The “Post-Urban” Occupation at Ḫirbet ez-Zeraqōn, Jordan New Insights into the Early Bronze Age IV on the Northern Plateau

This article provides an overview of the Early Bronze Age IV remains from Ḫirbet ez-Zeraqōn in Northern Jordan. After the urban settlement came to an end during the Early Bronze Age III, the site was resettled in the later Early Bronze Age IV, but on a much smaller and possibly less permanent scale. The pottery assemblage, including cooking pots and storage jars, largely represents typical household activities. Yet the finds of some metal weapons in the area of the former Early Bronze Age II – III temples may suggest that despite the hiatus separating the Early Bronze Age III and IV phases at the site, the place was still remembered as special. The material culture of the Northern Plateau of Transjordan during the Early Bronze Age IV has been thus far under-represented compared to the surrounding areas. Together with the cave group from Tell el-Ḥisn, the Early Bronze Age IV pottery from Ḫirbet ez-Zeraqōn represents the largest assemblage from the Northern Plateau dating to this period thus far.