Intensive olive production at Levantine sites. New data from Fadous-Kfarabida and Khirbet-ez Zeraqon

During the third millennium BCE, Levant experienced an increase in social complexity, visible emergence of urban forms and centralised institutions. Specialised agricultural production, particularly olives, has long been considered a key factor this transformation. This paper uses charcoal seed analysis remains from Early Bronze Age II-III sites Tell Fadous-Kfarabida Lebanon Khirbet-ez Zeraqon Jordan, alongside comparative published data, to investigate phenomenon. Olive was important crop at both but is situated within more arid inland location, away natural distribution wild olive, whereas had much lusher vegetation, olive. While important, olive possibly not major terms macro-nutrient supply it played dominant role Fadous-Kfarabida. The measurements stones show high variance compared other sites. At may have due specialization by using several cultivars and/or applying irrigation fluctuations rainfall. morphological olives were included production as well, which relate development new strains likely higher engagement experimentation. Although overall linear trend increasing mean stone length, occasionally described “domestication syndrome”, can be detected for southern between 7 2 kyr BP, measurement data are outside confidence band regression line indicate that variability some blur straightforward recognition syndrome”. There seem varied local practices cultivation domestication Levant.