lee Clare

They were roofed over. And they have walls. And frequently, it's said that they're dry stone walls. They're not dry stone walls. They actually have mortar in between, so like a mud mortar. And at regular intervals in the wall, you have sort of T-pillars, so monoliths, T-shaped, carved mainly or mostly in one piece from the natural limestone in the area of the site.

They were roofed over. And they have walls. And frequently, it's said that they're dry stone walls. They're not dry stone walls. They actually have mortar in between, so like a mud mortar. And at regular intervals in the wall, you have sort of T-pillars, so monoliths, T-shaped, carved mainly or mostly in one piece from the natural limestone in the area of the site.

They were roofed over. And they have walls. And frequently, it's said that they're dry stone walls. They're not dry stone walls. They actually have mortar in between, so like a mud mortar. And at regular intervals in the wall, you have sort of T-pillars, so monoliths, T-shaped, carved mainly or mostly in one piece from the natural limestone in the area of the site.

As I said, regular intervals, sometimes 10, 11, 12 in the circle within the walls. And in the centre of, or near to the centre of the building, we have two upright T-pillars, which are larger.

As I said, regular intervals, sometimes 10, 11, 12 in the circle within the walls. And in the centre of, or near to the centre of the building, we have two upright T-pillars, which are larger.

As I said, regular intervals, sometimes 10, 11, 12 in the circle within the walls. And in the centre of, or near to the centre of the building, we have two upright T-pillars, which are larger.

For example, if we're looking at building D, which is one of the most impressive of the preserved or the most impressive of the buildings that we can see there today, the central pillars are about five and a half metres in height. So really quite, once I next look up, it's quite an impressive thing to see. Of course, they're carved with various depictions in low relief. Also, we have high reliefs.

For example, if we're looking at building D, which is one of the most impressive of the preserved or the most impressive of the buildings that we can see there today, the central pillars are about five and a half metres in height. So really quite, once I next look up, it's quite an impressive thing to see. Of course, they're carved with various depictions in low relief. Also, we have high reliefs.

For example, if we're looking at building D, which is one of the most impressive of the preserved or the most impressive of the buildings that we can see there today, the central pillars are about five and a half metres in height. So really quite, once I next look up, it's quite an impressive thing to see. Of course, they're carved with various depictions in low relief. Also, we have high reliefs.

And of course, on top of this structure would have been a roof. We know they were roofed over. I think perhaps really the most intriguing of our new results is that these buildings were occupied or were in use for a very long period of time. We're talking hundreds of years, in fact. We have radiocarbon data. from the mud mortar from the walls.

And of course, on top of this structure would have been a roof. We know they were roofed over. I think perhaps really the most intriguing of our new results is that these buildings were occupied or were in use for a very long period of time. We're talking hundreds of years, in fact. We have radiocarbon data. from the mud mortar from the walls.

And of course, on top of this structure would have been a roof. We know they were roofed over. I think perhaps really the most intriguing of our new results is that these buildings were occupied or were in use for a very long period of time. We're talking hundreds of years, in fact. We have radiocarbon data. from the mud mortar from the walls.

And we can see different building phases within that structure. And that tallies them with the radiocarbon dates. So we can say that the earliest phases of these buildings were like PPNA in date, so sort of end of the 10th millennium BC. And they actually continued into the early PPNB to about mid 9th millennium.

And we can see different building phases within that structure. And that tallies them with the radiocarbon dates. So we can say that the earliest phases of these buildings were like PPNA in date, so sort of end of the 10th millennium BC. And they actually continued into the early PPNB to about mid 9th millennium.

And we can see different building phases within that structure. And that tallies them with the radiocarbon dates. So we can say that the earliest phases of these buildings were like PPNA in date, so sort of end of the 10th millennium BC. And they actually continued into the early PPNB to about mid 9th millennium.

So we're looking at sort of, you know, a few hundred years, and these buildings were constantly being used were being you know reshaped and lots of recycling going on they were moving tea pillars around they were sort of erasing carvings and doing new carvings so very much they were never sort of built to one plan and then sort of completed but it was a constantly changing structure.

So we're looking at sort of, you know, a few hundred years, and these buildings were constantly being used were being you know reshaped and lots of recycling going on they were moving tea pillars around they were sort of erasing carvings and doing new carvings so very much they were never sort of built to one plan and then sort of completed but it was a constantly changing structure.

So we're looking at sort of, you know, a few hundred years, and these buildings were constantly being used were being you know reshaped and lots of recycling going on they were moving tea pillars around they were sort of erasing carvings and doing new carvings so very much they were never sort of built to one plan and then sort of completed but it was a constantly changing structure.

That's the only way of doing it. We have no other way of doing it at the present. Of course, we have the lithic finds from various contexts associated with the buildings, but of course, they just give a general date. But the radiocarbon data, that's really special because especially the data coming from the mortar between the walls, of course, there's no guarantee that it's exact.

That's the only way of doing it. We have no other way of doing it at the present. Of course, we have the lithic finds from various contexts associated with the buildings, but of course, they just give a general date. But the radiocarbon data, that's really special because especially the data coming from the mortar between the walls, of course, there's no guarantee that it's exact.