A Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age I Burial Ground near Sha‘ar Efrayim in the Sharon Plain (pp. 1–53)

Near Sha‘ar Efrayim, in the Sharon coastal plain, five karstic burial caves were uncovered, belonging to two burial phases: from the Chalcolothic periodand Early Bronze Age I. The finds attributed to the Chalcolithic period included clay coffins and domiform ossuaries—both exhibiting red-painted designs and applied features—and typical pottery vessels, e.g., V-shaped bowls, cornets, fenestrated bowl stands, holemouths, lug handles and achurn(?). The EB I assemblage comprised Gray Burnished Ware, vessels with wavy-ledged handles and high looped handles and a potstand. Other finds include bone objects, beads, metal finds and an outstanding clay female figurine. Post EB I finds were retrieved solely from Cave 4, dating to Middle Bronze Age IIA and Late Bronze Age IIB. The Sha‘ar Efrayim Chalcolithic burial caves are an important link in the long chain of formal burial grounds extending from the Shephelah in the south to the western coastal plain in the north. The reuse of the burial caves during EB I and later is a well-known phenomena at other sites as well.