Early Bronze Age Stone Tools and Agricultural Innovations

The intensification of agricultural production in the Fertile Cresent during the Early Bronze Age (EBA) is reflected in two farming tools: Canaanean blades, which were thinner than Neolithic blades; and the threshing sledge, into which some of these blades were inserted. In northern Mesopotamia, most Canaanean blades were long and wide, made by pressure using a lever and copper point, although some were narrower and produced by indirect percussion or by pressure with a crutch. In the Levant, however, although some wide examples have been recovered, narrow forms predominated. Controlled experiments have revealed that microwear on blade segments used in sledge inserts is different from microwear on segments used as sickles. This paper analyses samples of Canaanean blades and blade segments from Tell ʿAtij in northern Mesopotamia and Ein Zippori in the Levant to examine (1) whether wider and narrower Canaanean blade segments were used for different tasks, (2) whether some Canaanean blade segments were designed specifically to be inserted into sickle handles and used for harvesting and (3) whether sickle inserts were recycled and used in threshing sledges. We also discuss how production and use of Canaanean blades is related to EBA agricultural intensification.